[Thecorey]

After reading the weekly poll where about 7% of members survived have taken a formal education route in photography I felt there was an interesting correlation between the poll and this post on learning critique.

Critique provides a crucial function in most if not all traditional arts programs. All the arts class I took throughout high school into college, from painting, drawing, to photography and Photoshop required some form of critique. It could be a simple one on one with a professor to an entire weeklong secession with the entire class.

One major difference I see of critiques in an educational environment vs. sites like Flickr and on the web, is a lot of critiquing in web environment is focused heavily on the technical and on picture-by-picture basis without much knowledge of the presenters, their body of work, knowledge of their style, or their development over time.

In college most of the people I studied with were in the same degree program. We took many of the same classes and got to know each other’s work very well. We also got to know each others work over a variety of disciplines. Over time we knew if the work someone was presenting was up to their standards, not ours, and if they were pushing themselves. I remember on occasion being able to truthfully tell a peer that their work was sub-par because I know what they are capable of.

This is not to say critiquing the technical aspects of any medium isn’t necessary. I am a strong believer that a true artisan should be a true craftsman. My advice is to understand and use many of the great guidelines presented here, and to also factor in time. Allow time to get to know someone’s work. Look through their photos and see what they are submitting for critique. Try to understand their frame of reference and the message they are trying to convey. Get to know them beyond their photos.

I always take and learn much more from the advice of a peer then that of a stranger. Critique should always be about growth for both parties.