Physician Cure Thyself

[ABERS]

Does one have to be a halfway decent photographer before making, hopefully constructive, comments on a picture?

I remember back in the days of the DCM Forum somebody remarking that after reading comments from photographers on the forum, it was an immediate reaction to visit the commenter's own gallery and was usually disappointed with what was seen there.

Quite a furore ensued!

[pburness]

I think most people can comment on what they like / dislike without being able to reproduce it themselves - examples
Art - many people can appreciate sculpture but cannot do it
Clothes - My wife loves them, but can't make any
Sports cars - many can drive them and suggest improvements but not able to implement themselves
Politics - enough said - many who do it can't and many who would like to do it can't either
Writing - I know when I've enjoyed a novel but couldn't write one
and so it goes on... but does any of it mean we can't express an opinion or that we should say nothing until proven in some way by somebody else that we have reached some 'arguable' status?

An opinion is an opinion - be it from a learned specialist in a subject or a layman. One may hold more credibility in certain circles (factual based on proven theorem with demonstrable repeatability), but in subjective review each holds it's own weight.

Provided somebody gives some rationale to go with the comments then it doesn't matter what their personal skill level or tastes are.

So for me it's a no..

Phil

[Reinardina]

I occasionally take a good photograph, more by chance or luck, than skill, and do comment on entries in the weekend competition, but ...

I have no proper training and am trying to teach myself; I cannot comment on technical aspects of a photograph, unless something is blatantly wrong, or obviously brilliant. I can say what I like, or don't like about it and that's about it.

When a 'proper' photographer critiques a photo, it often opens my eyes to things that are there, but I simply did not 'see.'

This is one of the reasons I miss some of the 'old guys,' the more experienced photographers, who left the 'weekend competition,' after the last fall out over pp.

And of course, I miss their entries!

So yes, for me, a constructive comment from a 'halfway decent' photographer, is worth getting.

[KeithT]

Well, maybe they should be, but let's be fare — not every art critic is an artist in the same way that not every book, play, or film critic is a writer, playwright, or film director. I guess from that perspective, anyone can critique almost anything without being an expert. However, it is nice to receive critique from ones piers I think. I mean if a Magnum photographer did a critique of my work, good or bad I would be highly honoured.

[david_in_dalian]

Hi all,

I am a tyro and really enjoy making pictures. But it is time to move on from where I am and not get into a rut.

That is the reason I am asking this question is that if I know how to critique an image, I could then (I hope) be able to critique my own, and then come up with reasons why I did the things that I did. I am familiar with the the 1/3 rule and the a:b=b:c concept. Do picture makers use these concepts because they are already part of the language of image-making? And what about colour (in the BIG sense) and texture? Hardly any mention seem to be made of these factors.

And what about this question, how do I know that I am seeing in psychological sense the same picture that the photographer does? (Does it matter?)

Right now I operate intuitively and that to me is hit or miss (big time).


So in this case the exhortation could be," Physcian, Know Thyself".

david

[ABERS]

Originally Posted by david_in_dalian

Hi all,


And what about this question, how do I know that I am seeing in psychological sense the same picture that the photographer does? (Does it matter?)


david

You can't be sure that would be the case of course. Whether it matters or not is a moot point.

When you post a picture wherever it may be, you are asking people to look at it and saying this is my take on a particular place, person or object. Hope you get something from looking at it, if not, so what!

As the old saying goes, 'Rules are for obeying by the uninitiated, but for interpreting by wise men'.

There ought to be a 'Break the rules' thread.

[Reinardina]

Originally Posted by ABERS

There ought to be a 'Break the rules' thread.

Why don't you start one, and post some examples?

To be honest, I can, at the moment, only think of the rule of thirds. I'm not sure I know many rules, so I may be breaking them all the time. Or not, and instinctively stick to them? Hope I make sense.

[pburness]

Originally Posted by ABERS

When you post a picture wherever it may be, you are asking people to look at it and saying this is my take on a particular place, person or object. Hope you get something from looking at it, if not, so what!

Doesn't this invalidate the original question....

Does one have to be a halfway decent photographer before making, hopefully constructive, comments on a picture?

If people are not interested in what others have to say about a picture, then why would it matter if they need to be a decent photographer themselves before they say it?


Phil

[GeoffWessex]

A professional would, at some point, want positive criticism from an experienced photographer or colleague, or at least be able to show that the photography is of a standard that can he/she can make a living from.

An amateur (literally: "Lover of...") may just take pictures that please him/her. No need to go any further, really, but many - I think most - do.... so the next questions are: "Are they good enough to be on the living room wall?", followed by "Are they good enough to submit to (or win) a competition". Then we're into a situation where some advice is needed. Do we take advice from just anybody? No - we value the advice given by people who are, relatively, expert. These may be the chap at the local camera shop, the neighbourhood photo expert that's always got a camera with him, a school teacher if it's a student, or, in many cases, a judge in camera club competitions.

I'd agree, in principle, with Phil's sentiment, "If people are not interested in what others have to say about a picture, then why would it matter if they need to be a decent photographer themselves before they say it?"...... but I know of nobody who takes a picture and doesn't want somebody to make a (hopefully) positive comment. Look at all the stuff people put on Facebook - and all the "Great Photo" comments they yearn for - for some lousy snapshot taken with a thumb over half the the lens and the proverbial telegraph pole sticking out of Auntie's hat.

I'm thinking.....
"I'm a great snooker player.... no, I've never played anybody in a real game, and nobody has asked me to be on their club team, but I know I'm very good".