Appropriate Comments... Reminder...

[mtbbrian]

It seems lately we have had a rash of seemingly rude and inappropriate comments here on the Critique Forum. Comments that are somewhere along the lines of "This image sucks."

I know it is very isolated, but I would like to remind everyone to be fair, constructive, encouraging and at the very least polite.
To me a critique of a photograph should state as specific as possible reasons as to why the image works or dose not work, whatever the case may be. Comments like the above doing nothing but discourage people from continuing with what they enjoy.

We will probably never reach "icon status" like Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson, but we can do our best to encourage others to be the best photographer they can be. There is a lot of knowledge here, let's do what we can to help those that are new and excited about photography. Because chances are, you came here as a newbie and have since progressed as a photographer through the knowledge you have gained.

I look at everyone who posts here as having unlimited potential to be a good photographer, and I know there are LOTS of GREAT photographers here!

Getting off of "soapbox"...

Brian

[adina]

Darn it.

I was just going to post a "you suck".

One less post on my countdown to 1000

adina

[opus]

Thanks for saying this. I just found this site and was rapidly beginning to feel very intimidated by the awesome work posted here. Before I found this site I was very excited about my own work, but as I see the superior talent here I find myself losing my excitement at the same time as I realize how much I have to learn. I'm afraid to post my best work here because my bubble just might completely burst.

My goal has never been "fine art"... but I'm hoping to use this site to step up a few levels by learning as much as I can from the great work here.

~Kelly

[mtbbrian]

Kelly,
Don't be afraid, just keep learning and remain excited about the photography you are doing. One thing you have to do is develope a little thick skin, that is don't take the constructive comments being made on your photographs too personnally. They are only trying to help you become a better photographer.
They are not attacking you, even though it may feel like it at times.
I am glad you are a part of our community, I know you will learn a lot and become a better photographer.

Brian

[Irish]

Although I am a newbie here and a pretty raw beginner to digital photography (got serious in April 2004) I decided to post for two reasons.

1 - I enjoy the hobby which I am involved in and want to share with other like minded persons and learn what I can at the same time.

2 - I genuinely want to know how others view my images - good or bad.

I feel, as most do, that a positive comment is good for the soul, but I feel an honest and open critique will set me a much better learning tool than a "Well done" "pat on the back".

I would much rather that the critique say what they feel is wrong with the image and if possible remedies to fix the problem witht he image or in future photo taking. I try to keep in mind that the person giving the critique is expressing their opinion and I know how opinions will vary from one viewer to the other through thier own expeiences etc.

Anyway this looks a very positive place to be and learn.
Thanks for "listening"

[opus]

I just have to say, that it's been a quick learning curve for me, but I'm feeling much more positive again. I feel like I've already learned so much, and I've only been here two weeks or so. I've learned to recognize things about my own shots that I can change (like a better lens, for instance; and that it's important to set the white balance), and I've learned so much just from looking at other people's shots and reading the comments and critiques about them.

[mtbbrian]

Thanks for commenting here Irish, at the very minimum what you wrote is what I think we should all say when critiquing someone's photograph. I am glad you to are a part of our photography community here. Keep up the positive vibes!
Brian

[PuckJunkey]

Thanks for saying this. I just found this site and was rapidly beginning to feel very intimidated by the awesome work posted here. Before I found this site I was very excited about my own work, but as I see the superior talent here I find myself losing my excitement at the same time as I realize how much I have to learn. I'm afraid to post my best work here because my bubble just might completely burst.

Kelly, I'm only just getting to know your photographs but I hope that you will keep posting them on a regular basis. Based on the few shots I've seen from you, you have no reason to fear "superior talent". Quite frankly even the very best photographers on this board (of whom I am not one) post mediocre shots from time to time. No one here is above reproach or criticism IMO.

All of us have plenty to learn and plenty of room to make our good pictures great. Don't be so hard on yourself or put others on a pedestal, to the extent that your bubble might burst. You should be confident that your best shots will stand on their own right along side the best shots of others, because I believe they would.

BTW, I hope you didn't take my joke about "not bad for a Wisconsin type" seriously. You can probably guess which state I hail from if I'm making Wisconsin wise-cracks (oustanding cheese!), but I just like to razz my "neighbors" a bit. Truth is, there's a decent chance I will be living in southern Wisconsin in a year or two.

[opus]

Thanks, Puck! No, I realized your "Wisconsin" comment was all in good fun. I did wonder where you were from, though. Thanks for cluing me in. I would have said either Minnesota or Illinois, but with a name like "Puck", I'm guessing Minnesota. Not sure how many "Illinoisians" know what hockey is.... ;)

[PuckJunkey]

Believe it or not, I am indeed from Illinois. While we're no match for Minnesotans (or most Cheeseheads for that matter) when it comes to promoting the world's greatest game, there are a smattering of us down here who bleed vulcanized rubber. Now I have the dilemma of making good each week on the 12 month pass I bought for unlimited rink access privileges, or doing photography (for my freetime activities I mean).

aCK!

;)

[Young Shooter]

hey brian, i totally understand what ur saying and to keep this forum to a like nice level and keep the rudeness down, but its a forum on critiquing, what i thought, when u post pictures on here, u ask for peoples oppionions and u want to see how well this would do on the market, well at my level its that way, i got recommended to join this forum to get a response on my photography cause then i know what the public thinks, see i dont know about u or anybody else on here but im 17 and im going to make photography my profession im going to be better then ansel i hope, this is my future,anyways sorry to get off the subject i put my work on here, and if i put a picture that realy dose stink i would want to know, i dont want to be in some bubble that im like a good photographer if im realy not, thats where the critique part comes in,
Thanks alot for listening, i enjoy this forum and it has realy helped me alot because people do tell me what they think, and it helps other people, but they shouldnt take it personal if they get a "Its an ok picture" stuff like that
Sorry if this effends anybody but its my oppinion

[JBx]

I just wanted to say that i think this is a great place to learn and to get opinions on your work, i am new to digital photography and this site as helped me a lot, sometimes just looking at a photo and reading how it was taken and looking at some details like exposure time, aperture , with tripod, handheld, with some kind of lenses, can give you hints so that when you encounter a similar situation for a shot if you use something close to those settings you should get some good results.
About being afraid to post, well don´t be and do post, the worst thing that can happen is that someone doesn´t like some shot, so what, if you do post you can allways be surprised by some constructive critics, like i was in some of my shots.
Thanks all.

[bob118]

When I first found out about this site I couldn't wait to get my photos posted for critiques, I've been playing around with photography for way too long, and never really got serious about my work, I enjoy taking sports action shots the most but lately have found that taking other various types of shots, helps my mind to expand my knowledge and experimentation of other facets of photography. I've posted 2 shots on this site as I have just signed onto it and I do hope to be posting for many more years to come, atleast untill the digital cameras become dinosaurs. I welcome anyone and everyones comments. After all isn't that the reason why we're all here to begin with....

[chnewsarum]

I echo Bob1118's comments, I've posted about 6 images so far (some very old scanned in images via ia Minolta Dimage Sacn Dual IV) and received many very encouraging comments, help and suggestions.( many more than I have had at photo clubs) and enjoyed seeing and commenting on others. I too hope to post more and wlcome everyones comments

chris

[mtbbrian]

Glad to see there are lots of new people joining our photography community!
I hope you learn and give as much as possible!
Thanks for all your great comments on this thread and critiques!
Brian