Can a newbie critique an image by a seasoned professional?

[JackiM]

Fine, they can have an opinion...but I wish it would be respectful and humble instead of blindly arrogant. Some people (not everyone) just get carried away and that was my whole point. You can critique Robert's work because you are one of the great ones here, but there are certain aspects of any picture that someone isn't going to like. After technique is mastered everything else becomes a matter of opinion. I wouldn't change the picture that I posted because I like the whole old west theme and how it was portrayed. Therefore, a critique on that pic will be ignored-by me anyway. It would be like if someone told DaVinci that he should have made Mona Lisa's smile bigger or tilted her head...would it have become the same famous painting? Probably not, instead it would have been much like other paintings of the time. I think you have to separate photographic flaws from artistic vision. You can't really critique artistic vision. We all have our master pieces you know. Your wife is another issue, if she doesn't like your pic, she probably has a good reason...we women always have our reasons... You know you are one of my favorites here You can say almost anything you want to me and I will always respect your opinion.

This is my master piece headshot. It's perfect in every way. Even the flaws are perfect. We should start a master piece thread that includes no critiques or comments-just people showing their most favorite work of all time Just to change this darn subject! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[stevenD]

well I tread real lightly, I never critisize anyone better than me (I know this might be subjective) instead one could simply ask questions;

example: Hey Robert, wouldn't the shot look a little better without that little tip of her thumb sticking out from her back?

You see, it's no threatening...

Just have fun, you will see who the good natured people in here are and who you can't have fun with...

[grsphoto]

My worked gets critiqued by newbies ever day... they are the ones with the credit cards who pay for my services. I want to hear the opinion and feelings of the untrained eye.

The critiques that bother me when I read them are the ones by photographers who know how to look using the "rules" , but have lost the ablity to see.


grs

[Gunfitr]

I've been coming to this site for over 4 years. I am just a simple hobbyist. If you look at stuff I did 4 years ago, it was horrible. Now it's better, but certainly nowhere near what guys like Marc Grant, J.T., or a lot of the others post. But I have substantially improved by simply viewing work here.

I hate the "you have to post an image in a reply" rule, because first of all, I hardly post anything I shoot. Not because it isn't good, but because most, if not all, of what I shoot is of "regular" people, who don't want to have their photos up on the net. I have some really nice stuff I can't post.

Second, I often go months without a shoot. No big wup.

Summertime is busy for me, and I just don't have time to shoot.

But let me give you a simple example of why I think immediatley running to "my" portfolio" is absolutely silly.

I have a secretary who wanders into my office. She can run a camera, but just for fun. She is somewhat interested in some of the things I look at, and will often comment on images that are up on the screen, that I am processing, etc.

A lot of times she goes "that's cool" and points something out, and other times she goes "ooh, her skin is way too yellow".

In most cases she is dead on.

Why is her "impression" of a photo any less valuable than mine or a seasoned pro???

I shoot some "sports" photography....quite poorly I must admit, but I am getting the hang of it. But I see photos online and in the paper that have major issues.

It isn't that I could do it "better" but that doesn't mean I can't see a flaw and point it out.

Sometimes somebody who has no skill, training, ability, or knowledge can only rely on their "impression".

Why is that "impression" not valuable???

I saw a recent photo that one of the big guys around here posted not long ago. About 10 people gave it the thumbs up, but the shadows were horribly blocked up. I said nothing. But I still thought it.

I've seen a couple of cases where I actually think the guy posted a photo with an "issue" just to see if anybody would say anything bad, the photo was that flawed.

But the bottom line is, when you post a photo, do you want peoples true impressions or just a pat on the back.

Do you want to improve or stagnate.

The real question should simply be, is the critique on the mark or off, not the qualifications of the person making it.

Frankly, I think if 90% of the people who view a photo see an issue, it matters not whether the effect was intended.

If you have to "explain" why you did something, or why you broke a rule, then I think you have missed your audience.

If you don't see what the vast majority of people are seeing, then again, don't you want to know about it.

Mark

[CaptainKen]

Jacki
I don’t feel I have earned the right to critique so I don’t, with very few exceptions, but I examine almost every photograph and critique in my own mind. I'm going to try and spin this in a positive way and say I get the drama and shadow, and for that the image is successful. However your eyes are absolutely beautiful and my favorites of you are the photographs that show them off. What makes you such a hot model is the rest of the package terrific as well, but it's still the eyes I look to first. Please don’t take this as a critique since I will never be as good as Robert, instead take it as sincere compliment from a guy that loves your eyes.
Ken

[photopro34]

I have personally noticed that since I have been on here and since I have become seasoned, my crituques have pretty much stopped. I get the wow great shot or ooohhh I like it or great job. That is fine, but it doesnt help me. I have been shooting for about 1 yr 4mths. I would rather someone rip my ^%&^%$&* apart. I am on this forum to learn and to make friends. "Great job" doesnt help me to much (although I appreciate those when its warranted). I personally am my own worste critic (as most are) and I ALWAYS find something wrong with an image. Its it wrong enough to stop me from using it? Most of the times no...but some of the times yes. I admire alot of peoples work on here.. Jimmy D, JT, Glen Usdin, James Weber, John Paul, Dynamkike, james Weber to mention a few. I would hope that those people would rip my stuff apart in order to learn from them. Rolando made mention in another post that "I critique to the level you are at". I think that was a brilliant statement. THAT is exactly what I am looking for. What level am I at?? I truely dont know because very few critiqu me.

[Doug_Lester]

Hmmm, who am i shooting for? Back when I did commercial work, I was often shooting for other professionals, art directors and such. But now I'm shooting for anyone who likes my work enough to either plunk down cash or to pose in my art. Frankly, at this point in my life and career (old retired fart), I don't really care what other pros think. I'm not shooting for them. I'm far more interested in opinions for the non pros, from the inexperienced or novice shooter or model. To the best of my memory, I've never sold a print to another pro photograher (I've done a few trades), but I've sold a number to beginning photographers and models.

So as far as I'm concerned, I'm very interested in opinions from both forum newbies and from inexperienced photographers and models. While I would actually prefer a print order or booking of a shoot, opinions are a close second place!

But far more difficult for the newbie is offering a critique to a model when she posts a photo of herself. Too often the critique deals with photographic aspects which are beyond the model's control.

[JackiM]

I used the word copyright and all of the photographers on the board got in a heated discussion over when the image is actually copyrighted. Looks like I did it again. I said the word critique and that started a definition and debate over critique rights....Respect is always the issue when it comes to critiquing-or giving an opinion. If you always remember that when commenting on an image, you will never go wrong. Also, I am a model. I don't take the pictures...so if you don't like the lighting or something photographically, don't tell me because I can't change it. You can ask the photographer though. For the record, I think that you approach things in a very professional manner and you seem to want to learn. You can learn by giving opinions and asking questions. Others come here to tear people down and they have no idea who they are attacking-that was always my point-I was not aiming at you or anyone like you.
Anyway, I know people like my eyes and I get hired for them. I like my eyes too...but I can't have a portfolio of just my eyes. The rest of my body photographs well also because it is very proportionate, plus I know how to pose and move. So I have a few pics in my port that focus on my body, expression and posing ability just to show that I am somewhat versatile and I can do more than eye pictures. I guess that's why I like this pic. It's just different. A model has to show versatility or she won't go far. This is one example of slight versatility on my part. The rest is all Robert Sander's fault [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[glennusdin]

i like your eyes
i like your breasts
i like your butt
i like your hands
i like your face
i like your legs

I like it ALL! Cause its all great..........Life is short, play nice and play often.

[FrankParis]

ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
ditto
Wow!