RichDitch
Well-Known Member
First. let me thank everyone who has responded so far. I value all the comments and varying points of view. I'm a firm believer in honesty. I'm definitely gladI asked before I started critiquing!
Pete_W:
I think it also depends on the type of criticism - it is much better to restrict comments to technical issues (focus, exposure, dynamic range, etc) than to criticize more subjective aspects (composition, choice of subject matter, interpretation). I would hope that any photographer would value learning how to improve the technical side of photography.
I suspect that criticism of the artistic elements is more troubling to the photographer, and I see that in Pete's response quoted here. I think we are all personally biased in what we like and don't like.
Anyway, enough pontificating for now. Just know that I don't mind people critiquing the photos that I post here. I hope you will point out technical issues I might have missed and suggest ways to fix or avoid them in the future. If you have a reaction to my choice of subject or how I've presented it, good or bad, I wouldn't mind seeing it.
Pete_W:
I agree completely about the "random person." Back in my time at NPN I felt comfortable making comments as I had a large body of work already posted there so anyone could decide if I knew what I was talking about. I used that measure as well when receiving comments from othersIt might simply be that some people are not interested in the views of a random person on the internet who may know nothing about the context of the photo, the reason it was taken or what it means to the person. Photos mean different things to different people. Self-appointed critics can be wildly cynical, out of touch with certain forms of expression, and often personally biased. Unless you have some form of proven credential as a photography expert, why would someone want to hear your personal views?
I think it also depends on the type of criticism - it is much better to restrict comments to technical issues (focus, exposure, dynamic range, etc) than to criticize more subjective aspects (composition, choice of subject matter, interpretation). I would hope that any photographer would value learning how to improve the technical side of photography.
I suspect that criticism of the artistic elements is more troubling to the photographer, and I see that in Pete's response quoted here. I think we are all personally biased in what we like and don't like.
Anyway, enough pontificating for now. Just know that I don't mind people critiquing the photos that I post here. I hope you will point out technical issues I might have missed and suggest ways to fix or avoid them in the future. If you have a reaction to my choice of subject or how I've presented it, good or bad, I wouldn't mind seeing it.