Practising Constructive Crit

[joescrivens]

Well played JOE. Not a great photo but, you know that. I wouldn't in my heart of heart post a pic that needed to be massaged by other tp's just because you had a question of rude vs a constructive one. If i posted that pic up i would be looking for construction, design, elements, composition....blah, which it would get trounced. 've had many-a-photo- that looks ******. As for the question being rude...I cant wait before i reach a million posts so everyone will love my pics.............

Joe you are an fliaslfaslghasdhas. crap photo!

I think you were trying to make a point .... I'm just lost as to what that point was. I didn't even understand your first post

 

[Vantage]

I think you were trying to make a point .... I'm just lost as to what that point was. I didn't even understand your first post

Nor me. lol. I had something to say but i've forgoten. I'm sure it was to do with a crap photo and something to do with..........ooooohhhh just seen my first post. lol.What was the question?

 

[joescrivens]

Nor me. lol. I had something to say but i've forgoten. I'm sure it was to do with a crap photo and something to do with..........ooooohhhh just seen my first post. lol.What was the question?

give up if I was you, and lay off the wacky backy

 

[Vantage]

Oh yes. And I've tried a few. Also tried many other things. Wacky Backy? Not even close BUT, I still enjoy a good session on TP. even if i dont remember. lol

 

[Vantage]

Ok, so it seems some people can't see the difference between a rude piece of crit and a constructive one. So let's have a little practice for those people who struggle to see the difference. Below is a photograph that certainly could do with improvement.

Take a look at it and give us your attempt at crit and i'll advise you whether it was constructive or not and advise you how to adapt it

oh yes looking back now................Erm. under-exposed - blown sky -angle all to s***! bushes holding the foreground are massive and not in a good way.. Boring comes to mind whatever you may do with it. Does that fit? a little procesing may of helped. I would of cropped the little house left. Built up the sat and the contrast. Absolutly does nothing for me....................mind you I have so many shots like this. THE BIN IT GOES!

 

[Vantage]

Ok, so it seems some people can't see the difference between a rude piece of crit and a constructive one. So let's have a little practice for those people who struggle to see the difference. Below is a photograph that certainly could do with improvement.

Take a look at it and give us your attempt at crit and i'll advise you whether it was constructive or not and advise you how to adapt it

enter button twice!"

 

[dod]

I'd critique that in one of two ways.

If it was someone coming on saying they'd just got a new camera and asking how they could improve I'd make a couple of comments about the pole, perspective, shooting position, maybe crop tight and look for abstracts or detail shots, that sort of thing.

On the other hand, as has been a bit more common lately, someone comes on saying do you think my "art" accurately reflects the social and economic conflict between coca cola and iron bru I'd tell them something else

 

[mrtoad]

i would advise that cloning out the wires and telegraph pole initially, and then straightening up the building would give a good basis for further processing
the image has potential in colour and black to white
a close crop would eliminate the building on the left and cloning the right hand building would make the subject more eye catching
best of luck
cheers
geof

 

[TheBigYin]

i would advise that cloning out the wires and telegraph pole initially, and then straightening up the building would give a good basis for further processing
the image has potential in colour and black to white
a close crop would eliminate the building on the left and cloning the right hand building would make the subject more eye catching
best of luck
cheers
geof

Maybe ths would be a start...

 

[Byker28i]

It's the birthplace of Martin Luther King actually in Atlanta, Georgia

So then the photo only makes sense in a collection of your holiday photo's? Or maybe as a contrast shot between this and the mansion of a rich white lawyer?

I don't think photo's all have to be outstanding. That's putting far too much pressure on us as photographers if you think that. Sometimes the camera is there just to record the moment, or memory.

I've lots of holiday 'snaps' that are there for the memory, not critical acclaim.

 

[joescrivens]

So then the photo only makes sense in a collection of your holiday photo's? Or maybe as a contrast shot between this and the mansion of a rich white lawyer?

I don't think photo's all have to be outstanding. That's putting far too much pressure on us as photographers if you think that. Sometimes the camera is there just to record the moment, or memory.

I've lots of holiday 'snaps' that are there for the memory, not critical acclaim.

ok, maybe I didn't make the point of this thread clear enough - (evident by the fact I keep having to explain this again, and again and again :bang: ) but like I said, it wasn't supposed to be a serious thread at first, just some banter, evident by the first 4 posts.

BUT the mods moved it from off topic to here. A few people wrote serious crits, so I said I would continue with it seriously too.

The point of the thread was not to get real crit on this image. This image was the worst image I could find in my library. Yes, it's a holiday snap. That's all it is to me.

I shouldn't have put the thread title as "Practising Constructive Crit" I should have called it "Practising negative, yet not rude, crit" because that was the point of the thread. I wanted all those people who claim that you can't put negative crit up without being rude to see that in fact you can. I deliberately chose a photo that everyone could find fault in, no matter what their level of proficiency in photography and give negative, to the point crit of the image and do so without being rude. Those that were rude would then be advised how they could have actually written the exact same thing, but without being rude.

Thats it, thats the point of the thread and somewhere with my first post and thread title, it seems I didn't explain that correctly. Now, is it clearer now? Man I hope so!!!!

 

[Byker28i]

Nope I think you've made the point clear, but as the thread has broadened into a real proper discussion, not just a bit of internet fluff for your amusement, I was just taking the discussion slightly broader in the terms of photo criticism/discussion. A photo can also be discussed in the context it was taken, not just it's technical qualities.

That's the thing with photography. It's a subjective subject, so whilst we can probably all agree on the technical qualities, because that quantifiable, the subjective element is always based on personal 'feeling' and so will be open to varied opinions.

 

[joescrivens]

Nope I think you've made the point clear, but as the thread has broadened into a real proper discussion, not just a bit of internet fluff for your amusement

any reason you often write arrogant stuff like this? :shrug:

 

[cw318is]

I really like the idea behind this thread, and trying to broaden what I can take shots of the entire crit thing is brilliant if done right. Getting feedback on why a shot I think is alright but is actually naff by someone whose a lot more experianced then me means that I actually learn stuff, however when a shot which I've asked for crit on receives 0 replies I do tend to wonder why.

I do think everyone could benefit from a bit of Dale Carnegie though!

 

[TheBigYin]

I do think everyone could benefit from a bit of Dale Carnegie though!

Dear god no! - not more former colonial claptrap :thumbsdown:

 

[Splog]

Joe

The photo looks like a holiday snap to me. I really can't understand why you bothered posting it and hoping to receive positive critique? ...

 

[CT]

Joe

The photo looks like a holiday snap to me. I really can't understand why you bothered posting it and hoping to receive positive critique? ...

Jesus H... he didn't, he's explained it to the point of tedium!
Joe - give it up mate - you're flogging a dead horse.:shrug:

 

[joescrivens]

Joe

The photo looks like a holiday snap to me. I really can't understand why you bothered posting it and hoping to receive positive critique? ...

If this was a serious comment then:

WOW

If it was tongue in cheek then:



Select from the above

Jesus H... he didn't, he's explained it to the point of tedium!
Joe - give it up mate - you're flogging a dead horse.:shrug:

I'm hoping that the smiley at the end of Splogs comment shows that it was tongue in cheek. Hoping. Otherwise it's :bang: time

 

[Splog]

Jesus H... he didn't, he's explained it to the point of tedium!
Joe - give it up mate - you're flogging a dead horse.:shrug:

If this was a serious comment then:

WOW

If it was tongue in cheek then:



Select from the above



I'm hoping that the smiley at the end of Splogs comment shows that it was tongue in cheek. Hoping. Otherwise it's :bang: time

Tongue was very definitely in cheek ....

 

[joescrivens]

Tongue was very definitely in cheek ....

as I hoped!

 

[mrtoad]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

i know my place

des res somewhere

 

[GatlingGunSmith]

Putting aside the (valid) comments about lighting etc I suggest the picture could have been improved by taking it absolutely straight-on to the building rather than at a slight angle and including the whole of the pole with wires etc as well as more of the building on the left to give it some context. As it is it's a fairly ordinary shot of a building which could be anywhere, but take it differently and put it in context and it would be much more interesting.