When you don't like a photo

[Greg]

On the one occasion I posted pics for critique I felt the responses were too kind. Most of us would welcome constructive criticism. If you don't like my photos I prefer to hear how they can be improved.

 

[dazzajl]

Talking about life in generally rather than photography, I would say, "I like you" to someone I liked. I would not walk up to someone and say, "I don't like you" and leave it at that. There's be no point, and it would be mean.

Now, if I said, "I don't like you because you are rude and arrogant," well, that would actually serve a purpose. That gives the person some information to consider.

Simply put, I don't believe compliments have to be explained. I do think negative statements need to be explained.

- CJ

hmmm, this has been an interesting read, that post could be the first answer to the question though.

Thanks

 

[Brains]

Simply put, I don't believe compliments have to be explained.

True, but it sure does help to give a reason. How does the poster know the reason why a photo is good or why someone likes it.

 

[cjnicolai]

Brains, yes, I omitted the word "always". I don't believe compliments always have to be explained.

It's certainly beneficial to detail out what you like and why you like it. However, a simple, unexplained compliment is never a bad thing.

 

[Ratty]

Agreed.

Compliments don't need explaining because people are vain and just accept a compliment. That's how people sell you stuff, chat you up etc etc... it's just how we've been trained over time. It means no more than an insult and is almost always not as genuine.

If someone insults me I take it as is. If someone compliments me then I get suspicious. What are they after?

Over generalising for the point.

 

[GerryD]

A lot of the comments in this thread ring true.

I believe that criticism giving a constructive manor will benefit everyone concerned and develop their ability as a photographer. Not just the tog's who photo it was but other people reading the thread can gain knowledge.

This is one of the reason I joined this forum is for the ability for people to criticize the photo's I post, which is of benefit to me. When I feel comfortable in criticizing other peoples work then I will do so, but not in destructive manor.

Just a quick point. What if all the other forums under Photo Critique and Sharing where setup so that criticism was accepted in all of these forums, not that you cannot now, just formalize it. Would you feel more at home providing constructive criticism in these forum or would you feel that it would stop people from posting/sharing their photo's?

 

[theMusicMan]

As has been said already in this thread - putting aside the technical aspects of photography of course; judging and commenting on a submitted image here is undoubtedly a subjective matter, and is open to interpretation in a myriad of differing ways. Jeez, even to the point of the same person interpreting the very same submitted image differently on say a different day of the week, or when it is raining, or perhaps when something has happened in their lives and they are in a different mood. All these factors do affect what we say and more importantly... how we say what we say!

The combination of our subjectiveness, our opinions and our thoughts all contribute to our build, to making us the unique people that we are.

Also, you only have to read this thread to see the massive difference in opinions - all from good people with a common interest - on statements such as... 'should comments be made' and 'how comments should be made'.

Some people find it hard to make critical comments, some people feel unqualified to do so, some people simply just don't feel the need; ALL these opinions are valid, it's the fact that we can discuss them sensibly and pragmatically and without resorting to personal insults, becoming offensive, or arguing about them that is good. This is a very good thread in spite of that, and a better one because of it, and it's also a very interesting read.

Something I always try to remember though, is that "perception is reality!"

 

[apodo]

If you cannot say 'something positive 'tis best to say nothing at all'

It always anuses me to see that phrase being used.
Mostly because it is utterly pointless.

No-one ever improved anything/anyone by silence.

How will anyone improve from an unexplained "I do not like it", which is the sort of thing that Sharkey was referring to in that quote?

Do not confuse 'positive' for 'praiseworthy', constructive criticism serves a positive function and he stated that he prefers that to less helpful 'nice shot' type responses.

But if anyone does just say "I do not like it" then I think most of us will consider it says more about the person who said it than it does the photo.

Michael.

 

[Ratty]

TBH that is only your take on it and you have taken it in a different context to me.
We can all spin our own perceptions into it and come up with many different ways to interpret things if we wish. I prefer not to as that just muddies the waters.



The point is that by saying absolutely nothing you achieve absolutely nothing.

 

[apodo]

TBH that is only your take on it and you have taken it in a different context to me.

Given Sharkey said: "If someone takes the time and care over their comments and criticises the image... I appreciate them far more than I do a quick 'like it' and go" I am not sure how anyone could think he was suggesting no one should ever be critical of his work.

We can all spin our own perceptions into it and come up with many different ways to interpret things if we wish. I prefer not to as that just muddies the waters.

To be honest it sounds like that is what you are doing. Though epistemologically all comprehension is an interpretative process based on prejudices. It would be impossible to understand anything otherwise.

The point is that by saying absolutely nothing you achieve absolutely nothing.

Then please explain how a simple "I do not like it" achieves anything, because I fail to see any productive value beyond making me question why a person would say such a thing.

In fact I would say silence would achieve more that such a comment would.

To me if someone says "I do not like it" then is it because the subject it not something that interests them, the processing did not work, the composition was all wrong. Who knows? Not everyone likes HDR pictures of dogs, so maybe that person who not someone I would have expected to like it. But what am I supposed to change, if anything? I have no idea what to do with that comment, it has achieved nothing from my perspective.

But if someone looks at a shot of mine and says nothing it says to me that they did not see anything wrong that particularly needs to be changed, but neither was there anything that jumped out at them that they felt the need to comment on. While it does not tell me anything particular that I can improve, I can at least take from the silence that the shot is so-so or just good enough.

Michael.

 

[Sharkey]

The say nothing approach has a bit to offer, as some others have already said.

Personally I see a fair share of 'no comment' postings going under my name and I take from that, that the viewer sees nothing on which they can comment/judge or criticise.

I've sold a lot of my work as a pro. and from that acquired some confidence in my ability.

Since being 'set free' to photograph what/when and how I like the same can not be said now.

I look to this site and others for help in finding a direction/subject/method suitable for me to express myself.

For that to happen I must accept 'criticism' by default.

If you don't like my photograph please say 'why you don't and if you do like it, why would be thankfully received also.

It is that simple.

All I have ever asked was politeness and considered thought as their opposites I have found difficult and destructive bedfellows.

Regards

 

[J Gordon]

I think so Dazzer, so long as reasons/criticism given is constructive, otherwise we all turn into egomaniacs.
Generally, I find criticism really useful, certainly it stings sometimes, especially if you have produced what you believe is a good shot.
Criticism can be hard to hear and take sometimes, but it is often what drives good photographers to become great.
One seasoned professional once told me he had written to Don McCullin asking which countries he should travel to to develop his photography, and got a response that was sneering from the start, stating he hadn't got time to advise all and sundry, but went on to say 'stay at home' because the world and his wife were going out into deepest Africa and the images were becoming two a penny whilst good old Blighty was largely being ignored. The photographer now is a huge success in the upper echelons of art photography receiving serious commissions.

 

[Ratty]

To be honest it sounds like that is what you are doing.

Well it's obvious that was going to be your reply as you have chosen not to understand the simple point I was making.

Then please explain how a simple "I do not like it" achieves anything, because I fail to see any productive value beyond making me question why a person would say such a thing.

So you've answered your own question.
The simple admission that it would make you think achieves something.
Any comment that simply says "I like it" only passifies the pic-taker. That's pretty much it.
A simple " I don't like it" will envoke the same response as you said you would have at the very leats. That will make the pic-taker question why someone would not like it. They can then either go off in a huff, choose to ask the poster for reasons, or they can ask themselves for reasons and see what they come up with.
That's not to say that the reason for the 'dislike' post was necessarily one worht considering as sometimes it's given due to alck of comprehension.
But the fact remains that it will promote a reaction and hopefully it will have positive results. (that is dependant on the recipient and how they react to adverse comments though)

J G .




If we ge tback to the actual question which the longer debates seem to forget.
It was to see if a simple " I don't like it" was as acceptable as a simple " I like it".
And I've not seen one good argument to say that it's not.
Two sides of the same coin. Yet people seem to think one is rude and the other not and can't see past that.

 

[Sharkey]

If we ge tback to the actual question which the longer debates seem to forget.
It was to see if a simple " I don't like it" was as acceptable as a simple " I like it".
And I've not seen one good argument to say that it's not.
Two sides of the same coin. Yet people seem to think one is rude and the other not and can't see past that.

As an answer to 'a' question I cannot fault it.

The additions to the thread(mine anyway) I think not only tried to answer the bare bones of a question but to also contribute to its development as a subject for comment and thought.

Suffice to say "I like that" or "I don't like that" are equally succinct as your answer but in reality neither is likely to evoke much of a response either by a return question or by a bout of self analysis(photo-wise).

Flippant answer, no thought necessary, of little value.

So, both are as good as each other but neither is much of an answer to a request for an opinion that may be of use to the questioner either technically or personally.

 

[Ratty]

Unless of course the question was simply "Do you like this?" which means a 'yes' or 'no' are reasonable replies. But then it's the person asking who is at fault if they really wanted more.


And before we go around in another circle(I'm slightly dizzy) I think we agree on most aspects even if from different directions.


Saved this until last as it's worth having as the final thought from the post.

So, both are as good as each other but neither is much of an answer to a request for an opinion that may be of use to the questioner either technically or personally.

100%

 

[Sharkey]

 

[Marianne]

I am with Minimeeze in that if I like an image I will say so, I leave a small comment to let the tog know I have been there. If I don't like an image and can't say why I will move on without leaving a comment. Very often I don't see anything wrong with an image until someone else points out a fault.

I look at an image as whole, I am arty, not a perfectionist. :nuts:

If it pleases my eye then that is all that matters to me really. However, I do understand a lot more of the techy stuff since I've been living with my excellent tutor! I still don't always feel confident that my knowledge is good enough though. Silly really....sometimes I get worried that if I say the wrong thing, I might not be able to explain myself properly, another reason to keep quiet