Here is a comment, that I received the other day from a picture on this post.
This picture will be more meaning if there is colour
This comment didn’t bother me, but it did start me to thinking. First, I don’t mind critiques; however, I don’t ask for them. I usually won’t critique anyone else’s artwork because it meant something to them, which is why they posted it. The only thing that my critique would do is to help them adjust the picture to my liking and my vision. Subjective. In critiques there are no absolutes. It’s all about opinion, and you know what they say about opinions: Opinions are like, er, uh a**holes, everyone has one, and they all stink.
When I post an image, whether it be for documentation purposes, or artistic, I posted it because, well, I liked it. It resonated with me for some reason. Not all of my pictures do. Also, some resonate more than others. So, I take critiques with a grain of salt. Sure, if someone points out some obvious flaw in the picture, like a stick pointing out of someone’s head, or a crooked horizon, I’ll be on the look out for that the next time, but if someone thinks that it would have been better in color, that is his/her opinion and has nothing to do with my thoughts or feelings about the photo. I wouldn’t even consider changing it.
Now, this is not to say that they should not offer their opinion, but only to say that the opinion is just that, an opinion and that it will be taken as such. Each person gathers different meaning based on their own life experiences. I think that the idea of art is to enjoy it, not to critique it. I wonder where critiques first started … probably with the first petroglyph on a cave wall. 
Update: I had put in a link to an interesting video, but that link seems to have been moved and I cannot find it. Too bad, it was an interesting film. I have removed the errant link.
No related posts.
13 Responses to “It would have more meaning if …”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Too bad the link to the film isn’t working.
Thank you for the comment about “opinions” given as absolutes. Another small, but significant reason I quit bloggging.
Anyway, love that bottom image…mmmm-hmmmm. I’d mat that in an almost white mat and frame it with a very, very light gray frame.
WHAT FILM??? Which film did you find interesting?? Have I shot a roll of it?? Oh Paul, how will I be able to concentrate today??? I’ll be checking my e-mail often…
Sorry, Micki. I called it a film, but what I meant was video. I know how excited you get about film! Sorry for the confusion.
I agree about the critiques. It took a while for me to understand that I like getting comments but often find the ones telling me what I did wrong just fell on deaf ears. I even had one shot that I carefully oriented only to have more than one person tell me it was crooked! Crooked to them maybe, but not to me.
BTW, that pine cone shot would be so much better if only you had it surrounded by the green grass, nice try though!
(the latter said in the way of jest only…of course. I love it just the way it is and appreciate how it helps me to see through your artistic eye)
I agree with you totally, Paul. The “this would be better if…” comments only seem to serve the commenter’s ego. That’s one of the many reasons I disabled comments on my photoblog, as you know.
I think a lot of the more detailed critiques that show up in comments come from those individuals who love to hear themselves talk and now love to see their pontifications in print. I look upon them as having their own personal aggenda and accordingly take their comments with a large sack of salt (as opposed to a grain). These are the same people who love to get on-line and debate which brand of camera is better. Who cares? Not one of us could probably use a simple point and shoot to its fullest potential anyway! Let’s just get out there and capture life unfolding, that’s what it’s all about right?
Thag, use red rock, not charcoal.
Thag, use red rock, not coal
In 1973 I took a photography class in college. Every Friday was critique day and we had to present that week’s effort to the class. It was brutal and at times, a gut wrenching lesson in developing a thick skin. And I learned a lot about how central the ego is to artistic temperament.
Related to that is the compulsion that so many photography websites have about providing contests or ranking photos from 100 to number 1. Daily Awards is one of the websites. I don’t like it. As Dave Letterman says when doing stupid pet tricks, “This is not a competition, no wagering.â€
Lovely shots Paul … both of them … especially the seconmd one, i stared at it for quite sometime …
I actually have a more positive attitute to critiques – which of course completely depends on the type of critique we’re talking about. Those people that take an absolute standpoint and try to give you advice from somewhere “up the hill”…Well, that’s the dogs barking and the caravan still goes on.
However, there are others that helped me really a lot (and still do). Depends a lot on the general atmosphere, the honesty, the relation between artis and critic, etc. For example, a lot of the critiques posted over at Radiant Vista are just great. In contrast, I find a lot of the critiques in the more technical oriented forums just crappy.
A good critique can be anything between an encouraging slap on the shoulder to a suggestion that really helps me identifying that “itch” that I always had with a particular photo (“Looks ok but, but something is not quite right… What the *** could that be?”) to opening up a completely new route for looking at a motive – which is always a good excuse for going there again and do yet another shooting.
So, all in all, critiques are certainly a sensitive issue – but that makes some of them great!
—
Whatever…your shots are great (as always), I especially enjoy the graphical study with the sand textures and the branches. Gorgeous…
Thomas
It boils down to the fact that you liked what you posted and so that’s why you posted it.
Sometimes if someone suggests something I will try it if I think they are on to something. It’s a way to learn new and different techniques at least.
As I said in another post, if we all had the same vision for an image it would be pretty mundane.
It makes you really wonder if growth in our photography is stimulated from the outside or from within! I tend to be on the same page as you and consider it the latter, but do not discount the valuable advice sometimes by someone who can offer a different perspective. Good post.
Boy do these images sing relaxation at the beach to me. Both very strong graphically as well!