I am wanting to learn more on my pictures as to whats pleasing and whats not.
I have some lovely followers that really make me feel great about my pictures,
However, I am at the stage where I'm needing to know why its pleasing or how someone else may have done it differently.
I am wanting to learn as much as possible.
How do I get more critiques?
Hi Jackie, I know exactly where you are coming from. This site is great and full of very wonderful people but I have often felt that critique is sadly lacking. I am no expert and I now only post once a week in my second year but I would be happy to drop by and offer my humble critique once a week if you would like me to? I feel if someone asks then they really would like honest opinions. My album @happysnap consists of my first year (every day posting up until Jan 2014) and I now post with the @se7en team on Mondays. Let me know if this is of any use to you and I will start following you. If you are looking for more frequent contact, no worries, I am sure there will be offers of help from lots of others.
@happysnap hello Linda, I would love it if you could pop by and give your knowledge. I would be super grateful. There have been a couple of great critiques on a couple of my pictures which have not only been super helpful but also have taught me, and that exactly what I'm looking for.
@truechicknz Hi Jackie, I find myself in a similar situation. I know my pictures are technically sound (for the most part), but getting critique on what I could do to make the pictures themselves better, be it compositionally or otherwise would be great. Since I would really like to develop my photography to the next level.
One thing that does spring to mind, and one I should start doing myself, is to find pictures by famous photographers that you like and find interesting or thought provoking and try to copy their style, composition etc...
Another would be to start a proper critique thread / group here? Maybe one where you have to critique a previous posters photo, before posting your own? I don't know how that would work....
I sometimes ask on my pictures for peoples opinions, that often results in more detailed answers. Or ask whether others like or don't like whatever it is in the picture that you are wondering about. Hope that helps. Or another approach is to ask people you follow who are achieving in their images what you would like to how they did such and such a thing. I have found people are usually happy to answer questions of their work.
@klas yes, I think you are right. I know I find myself looking at people pictures here and trying to work out what I like about that photo. I'm still really learning, and I'm still not 100% sure what some of the terminology would be. I have a few friends who are professional photographers but they are always so busy that they don't have time to critique. I read alot of feed back of others photos and have learnt a wee bit, but I learn most from what people say on mine as I can flick back and reread and study. I think it may have been you that taught me about purple fringing lol. I went a played and found out what you meant. It's things like that I like. I have posted on other threads and said I would like to be critiqued and also put on my profile, I will start writing it on my pictures too.
@newbank those are some great ideas! I do follow you and if you feel comfortable I would love it if you see something you see I could have done better of differently, would you mind giving your point of view *bats eyes in hope*
I also would welcome feedback. Perhaps Jackie (@truechicknz ) you might be interested in organizing a thread so we could look at each others photos once a week and give specific feedback. Folks who are interested could indicate this on the thread so we'd know who's photos to look at.
@randystreat yes that might be a great idea. Maybe each person who wants a particular photo critiqued could post their picture and others could give feed back. Sounds like a fantastic plan.
Amen. Usually the comments I get (if any at all) are how they like it, I wish I could get some on what I should change. I would offer my help....but I looked at your album and you're more advanced than I. :)
@denvern8v --- It's very difficult to say how we would change someone else's photo. It's your eye and your vision, not ours. If we comment on what we would change it is no longer yours. At best any advice given should be technical only. Not much more than that and maybe eliminating or adding more of something within your shot. That's it. The artistic and creative comments are purely subjective and should be taken as such. Remember it's your perspective and that is the way it should always be, your's and your's alone, otherwise your photos are just another like all the others in the mix.
I completely agree with Dorrena. I have seen some critiques of others, and completely disagree with them! Everyone has their own style,and I'm drawn more to styles and subject matter that appeal to me specifically. Everyone has their own take on how a photo may be changed to make it better. There are technical tips on this site that are very good, and maybe one idea would be to have more of those.
I think the best is to just ask! I did this and found that I got some critiques from followers but just for a few shots. So I guess the best is to ask and keep asking!
@dmortega you worded it better than I did, thank you. What I meant was sometimes my lighting can be a little off and I might need help with suggestions on how to fix it next time and things like that.
@dmortega@vstap There are some absolutes I think that should be independent of "style" - mostly in the "technique" area, but some in the composition space. When things get to personal "style" or "taste" I think a reviewer/critique should qualify those comments. I think it is also possible to offer advice/criticism in these areas that might not fit your style or temperament, but that you know fit for many others. For instance, I personally do not greatly admire and seldom shoot "hi key" but there are "proper" ways to do this and other ways that are just plain wrong or just sloppy.
@quietpurplehaze And as Hazel said, just ask. Pick three or four people whose work you admire and then copy them and ask them explicitly to critique. Most people here or 365 are more than happy to do so.
One thing to remember, I think there are very few photographs, especially as shot by "non pros," that can't be improved in some aspect. For some people, it may sound like carping to point these out on a consistent basis, so I always strive to find some positives as well to mention for reinforcement. Again just ask for guidance and assistance. As I said, perhaps not to the world in general, but to a few whose work you really admire consistently.
One thing I find good on here, Frank, is that critique is given in a positive manner which is not always the case when one offers one's shots up for constructive criticism.
@frankhymus I think advice in technique & technical aspects is an excellent idea, but when you start talking absolutes in the artistic fields, often those who break the rules have the most original work. It's a tough call.
@vstap Perhaps. But I think the vast majority of folks would be better served knowing and sticking to the "rules" and "common wisdom" for a time and then, maybe, branching out after that. For me, photography is as much a craft as an art form. Perhaps more so. Many disagree with me on that, but I am unrepentant. :) Learn your craft well first...
Hello folks,
I am looking for some solid constructive advice in order to develop and grow photography skills. Fluffy comments are nice, but I would like to have people friend me who are willing to offer suggestions so I can learn from shared knowledge and experence.
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One thing that does spring to mind, and one I should start doing myself, is to find pictures by famous photographers that you like and find interesting or thought provoking and try to copy their style, composition etc...
Another would be to start a proper critique thread / group here? Maybe one where you have to critique a previous posters photo, before posting your own? I don't know how that would work....
@newbank thanks Newbank. I appreciate it :-)
I think the best is to just ask! I did this and found that I got some critiques from followers but just for a few shots. So I guess the best is to ask and keep asking!
@quietpurplehaze And as Hazel said, just ask. Pick three or four people whose work you admire and then copy them and ask them explicitly to critique. Most people here or 365 are more than happy to do so.
One thing to remember, I think there are very few photographs, especially as shot by "non pros," that can't be improved in some aspect. For some people, it may sound like carping to point these out on a consistent basis, so I always strive to find some positives as well to mention for reinforcement. Again just ask for guidance and assistance. As I said, perhaps not to the world in general, but to a few whose work you really admire consistently.
One thing I find good on here, Frank, is that critique is given in a positive manner which is not always the case when one offers one's shots up for constructive criticism.
I am looking for some solid constructive advice in order to develop and grow photography skills. Fluffy comments are nice, but I would like to have people friend me who are willing to offer suggestions so I can learn from shared knowledge and experence.