Well I have to admit, I've loved all the positive comments I've received over the last 13 months, they've really helped me feel more confident and kept me inspired to complete year one.
Now, though, I have a new request for my followers and anyone else who comments on my photos...
...Critique me!
I feel I've improved a lot in the last year but I need a boost to help keep that learning curve going.
Please can you add critique on my photos rather than the more normal comments. My ego can take a bashing, it's ok! Let me know what you would do differently, if it is processing, composition, lighting. Anything just let me know!
I admit my photos this week have been quite child focussed but I promise they will return to the usual mix of things this weekend.
@grecican@carrapeta00
Aww you're both too kind! Unless there's a critique along the lines of "You're crap! put down the camera and hide in deep dark hole so we don't have to see your images again!" I won't take a critique in a negative way just that you are able to see things with a second (third...fourth...) set of eyes and will be able to suggest things I may not have thought of.
@dirtyangel Thank you Shivam, I'm about to leave for a weekend away but when I get back I'll have a look through your photos :)
Emma your work is amazing, I am in awe every time I look through your pics. If anyone told you to hide in a dark hole and put down the camera you would have a lot of angry followers LOL :D
I think it's a great idea and sometimes I wish the same thing. Instead of the normal "nice capture", "cool shot",..... if someone would say what would have been better it really helps. I understand why people don't do it though including me, it is a thin line and there is a great chance of being accused to be negative or proud of your own capabilities, etc.
Once this thread disappears people will not see this. If you want critiquing on all your photos wouldn't it be better to note that on them? So, when new people coming in are looking they know you want the photo critiqued.
I tend to agree with @dmortega - it's sort of an unwritten 365 'rule' that people won't just start offering critique on your photos unless you pretty specifically ask for it on the photo itself. Most folks who want critique tag their shots with "critique-me" and also ask for it in the caption of the shot.
Did you participate on Critique Me. Also find people that follow you regularaly and tell them that you want it. I sometimes offer critique on my close followers because they already like what I am doing.
@beautifulthing --- "it's sort of an unwritten 365 'rule' that people won't just start offering critique on your photos unless you pretty specifically ask for it on the photo itself."
This is true and should always remain true because this is a personal photo project for each of us. None of us can presume any picture is put here for public scrutiny. Most people are looking to improve their photos but it's still a personal project.
Somebody had an idea earlier this month and Ross said he would think about having a page for people who wanted critiques. It would be great if we could tag it and it automatically went to that page.
Please anyone willing to look at my project and critique, I would greatly appreciate it.You don't have to have the vocabulary, just say what you like or don't like specifically.
I can offer an opinion too...Feel free to do the same for me. I think we are both at a place where we have improved a lot and want to keep going, but don't know how. At least, that;s how I am feeling these days. I love your photos!
As an art student, the key thing that was drilled into us at critiques was that "I like it" or "I don't like it" is NOT a critique. A critique involves identifying the techniques that worked, the skill that is portrayed, or the techniques/skills that fell short or were missed completely. Someone can execute a technique perfectly on a photo you don't really like. This is what makes it constructive. This is what develops you into a better photographer (versus a more popular photographer).
Emma, I know you've asked for critiques, but I know you've got an interview for uni and you're feeling nervous about it. I studied photography as a mature student, so I do understand a little about what you are going through.
First of all, uni's like mature students, generally they've got the right attitude and work hard. You've mentioned that you haven't got any formal training, that need not matter, but it would be good if you could talk about some photographers who inspire you and what significance their work holds for you. Not just the past masters but also new photographers, maybe check out and issue or two of bjp and try to get hold of some back issues of portfolio, (it doesn't publish anymore). Going to uni is a different world to 365, don't get me wrong, there are some excellent photographs and photographers on this site, but the people at uni will want to see more than sunsets. they will want to see your interpretation of other photographers and what is the meaning and message in your work. They will want to see that you have an understanding of how a camera works and how you can use different settings and techniques to express yourself. Please be cautious about over processing your images,(in my opinion some of the ones I've seen from you are over processed). I think they will be more interested in what you produce out of the camera than what some snazzy bit of software can do for you. I hope the interview goes well for you, best of luck and I hope you don't mind me commenting.
@berni
Thank you for taking the time to reply Berni, of course I don't mind your comments.
Some of what you have advised is what I have been doing since summer trying to prepare myself for if I was lucky enough to get on the course, barely a day goes by when I'm not reading a book to learn new techniques or to understand composition/lighting, or as you said, my camera better.
Similarily what started off as enjoying the artist challenges on here has led to me enjoying researching other photographers and gaining inspiration from them (you really should see my bookmarks list on my computer alone!)
I understand what is praised here will be ripped apart in a university environment, that is partly what I want. I've learnt that if I'm criticised I push myself all the more to get it right the next time!
I agree that many of my images here are over processed when I look back on them, that in part I can say is due to the learning process and generally playing with my editing software however I have no plans of including those in a portfolio, they are more for fun and often seeing what I can do rather than something I would hang on my wall, never mind put forward and say "Here look! Isn't this great!"
I will go have a look at bjp as you suggested.
One thing I am having difficulty with is deciding what size print to include in my portfolio, I don't want to make them too small but equally I don't want to seem ridiculous with prints twice the size of everyone else applying. What size would you suggest? I was considering 12x18 prints, do you think these will be too big?
@emmar84 I used 12x18 for my portfolio, but it's been a few years since I was at college and the standard may have changed. Not all my prints were printed to the full size of the paper, I put a border on them, mainly because my portfolio was based on 35mm and you are limited to how much you can enlarge them. I got all my supplies from silverprint, (portfolio box, carrier, plastic mounts etc) you could check out their web site and find out whats the "in" size/method at the moment.
Don't know if it will be the same for you but 'alternative processes' (for example liquid light and cyanotypes) was a hot topic when I was at college as was expressive imagining, like scratching the paper, or painting on some fix half way through the dev stage. And despite what some people have said on this site, words and imagery certainly do go together!
The only "insturctions" I haev received are:
For the presentation/workshop
"You will be asked to discuss and present for 2 minutes a selection of three images from your portfolio in a group workshop;
o you should consider; your motivations, the development of your concept and ideas, your analysis of your selection, your wider contemporaries;
• we are keen to see how you engage with your wider peer group;
o you should practice your ability to analyse and critique images, so maybe read
some articles on your favourite photographers, remember keep it simple and don’t be afraid to ask
and then guidance for the portfolio;
In your portfolio
• we want, through your eyes, to see how you capture the world around you!
• we would like to see evidence of your creativity.
• we wish to see evidence of the development for your ideas.
So, you should bring with you:
• A selection of well presented still photographs and moving image where appropriate
• Research/development journals/sketchbooks/blogs
Ideally I want to have between 20-30 photos, I've culled down my initial selection to 33. I'll have a further look at them tomorrow to reduce them further.
The presentation bit is what's troubling me most at the moment. I'm not sure what they're looking for, I have an initial idea for 3 photos in a theme but I don't know if they will want me to talk about what they mean to me and why I took them or more the technical side of how I took them. I can't really do both in two minutes!
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Aww you're both too kind! Unless there's a critique along the lines of "You're crap! put down the camera and hide in deep dark hole so we don't have to see your images again!" I won't take a critique in a negative way just that you are able to see things with a second (third...fourth...) set of eyes and will be able to suggest things I may not have thought of.
@dirtyangel Thank you Shivam, I'm about to leave for a weekend away but when I get back I'll have a look through your photos :)
This is true and should always remain true because this is a personal photo project for each of us. None of us can presume any picture is put here for public scrutiny. Most people are looking to improve their photos but it's still a personal project.
Please anyone willing to look at my project and critique, I would greatly appreciate it.You don't have to have the vocabulary, just say what you like or don't like specifically.
First of all, uni's like mature students, generally they've got the right attitude and work hard. You've mentioned that you haven't got any formal training, that need not matter, but it would be good if you could talk about some photographers who inspire you and what significance their work holds for you. Not just the past masters but also new photographers, maybe check out and issue or two of bjp and try to get hold of some back issues of portfolio, (it doesn't publish anymore). Going to uni is a different world to 365, don't get me wrong, there are some excellent photographs and photographers on this site, but the people at uni will want to see more than sunsets. they will want to see your interpretation of other photographers and what is the meaning and message in your work. They will want to see that you have an understanding of how a camera works and how you can use different settings and techniques to express yourself. Please be cautious about over processing your images,(in my opinion some of the ones I've seen from you are over processed). I think they will be more interested in what you produce out of the camera than what some snazzy bit of software can do for you. I hope the interview goes well for you, best of luck and I hope you don't mind me commenting.
Thank you for taking the time to reply Berni, of course I don't mind your comments.
Some of what you have advised is what I have been doing since summer trying to prepare myself for if I was lucky enough to get on the course, barely a day goes by when I'm not reading a book to learn new techniques or to understand composition/lighting, or as you said, my camera better.
Similarily what started off as enjoying the artist challenges on here has led to me enjoying researching other photographers and gaining inspiration from them (you really should see my bookmarks list on my computer alone!)
I understand what is praised here will be ripped apart in a university environment, that is partly what I want. I've learnt that if I'm criticised I push myself all the more to get it right the next time!
I agree that many of my images here are over processed when I look back on them, that in part I can say is due to the learning process and generally playing with my editing software however I have no plans of including those in a portfolio, they are more for fun and often seeing what I can do rather than something I would hang on my wall, never mind put forward and say "Here look! Isn't this great!"
I will go have a look at bjp as you suggested.
One thing I am having difficulty with is deciding what size print to include in my portfolio, I don't want to make them too small but equally I don't want to seem ridiculous with prints twice the size of everyone else applying. What size would you suggest? I was considering 12x18 prints, do you think these will be too big?
Thank you again for your comments
Don't know if it will be the same for you but 'alternative processes' (for example liquid light and cyanotypes) was a hot topic when I was at college as was expressive imagining, like scratching the paper, or painting on some fix half way through the dev stage. And despite what some people have said on this site, words and imagery certainly do go together!
The only "insturctions" I haev received are:
For the presentation/workshop
"You will be asked to discuss and present for 2 minutes a selection of three images from your portfolio in a group workshop;
o you should consider; your motivations, the development of your concept and ideas, your analysis of your selection, your wider contemporaries;
• we are keen to see how you engage with your wider peer group;
o you should practice your ability to analyse and critique images, so maybe read
some articles on your favourite photographers, remember keep it simple and don’t be afraid to ask
and then guidance for the portfolio;
In your portfolio
• we want, through your eyes, to see how you capture the world around you!
• we would like to see evidence of your creativity.
• we wish to see evidence of the development for your ideas.
So, you should bring with you:
• A selection of well presented still photographs and moving image where appropriate
• Research/development journals/sketchbooks/blogs
Ideally I want to have between 20-30 photos, I've culled down my initial selection to 33. I'll have a further look at them tomorrow to reduce them further.
The presentation bit is what's troubling me most at the moment. I'm not sure what they're looking for, I have an initial idea for 3 photos in a theme but I don't know if they will want me to talk about what they mean to me and why I took them or more the technical side of how I took them. I can't really do both in two minutes!
@berni