Iankahler Loc: Seattle WA

I have spent some time thinking lately about what we learn as artists... as a photographer.
My grandfather [maternal] was an interesting man. He told me... if you want to learn anything, watch what others do while remaining unnoticed - ask, knowing that you must listen - listen as if you know nothing.
I observe those simple rules when I show anyone any photograph. I expect opinion to come to my attention, with the same imaginative diversity that I apply to my vision when I photograph something. I am aware that not everyone will agree with me. It is the same in any task we set out to do.
Opinion - from another is always a learning experience. Some people offer their opinion with such conclusive determination that I wonder what brought that person to that place where they are so totally convinced that the only worthy result is how they would approach a given task.
We can respond to that in two different ways. The best way is to understand that the passion in the opinion comes from experience. But experience is also a personal journey. With that experience, comes perception; individual perception.
The second and less valuable response would be to react defensively in order to protect your personal vision... your personal journey. What we forget in this second defensive response is that we are listening to or reading an opinion... and not an attack on our perception. Although in some instances, it is.

Perception is no more than personal opinion. Some offer it constructively, responsibly, in an informative and productive format. Others are convinced that their perception is governed by strict rules that deny any flexibility.
When an opinion denies flexibility, imagination, or tolerance of individual perception, such an approach is usually reserved for entities such as galleries, magazines, and of course the undeniable nature of a mind with narrow and inflexible vision.

So in seeking opinion, I have learned to not dismiss any approach as invaluable; to be ignored. I have learned to pick up those tools that I perceive will help me understand and improve my vision. All other opinion that is unproductive in it's conclusive and inflexible approach, I leave it lay where it is. I leave it behind; because by dwelling on the impracticality of arrogant inflexibility, I am hindering my ability to absorb the experiences that will allow me to advance on MY journey.

itsnoelb Loc: Edgewater, FL. Originally: FLINT. MI.

Sounds about right.

repleo Loc: Boston

It is important to remember that when somebody offers you an opinion, they are telling you about themselves. They are not telling you about you. Evaluate the person and arrive at your own conclusion as to the value of their opinion.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Sounds like you have a healthy outlook on dealing with some people not only here in UHH, but on the internet in general.

Joe Blow

One thing to keep in mind is that "critique" is not synonymous with "criticism" and you are three quarters the way there.

One thing I've noticed when asked to critique a photo is sometimes it is darned near perfect already. I feel I'm being condescending when I'm critiquing something better than I usually do.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

My maternal grandfather told me this: "You need to shave. You look like a bum."
That's about it.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

When you show your photography and ask for opinion, are you looking for critique or affirmation, two different things. If you want critique find someone's photography you aspire to be like or as good as and ask for their Opinion. If you want affirmation ask a friend or family for their Opinion. Asking the latter will not help you progress

frankie c Loc: Lake Havasu CIty, AZ

Right ON

Iankahler Loc: Seattle WA

LOLOL

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like your grandfather's advice to watch and learn. I've always tried to do that. You can also learn by watching people do things incorrectly. Not everyone is an expert.

Brent Rowlett Loc: Atlanta, GA

I highly disagree with that shallow view. Many people offer valuable critique. That is how we learn and improve.

Photocraig

I had the same feeling but changed as I took College Classes. If you see, say, an Ansel Adams photo, you can still critique by saying, and here's the point, specifically what pleases you about the:
Scene
Composition
Subject,
Tonal balance ('cause that's a subjective choice made by the photographer--especially Ansel).

Looking at a great photo and NOT critiquing (analyzing) it to describe how it strikes you personally is missing a learning opportunity.

The same skills you bring to critiquing a finished work are the ones you use to refine the "PREvisualization"you're using to make an image.

It's a shame that the words are so similar. And yes, I'd never negatively criticize the masterworks. I may not like them all, but I'm still in awe. Instead, I do analyze the images to see how I'd have composed the subject(s), lit the scene, stepped one or two to the right, left, front or back. Used different techniques to make it my own. These are ALL mage making skills that sets the better photographers apart. What better way than to analyze the Masters to understand what and maybe why they did what they did. And then apply those reasoning guidelines to your next image.

That's why you will see Art Students copying Masterworks in Museums. It is not to counterfeit the images, but to re-create the process as a learning experience. There are photo workshops where they attempt to literally set up in the tripod holes of Ansel and Weston and experience the challenge of making an excellent image of the iconic scenes the masters did. And THEN make your OWN image of the scene by changing all the variables at your disposal (that they did not have) to make your own image. We would view a famous photo and use a photo mat cut in half diagonally so we had 2 "L" shaped pieces so we could crop and re-frame the masterpiece to see how many good compositions were within the image. It was a good exercise. We also used the same thing in the field, all looking like the stereotypical Movie Director framing whatever was in front of us without ever touching a camera.

Lots of ways to learn. The trick is to never stop.
C

Lazy J Loc: Pacific Northwest

You must have a nicer family then me, because mine is brutally honest!

royden Loc: Decatur, GA

My wife say the same thing

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

It's all about artistic vision. You can have a lot, or a little, or fall somewhere in between. Then you add the tools. My artistic vision comes and goes. Sometimes it arrives before I shoot, sometimes after in post.