Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

This link is from the Digital Photography School website. I hope this may stop some of the hostile remarks exchanged between members here about giving and receiving critiques about their work. This is NOT aimed at anyone in particular, just what I thought was good information. Take it for what it is worth, or ignore it, but I think it may be helpful.


http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-handle-unwanted-critique-of-your-photography

My own observations:
I am by no means an expert, but I am learning, mostly from my fellow Hedgehoggers, for which I am grateful beyond words. All I am saying is let’s all get along and learn from each other.

professorwheeze Loc: Maine, USA

Well stated Quickflash. DPSchool is an interesting daily site. One of the things I try to do when evaluating (ain't that a nicer word than critque!!), is the following military rule. Praise in public. Punish, that is, negatively state things in private. That is precisely what I did this week with another photographer who asked me to review a photograph here. Publicly, I will be brief if there is a whole lot different than what I would have done. I thenPM'd the individual with a lot of my concerns with their photograph. I then summarized "what I would have done differently" and ended with that's just my humble opinion. Dirty laundry stays hidden. Clean laundry flies high.

Similarly, when someone has produced a "wall hanger", I will let them know publicly. And, explain why.

When it comes to my own work, my skin is leathered. If I want your criticism, I want to know how to improve the image. Just don't call me anything you wouldn't call your best friend!.

If someone posts a photo for the sake of posting, then don't criticize it unless you PM the individual first. They may or may not want anyone's criticism. Some shooters may post just to say to their friends "hey! I've got something on the web.". Don't believe it...just look at Y-tube!!!!!

So praise publicly and make negative comments privately (if asked).

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

I am a student at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I think the article you posted is very good. I had been considering posting this and i hope you don't mind me adding this to the conversation.

this is also some good information about critiquing peoples work.


Purpose of a critique:

A good critique will allow students to see what others see in their assignment. The student receiving the critique will be able to determine if the purpose of the assignment was successfully achieved. Using professional language, students will develop the ability to articulate and defend opinions about each other’s work.

How to conduct an effective critique:

Use the "sandwiching" approach when conducting a critique, summarized as follows:

Provide positive feedback.
Find something positive to say about the work.
Define specific aspects of the work you are critiquing.
Be more analytical and less of a cheerleader. Don't just say “I loved it!” or "good job!"
Provide constructive suggestions for improvements.
Address the technical and aesthetic aspects related to the assignment; what works and what doesn't work. Cite sources (lecture notes, course textbooks, and additional research) whenever appropriate.
Place your comments in the first person, such as, “I think this area could use . . .” rather than, “You should change this because . . .”
If you are having trouble figuring out what language to use, refer back to the readings and lecture notes to support your critique.
Close the critique by pointing out something positive again and note improvements in progress over time.
Use encouraging words, such as, "This was successful because . . ." or "You achieved a composition that clearly fulfills what the problem was about."
If someone is clearly struggling in the class, be mindful of his/her confidence and be extra careful with your suggestions.
Throughout this course, you will see lots of improvement in your own work and your fellow students’ work. Be sure to let each other know.

Other things to remember:

Trust your instincts and eyes when communicating your ideas—you probably know more than you think you do.
The better you can verbalize what you think about other students’ work, the better you will be able to correct your own.
Use the vocabulary and concepts you are learning in class.
Always be respectful, courteous, and supportive.

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

i posted a photo on here a week or so ago, the comment i got was "the second one gave me a visceral response - i cringed." Well that is all that was said. i think when you make a statement like this you need to clarify your statement,so i know what you are talking about so i can make corrections. I know some of the stuff i do is not good or maybe lacking quite a bit, but just don't make a statement that you cringed. Give some detail. When something like that is said you don't know weather to ignore it or get them to elaborate.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I saw this article and was unsure if it was ok to post since it was a direct emailing.

I'm not sure that I agree with it 100%...

the part I disagree with is the "critique in private"...the reason we critique out loud here in the forum is that those observing the thread and reading the comments can learn also...we all make the same mistakes and so seeing someone elses less than stellar results brings to mind our similar results and we undertand more of what we need to do to correct.


I've noticed here on the forum that unless a person is HEAPED with praise then any real critique is met with a defensive reaction and comments (from others) like "it was his/her artistic vision and if he/she likes it that's all that matters!" and similar.

Another thing that I don't think helps the learning process is people coming to others "defense" when they feel that the critique is too harsh or blunt.

We are all adults and we can take care of ourselves...we are here to improve and honest critique that avoids the cheerleader syndrome is helpful to all.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Should be simple. Unless a person asks for a critique, leave it alone.

Photo Gallery
Show off your pics and/or ask for general critique.

Photo Analysis
This is where we scrutinize photos and discuss specific issues of a given shot.

Simple huh ?

Sarge

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

i posted a photo on here a week or so ago, the comment i got was "the second one gave me a visceral response - i cringed." Well that is all that was said. i think when you make a statement like this you need to clarify your statement,so i know what you are talking about so i can make corrections. I know some of the stuff i do is not good or maybe lacking quite a bit, but just don't make a statement that you cringed. Give some detail. When something like that is said you don't know weather to ignore it or get them to elaborate.[/quote]

Posts like that are what led me to start this thread. Things like that, or "Your photo sucks" is not a constructive critique.

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

I think you are correct to a point. We all need to see the good, positive praise of photos we take. We all need to learn from our mistakes as well. Most people have egos, even though they are adults. It is not much harder to say something like, "I might have used a smaller f-stop to get focus in the foreground" as opposed to "maybe you need glasses, because all your blurry pictures are horrible."
The point is simple, just be nice, be truthful, but civil. Also, as stated earlier, if someone posts a picture just for the sake of doing so, there is no reason to pick it apart. If they want C&C they will ask for it! I know I do, and I really don't even care if you tell me my picture sucks. I just want to know why it sucks and how to correct my lousy photography. But that is just me. Others are more sensitive, and we are adults. Adults should be mindful of the feeling of others.

Dave

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

It is very helpful to me to see the negative critiques. I don't get to shoot near as much as I would like too. I have learned a lot by reading the comments, both positive and negative, on other's pictures.

I think the trick in providing negative feedback is to offer suggestive corrective action. That way the reader can determine their own relevance to the critique.

I see plenty of what I would consider to be excellent pics that are nit-picked to some incredible degree. I think that's OK. Going from 5 to 8 is easy. Going from 9 to 10, not so much.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

That's not a fair example though..you threw in the phrase "you need glasses" and the emotional wording "horrible" and that's not what people do...they DO however say "the shots you posted are blurry...."

And even that simple critique is tantamount to being a grinch here on the UHH.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I would take that as a positive response. It got to the reviewer on a gut level, rather than mental evaluation of focus, lighting, etc. True, additional comments to clarify the remark would have been good.

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

It's almost pointless to debate. Those that write hurtful comments aren't going to suddenly grow up. The best we can do as reviewers is lead by example. As posters looking to learn, read all the comments and take away the ones that will help you be a better photographer.

Now with that bit of existential wisdom behind us, I'm still devistated by the first art critique that looked at one of my pieces and said "I don't get it".

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Can I ask a serious question?

Why did a person asking you that question "devastate" you?

Isn't his comment intended to impart information to you? And if so...wouldn't your next question be "how so?" so you could understand what he meant by what he said?

If he sincerely didn't get what you were going for then why shouldn't he have said so?

I guess I just don't get it...can you explain?

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

I was being a tad facetious to make the point that we all have feelings. I actually did go back to that painting and tweak it a bit to make the message more obvious.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Ahh...much more clear.

It's also impossible to perceive someones "tone of voice" in print when they are critiquing...we make a lot of "snap decisions" about how the other person is coming across based on how many "smiley's they throw in and how many compliments they throw in to make sure we get the idea that we aren't "dressing them down" as it were.

My wife is from the south and maybe we here on the hog should use her secret weapon?

When you want to say something negative....you can just about say ANYTHING you want IF you end it with....bless your heart...or bless his/her heart...

Example....

"...oh...there's that Wilson boy...he's a bit slow bless his heart...."

:)