A few thoughts on offering feedback
Dec 18, 2018 18:09:22 #
Per their respective "welcome and rules" docs, Photo Critique Section was originally designed for formal critique, FYC for conversations. For those who don't visit FYC regularly, you might want to keep topics on watch status for several days because you never know what cool tidbits might come out of the follow-up discussions: edits, advice, semi-related wanderings into new territory 
It's been interesting over the years to read articles by competition judges, as well as experiences from many UHH users, regarding how subjective most critiques really are. Seems like there's very little that falls under the "objective" umbrella.
Most of us here are untrained in the art of effective critique or the less structured and more commonly given "feedback," so it can be very difficult figuring out the why, let alone be able to express ourselves effectively when offering opinions on a photo. For one thing, we're putting ourselves in a vulnerable position of possibly looking stupid, and in the un-moderated sections of UHH, the Great Truth Tellers will usually smell the blood in the water when someone is insecure about offering their opinions or defensive about their own work.
FYC management and the day-to-day users here have done a terrific job this past year and a half in nurturing all of us and encouraging us to express the "why" without fear of being ridiculed for our opinions. Onward!
It's been interesting over the years to read articles by competition judges, as well as experiences from many UHH users, regarding how subjective most critiques really are. Seems like there's very little that falls under the "objective" umbrella.
Most of us here are untrained in the art of effective critique or the less structured and more commonly given "feedback," so it can be very difficult figuring out the why, let alone be able to express ourselves effectively when offering opinions on a photo. For one thing, we're putting ourselves in a vulnerable position of possibly looking stupid, and in the un-moderated sections of UHH, the Great Truth Tellers will usually smell the blood in the water when someone is insecure about offering their opinions or defensive about their own work.
FYC management and the day-to-day users here have done a terrific job this past year and a half in nurturing all of us and encouraging us to express the "why" without fear of being ridiculed for our opinions. Onward!
Dec 18, 2018 18:36:13 #
Dec 18, 2018 18:44:32 #
Dec 19, 2018 06:01:13 #
It's a very good resource for learning - and for getting multiple views. I see images here most days that hogs are raving about but I see nothing in them, equally I see images that I really like but they've hardly got a mention from others. It's all in the eye of the beholder.
I entered this in a club competition the other day. I'd waited ages to get a vehicle coming UP the hill toward me with no other obstructions. The Judge opened with "I'd like to home seen the car driving into the scene rather than driving out of the scene". Sometimes you just can't win! He gave me 16/20 and hinted that 1 more might have been available had the vehicle been where he preferred. Not to unhappy with the score, he was a 'low' scorer consistently and the few 20's he gave were for truly classy work.
I entered this in a club competition the other day. I'd waited ages to get a vehicle coming UP the hill toward me with no other obstructions. The Judge opened with "I'd like to home seen the car driving into the scene rather than driving out of the scene". Sometimes you just can't win! He gave me 16/20 and hinted that 1 more might have been available had the vehicle been where he preferred. Not to unhappy with the score, he was a 'low' scorer consistently and the few 20's he gave were for truly classy work.
Dec 19, 2018 07:39:35 #
John N wrote:
It's a very good resource for learning - and for g... (show quote)
Wasn’t American was he John?😁
Dec 19, 2018 07:46:48 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Per their respective "welcome and rules"... (show quote)
All good points that you raise Linda but, at the end of the day, any comment ‘online’ is open to abuse if anyone feels so inclined. I reckon FYC is the best balance we can hope to achieve and it is relatively enrestricted as to what may be posted. It is expanding its membership, due in no small way to your own efforts I’m sure. Subjective or objective, it’ll do me and I’m grateful for the help.
Dec 19, 2018 08:00:11 #
John N wrote:
But did he say why?? ...The Judge opened with "I'd like to home seen the car driving into the scene rather than driving out of the scene"...
Dec 19, 2018 08:06:37 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
But did he say why??
No, just personal preference I guess. But he mentioned following the car into the image rather than seeing where it had been.
Dec 19, 2018 09:20:10 #
As a writing teacher for forty years, I am well aware that being objective about a composition is easy, while being subjective is extremely difficult because people’s egos become involved. The same applies to photography. I find it easier to be subjective in the FYC section because it seems that posters there are asking for subjectivity or they wouldn’t have posted there.
Dec 19, 2018 10:12:15 #
This has been my favorite section since it was created. Nearly every post generates some discussion, and, much more often than not, the discussion is productive. I post here because I want some useful feedback. If I wanted nothing but accolades, I wouldn't post here, but accolades, while occasionally nice, do not often lead to understanding or improvement. If I happen to have a nice photo, and simply want to share it, I can put it on the photo gallery. Usually, though, I want to know what and how others think about what I've done.
Dec 19, 2018 10:18:21 #
The hard part is to keep these sections from turning into another "photo gallery" where all we get is pats on the back. Sure, I like the pats. But I like to feel they are actually deserved because I finally got something right! I try to live by the rule that I say two nice things before I am allowed to say one detrimental thing. And we should remember that critique doesn't necessarily mean criticism.
Dec 19, 2018 13:11:57 #
John N wrote:
It's a very good resource for learning - and for g... (show quote)
But the car IS driving into the scene. Great picture!
Dec 19, 2018 13:31:13 #
RichJ207 wrote:
But the car IS driving into the scene. Great picture!
I reckon you and I have misinterpreted the meaning Rich - he might have meant driving toward the colours rather than leaving them behind.
Dec 19, 2018 13:50:11 #
Dec 19, 2018 13:52:20 #
Conversations are of many types. A conversation where someone is lecturing or hectoring is not enjoyable. A vapid, superficial conversation is "yada yada yada."
Our conversations here are best when personal feeling is openly stated AND the reason for that feeling or thought is attempted. There are indeed objective standards (such as maintain a center of interest), but they are open to subjective interpretations.
I do not like the false dichotomy of subjective and objective, and, as an artist, teacher of art, and juror of tens of art/photography/sculpture exhibits, do not see either a narrowly subjective gush or a tightly objective declaration as contributing much to anyone's creative growth.
Our conversations here are best when personal feeling is openly stated AND the reason for that feeling or thought is attempted. There are indeed objective standards (such as maintain a center of interest), but they are open to subjective interpretations.
I do not like the false dichotomy of subjective and objective, and, as an artist, teacher of art, and juror of tens of art/photography/sculpture exhibits, do not see either a narrowly subjective gush or a tightly objective declaration as contributing much to anyone's creative growth.
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