Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I have seen a number of posts on this site that praises or gives credit to lousy captures. Why?

Recently there was a series of a Red Fox. I would have deleted them in a heartbeat. They were total crap from my point of view but people posted that they were lovely, etc. Why would you make a kind comment on something that sucks? I personally wouldn't want you to give me a false pity post.

Please don't encourage garbage. The shooter will think they are doing well but in fact, that is not the case.

BebuLamar

But people are so offended when you say anything bad about their pictures. Although my policy is to say nothing unless I can say something good about the pictures. People post pictures and expect to be praised because they think the pictures are good. If nobody leaves any comment they would feel left out. And as I said you can't said bad thing about pictures posted here or else.
It's the reason why I never visit the gallery.

Haydon

I'm unsure which sections on the board you're referring to specifically but if it's the gallery, that's not really the designated area for critiquing. Areas like Photo Analysis, Photo Critique Section, Commercial and Industrial Photography, Professional and Advanced Portraiture, Show Me What You Mean are better sub sections for scrutinizing.

I do realize there's many submissions that do not appeal but we need to make an effort with our words. LOL as I'm one to talk. There's one person I'm not very friendly with here. Nonetheless as others have said we need to curb our words which at times can be agonizing.

Rolk Loc: South Central PA

Wait! What? This coming from a Canadian???

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

This is a BAD way to start a conversation- I'll explain.

Not EVERYONE on his or any other online photo forum is an aficionado of fine photography. Some folks, if they see a picture of a cute baby, a pretty bird or an interesting animal, the may simply complement the maker. Frankly, they don't know any better and the folks who do should share their expertise and familiars them with the finer points. I don't think they want to mislead an inapt shooter by telling him or her that they are a genius or give them a false sense of confidence nor do they mean to downgrade the standards around here.

So...if you want to improve the standards, rather than issue a rant calling people's work "crap", "lousy" and "garbage", why not write up a tutorial on proper technique, offer constructive critiques, and teach folks to do things right.

Thesis kinds of blanket condemnation of people's work are discouraging and only leads to more name-calling, vitriolic arguments and at the end of the day, nobody learns anything and no one improves.

As a professional photographer, teacher, trainer, print judge at professional competitions and a critic, I have seen some pretty rough stuff. Even as a "boss", a studio owner, I have been disappointed in the performance of some of my own trainees and employees. I never found that going into a tirade and demeaning anyone's work in a harsh and vulgar manner has ever remedied these issues.

Besides, if everyone deletes their mistakes and never posts any of them, how can they possibly learn from their mistakes and do better. Its frustrating when someone poses an issue about something in an image or their work in general that they are dissatisfied with and go into all kinds of written detail but never post an example of the problem- possibly because they are afraid of being browbeaten by nasty folks who just want to deride their work but refuse to help.

Most people will appreciate an honest critique and realize that a inaccurately flattering critique is a disserviced to the maker but they don't need the bluster and the rudeness.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Well said.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Don’t you just hate it when you’re forced to look at pictures you don’t like and read comments that you don’t agree with?

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

The reason I am a member here is simply to see animals, flowers and scenery.........I know nothing about photography...............it is like paintings. I know what I like but if it is good or not, I care not.

there is room here, surely, for everyone's photos!

I consider your post to be offensive. not to me, but to the people who love their camera.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Perhaps you can provide a link to the series you refer to and then give a constructive critique on them and advise what would make them acceptable from your point of view?

Have you also considered that some may not comment on your pictures because they would have deleted them as they were not up to their own standard?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Although I agree with you as far as people praising garbage, the vast majority of members here are not professional photographers and a whole lot of them are well past retirement age. Many of them look forward to posting their daily photos of the same old same old and a lot of people compliment their same old because it's the nice thing to do.
I notice you refer to photographs as captures. What's wrong with calling a photograph a photograph?! What, does calling a photograph a capture make it sound more technical or make you sound more advanced or knowledgeable than those of us who don't?! It's not called capturography is it?!

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I agree completely. There is no cause to be rude, but to give undeserved praise to an image is a disservice to the photographer.
Rather than tell someone how great the image is, offer tactful criticism, or say nothing.
After all, we are not children.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Is that like scanning the internet headlines every morning...?

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Thank you for the comments. I expected that some would agree on the subject and others wouldn't. Cheers.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Twenty some odd years ago a few of us started a camera club in a large retirement community equally divided by persons from all over the U. S. bringing their diverse personalities, abilities, education (both academic and professional) and attitudes with them. We began after a dozen or so years to notice some of the members had not aged gracefully and were real PIAs. Fortunately most realized when they had aged out of being in a diverse group of club members and "retired". Maybe the original poster to this thread has reached that point and will realize it after reading all the superb answers to his post and "retire".

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Maybe not.