Rick from NY wrote:
Folks - I raised this subject a few years back and thought I’d give it an encore. UHH has 2 sections for members to post pics - Photo Gallery and Photo Analysis and posting constructive criticism in the first is frowned upon. I think this rule does a disservice to photographers looking to up their game.
I often look at posts in the Gallery and too often see, sorry for the blunt language, just awful photos. I’m not talking about subjective matters. I’m talking about pics that are out of focus, poorly exposed, with wildly tilted horizons (not done intentionally for artistic purposes), badly post processed or overprocessed, poorly composed with telephone poles growing out of heads, etc. or any number of other technical (NOT subjective) flaws.
And most times, well meaning members post, “Great set”, or “Nicely done” or other “ attaboys” in an attempt to not hurt another member’s feelings. I see this as counterproductive and reinforcing bad technique by poster. I ask how is a member to develop better photography skills if, I again apologize upfront, technically terrible pics are displayed and followed by lots of gushing platitudes?
Last time I mentioned this, I was slapped down by numerous members who argue that unless a poster requests constructive criticism, nothing negative should be said. Ok - I’ll buy the “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing” idea, but gushing over bad stuff does harm to the poster too. If the pics are bad, say nothing. Stop reinforcing bad work.
Just a suggestion to those posting to the Gallery in the future - think about soliciting criticisms so you can improve your work. Sure you will get many nasty, snarky and often incorrect replies from a certain subsection of members, but you will also get many great suggestions for improvement offered in a polite, constructive manner. I’ve been a photographer for 55 yrs and I welcome all well meaning and civil critiques. We are never too old to learn a new trick.
Anxious to see the replies to this rant.
Folks - I raised this subject a few years back and... (
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My photographs follow David Alan Harvey’s philosophy of Don’t Shoot What It Looks Like, Shoot What It Feels Like.
That is why I have stopped posting pictures on UHH. My photos are not meant to be nice, they are not to show majestic beauty or be technically perfect. They are to make people think and feel and experience emotions that reflect real life, which can sometimes be dirty and ugly, disappointing and disheartening.
I don’t need somebody to tell me they aren’t sharp, or need straightening, or should be cropped differently, or anything else. They are the way they are because that is the way I want them to be. I want my photos accepted the way they are for what they are. If anybody can’t look at my photos and SEE what is presented, well too bad for them. By looking at my photos with an eye toward critiquing perceived mistakes, then you are missing the point.
If you want or need a section where you demonstrate your technical knowledge of photography by critiquing photos start a new section yourself for that purpose. Leave the Photo Gallery alone.