Feedback skills (recommended reading).
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May 22, 2017 12:16:45 #
One of the things that makes feedback so challenging is the huge potential associated with giving and receiving it. Whether feedback is positive or negative, if it is well given it has the potential to assist, correct, inspire, and will hopefully create a positive, nurturing environment that people at all skill levels will feel comfortable sharing in.
In the case of positive feedback that is deserved, it has the potential to encourage and reassure - something that people in the early stages of their learning process may be in need of (possibly as much as they need correction and guidance).
It is the specific intention of this section to create such an environment, but for that to happen, the feedback needs to be free from the triggers that can cause negative, defensive reactions in the person receiving the feedback. Most of us have the potential to react negatively when possible faults or mistakes are pointed out to us, and in the case of feedback concerning our images, it involves the results of our creative endeavours - a sensitive subject for most people, regardless of how thick-skinned they are.
It's in nobody's interests to receive feedback that is excessively discouraging or that provokes a defensive reaction. The good news is that it's easily avoided if we apply a little time and effort to improve our feedback skills. And let's not forget - developing such skills can have benefits in other areas of our lives.
We recommend that you spend a little time reading the following simple guidelines about giving various kinds of feedback.
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE.
Ideally, feedback has a good balance between positive and negative comments.
In very broad terms, positive comments are complimentary and focus on an image's strengths. Negative comments typically involve pointing out things that could be described as less than ideal (which may or may not include things that could be perceived as mistakes or faults).
One possibility is to comment on an image's strengths and then, if it's deemed necessary, offer suggestions for improvements. That way, negatives can be addressed without them being mentioned as negatives. However, don't feel compelled to include negative comments every time you give feedback. If an image doesn't have anything that could be perceived as an obvious fault or shortcoming, positive comments on their own would be welcomed by most and would be very likely to have the intended positive effect.
OPINIONS.
Everybody is entitled to their own opinions and preferences, and we should always allow for the possibility that somebody else's opinions and preferences may be different from our own. It's important to remember that this is another thorny subject which can very easily become a trigger point. We should never express our opinions as being the only "right" possibility. We should always remember that what's right for us (or for the majority) isn't necessarily what's right for somebody else. We should always respect the other person's right to be different.
Opinions are often sought by a photographer looking for different perspectives. A variety of viewpoints can give the photographer a fresh look at their own efforts and can help them achieve a more rounded and more balanced assessment of their work.
CRITIQUE.
Critique is a more formal way of analysing an image and can be categorised as subjective or objective.
Subjective critique is typically based on personal reaction and therefore conditioned by personal opinion or preference. Subjective critique tends to focus on discussions of emotional impact, creativity, atmosphere, mood etc.
Objective critique is often based on theoretical absolutes (the sort of things that can usually be measured or described in terms of performance figures). Objective critique often involves discussions of technical issues such as focus, exposure, depth of field, light, dynamic range etc.
In the case of positive feedback that is deserved, it has the potential to encourage and reassure - something that people in the early stages of their learning process may be in need of (possibly as much as they need correction and guidance).
It is the specific intention of this section to create such an environment, but for that to happen, the feedback needs to be free from the triggers that can cause negative, defensive reactions in the person receiving the feedback. Most of us have the potential to react negatively when possible faults or mistakes are pointed out to us, and in the case of feedback concerning our images, it involves the results of our creative endeavours - a sensitive subject for most people, regardless of how thick-skinned they are.
It's in nobody's interests to receive feedback that is excessively discouraging or that provokes a defensive reaction. The good news is that it's easily avoided if we apply a little time and effort to improve our feedback skills. And let's not forget - developing such skills can have benefits in other areas of our lives.
We recommend that you spend a little time reading the following simple guidelines about giving various kinds of feedback.
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE.
Ideally, feedback has a good balance between positive and negative comments.
In very broad terms, positive comments are complimentary and focus on an image's strengths. Negative comments typically involve pointing out things that could be described as less than ideal (which may or may not include things that could be perceived as mistakes or faults).
One possibility is to comment on an image's strengths and then, if it's deemed necessary, offer suggestions for improvements. That way, negatives can be addressed without them being mentioned as negatives. However, don't feel compelled to include negative comments every time you give feedback. If an image doesn't have anything that could be perceived as an obvious fault or shortcoming, positive comments on their own would be welcomed by most and would be very likely to have the intended positive effect.
OPINIONS.
Everybody is entitled to their own opinions and preferences, and we should always allow for the possibility that somebody else's opinions and preferences may be different from our own. It's important to remember that this is another thorny subject which can very easily become a trigger point. We should never express our opinions as being the only "right" possibility. We should always remember that what's right for us (or for the majority) isn't necessarily what's right for somebody else. We should always respect the other person's right to be different.
Opinions are often sought by a photographer looking for different perspectives. A variety of viewpoints can give the photographer a fresh look at their own efforts and can help them achieve a more rounded and more balanced assessment of their work.
CRITIQUE.
Critique is a more formal way of analysing an image and can be categorised as subjective or objective.
Subjective critique is typically based on personal reaction and therefore conditioned by personal opinion or preference. Subjective critique tends to focus on discussions of emotional impact, creativity, atmosphere, mood etc.
Objective critique is often based on theoretical absolutes (the sort of things that can usually be measured or described in terms of performance figures). Objective critique often involves discussions of technical issues such as focus, exposure, depth of field, light, dynamic range etc.
Feb 10, 2018 15:41:27 #
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