L
lolyton
Guest
A few pics that i have taken, and would like to hear what people have to say about them. Not bothered if people like them or not, just would like to hear what you guys have to say.
lolyton said:4 was meant to be a mood thing, almost as though the mother and son are stuck in the countryside and all alone etc. I had thought about silhouetting the person, but had decided that i preferred there to be some detail in the shot, so held back just a little. 3 well i just liked it as a shot, i sometimes have a thing for a simple off to one side kind of look, similar thing with the fish. I have heaps of other stuff thats just as random.
Arkady said:Maybe I shouldn't use the word 'hate'...
Nope, I've thought about it and I mean it - I really hate the others...
lolyton said:I appreciate the support Jewel, but one of the things you have to learn about if you want to improve in photography is, you have to have a thick skin and understand that not everyone will like your images. However there are more constructive ways to go about it.
Thank you CT, at least I am more aware as to why someone who in a far advanced stage of photography may have a strong dislike towards them. I too thought they had a more snap shot feel to them and inadvertently forgot to mention. The point is, at least Lolyton and others like me can learn from any criticism, if it is explained what may be wrong with the shot.CT said:We need to accept criticism if we're going to benefit at all. Telling each other our shots are all great all the time wont get us anywhere.
Now we're big boys & girls with our sooperdooper 2.4m f/1.8 cammo-covered lenses, with the latest 200fps 2Gpixel Oly-NiCanDak camera we don't want to be reminded where we've come from. Tough! We all start somewhere - and those people starting on the long road to nature-photographer'hood and their shots need our help. Besides which, that stage doesn't normally last long.
Which is where the critique bit comes in! The main purpose of posting images is to gain other peoples opinions and help regarding those images - ie. to obtain critique. A lot can be said about the art of giving and receiving critique. A few further comments on Photo Critique are needed though:
- The primary raison d'etre for the forum is Image Critique. If you post an image in UKNP, be prepared to be given critique by default. If you do NOT want critique to be given, eg you are posting simply to share a shot of a species or behaviour, then state as much! ie. you need to Opt Out rather than Opt In
For obtaining critique you don't necessarily have to post you best or worst photos. Pick a shot that has something that you want to know more about, and refer to that point in your posting. This will help the reviewers to target their responses.
You may not feel "qualified" to comment, especially when there are more "vociferous" and seemingly better qualified people around. Don't be bullied into being quiet! Remember that your comments are just as valid - and might be what the other person is actually looking for.
Equally - accept that people will hold different points of view, and will like/dislike different things. No single opinion is any more valid than another.
When giving critique, be honest with your opinions - but do be constructive and polite too.
Try not to just post "Great", "Wow" or "Don't like it". Bouquets and Brickbats are fine, but don't help anyone! Say why you think it is a great shot, or why you don't like it.
It's only a photo, it isn't worth spilling blood over - if you disagree with something, then great! But remember to stay polite, not to get personal - and to buy the other person a coffee or drink when you meet them in the field
Develop a thick skin Yes it can hurt sometimes, and can be a bit depressing to see that you still haven't got it right. But remember - you aren't going to gain much if you can't (or don't) bounce back after being told the problems with your photo.
Most critiques will be about technical points rather than aesthetics. Don't, however, be afraid to comment about the aesthetics of an image! We don't have a set of rules to conform to, and we don't have to take "cookie-cutter"
photos either.
For those starting to give critiques, here are some ideas on what to comment on: Impact; Artistry; Creativity; Composition/framing; Colour accuracy - eg in a birds plumage; Focus; Quality of light; Subject; Camera/lens technique; Digital darkroom techniques; Presentation/Sharpness.
For those wanting critique, it helps if the forum knows what your driving force is: Publishing commercially; Selling a few framed; Fine art; Club competitions; Just to put on your wall.
Don't "hijack" another persons topic with your own images, or with an off-topic discussion. 'Netiquette' dictates that the polite thing to do is to start your own topic.
Finally, if you really want decent critique on shots then don't flood the forum with images. It's hard not to when you're new, excited at getting the feedback you've been craving for ages, and you're really eager to progress and get up there with the rest of the best. But remember - it takes time for people to review your images, to formulate their ideas and comments, and to put those to keyboard! A real honest critique of a half decent shot can take quite some time to formulate - and the critiquer can't get through many in one night. If you rapid fire your shots onto the forum, then you'll end up with quick & lightweight comments in return, and the people providing the critiques will get tired of giving you the same responses to the same problems - not what you're after!
KenCo1964 said:Thank you CT, at least I am more aware as to why someone who in a far advanced stage of photography may have a strong dislike towards them. .CT said:We need to accept criticism if we're going to benefit at all. Telling each other our shots are all great all the time wont get us anywhere.
Thanks Ct, that wasnt actually aimed at you, just generalising. But thanks for helping.KenCo1964 said:Thank you CT, at least I am more aware as to why someone who in a far advanced stage of photography may have a strong dislike towards them.
Be kind, be helpful but above all, be friends Wink
That's way cool! [smilie=t:lolyton said:Hey guys, thanks for all the critiques i have been receiving, i am enjoying reading them all, and i am especially enjoying the fact that they are not some of yours/all of yours cup of tea. I have the thick skin that is required from us photographers (i have been in this business for a good few years to have calloused up) so i am not taking offence and nor holding any grudges, i put my images in the gallery for you guys to tell me what you think and what i can establish from these forums is that you are an honest bunch and we should all appreciate that fact, its all too common in this world for people to go around and avoid conflict by just trying to be polite.
Arkady said:I've PM'd Lolyton about this and explained my reasoning behind my comment. Hate is an emotive word, but it's just a word. I do hate these images, but that doesn't mean that they're not a valiant or valid attempt.
I'm prepared to comment further after he gets back to me on this as some of you have percieved that this was a personal attack, which it wasn't.