Thomas Heaton calendar critique

Very good.
Must admit, I like Thomas and his videos, but some of his photos just don’t do anything for me. I found myself agreeing with Mrs G quite often on that one.
 
Seems like a poor attempt at cashing in on a much more popular Youtuber?
Whether it is or isn't, I don't think that detracts from it being interesting to hear how Mrs G saw the photographs, even if it is a sample size of one.
 
I think she sees like a typical Facebooker - she wants a pretty, bright and colourful image that seizes the eye for a moment but has no interest in anything deeper.
Not entirely sure the relevance of a "typical facebooker" but it seems reasonable to assume that she is looking for something different from some/many photographers.
 
I think she sees like a typical Facebooker - she wants a pretty, bright and colourful image that seizes the eye for a moment but has no interest in anything deeper.

Otherwise known as a normal person.. We should be making images for them, but instead we are so far up our own arses we must make sure that every minute detail is perfect and the photograph follows a strict set of rules, even though supposedly there are no rules in photography.
We pander to a small minority in order to impress our peers, where we should be impressing the normal everyday folk who couldn’t care less if the image isnt pixel sharp from the foreground to infinity or that it was shot at f/5.6 instead of f/11 so the the tree 6 miles away in the background has some slight blur to it.
 
Not entirely sure the relevance of a "typical facebooker" but it seems reasonable to assume that she is looking for something different from some/many photographers.
To me she comes across as wanting something bright and eye-catching. The link to Facebook is that people there only see and like a bright colorful image, and that was just what she wanted too.

Should we just produce pictures for the lowest common denominator type viewer?

One should absolutely know who the target market is for a picture, and if that market is Facebook then shoot and process accordingly. However TH is producing a calendar for the viewers of his channel who are a small segment of landscape photographers, so it's no wonder that the pictures don't appeal to her.

At best this was an ill-considered attempt at humour, and at worst it's as suggested, an attempt to jump on his bandwagon.
 
We should be making images for them,
Doesn't that depend on the intent of the photographer? I think you are correct if you want to produce a calendar to appeal to the general public, but is Thomas Heaton customer base not his youtube followers.

And can't you just make photographs for yourself, why should I make photographs to please Mrs G, or "normal" people. Lot's of art, whether its music, writing, painting, or sculpture is only appreciated by people with some specialist training in the subject.

Having said all that, I actually have considerable sympathy with what you wrote.
 
One should absolutely know who the target market is for a picture, and if that market is Facebook then shoot and process accordingly. However TH is producing a calendar for the viewers of his channel who are a small segment of landscape photographers, so it's no wonder that the pictures don't appeal to her.

I think I've just said something very similar in my response to Tom (TCR4x4), before seeing your post.

I don't think of Facebook as a place for photographs, hence me not initially following the point you made.

I confess I took it a face value as being a bit of fun of how an ordinary viewer might view the photographs.
 
As much as I enjoy his videos most of his pics dont work for me either, my good lady thinks the same, shes just more blunt about it ;)
I look at some of his pics and I think they'd be culled on the first pass in LR.
Maybe it's me at a certain age, He seems a nice chap so I wish him well though.
 
As much as I enjoy his videos most of his pics dont work for me either, my good lady thinks the same, shes just more blunt about it ;)
I look at some of his pics and I think they'd be culled on the first pass in LR.
Maybe it's me at a certain age, He seems a nice chap so I wish him well though.

Im 35 and pretty much think the same!
 
It's a pity Pookeyhead wasn't on hand to give the calendar a crit. :exit:
Absolutely, at least @Pookeyhead had formed his opinions based on some experience and knowledge. Who is Mrs G? what qualifies her to comment on photography? For all I know Mrs G might have a masters in Photography and be an FRPS but there is little evidence of that.
 
Who is Mrs G? what qualifies her to comment on photography?
The whole point of the video was that she didn't have any expertise to comment. These were some views of a "normal" person, after spending the year looking at the pictures in the calendar. The vlogger who posted it clearly found it amusing that in spite of her lack of expertise she still had strong views about the photographs.
 
Who is Mrs G? what qualifies her to comment on photography? For all I know Mrs G might have a masters in Photography and be an FRPS but there is little evidence of that.
Informed opinions are so last century. :D
 
Well, I've just watched the first 5 minutes.

They make it quite clear at the start that Mrs. G. knows nothing about photography and the whole thing is just a bit of fun.

So far, I've agreed with everything she's said.
 
I’m actually baffled by this video - you’re supposed to have a message, audience in mind when you make a video...what is this saying? It’s going to be picked up by Heaton fans on YouTube search...but the message? Thomas Heaton is carp so buy Griff’s calendar instead? Doesn’t paint him in a good light at all
 
I'd have enjoyed it more if he had done the same exercise with his own work rather than someone else's.

Yep, it would make far more sense for her to critique his work. The reason I guess he didn’t is he wouldn’t have all the extra hits from doing a TH video.

Each time I see that guy crop up he comes across as a smug passive aggressive type...this just adds to it
 
He could definitely learn a lot from Thomas Heaton’s videos and in particular his style. Found them both pretty annoying!
 
Not sure what funnier ...that video or this thread:D

I believe he contacted Thom before releasing the video & as he has a sense of humour I suspect he'll not gave an issue it with it....everyone is entitled to their opinion.

As an enthusiastic amateur I found it interesting to get a non photographers take on those images....I greatly admire Thom Heaton for what he's achieved but a lot of his images leave me cold. But then so do images by Ansel Adams & a lot of the other great names. To be honest ,I'm not all that keen on some of my own work :LOL:

Is he trying to tag on to Thoms reach on You Tube ? Maybe so,but who really cares ? If it gets him more views & exposure then his business will either grow or if folk dislike him for that vid then it'll shrink . His choice & his risk .

Thom is confident enough in his work & ability & probably knows that percentage of the public & other photographers won't be keebn on everything he produces.
He still makes a living from it though.

Happy Christmas every one :giggle:
 
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