To comment or not to comment...that is the question

You'll learn in time to separate the wheat from the chaff comment wise. Some like it, doesn't mean it's good, someone doesn't like, it doesn't mean it's bad. It's a keeper? well who else would keep it? It's too soft? well that's subjective

You can learn exposure/technical side with out ever having to share a single shot. The hardest thing to learn is how to see. Somebody telling you that your shot is "awsome" well when you look at their work, and it's cats and birthday cakes well being brutally honest, i don't take much from that. Again if you get a comment like i don't get it, look at their work and you think to yourself, i can see why.

Know your audience really i guess. What ever comment you get, well it carries more or less weight depending on their ability and style.

Good or bad comments are not as straight forward as they first appear. Yes you might learn something, but you might also get led down the wrong road. You have to learn how to take them.

Well said, Sean. Everybody knows what they like and what they dislike. Being able to see good composition for photos is a totally different thing. This is one of the things that I struggle with a lot, but one cannot get better without getting out and shooting and learning from others who do have a good eye for composition.

Anyone is welcome to comment on images I post. I always appreciate the bump! In fact, if you want to practice commenting, click on my name and lookup my threads!

This is a pretty friendly place, and it's rare that anyone takes offense to sincere criticism.

With one exception - I do not post or comment. At this point in my career, I know what I like and my customers either see it or not. I pick my evaluators from a small handful of people who are equal to or better than I regarding the subject matter. The critisizm that follows is from a specific known source and to me (only) has true value.
I look at measurbators/pixel peepers as the lost souls of photography.

Old thread I know... but you have been soooo busy with TPBM, I thought I'd distract you.

I think it's great to comment on other photos... It's easy to spot flaws in other peoples photography, which helps you realize your own mistakes and you learn more of what you like and don't like... It's a great learning experience.

And by the way... I think the photos I've seen of yours have all been great.

Hi Kristy. Thank you.

I have learned SO much since first posting this thread. POTN is such a great place to glean information and ideas. Any questions I have, someone can answer. Something new I want to try, someone who may have tried it already is willing to jump in and help me.

I have gotten better at commenting. I am learning that as well.

Although, I agree, I do have a teeny little addiction to TPBM, and I should limit my time there. Believe it or not though, amidst all the chatter and laughter, there is much to be learned there. I can't tell you how many times I've had to look up a technique I didn't know about, then it makes me want to get out and try it. I have an ongoing list next to my monitor.


Thank you everyone, for helping me learn, and making it fun.

What's TPBM? Just curious.

Mark

A highly addicting thread here... The Photo Below Me. It's in the competitions forum.

That can be kind of dangerous.

I'm not a glamour photographer, but I look through that area from time to time.

Sometimes, the photo itself is not only not glamorous, but the subject isn't, either. I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes I think some beholders are blind.

I don't say this to be mean-spirited in any way, but some photos I see in that area are difficult to look at because of the subject. Offering an honest opinion will get you lambasted, yet the subject is the reason for the photo in the first place. Only positive comments are welcome about the subject. Post a negative one, and you'll get blasted for it. I left a comment once which was critical of the model, and all Hell broke loose.

Why?

Because somebody didn't want somebody else's "feelings" to get hurt.

As a result of that, I've resigned myself to never leaving a negative remark about anything. People are way too sensitive sometimes, and only want to hear good things about their work, and not the negative...

I understand your reservations, however, your stance makes it diffucult for those of us who really WANT hard critiques.... I learn so much from everyones input.... so many different views on one photo... Perhaps not to critique the model, but the composition and the lighitng would be more appropriate??

I'm not sure, but I do understand people are sometimes sensitive and if they are they should not be asking for critique in the first place.

well said

there are ways of getting your point across without hurting the people. instead of saying something is bad, say try THIS next time

theres nothing worse that continuing bad habits, and if you can get help to break those or just all around advice, I know I'd want it and it made me a much better photographer having received it

And that's exactly the problem.

If an opinion is asked for, then an opinion should be expected, good or bad.

Unfortunately, it's generally considered taboo to post a negative comment about a model, regardless of how valid it might be. Oddly, though, it's perfectly okay to comment on a model's beauty. Don't you dare comment about how unmodel-like a model might be, though.

If only positive comments are desired, then the request should be for only positive comments...

Sometimes, though, it's not a matter of trying something different. Sometimes it's the subject of the photo that's the issue.

Let's face it, not everyone is glamorous. To think otherwise is naive.

In the last, well, let's say six months, I've seen shots in that area which, technically, may have been perfect, but the subject detracted far too much from any technical expertise shown in the shot.

If the subject makes the photo difficult to view, shouldn't that be of concern to the photographer?

Yes, you are right... If asked for it should be expected good or bad. The thing the person doing the critiquing should keep in mind however, is what the poster is asking for critique on. Is he asking if his model is beautiful? Or is he asking for feedback on lighting set up and composition. Or is he asking for everything.... Truly beauty is in the eye of the beholder.... you are right... We all have different ideas of what is beautiful, artistic, or whatever... that makes us all unique and interesting.

I post a negative comment with something like... it's not really my style, but since your asking.... yada, yada, yada.... If you get blasted, oh well... the poster should be prepared for good and bad. I like getting negatives... I learn from them.. so often people post nice friendly things and I wish for something that could be constructive for my future learning.

If they don't love you,,,, oh well.... at least you go to the grave being an honest person...

How's that?

But in this is where your answers lays. You said earlier that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in some of these cases that you are speaking of the photographer is the spouse of the model. Is it wrong to want to improve your technique to take better photos of your model/spouse? What better way then to ask for critique of the process without discussing the beauty of the model. The intent of the shot is not to put it on the cover of Maxim! It is typically meant for the model and photographer only. Should only "beautiful" people be photographed?