(RANT) Perfectionists (RANT)

I do not know if it is me or if there really are a growing number of perfectionists on these boards of late. I mean its gotten bad. I do not want to mention names but I will mention examples.

I was told to have my wife change her shirt to better match my pants in one example (we were taking a beach sunset photo in Kauai). Another guy told a very respected photographer there was too much shadow in the corners of his photos, the funny thing is, this shot was published in a magazine. So I am to believe that an editor for a major publication is clueless but this poster has it all down.

I think every single photo if scrutinized enough can be picked to pieces, but lately its gotten out of hand. Has anyone else noticed this

There's the double edged sword of digital editing...

The same thing happens in the music boards I frequent.

Merlin_Toronto wrote in post #2464618
There's the double edged sword of digital editing...

The same thing happens in the music boards I frequent.

I like to see the good in things unless someone asks for their photo to be torn up for some reason. When someone posts a shot of their child and someone says the lighting in the far back could have been better blows me away

I haven't noticed any 'critique' of my posts being different to what it has been since I joined ... but then I wouldn't take notice most of the time anyway. Follow your own interests and vision and if that includes wearing clashing clothes in your shots then go for it On forums everyone is an expert. Just not a big deal AFAIC.

Beyond a certain point, quality is a subjective thing. I would not comment on the "quality" of someone's shot unless specifically asked.

I have a photo of a Friar that I did in the Rembrandt style: heavy lighting from one side, and only a slight fill from the other. That is the style that was desired. The Friar was very pleased with the result, and so were his superiors, and so was the magazine in which it was published.

But whenever I share it on the web (which I no longer do), I am heavily criticised for my lighting.

I take the following attitude:

You don't like my lighting? Tough toenails!


I liked my lighting. The client (the Friar) liked my lighting. His superiors liked my lighting (important if you're a Friar). The magazine liked my lighting. Who the hell are you?

'Nuff said.

the thing iv learned in ANY forum is someone will always find a fault with a shot no matter how good it is BUT it really doesen't matter as long as your happy with it ,at one time i use to try to defend the reason i had for instance - added noise for effect but im way passed careing what anyone say's .
if im happy with it thats all that matter's
Rob.

I have enough confidence in my own abilities to not worry about it, If I like it then I'm happy - If anyone else has constructive comments to make, I will always listen and maybe apply this new knowledge or idea to my shooting at some stage, but at the end of the day I manage sell many event images and get commissioned shoots for people who like what i do, and as someone else said in another thread - I get paid money to produce 'this crap', whats your excuse!

A true rant should be more hard edged. Sarcasm should be expertly laced throughout the rant whereas yours is simply too nice.

Perhaps a few practice rants .... or pounding a few cold ones before typing it out will impart the tone of outrage missing in your rant.

j/k Kat

I remember seeing that photo you're referring to and having the reaction of "oh puh-lease!" after reading the initial critiques. I think many lose sight of the fact that a fair number of us are just trying to snap a spontaneous shot or two. In my book, being in the moment gets equal weight with a technically superior photo.

Cheers!!

Interestingly, I have noticed exactly the opposite on a couple of forums......if anything, I feel that limp and reflexive feedback abounds....kinda reciprocal pat on the back......"good work, nice capture, sharp, woo hoo, thank you for sharing..."......nobody benefits much from that in the end, not much learning goes on based on experience sharing. This kinda round robin of mutual courtesies and admiration becomes boring rather quickly.

yes Ive noticed this but it is the nature of the beast so to speak.Everyone has their way of doing things and at times if it doesnt look like something they would do then its wrong,or to put it in a more elegant way....not right.I have been told the same about camera bodies and that certain features are only a "crutch" and should not be considered when buying a camera.Yet pros,who make nice income and get their photos on mag covers,are the ones using them.Which begs the question,if it is such a crutch then why are the best of the best using them?AND getting paid?Hmmmm if its a crutch,and still gets printed on thousands of magz......not too bad sounding to me,sign me up.And I know what photo youre talking about.I thought it was quite nice actually.

I only ever share my snapshots once in a blue moon anymore, for that very reason. My clients like what I do, else they wouldn't pay me. I share family snaps just for the sake of sharing, not critique.

Calicocat, first, you post is way to short and does not hit home or hard enough. I dont like you word usage either. It is BORING. I almost hit the back button and moved along to another post, but your thoughts are so lame I had to critique them. Is it the prison atmosphere that dumbs you down or were you born that way? After this post and seeing your new quote, I would help you off that cliff (and run off with your hot wife).

Ok, my work here is done. Oh, if you didnt post such lame butt pictures, you would not get the critique such as "short color conflict" comments you deserve!!!

I have gotten to where I seldom post a picture I like my shots The people that buy my shots like them and it seems here I get torn apart .. maybe im to sensitive. so now like petkal said most of the time I say nice shot etc. (my rant for the week )

sometimes those ultra critical statements are there because there is nothing left to nit-pick. A professor of mine will revise anything you send her, even if it's gold because she feels she's doing a disservice if she doesn't, it might be the same way here. Personally I find that the criticism on here is typically not constructive.

Thanks for listening to my rant friends and sorry if it was not graffic enough j/k I agree that alot of criticizm here is not constructive and that is not good