Is this the most overused word when critiquing a picture?

Half the time the critiques are coming from people that are just using the terms to make it look like they are photographically savvy...if you walk around saying "spot on" constantly, that has to make you an expert! Some times there can be distracting elements to a photo...but in most cases, it is just a subjective interpretation from someone looking to appear as though they have some vast insight.

Woolburr wrote in post #2630728
Half the time the critiques are coming from people that are just using the terms to make it look like they are photographically savvy...if you walk around saying "spot on" constantly, that has to make you an expert! Some times there can be distracting elements to a photo...but in most cases, it is just a subjective interpretation from someone looking to appear as though they have some vast insight.

Spot on!

Curtis N wrote in post #2627508
It's what you start picking after your nose is thoroughly clean.

OMG, ROTFLMAO. Actually, those are the abbreviations that I hate most on the forum.

Curtis...you crack me up. Way up

We live in a society that is easily distracted these days..

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #2630803
We live in a society that is easily distracted these days..

Spot on, IMHO.

I entirely agree, but dont let a few bad apples spoil the use of 'Distracting'.

Perhaps the mods can make the critique forum similar to the G&N forum, you can't get there until you're at 500 posts or can prove your critiques are worth the few bytes the server has to chew to display them.

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2630615
A lot of critiques using the word "distracting" to describe an element of a great photo are just being [B]anal though. It happens way too often, IMHO [] because more often than not, whatever they're calling distracting isn't really distracting.

milleker wrote in post #2630878
Perhaps the mods can make the critique forum similar to the G&N forum, you can't get there until you're at 500 posts or can prove your critiques are worth the few bytes the server has to chew to display them.

Better make it post count only otherwise I'd be locked out of everything.

Hahaha - well, I guess that won't work anyways!

In one critique thread someone gave their opinion of a photo as a beginner. They apologized and I think even made a comment that they should not even be chiming in on an image. I disagreed as those without the 'eye' yet can give us an idea of what the common population would think. Just don't come in critiquing over your boundaries on techniques you yourself have not fully understood!

I've found that most images that I feel 'work' do not work with my family. I do everything right, compositionally and technically. Photographer friends like the image as well.. Family just doesn't understand. So how much is this compositional school of thought really overkill for the normal client? Since I'm relatively new in the business side of photography I don't know. Sure, I'd shoot for technically perfect images and go with compositions I know have been tried and true - but to ordinary folk, when is a piksure just a piksure?

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2630996
Better make it post count only otherwise I'd be locked out of everything.

milleker wrote in post #2631044
Hahaha - well, I guess that won't work anyways!

In one critique thread someone gave their opinion of a photo as a beginner. They apologized and I think even made a comment that they should not even be chiming in on an image. I disagreed as those without the 'eye' yet can give us an idea of what the common population would think. Just don't come in critiquing over your boundaries on techniques you yourself have not fully understood!

I've found that most images that I feel 'work' do not work with my family. I do everything right, compositionally and technically. Photographer friends like the image as well.. Family just doesn't understand. So how much is this compositional school of thought really overkill for the normal client? Since I'm relatively new in the business side of photography I don't know. Sure, I'd shoot for technically perfect images and go with compositions I know have been tried and true - but to ordinary folk, when is a piksure just a piksure?

I've encountered the same thing. For example, I could take a picture of my nephew and be like "wow I nailed that one" and my sister just says "Thanks" and puts it in the album. Then there are others I haven't really done so well on (in my own eyes) and she busts out with a big "awwwww my baby!" And here I am like. WTF!?!?

I guess that's why these Wal-Mart/Sears et al type studios do so well. Creativity not required.

I took some shots of the grandkids for my mom. Had a few nice ones and spent forever on PP. She didn't like them. She wanted the one where they were poking each other, etc. She said the "nice ones" were too posed and sterile. Go figure.

cdi-ink.com wrote in post #2630615
A lot of critiques using the word "distracting" to describe an element of a great photo are just being [B]anal though. It happens way too often, IMHO [] because more often than not, whatever they're calling distracting isn't really distracting.

I think it depends on your intent. If people don't ask for feedback, I think it's more of a "share photos" kind of thing, at which point it is being a bit anal retentive to say "yeah I don't like the photo because of that thing in back, zoom to 200% and I'm pretty sure there's a distracting element in those bushes (ie, neil_r doing something terribly obscene back there )". But at the same time, I think if you ask for commentary it demonstrates that you want to improve your photos. If you want to improve, something has to be pointed out as a flaw unless the photo is absolutely perfect (which I don't think I've seen too many of and probably never managed to take one) and the greater the technical proficiency of the photographer, the more minor the flaws will tend to be.

Nonetheless, those flaws have to be addressed if someone is commited to improving their craft. Photography IMO isn't about reaching a point where you're "good enough" and just sort of leaving it alone, it's about always striving to do the most beautiful image possible.

To each their own of course, it's just a minor nit

milleker wrote in post #2631044
I've found that most images that I feel 'work' do not work with my family. I do everything right, compositionally and technically. Photographer friends like the image as well.. Family just doesn't understand. So how much is this compositional school of thought really overkill for the normal client? Since I'm relatively new in the business side of photography I don't know. Sure, I'd shoot for technically perfect images and go with compositions I know have been tried and true - but to ordinary folk, when is a piksure just a piksure?

The McDonald's big mac is enjoyed by more people daily than a filet mignon. This fact does nothing to devalue a filet mignon.

Not everyone appreciates or even wants to appreciate art. I've had clients who would be just as happy with a snapshot so long as it caught the right moment, it's about understanding what their needs and priorities are. I think with most clients you'll find that "capture the expression/moment/esse​nce of the subject" comes before "make everything look nice" in order of priorities

Saying "Nice Shot!" without a nothing more to add, even when it's not really a "nice shot".

And I do this all the time! Geez, I irritate the hell out of myself!

Lord_Malone wrote in post #2631455
Saying "Nice Shot!" without a nothing more to add, even when it's not really a "nice shot".

And I do this all the time! Geez, I irritate the hell out of myself!

Nice shout!

OK, I found one that drives me crazy. How hard is it to call it 'Post Processing'? I really dont need to be seeing things like 'rate my PP' or 'how do you like this PP' while browsing the boards. Starting to look like the Viagara spam I get in my mailbox.

My mercy bump to newbies?

Part of the problem may be that all the really good comments are already taken?
Long-time members: WARNING!!! COPYRIGHT!!!