In the words of Mick Jagger
"You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes
You just might find
You get what you need"

In the past couple of weeks there have been a few posts from people complaining about the nature of critiques. Critiques that are bound by rules, that are biased, or that misunderstand the photographer's intention. In each case when I looked at the critiques the person complaining was giving out, lo and behold, they were using some type of photographic standard in their own critiques, and showed bias and or misunderstood the photographer's intention.

photoSIG isn't an art gallery, our patrons are usually not professional photographers or critics. The intent of photoSIG is to give photographers an opportunity to receive feedback on their work from a diverse audience - to give critics an opportunity to voice their opinions on a wide variety of work. I can't stress this enough - since we are not an art gallery - or a contest or competition - the photographer should seriously consider including information about what they are trying to achieve, what their intent is, what kind of feedback they are looking for in the photographer's comment area. And when you don't - it's not fair to complain about the type of feedback you receive. If people don't get it - in my experience - it's usually the photograph's fault not the critic's.

And something ironic - I have never read a single complaint in ten years about a critiques with three thumbs up that praise photographs based on rigid photographic conventions.

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From arnesaknussen/Tom (4,490) on April 23, 2012 10:10:36 AM CDT Here, here, or is it hear, hear? You have stated what i have been tryng to formulate. I, for one, like using this site to get a general idea how my photos work in the focussed public. I treat it as a gauge, not as anything final. And, i learn a lot in the process. Reply

From robertwallis/Robert (12,866) on April 23, 2012 2:54:35 PM CDT Hear, hear ;-) It's a variant of the old "hear ye, hear ye!" or nowadays; "Listen up!" Reply

From tvernuccio/Sheila (37,104) on April 23, 2012 10:45:27 AM CDT well said, Sheena! :) Reply

From loiswakeman/Lois (16,386) on April 23, 2012 4:34:21 PM CDT One of my all-time favourites - can you do your Admin magic and embed a video? (Reminds me just how tinny the TV used to sound!) Well said for the rest. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 23, 2012 7:49:07 PM CDT Reply

From loiswakeman/Lois (16,386) on April 24, 2012 4:52:46 AM CDT Aaaaww - thanks! I'm a teenager again (inside, anyway!) Reply

From log/Louise (27,206) on April 24, 2012 5:26:58 AM CDT Oh my.... They look so... so... young and callow. And jaundiced too. Reply

From jackielclements/Jackie (748) on April 23, 2012 7:41:01 PM CDT I've posted a photo on here and explained why I have struggled with the shot and asked for some advice. Only then to be told the flaws of the shot which I had already pointed out but with no real resolution. Swings in roundabouts. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 23, 2012 7:51:17 PM CDT Can you link to the photo? I can't find it. What resolution were you looking for? Did you ask for help in fixing the flaws? Reply

From jackielclements/Jackie (748) on April 23, 2012 9:32:08 PM CDT I got help in the end :) I had some really helpful emails from some members, they didn't critique but I got some answers. It was quite a while ago http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/view?id=2509380 Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 24, 2012 12:27:10 AM CDT Well I think for someone that English is not their first language he did pretty good. And mostly I think critics do try to help photographers to the best of their abilities. Which is the point I was trying to make :-) Reply

From jackielclements/Jackie (748) on April 24, 2012 3:54:07 AM CDT I'm not knocking his input, it's just one example of where sometimes a crit isn't that helpful. I may aswell not have written any comments, which is the opposite of what we're asking for here. It's one example. It's a little frustrating. I've had a 2TD on a photo telling me how I should use the camera etc., it was taken with an iPhone and they didn't bother to read the description. It was soon removed when it was pointed out. My point was, if you crit a photo, take time to read any comments the photographer may have put. Reply

From sheenawilkie/Administrator (0) on April 24, 2012 8:15:16 AM CDT Clearly people should read the photographer's comments, and it's been my experience that the vast majority do. However the vast majority of photographer's do not write any comments on their photos, it was that to which I was addressing my post. I looked through your photos, almost all of them have great feedback on them. It's a tad frustrating that only the critiques with red thumbs get singled out, there are many green thumb on photos that totally miss the point of a photo but they get a pass and always get a helpful :-) Reply

From jackielclements/Jackie (748) on April 24, 2012 5:27:39 PM CDT They do have great feedback which is why I continue to use this site. I do try and reply or even give a thanks to most critiques BUT it's not always possible when I'm just dipping in and out. I like to single out the red thumbs as this is where I feel the most improvements need to be made and I want to be challenged even if I don't agree. If the person who leaves this critique feels that strongly that my 'thoughts' are incorrect I want them to comment back regardless ... sadly they often do not. Reply

From smoke11/Patrick (3,100) on April 24, 2012 9:19:10 AM CDT The recommendation that photographers should share a little more of their intent in the photo is good advice. In many cases it's helpful, especially when the photographer is pointing out a difficult technical aspect. But it's not always easy to do and it may come across as defensive. Some photographers, I suspect, want their work to stand on its own and let people make assessments unfettered. People who write critiques often challenge the photographers to try different approaches. Photographers who respond to a critique may, in turn, challenge the premises the critique is based on. Is that any less fair, notwithstanding your view that it's usually the photograph's fault, not the critics? Reply

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