Good advice ... sometimes I'm too direct or focused on what I think the photo (or anything) should be. It's a bad habit from my childhood, instilled by an over-domineering, abusive mother and too absent father, coupled with an underlying level of low self . In my weak defense it should be noted that I sent Frank a private e-mail on the subject.
Shel "You meet the nicest people with a Pentax" > [Original Message] > From: Godfrey DiGiorgi > The issue, as I see it, is that Frank's photograph isn't yours, Shel. > When critiquing someone else's work, you cannot answer to what > *their* intent was, you can only respond to the photograph. For you, > the microphone ruins the shot, but that isn't true for Frank, I or > several other people, judging by the comments I've seen about it. > > When I critique someone else's work, sometimes I have to say "it > isn't to my taste" or "there are elements in this photograph that I > find too distracting", or similar, but to just state flatly that the > mic in this one "ruins the shot" is likely the wrong way to offer the > criticism. > > Godfrey > > > On Nov 22, 2005, at 7:30 AM, Shel Belinkoff wrote: > > > Well, perhaps for you and some others. However, when I make a shot > > and > > something upsets or detracts from my intent, I consider the shot > > ruined. > > That's my standard for my own work. I didn't get the shot i > > wanted. Maybe > > I'm just more critical (at least about my work in general). If you > > find > > the mic in front of jenny's face acceptable, or an intended part of > > the > > pic, then yes, ruined would be too strong a word. If I tried to > > make a > > similar shot, and was shooting in the same venue, I might not have > > even > > snapped the shutter. > > > > We have a very different way of seeing and accepting a photograph. > > I'm > > probably too critical most of the time, especially with my own work. > > Example: took a pic of a girl on a bicycle. After printing it I > > noticed > > there was a piece of trash in the frame. I never printed the pic > > again - > > for years - until I learned how to delete the trash in Photoshop. > > > > So, FWIW, I'm being no more critical of the Pirate Jenny pix as I > > am of my > > own. > > > > Shel > > "You meet the nicest people with a Pentax" > > > > > >> [Original Message] > >> From: frank theriault > > > > > >>> But, Shel: The shot is "ruined" by the mic? I guess you're > >>> entitled > >>> to your opinion, but "ruined"? That's fairly strong language. > >> > >> BTW, I'm not in any way insulted or hurt by the use of the word. I'm > >> just surprised by your use of it. Just don't want you to think that > >> I'm taking anything personally <VBG>. > > > >
