On 11/25/2011 2:18 PM, Larry Colen wrote:
I've realized that one reason the PDML has helped me improve my photography is
not only feedback on my photos, but looking at other people's photos and
reading the feedback on them. It has exposed me to different styles of
photography, given me a feel what other people like, or dislike, and why, and
in many cases set the bar up much higher than when all I ever did was pretty
much look at my own photos. I've been on a few other forums which have a lot
of people who are just barely past the stage of understanding how f/stop
affects depth of field and think that makes them a technical expert.
One thing I haven't seen a lot of is discussion on how to give and take
criticism. And a related discussion of what venues on the net, or off, are
good for that sort of discussion.
I'm a lot better at taking criticism than I am at giving it, which is
essentially a product of my inexperience. So, the fact that I may not
offer a comment on an image could be taken as either, (1) I'm not in the
position to offer a critique on it, (2) any suggestions I may have on
how I might "improve" it have already been mentioned by someone else, or
(3) I've allowed the list to get away from me and never saw the image.
In any event, I never quite saw the value in trashing people's work,
even if I don't like what they've done. I've taken lots and lots of bad
photos, and I'll take lots and lots more. Suggestions on how they might
be improved, or what to do in future attempts at similar shots are
infinitely more helpful that a litany of shortcomings -- which are
generally a manifestation of the critic's need for a self-glorification
in any event.
Typically, if I've posted something, it's either because I like the way
it turned out, or I think it could have been a better image, but am just
not sure what I needed to do to make it better. And, of course, there
have been times when I've posted an image that I liked, but others saw
things that they would change about them that made perfect sense to me,
but just didn't fit into the mood of the image I had in mind. I don't
take that sort of thing as a personal criticism -- just a matter of
personal taste.
Of course, as someone who's still wet behind the ears, I'm going to take
a lot of mundane, cliche-type shots. That's part of the price of
learning how to use a camera, I figure. It's like playing scales and
learning Smoke on the Water for a guitarist. You have to start somewhere.
-- Walt
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Larry Colen [email protected] sent from i4est
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