Lachlan Kent

My view is that if peole want constructive criticism then they can opt into this via the critique forum

Everyone’s at different stages with their art – and for some folks unwarranted constructive criticism can be enormously deflating and discouraging.

Given one of the themes running through this community is on commercial sales of artwork – I have always held off making any overly negative comments on peoples work. Sometime I would like to – but i dont think it is appropriate.

If you want constructive criticism or critique on your work then there are plenty of other places on the WWW where you can get it. There is also a section in the Redbubble forums that people can post up work for critique.

Hey Peter – you beat me to it!

Good points Peter and Stephen

Thanks for posting this question. I love receiving positive comments about my photos but am unsure if I am ready for constructive advice on the scale that I may need when I get into it seriously. I don’t have a whiz bang DSLR camera, I have a Panasonic DMC-TZ1 which has a Leica lens. It is very much automatic but with the option to customise various settings, which I have begun to experiment with. It is probably a low rung on the ladder to a good quality digital camera but it is a good step on the ladder for me and has been great to use to learn about photography, and it has made me hungry to learn even more.
RB has also made me hungry to learn more and to try different things.
So, although constructive critiquing is certainly necessary for someone trying to improve, sometimes just a pat on the back and the feeling of happiness from someone liking their shot is enough to encourage them to do more.

I always like people to comment on my stuff…I like to hear what people like about it and more importantly what they DO NOT LIKE about it. We do constructive criticism all the time. It often allows me to see things that I do not. Like Robert Knapman commenting about one brow in focus and the other not. I never notice that before.

I find Leica users of 2 extreme :s

I agree with Peter in that if people want a critique they should post on that forum.

One thing I experienced in art school was the manner in which art was critiqued by the instructors. All of us were required at the end of the day to show our work for the day at the front of the class all in a row, and the instructor would discuss each and every one of the works.

Without fail, every instructor without exception would find something postive about each piece of work even though some of the pieces of work may have been substandard. I always thought that was a very positive approach to the whole creative process. The thing that is difficult to determine as the viewer of the art is if the artist did something deliberate to achieve a certain visual effect.

I think constructive critique can be a good thing, and as an amateur I have learnt so much from advice from people in passion4pixels.com. I’ve noticed in RB people don’t seem quite as willing to comment in the same way….although I love the ego boost from postive comments!!

My approach is the same as with any situation where I think there could be improvement (anything from photography to relationships). Always give a compliment first, even if it’s just to say well done for trying…then give some advice if you think you’re qualified to do so.

Thanks for all the replies everyone. It’s good to learn that there’s a place specifically for critique on RB. My confidence in RB as a super site has been further strengthened ; ). I just have to say… if you ever want to tell me that my work is “totally awesome!” or “so cool”, please do. It’s makes me feel good. ; )

To say whether something is good, bad or indifferent, is expressing a personal view, which almost certainly is unlikely to be shared by the next viewer. As I browse around different folks portfolios, I try to read their overviews, and any associated journals before expressing anything critical, but if they desire critique, then I strive to point out the good and the bad in my own, very humble, and non professional opinion, and tend to look at the whole portfolio for common mistakes rather than small things in individual pictures.

I would hope that if I have made a real pigs ear of something, it would be pointed out to me. The pats on the back are certainly ego boosting, but a swift kick in the pants is no bad thing either sometimes. If I consider a portfolio excellent, I will add that user to my watchlist if I personally, like the comment. If I like individual pictures enough to consider buying them, or that I have learned from, then they go in my favourites. However, absence of any picture or individual need not necessarily be taken as I dont like the work – perhaps I havnt got to the missing pic yet.

My submissions are highly varied, in both subject and quality, and certainly not many folks choice of image when looking to buy a piccy for a wall or card, but someone out there might just like them enough…which is why they are here.

I also look hard a piccies I really do not like on first glance if I have time. Often, I learn something from these too, and sometimes, I happen upon hidden gems which may have been here for some time, or which I have not found through suitable tag searches.

So Lachlan, I dont think it is people being too soft – perhaps more a case of being polite unless asked to be otherwise. I have around 20 flower images on a specialist gardening site – these are open for a rating value – and I think that those who have rated them have used different values than I – as the worst pic technically and content wise, has the highest rating – I only put it up for contrast and effect! So, perhaps folk like the unusual after all!

for -if I like the comment, read if I like the content instead – wish you could edit submissions….......
Sorry

As the potential buyer has access to the image comments, I do not leave a constructive criticism in the form of a comment. If an artist candidly asks for constructive criticism in the comment area, I re-direct them to RB’s forum for critique.

This has been an interesting thread to read, and pretty much covers some of the same philosophical discussions I’ve had internally, as well as with some of you in my journal scribblings. I, for one, am not as interested in the commercial side of my photography; so, I am always looking for feedback, whether positive or negative. If it is offered in a constructive fashion I am very appreciative. I think the forums on RB (e.g., B&W, landscape, etc.) can help; particularly if folks posting images have actually asked for constructive criticism. On the flip side, I do understand that some (maybe lots?) really are looking to sell their images, and may think that any constructive comments may be off-putting to potential buyers. So, after significant personal reflection, I am very, very cautious about the kind of comments I leave; and try and look at things in a completely positive fashion. Not that I ‘sugarcoat’ things, I may make thoughtful suggestions about what I might have done differently, or pose a suggestion as a question, i.e., “Did you think about doing this…?”

I also belong to a couple of other sites that are essentially completely geared toward contructive criticism of photographic images. That’s the place I usually try out my ‘new’ images. Kind of work the ‘kinks’ out with my images there before posting to sites like RB. This process seems to work well for me.

In closing, I think as we develop close relationships with each of our new friends on RB; we’ll find where the boundaries are related to offering ‘suggestions’ or criticism. Personally, I find it extraordinarily fascinating to see which images people like, or don’t, and why they do or don’t. It really is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Cheers to You All! Chris