Three Types of Criticism

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Anthony - Good article. Thanks for posting it. Any time you put your photos on display, for good or bad they are open for critiquing. Unfortunately most people are not professional writers, or speakers, and some time a well intentioned comment doesn't come out that way. Words in writing may not reflect the intent or true thoughts of the person doing the writing. As photographers with photos on display we often have to put on a flack jacket and take criticism as a constructive critique. As writers of critiques we are all subject to saying something that offends when it's not intended. In those cases we need to be prepared to communicate with the offended person that it was not intended and provide a better explanation. Most people do not want to offend with a critique so more often than not they say or write nothing.
 
In offering my opinion about a photograph (if asked), I try to start on a positive note, finding something good about it. I move from there to asking questions about the thought process behind the photo, if for some reason I see something that makes me shake my head and wonder, "what were they thinking??". I typically do NOT express my opinion on photos that I can't find something positive to say - perhaps it's a blurry, camera phone "myspace" (arm-length self portrait) photo that someone asks me about. In reading critique about my work, I like to read what someone thought about the work, and an explanation of what they would have done differently.

The only time I really take offense is if someone simply says "It sucks", and can't offer any reason why, or what they'd do differently.
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
I had written a lengthy response, but the system told me that I wasn't logged in .. AGAIN!

Bottom line, please yourself, and then please your customer. Listen very, very carefully to the customer and what he/she has to say about an image(s).:p They pay the bills!
 
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