Typically whenever anyone posts something to this critique forum, I will also check out their gallery. It helps me get a feel for where they're coming from as an artist. It also helps answer whether or not their submission here is a fluke, a one-hit-wonder among an otherwise so-so collection. Or is their submission junk, a blemish on an otherwise great portfolio?
When looking at others' stuff, I think we all put ourselves in their position. We all ask ourselves: "Would I have taken that shot?" In the 61+ images you have submitted here, I find that most of the time my answer to that question is no. I often don't understand your message. I don't see what you find interesting enough to press the shutter. That said, as an artist, we must all realize that we can't appeal to everyone. For example, I happen to think that Picasso was a hack.
With this submission, I do understand your message. You've made it obvious as to what you were trying to accomplish here. I don't think you pulled it off, but the message is clear nonetheless. By your own admission, this should be easily dismissed as non-serious work because it's a snap shot. Are you really going to submit this for a contest? This is an "artist's choice" piece that represents your work?
My goal (and the goal of many others who offer critiques here) is to help you grow. We are often our own worst critics, and its almost always beneficial to get the input of our peers to gauge our work. You have slapped a disclaimer on this and then attempted to close the door on critiquing it due to previous "bad experiences" and "nit picking over perfection". That's why no one else has responded to your post until now, despite several views. Perhaps you are one of those artists who are ultra-sensitive about their work and no one wants to risk offending you.
Don't waste our time with snap shots and disclaimers. It sounds like you are not open to suggestions at all, rather just looking for a few atta-boys and pats on the back. If you are serious about being an artist, then you must be thick skinned enough to accept criticism of your work.
How are snapshots not serious work? I suppose real photographs require countless hours of studying the subject matter and putting serious thought and effort in to it. Otherwise, it is not a real photograph. Next time I will ask the clouds to hang around a little longer.
After looking at your images, I would not have "clicked the shutter" for 90% of your photographs, but that is why they are YOUR photographs. I find most of them to be dull and meaningless. Perhaps we have different styles? I normally would not be so pompous or insulting as to throw something like that in anyone's face, but you definitely struck first blood--- why I'm not sure. After looking at your photographs, I do not see why you would be a critiquing authority on anyone here.
I was quite clear in what I was looking for in this critique. I am perfectly fine with the composure of this photograph and how it turned out, and obviously it may not please everyone, but from feedback it seems to have taken to a lot of people.
I wanted to know what, if anything, could possibly make this photograph better fit my artistic goal-- what I could change that is still within my control during post editing. I've only been shooting digital for a little over a year, and I have only been shooting and editing RAW for a few months.
I do take my photography seriously, and I try to capture interesting moments as they happen. I often seek out snapshots, rather than staging photographs and devoting a lot of time to getting it "perfect". Photography is about capturing interesting, cool, beautiful, or meaningful moments in time, and I think it is a lot more skillful and challenging to do so on the fly. Hence why I asked that no one critiqued something that I cannot go back and correct (like angles etc) Would have, should have, could have.
The images in my gallery are not a body of work or portfolio. If anything they are an evolution of my photography as I slowly learn more and more. They are purely a reference for myself and for others to look at if they want to.
I'm really sorry if I am coming off nasty, but your obvious expertise and "almighty photo moderator" vibe has struck a very bad chord with me. I do not think you have to worry about me "wasting" any more of your time here.
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” ~Elliott Erwitt
