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Dave Hilditch / Articles

Constructively Critical Comments

One of the main reasons why I join photo communities like Ipernity is to learn from others. I can learn simply from looking at other peoples work but I also think that CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is important and would help me to understand how I can improve.

When I first took up photography numpty seven years ago I joined a camera club or photographic society. Each week we had to produce a mounted print for review and criticism by the other members. The criticisms were meant to be helpful but could, on occasions, be quite hurtful. But I learnt.

Later, when my work had improved, I entered competitions. It was great when I did well but I learnt more when my work was criticized and I understood why. When my work was described as crap (and it was a few times), it hurt. But, as long as I knew why it was considered crap I could take that on board and improve. It was a tough school but it helped me.

Ipernity, like other sites, allows and encourages comments. Almost all comments are complimentary, even flattering. I’ve very rarely seen a critical comment. Complimetary comments are very nice to get and I’m always grateful that someone has bothered but I refuse to believe that all my images are wonderful and without fault.

I do appreciate that we each take and post photos for different reasons and many people have no desire to take better photos but are happy to post their images and make new friends through their photos. That’s perfectly OK with me and indeed I have made many such friends here. I wouldn’t dream of giving unwanted criticism to such friends unless I was asked.

So, at last, we get to the point of this article. Does anyone else think like I do and would welcome CONSTRUCTIVE criticism? I’d really like to know. For my part, please take this article as an invitation to criticize my work. If you don’t think it’s good then tell me and tell me why you think that. I might sulk for a few seconds but I’ll appreciate your comments take them on board. Maybe we could get a little group of consenting photographers going where we critique each other’s work. I promise I will never call your work crap.

What do you think?


14 comments

Kathleen Thorpe said:

I completely agree with what everyone else has said. Photography, as all art, is subjective. What one person sees as beauty, another can just as easily dislike. I have seen very heavy-handed comments made, which I thought were totally inappropriate. You know what they say "be careful what you ask for". The group "In My Opinion" could be a good setting. As said, you should contact an administrator to join. If anyone is thinking of creating another such group with perhaps other guidelines, I would be interested.
10 years ago

Annemarie said:

There is a group like that Dave
its called IN my Opinion.............

have a look if you wish

I myself are very involved in my hard "real" work, so sharing photos are for me a pleasure and I do not have wether the skills nor the time to analyse over others.....
I comment spontaneaously, and thats all i can do................

and I allways appreciate constructive criticism..........., very

thanks Dave for bringing up this question, in this hard times.....
hugs and respect !
Annamaria
10 years ago

Jean said:

For me, photography is so subjective I am very wary of "constructive" criticism which usually means telling someone what you think is wrong with their photo. I try to work on the principle that , if you tell someone what you like about their photo, that is constructive. Also I want to take photos I like not ones that meet someone else's ideas of good. Although I enter camera club competitions I never go to the judging. When I did and paid attention to the critiques my photos "improved" and became just like everyone else's. Getting away from this is very difficult and I'm still struggling. Don't think I'll ever succeed.
10 years ago

Pam J said:

I have to agree with all of the above.... not because I dont have an opinion.. but because they ARE my opinions.

I am very much an amateur but I have always loved to photograph things. I felt way out of my league when I first came here(and wrote an article about such) . But I came to realise that I WAS learning so much just by SEEING others work.. not just LOOKING.

This place and the friends I have made here are a wonderful and I am happy to go on learning...
10 years ago

Dave Hilditch said:

Many thanks for all these responses. A lot of interesting points made.

It's clear to me that whilst we may take photos of different subjects we all engage in photography because we enjoy it. Anything that endangers that enjoyment should be avoided.

Let the fun continue.
10 years ago

Phill G said:

I completely go along with the idea of constructive criticism Dave, and don't mind at all if someone says 'it'd be better if...' or 'why don't you try this or that...' The only problem is that I don't know how to adjust anything to get a different result with anything, and have a miserably limited understanding of my camera ( or any other camera for that matter). Someone asked me about the white balance on one of my shots a couple of days ago...ie had I got it right...I don't even know what it is or where to find it.
The other thing is, not being a photographer, I tend not to leave such comments on other peoples photos (unless it's something glaringly obvious like a brand new Porsche parked near an old building that is presented in sepia in an attempt to make it look old). I always get the feeling that they'd look at my shots and think who the hell is he to comment in such a manner when he takes photos like THAT!
I guess I'm out of my comfort zone on this one...if we were talking about woodwork I could comment all day long!
Please feel free to constructively criticize my shots, though, and if they really ARE crap then tell me quick so I can delete them!
Cheers!
10 years ago

Gerda said:

What I don't like so much is hypocrisy...telling one thing and thinking the contrary. I just hope that people are honest and don't write that my picture is fantastic, great etc. if they don't really think so. It's not the quantity of comments I'm after but the quality and honesty. When honesty includes that people tell me what they would do differently...it's ok with me. Then it's up to me if I want to give it a try or not.

If I don't like a photo I don't comment it as I don't know enough about photography as far as technical things are concerned and I think that my personal taste has nothing to do with other people's works.

Lately I had a look at some of my pictures that I posted in Flickr and I found that I made progress only by looking at other people's great and fantastic works. It's inspiring and constructive. If I want to know how someone did something I like on a picture...I ask, and normally I always get a helpful answer.

I'm never really fully happy with my pictures and that keeps me going and wanting to do it better...that's fascinating too :)

Cheers, Dave!
10 years ago

* ઇઉ * replied to Gerda:

+1
7 months ago ( translate )

.t.a.o.n. said:

constructive criticism is necessary, but it's not my way to practise it in a public comment to an image. i also don't critisize images of people whom i don't know very good, so: i critisize images of friends only, and i do it non-public, per mail, or really personally.
in my 6 years here in iper i saw many destructive discussions destroying the meaning of an image, maybe meant as "constructive", but there happened a lot of misunderstandings, too...
9 years ago

beverley replied to .t.a.o.n.:

I agree with you Rob ... wholeheartedly ... especially when no request has been
made under the picture for criticism ... when different languages are involved in
an international site .. always there can be misunderstandings ... best to perhaps
like Gerda has said ... there by no hypocrisy ... if we enjoy a picture and it moves
us to comment so be it ... if we do not like it ..for whatever reason .. lets move
on to the next one ;-)

a good article Dave and interesting to read ;-)
9 years ago

Stormlizard said:

Hi Dave.
I too like constructive criticism. I learn from it at times but don't shed tears if I get no praise.

Although I am rather old in the tooth my photographic history is rather short if one disregards silly family photos taken with intermittent idiot proof cameras on 120 film where Aunt Jane had no feet and Uncle Bert seemed to be trying hard to look like the Tower in Pisa or was without the top of his head.
My first Camera, well it said on the box it was a "Sipix Digital" I picked up in 2004, I liked the idea of being able to print from the PC so got hold of a Canon Digital IXUS 400 and later began to upload photos to "Multiply com". I have since upgraded to other cameras and as MP closed down ended up here on Ipernity.
More often than not nobody bothers to comment at all, I comment on other members work but they can't be bothered to reply which i consider as being bad mannered.
What do I take photos of? well more or less everything from insects to Castles wherever I happen to set my feet.

John.
9 years ago

Colin Ashcroft said:

Interesting read -- I too joined a Camera Club which initially started out trying to do competitions and critique but most people just wanted to be 'Liked' and I must admit I became disappointed at the lack of comments and critique but even more disappointed that so few people liked my photos. I have come to the conclusion that competitions are fine for other people and as real critique is very difficult ( Its something I have never managed to do well ) I now duck out of giving it or soliciting it. I find more satisfaction in just enjoying some of the photos I take and other people's masterpieces. I now consider the subject of the photograph more important than how it has been caputured or composed. I guess that means I have just opted out of being a better photograher ?

I did look at the group In My Opinion for a while but critique of other people's photographs that hold little interest to me I found forced and very difficult to provide - I must admit to feeling a bit of a failure.
8 years ago

Dave Renfroe said:

Great article, Dave.
I too would like constructive critique of my photos - its great to learn others techniques, etc. There are so many tips to be learned from each other.

I am starting a new IPernity group, "Photography Workshop" where the main focus will be critique and advice. One problem with this idea though is getting the word out so it can begin to grow into something useful. This has been tried before with the group "Critique" - but it has dragged to a halt from lack of interest. I really think folks just couldn't find it. Oh well .... I will give it a try. If you or anyone has any ideas how to set this up so it will work - I'm all ears.

Another photo-site you may be interested in is "Trekearth". It mainly focuses on travel so it has an emphasis on locations, etc. which I like. The site looks a bit dated and has ads but, you can only summit one photo a day, so it not full of junk. But my main point - they have a neat idea with their "Workshop" feature. You can summit a photo to there with the intention that it is going to be critiqued and even "fixed" by other members. Each "workshop" produces a little article with shot improvement and/or post-processing tips. I suggested this to the IPernity admin - but no go - I guess it's too complicated and they don't think it would be used.
Trekearth link: www.trekearth.com

Note: For folks who want suggested changes to their photos in IPernity, a good idea would be to set your preferences so that your photos can be downloaded. That way the advisor can take the photo and tweek it and then post it within a discussion.
5 years ago

Dave Renfroe said:

The "Photography Workshop" group is alive now.
www.ipernity.com/group/2400546

Please join me if you would like.
I would really appreciate any ideas on how to set up the group so it will work, be interesting and be fun.
5 years ago
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