It's great, that in every ten people who views a picture, at least one comment it, and the spirit on the site is the bollocks. Nice going!

But I do think that almost every comment or feedback is just meaningless praise--which is very nice indeed, but not very useful.
When someone, for example, pays a written ovation for the composition in a shto, it's hardly ever followed up by a detailed explanation about what compositionally features that makes the shot great.

Don't be afraid to tell people if they're shots are rubbish. As long as you give tips about how it could be better or which parts are good. And perhaps, instead of just writing "great shot", try to clarify what's good. Let's try and improve each other.

Thank you.

i agree !!

I completely agree! i need those kind of constructive crits! I need growth! please please please tell me when i'm shooting rubbish and help me out so i can get better! thanks stakato

I am thinking of putting up a criticism section in the forum. You can link in by clicking on one of your photos from your blog and it will create a new thread in that forum where people can give you criticism of a photo.

I would love to see this,... let me imagine:
I can click on a button that brings my photo to the "Grilling" forum, where it's going to be grilled by professionals, which will tell me how I can improve it. Then I can have a link from my blog too, so when my friends see that particular photo, they too can learn using that case study. More over, I can go to the forum and see other photos being grilled and learn from that, and one day when I'm good enough, I can do the barbecue too

I come at this from a different angle, I see this from both sides of the coin...bare with me while I try to explain....if I see something I like I'll make a little comment about the fact that I like it. If I don't like it, I don't comment.

This is a photo blog. From what I see a lot of the people posting here are not looking for constructive criticism...hence the party pictures of the girls having a good night, or whatever...we're here to share pictures. I believe that was the initial point of this site.

Now if someone asks for constructive criticism I will add my 2 cents if I feel I have something to offer.

I value constructive criticism for my stuff (and am probably part of the small percentage of people here who would like it), and if there is an easy way of asking for it like checking off a box or something then great.

There are many websites that specialize in asking for pointers of photos. That being said, in the one month that I've been here, I've seen photoblog.com grow tremendously. I would like to see this option if possible, but don't feel that this was the original intent of the creator.

Rob

My idea is to only allow the owner of the photo to submit it for criticism.

You are right though about having a lot of groups of people. I am not a photographer so all my stuff is either really random, my dog or my friends drunk. We do seem to have a lot of really great photographers here and I'm sure some want to know how they could take a certain shot better.

So in short you just can't randomly submit people's photos for criticism
.

here is a thought: put it in your blog entry - what kind of criticism/comments you're looking for. technical pointers are only one aspect.

Examples:
How can I get better contrast?
Would you have cropped this differently?
Which photo grabbed your attention most?
Which do you think is the weakest in the set? Which the strongest?

That way, you're inviting the kind of feedback you want.

You've got some good point. But my submission was more an appeal than a suggestion. Few people will be in doubt wether they're looking at party-shots or artistic photographies. Perhaps the best thing would be, as JackGordie writes, to ask for something if you wanted it.

I think the concrit-forum would be a magnificent idea, though

Anyone interested in constructive criticism may have a look at this proposition:

Forum > Suggestions and Feedback > Critiques Feature

folks, that's all nice and good, but...

a) to be constructively CRITICAL about other people's output needs engagement in his/her work. - ask yourself... whom would you do the favor of such judgment? people you know as friends or complete stranger on a public platform like photoblog?

b) to be CONSTRUCTIVELY critical about other people's work needs not only expertise, very good communication skills and a great deal of presence, it foremost needs a lot of time and effort, too. it's incomparably easier to say "nice shot" or nothing at all than to really point out what's wrong with a picture and why... not to speak of adding tips how to do it better. - ask yourself... for whom would i do such effort... to my very few close friends in life or to a huge group of complete strangers on a public platform like photoblog?

to get critical reviews that MEAN something will never happen here on photblog, no matter what tools we'll get to support this. basically, the trust and engagement that would make such constructive critic possible is not given (and can't be, if you want to keep this an open community). don't cry out for it... this is what you get on public places.

aren't we all spending too much time online already? ;-)

I might be wrong or too idealistic thinking that we can respond honestly to each other's work, including critically, while still being respectful of each other. I think it is possible.

At one extreme, there is uninvited harsh criticism. At the other end of the spectrum is the attitude 'if you don't love it, don't say anything at all'.

Sometimes, I am humourless and guarded about my own work, because I don't want people to say anything that might offend the people who I take pictures of. I'm trying to get over that. I do think, though, that since we are talking to people we don't know, and things escalate quickly online, that any critical feedback should be offered in a respectful way.

and quoting eidea from above:

"to be constructively CRITICAL about other people's output needs engagement in his/her work. - ask yourself... whom would you do the favor of such judgment?"

well, when I see an image that really grabs and holds my attention, then I feel willing to invest. so if I just mildly dislike something, or mildly like it, I'll let it go by. I would save thoughtful criticism for work I find moving.

some people are not here for improvement but just plain enjoyment,expression and relaxation ,for some the last thing they want or need in thier life is more complaints or being under the gun of someone's views...
some people are way too serious about it all and the problem with all of it is that it is subjective .. there is no right and wrong in art and expression which is what many people come to do ..

you may think a picture needs to be straightened or cropped more but that would be purely YOUR opinion ..


I know there are people who want constructive criticism and if so it should be a choice available..

yes, I agree about choice. let's take that as a basic point.

I agree that individuals view art subjectively, artbug, and that of course receiving constructive criticism should be a personal choice.

I welcome that choice, Mike Zupan. I hope you can add a magic button. Lacking that, I like your suggested list, Julia:
"How can I get better contrast?
Would you have cropped this differently?
Which photo grabbed your attention most?
Which do you think is the weakest in the set? Which the strongest?"

May I borrow these?

I think that even though individuals will vary in their opinions, I can still learn to see differently. Or learn a technique, perhaps. I cringe at seeing a list of "Well done..." or "Nice photos...". Does any thought about the photo(s) go into writing that? Perhaps I should move this into the "What not to put into or post," or was that the thread that used the word "never" put into a post?

we all know what we like. Why not express it in slighty more words than 'WOW' or 'Thanks for sharing'. I disagree that crit takes expertise. 'Expert critics' are experts at jargon, there is no correct critique as appreciation is entirely subjective. I agree with Julia. It's best to leave it if what you are looking at hasn't the power to actually oblige you to make a comment. I think, with regard to those that worry about such things, that ones desire to be critiqued should be flagged in some way. Prehaps Mike can fix this.

well, it seems to me the comments are mostly social, sort of like saying "Hi, I looked". And also, like a game of tag, I think they also mean "now it's your turn to look at my blog". what else can you make of day-after-day smileyfaces? -i'm sure we all got plenty of those.

Saying "I love the way you used a short depth of field to highlight the emotional centre of the image" is critical feedback. I never see anyone have any problem with positive critical feedback.

From my point of view, on an amateur site, harsh feedback is never necessary. But if you can't have any negative in a critique, it makes the positive a little bit suspect.

In my own blog, I want criticism to be respectful of the people in the photographs. If I take pictures of inanimate objects, you can say anything about them. but when my subjects are people, I want the commenter to be aware that the people in the picture will be reading your comments, and that they have extended generosity in allowing me to post the photos.

hi Julia ..I agree with almost all you said .. we agreed it should be a choice .. alot on here is social and that is all people want it to be and that should be their choice..

anyway as far as the photo tag .. well honestly that happens with me quite often ..I do not always remember to see someone's blog until they reply to mine.. and I think it is quite nice that people do reply that way because I would not of met half the people on here had I not followed those leads.. sometimes for me I just forget .. that is all..

anyway lovely Julia .. baby baby it's a wild world.. just wanted to make you smile...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHXpnZi9Hzs

sorry for my english, i agree with Artbug, ...subjectif, the important world