Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/17

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Subject: [Leica] Levels of critique
From: photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman)
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:47:55 +0100
References: <9E846867-FC2F-4CB2-8BD3-CFCC333C41EF@mac.com> <3e7573d40912171637n48e331fdp1eb9eb1be66fecea@mail.gmail.com>

Actually, in my captions I sometimes do say why I chose to post a particular 
photo, especially in cases where the photo has some technical deficiency but 
I still post it because I find it interesting despite that deficiency.

Nathan

Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu
http://www.greatpix.eu
http://www.nathanfoto.com

Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog



On Dec 18, 2009, at 1:37 AM, leo wesson wrote:

> i think if you ask for a response with a particular aspect of an
> image, ie: tilted horizon or straight or is the composition off
> balance, you will get a specific response which may lead to more
> discussion.
> It helps if you provide, maybe, a comment like, i was trying to show
> the cats in the harbor you give the potential commenter some
> direction.
> 
> Leo Wesson
> Photographer/Videographer
> 817.733.9157
> www.leowesson.com
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 2:22 PM, George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com> 
> wrote:
>> Thinking about the recent thread(s) on photo comments and critiques:
>> 
>> For me,
>> While comments such as: "?great, ?like it, ?number 4 is the best one,
>> ?doesn't do anything for me, ?WOW! ?looks like you missed the focus ?etc."
>> do provide a certain amount of motivation and encouragement (or sometimes
>> discouragement),
>> they don't really qualify as "very useful critiques."
>> 
>> They simply express rather quick first impressions;
>> which I do value;
>> because that may be all the time and consideration our photographs receive
>> from most viewers.
>> 
>> A detailed analysis (critique) of any given photograph (or body of
>> photographs) would need to consider and discuss:
>> 
>> 1) The genre
>>        a) commercial
>>                1 - portrait
>>                2 - event
>>                3 - advertising
>>        b) news
>>        c) editorial / documentary
>>        d) fine art
>>        e) casual / family
>>        f) others
>> 
>> 2) The conceptual context
>>        a) what's the point?
>>        b) what do you wish to communicate?
>> 
>> 3) The aesthetics
>>        a) composition
>>        b) design elements
>>        c) the moment
>>        d) the light
>>        e) feelings
>> 
>> 4) The technicalities
>>        a) exposure
>>        b) focus
>>        c) depth of field (or lack there-of)
>>        d) color and/or tonality
>>        e) noise / grain
>>        f) etc.
>> 
>> 5) How do the above three work (or not) together?
>> 
>> 6) The historical context
>>        a) place in history
>>        b) place in art (or media)
>>        c) from the traditional
>>        d) to the cutting edge
>> 
>> It may be helpful, if we want more than a cursory first impression 
>> comment,
>> to include information as to the intention and purpose for photographing 
>> and
>> posting the photograph,
>> along with a clear request for advice regarding one or more of the above.
>> Some already do this - as in Lawrence's "IMG: Maggie at the helm - 
>> opinions
>> wanted."
>> 
>> That of course is much different than what most of us tend to do here;
>> which amounts to simply sharing photographs (and sometimes stories) of
>> where we've been, what we've done, who we've seen, what we tend to look 
>> at,
>> gear demonstrations, etc.;
>> along with the occasional sharing of "actual client and/or published 
>> work."
>> 
>> Regards,
>> George Lottermoser
>> george at imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com/blog
>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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> 



In reply to: Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Levels of critique)
Message from leowesson at gmail.com (leo wesson) ([Leica] Levels of critique)