[Leica] critiquing

["lea" <lea@whinydogpress.com>]

First off, let me say that B.D. and I took our arm wrestling match off-list
and had a most pleasant outcome.

Critiquing is an art and, as many have pointed out, it is a difficult thing
to do effectively made even harder when the critic and the artist are miles
away with no chance for 'real' dialog. I'll be the first to admit I open
some images and the first thought that crosses my mind is, "Wow, that
sucks." But I'd never write that because at gut level I think there's a
glimmer of hope and goodness in everything that is created.

My line of work (the cards) puts me in contact with many, many photographers
who want feed back on their images. I like to stipulate that a photographer
bring some of their best and worst work when we meet for a review. The
reason for the worst work is so they can tell me what they already know
about what works and what doesn't.........helping a shooter to see what is
good and bad in their own art is the value of critiquing, I think.

My work also brings to my doorstep many photographers who are just starting
out...people who haven't been in the medium for years. I try to always find
something positive to say about what they are doing...even if it's only that
I thought they made a good film choice! Oftentimes I find those who come to
me are so overwhelmed with the assult of images coming at them from all
directions all day long that they can't make hide nor hair of what the voice
in THEIR head is saying about how a certain subject should be photographed.
Often I just suggest they slow down, visualize how they feel about a subject
then try to get that on film. Easier said than done, I know...but it at
least plants the seed.

There seems to be great value on this list for the critiques...I have to bow
to that as I keep reading how much everyone  has gained from them. I have to
admit I don't do much in the way of online critiquing and I don't pay a
whole lot of attention to the ones that do get posted...tho I try to make a
jaunt to each PAW link that gets submitted.

I lead an art group that has met weekly for 2.5 years now...we go to a local
cafe and have coffee while discussing my photography, another's writing,
another's painting and another's acting. It is a very hands-on way of
showing work to a pretty broad audience. Some stuff is a real hit, some is a
real flop but everyone gains. And one of the best things I've learned from
the whole experience is how important it is not to squash the light of
creativity in any person. Their art may take them down a road I'd never
travel but that doesn't make it awful. Their voice is different, that's all.

For me, the goal of a critique is to fire a person up so they want to go out
and use their cameras (or typewriters, or paintbrushes) to make better
art...not to make them wonder what in the heck they ever bought them for in
the first place.

Now then, the negatives hanging in my darkroom are screaming at me to come
give them some attention.......................


Lea Murphy
Whiny Dog Press
Telephone 816-333-9111
Telefax 816-333-9113
Home www.whinydogpress.com
New  www.whinydogpress.com/new.html
PAW www.whinydogpress.com/paw.html


- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html