[Leica] Re: Results of April 2007 LUG photo contest (why there are no comments)

[imagist3 at mac.com (Lottermoser George)]

I pretty much agree with everything you said below. I often hesitate  
to offer too harsh a critique on any given image that I comment on. I  
also find myself not commenting at all on images which I see as  
simply banal photographic records. In these cases while I could offer  
constructive suggestions - I also don't wish to offend or get into a  
conversation on aesthetic philosophy (well maybe I would). ;~)

One of the problems with commenting and offering critiques comes up  
because we have such a wide range work and varied opinions. Often  
times when someone says "great" I'm thinking 'what's great about  
that? I don't see anything great in it.' Yet, I don't engage in  
conversation about it - because I don't want to offend the fellow or  
gal that just got stroked.

Regards,
George Lottermoser
george@imagist.com



On May 3, 2007, at 12:56 PM, David Keenan wrote:

> There is just too much back-patting whenever images are offered for  
> view (or
> review) in almost any online forum -- and more often then not during
> in-person interactions.
>
> Even in my case, when I post my PAW announcements here on LUG, I  
> mostly get
> pats on the back (if I get any comment at all). Such support is  
> nice and I
> appreciate anyone who takes the time to offer such feedback.
>
> But true critical feedback (or even negative) feedback is very  
> rare. "I like
> it" or "I don't like it" really doesn't help anyone.
>
> I, for one, welcome real (even ruthless) feedback. I have paid for  
> it on
> occasion. Sure it can sting. I now have several more experienced
> photographers in my circle who I want such feedback from. If a  
> photograph
> doesn't work or measure up somehow, I want to know. I'm not  
> required to
> believe anything I hear but I usually do.
>
> It is impossible to reach beyond mediocrity (something I aspire to do)
> without on-going honest and learned feedback.
>
> Frankly, in the case of the LUG contest (of which I am a former  
> judge), I
> think that it simply boils down to a matter of time. There are many  
> images
> online -- not just the ones in this forum. And who has time to  
> seriously
> comment on what they see?
>
> And given my position on comments like "I like it" which  
> constitutes, what,
> 95% of feedback, then that is probably just as well.