Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I also get deterred from leaving a comment on photos because I feel like everyone is indeed being a little -too- nice sometimes. On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 8:11 AM, George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com>wrote: > I appreciate your expressing these thoughts on critiques; > and agree with what you have to say. > > It takes a good deal more time to look at photographs with a critical eye; > and even more time to express one's opinion thoughtfully and well. > > Thank you for inviting us to take that time. > > > Regards, > George Lottermoser > george at imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com/blog > http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist > > On Dec 16, 2009, at 3:48 AM, Neil Beddoe wrote: > > I bought an M9 recently and a few lenses, revived my dormant >> photography habit and started posting to the LUG again. In that short >> time >> I think my photography has improved and its all down to people being >> honest >> with me. >> >> The most important thing I've learned since getting the M9 is what kind of >> photographer I want to be. I don't do beautiful landscapes because I >> haven't got the patience or inclination to get up at 4 in the morning for >> the right light or spend hours in photoshop honing a print and I also know >> that I'd still be pretty bad at it because frankly I find most landscape >> photography boring. I'd rather just go there on my bike and look at the >> scenery. I'll never be a photojournalist because I think to do it justice >> you need to immerse yourself in your subject and make sure that your >> pictures tell the whole story you wanted to tell. I have a young family >> and >> a full time job and this means that my pictures are limited to my children >> (and I don't post those anywhere) and the things I see in London in my >> 30-40 >> minute walks two or three times a week and on my cycle ride to the railway >> station. The pictures I try to take now show what I see in such short >> time >> periods. >> >> This group is a great place to force you into some self-reflection. For >> example some pictures I took of a climate camp in Trafalgar Square were >> failures because I didn't have the time to spend building the story and >> the >> subject demanded nothing less. This was pointed out to me pretty >> quickly. >> A few years ago Ted laid into a picture I took of a street singer in New >> York because it said nothing and he was absolutely right, it was a duff >> picture. The upshot of all this is that I'm pretty certain now when I >> take >> a picture about what I'm trying to say or show and am much more severe >> with >> myself when I'm editing if the picture doesn't match the idea. This makes >> it much easier to explain what I saw in a picture if I think its a keeper. >> >> I've learned a lot from the negative criticism my pictures receive and >> almost nothing from the praise (although I've got an ego like everyone >> else >> and all praise is welcome). I think the LUG can be a bit too gentle on >> posters some times, perhaps with the idea that any photographic effort >> should be encouraged. I'd love to see much more questioning of posters >> about why they think their picture works and much more honesty if stuff is >> just no good. I've noticed that bad photographs tend to get ignored >> rather >> than actively criticised while good ones get loads of responses. This is a >> shame, really good pictures aren't the ones that need criticism although I >> can understand that this is quite a friendly place and we want to be nice >> to >> each other. >> >> Anyway, thanks to anyone who's said they liked my pictures and many many >> thanks to people who said they didn't. >> >> Neil >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >