Awful work - Do you say something?

Splinters

Just curious what others take on this would be.

If you see another photographer producing some absolutely awful work, beyond the possible interpretation of personal taste, I mean really really awful work would you ever say anything?

Of course I don't mean in a nasty manner, and it goes without saying anything like that should always be said in a constructive manner. I'm just wondering in general would you bother at all or just leave them to figure it out themselves.

I know its a bit vague and probably depends on the situation. I'm just curious...and Im also trying to fill in the next 20 mins before I leave work

Tallon

Send us a link to their work!

Also, personally, I'd say it if it was a friend

AnimalRights

If I see a picture on Pixie that I know how it can be improved I comment on it.

Tallon

AnimalRights wrote: »

If I see a picture on Pixie that I know how it can be improved I comment on it.

I can attest to this

Splinters

Ahh no I'm not trying to name and shame, or embaress anybody.

I just encountered a situation where I seen somebody posting what I would describe as really awful work, mostly down to insanely over the top post processing. I tried to leave some very polite and friendly constructive criticism which was met with a fairly blunt "thats just my style".

In all honesty I couldn't really give a rats, its a stranger, if they're happy with it then of course thats the main thing.

I'm just wondering would most people here even bother or let them learn at their own pace.

dazftw

I think 9 times out of 10 that person wouldn't listen to reason anyway. If someone's work is so bad and they put themselves out there as a working photographer, their head must be so far up there hole any sort of critique wouldn't work.

I've seen it a few times but never said anything.

Splinters

Yep that seems to be the case here alright.

I'm by no means an expert on the way things should be done. I'd like to think at the very least I've improved a bit from where I first started, and was always glad of some constructive criticism to steer me in the right direction.

Fiona

If somebody thought my work was awful I would like to hear the feedback and the reasons behind it especially if I admired their work as you would be foolish not to take that chance to learn something from the person.

AnCatDubh

Splinters wrote: »

If you see another photographer producing some absolutely awful work, beyond the possible interpretation of personal taste, I mean really really awful work would you ever say anything?

Funny, I was about to tweet a cryptic 140 characters along the lines of "Your work sucks >> Oh, its just my style >> Your work still sucks".

I didn't execute that idea but it was inspired by a post I saw online elsewhere

That work was truly awful. *shudders*

As to whether to say it or not. It can be a tough one and depends on the context. I've done it but only where I'd have been reasonably familiar with the individual or where it being asked of (C&C for example - yes, a different ball game).

There is a professional or two who are at least a little popular but who's work I think is pretty shi*e, but I wouldn't even go there.

dirtyghettokid

i probably wouldn't say anything. some people can get hurt easily sometimes by feedback. instead, i'd probably pick one of their nicer pieces and comment on that.
there was one time though, a friend of mine was posting up some HDR stuff, that was a bit OTT.. all i said to him (to his face) "still on that HDR buzz, eh?"
haha thankfully, he knew what i meant by that, and nothing more was said. and no more OTT HDR pics wrangled their way into my feed.

thebaz

taste varies - what i deem awful others might like and vice versa - so I'd be very careful to say something is awful - I just say nothing , and from my experience thats best (for a quiet life ).

magicbastarder

there's obviously stuff posted here which makes my toes curl - but i'll only comment if the context is one where feedback is welcome. if something is muck, i'll only voice my opinion if it'll be valued. opinions are cheap, and i've loads of 'em.

AnCatDubh

AnimalRights wrote: »

If I see a picture on Pixie that I know how it can be improved I comment on it.

Ah yes, but you are quite the affable sort (at least when we got to know you a little)

:pac:

Ben D Bus

Splinters wrote: »

Just curious what others take on this would be.

I know the image you're talking about. Suggest you just move on

amdgilmore

I regularly see work I hate on every photo sharing site or forum. And I frequently see work I hate being on the receiving end of heaps of praise, which drives me crazy.

I've only been taking photos for about a year though, and don't have the photographs to back up my claims of having good taste, so I just keep my mouth shut.

I don't think most people want critiques of their photos anyway. Better to avoid doing it unless specifically asked for.

puddles22

it all depends whos doing the critique for me , if it was someone like maddog from here i would take it very seriously but from an average joe soap with no photographic experience that would b different story for example, i remember showing my landscapes to a person once and they they flicked through them really fast and finished by saying there crap theres no people in them

kevc2

Splinters wrote: »

I tried to leave some very polite and friendly constructive criticism which was met with a fairly blunt "thats just my style".

I think I know who you are talking about I seen that post today, I also commented on it.

pullandbang

puddles22 wrote: »

i remember showing my landscapes to a person once and they they flicked through them really fast and finished by saying there crap theres no people in them

Sounds like me

RossFixxxed

Constructive ciritcism is always good! I'm not a photographer, but I do enjoy trying my best to take some nice pictures from time to time. I find it theraputic and it's fun to look at the world around trying to spot something unique or something just plain fun! Someone saying 'it's crap' doesn't really help, just makes it seem a bit rubbish, someone saying 'why not try x, y and z in your pictures' will have me out taking more pics that day trying things and experimenting!

Splinters

Seems to be a mixed bag of opinions here. In this particular instance it seems quite clearly to be a beginner and I was very careful to word it in a polite manner so as not to offend or hurt their feelings.

I guess it is a very personal thing. I've been on the receiving end of quite harsh critique myself, and I'd like think I was able to take most of it on board and where ever possible try to learn from it.

Its interesting to note, I used to be quite active as a musician a good few years back and can remember the critiques given to peoples music, especially in the local band scene, tend to be a whole lot more harsh then I've seen anywhere with photography. Possibly it's to do with the type of people that typically get involved with either interest.

magicbastarder

if it's a rank amateur producing this stuff, the easiest response is along the lines of 'it's not my cup of tea'.

kevc2

People are afraid to offend anyone. Personally I'd like people to criticise all of my photos. I would only make recommendations on friend's photos.

dirtyghettokid

photography is subjective; there will always be people who like and dislike your work. it's all about the manner in which you deliver constructive criticism that matters. though there are just some people who can't take criticism, even if you deliver it in a nice way.

Splinters

Yep Id very much agree with that. Even the harshest criticism can be still be delivered in a polite or constructive manner. I'd still rather say something in a polite manner then not at all.

The internet can be a fairly harsh place and if somebody is publicly displaying work as bad as that, somebody at some stage is going to say something very harsh and upsetting. In a weird way the good thing about working to such apoor standard is that theres loads of ways it can be improved.

Honestly Id rather be the guy who leaves a bit of constructive criticism, even if it runs the risk of slight offence and hopefully have them take something away from it, then say nothing and have somebody else tear them a new one.

magicbastarder

sometimes the only thing i can really say about a photo is 'it leaves me cold'. hard to make anything constructive out of that...

superflyninja

Yup gotta agree. Id rather hear the harsh truth.I find it hard judging my own stuff so other's opinions are always helpful

thebaz

Splinters wrote: »

is publicly displaying work as bad as that, somebody at some stage is going to say something very harsh and upsetting. In a weird way the good thing about working to such apoor standard is that theres loads of ways it can be improved.

yeah , but who has the right to judge something as poor standard or bad - I guarantee if some of William Klien or Robert Franks early work were displayed today , people would judge it as bad . Some of ther work looked bad to me first time, but , it grew slowly on me , to today where it is some of my favourite work , just like a good album or a lot of good art - takes time for its efect to hit - so, I'd be very carful to cast something as awful , unless I was well able to back this up - today we want instant gratification , copycat images sparkling in over saturated and unnatual colour, rather than something that looks a bit different, and takes time to digest, that may be good to some , but not the majority

magicbastarder

thebaz wrote: »

yeah , but who has the right to judge something as poor standard or bad

every single one of us does. it's not as if you're making an irrevocable call, you're deciding whether or not it meets your specific set of criteria, whatever they may be.

thebaz

magicbastarder wrote: »

every single one of us does. it's not as if you're making an irrevocable call, you're deciding whether or not it meets your specific set of criteria, whatever they may be.

calling someones work awfull , is a pretty big call - I'll say no more.

magicbastarder

the comment i quoted was 'judge something as poor standard or bad'; that does not imply that the judgement call is vocalised, and i wasn't saying that one could or should go around expressing opinions on all photography.

dinneenp

Ben D Bus wrote: »

I know the image you're talking about. Suggest you just move on

How do you know the image?
Was it on boards photo forum?

dinneenp

It depends-
do you know them personally?
Or are they just online?
Is it their work in general or just a few photos?

TTWNF

i see art as being personal taste and subjective... but if there is obvious technical flaws & the photographer is calling themselves a professional then i can see why people would be annoyed. I'm only taking photos a year so am open to criticism once it's done in the correct manner. Here on this forum i asked about HDR as i wanted to try it from a technical point of view and go through the process and i thought some of the comments i got from established boards members were a bit on the rude side. However in the random photos thread i got some great criticism and feedback on a photo which i took on board and was grateful for...

Splinters

I should have guessed this would be where this topic ended up. I thought I had made it clear enough but just to confirm I'm not talking about any kind of subjective art. This isn't an issue of taste. I'm talking about a very simple straight forward photograph which has been technically fumbled beyond belief.

superflyninja

bah I gotta see it.

Kenny Logins

Splinters wrote: »

I should have guessed this would be where this topic ended up. I thought I had made it clear enough but just to confirm I'm not talking about any kind of subjective art. This isn't an issue of taste. I'm talking about a very simple straight forward photograph which has been technically fumbled beyond belief.

Was it fumbled, or was it deliberate artistic interpretation?

dinneenp

Splinters wrote: »

I should have guessed this would be where this topic ended up. I thought I had made it clear enough but just to confirm I'm not talking about any kind of subjective art. This isn't an issue of taste. I'm talking about a very simple straight forward photograph which has been technically fumbled beyond belief.

I'm curious/intrigued as well.
I've posted a few photos here recently that I've tried to be creative with (panning & post processing).
If it's my photo I'd be happy to get constructive criticism on it...

Ben D Bus

dinneenp wrote: »

How do you know the image?
Was it on boards photo forum?

Something in Splinters OP sounded familiar. I went back to the image I was reminded of, reviewed the comments, and with some very elementary investigation was able to confirm the comment on the image was indeed by Splinters.

It was not on boards and it was not your image

superflyninja

Ben D Bus wrote: »

Something in Splinters OP sounded familiar. I went back to the image I was reminded of, reviewed the comments, and with some very elementary investigation was able to confirm the comment on the image was indeed by Splinters.

It was not on boards and it was not your image

a hint? pix? flickr? was it me? lol

Splinters

Guys, a bit less attention on the image in question if possible. This isn't about making an example out of anyone.

Im talking in general....you see somebody who's clearly fumbled a shot. Not in an intentional or artistic way, just dire technical execution, either with the the photography side of it or horrific pp, whatever the case may be.....if its genuinely just bad work would you say anything in the hope they might take something away from it and improve, or just leave them to it.

Thats all this post is meant to be.

Ben D Bus

superflyninja wrote: »

a hint? pix? flickr? was it me? lol

Hint: It wasn't pix or flickr.

To my knowledge the photographer in question does not post on boards.ie

dinneenp

If it was in a forum where people comment on photos then I don't see why not.

Tallon

Bookface?

At this stage, we really need to see the image in question... I even said that in the first reply

Ben D Bus

Splinters wrote: »

Im talking in general....you see somebody who's clearly fumbled a shot. Not in an intentional or artistic way, just dire technical execution, either with the the photography side of it or horrific pp, whatever the case may be.....if its genuinely just bad work would you say anything in the hope they might take something away from it and improve, or just leave them to it.

If they ask for a detailed critique I'd consider it.
If they ask "Do you like my photo?" I'd either offer a "not my thing" or "I prefer less post-processing" or just say nothing.
If they post without an invitation to comment then I'd say nothing.

superflyninja

well without singling out the image, if someone posts an image on a public forum where feedback is generally given then a softly softly approach might be best....like gently nudging to a relevant tutorial....if the tog has published the image as a professional then id do nothing. A picture is worth a thousand words......

Stereomaniac

I would tell them what I though, but for every few criticism I had, I would try to say something positive about it as well. Also, I would try to say all of the criticisms in the most gentle way possible, being constructive. I think it would be worse not to say anything at all.

Kenny Logins

I don't think there's any harm in pointing out something they may have missed or messed, constructively of course.

Tallon

"That photo is really crap, why did you even upload it?"

Kenny Logins

Tallon wrote: »

"That photo is really crap, why did you even upload it?"

"Meh."

Ben D Bus

Best blunt criticism I ever got for one of mine was "If I was your model I would have punched you for posting that image" :eek: I can't be the only one who has suffered a temporary loss of taste can I?

dinneenp

Stereomaniac wrote: »

I would tell them what I though, but for every few criticism I had, I would try to say something positive about it as well. Also, I would try to say all of the criticisms in the most gentle way possible, being constructive. I think it would be worse not to say anything at all.

Your photo is awful but on the positive side there's no image of kids being bloodily savaged by a pack of wild dogs in it.