filter99:

good i like this thread (i hope) lol

right this is one i like a lot and i hoped it was going to get a good response in the galleries, which it didn't, reasons why please?

For me thats an ok image ruined by the border and the cheesy title.  I dont know what it is about the DCmag  forum but folk here tend to go for borders and titles more than any other photography forum i'm aware of.  They are invariably unnecessary and distracting.

shelfy:

I just remember thinking, if someone had the wit and ability to know how a computer works and were able to take and upload a shot, then surely they were smart enough to know that their pictures was  rubbish.

 

Craig McBeth:

filter99:

good i like this thread (i hope) lol

right this is one i like a lot and i hoped it was going to get a good response in the galleries, which it didn't, reasons why please?

For me thats an ok image ruined by the border and the cheesy title.  I dont know what it is about the DCmag  forum but folk here tend to go for borders and titles more than any other photography forum i'm aware of.  They are invariably unnecessary and distracting.

thats a fair enough point craig, i understand they are not to everyones taste, i started adding them to visualise what it would look like framed up and since then it has morphed into almost a trademark lol

spin498:

shelfy:

I just remember thinking, if someone had the wit and ability to know how a computer works and were able to take and upload a shot, then surely they were smart enough to know that their pictures was  rubbish.

 

Your not serious are you? If the internet forums, not this one in particular, has shown me is that any halfwit can own a computer and embarrass themselves using it.

I have to agree with Spin498.  Being smart doesn't come into it.  People posting on here are looking for ways to improve their pictures - it doesn't make them stupid.  It's also possible to be too close to the picture to see how bad it really is...!  And what one person may consider to be a 'rubbish' picture may have good qualities that are worth commenting on even if they don't work in that particular context. 

I agree people should be honest.  But I don't personally feel confident enough to bluntly critique someone else's work as I don't feel I have the experience and am always worried people may think 'who the **** is she to be critiquing this work?'.  I'm not stupid, just relatively new to photography and greatly lacking in confidence - as I'm sure are a lot of other new members on this forum.  So if I don't personally like a photo, but have to critique it, I'll 'sit on the fence', generally pointing out something positive to balance anything negative I might find. 

filter99:

good i like this thread (i hope) lol

right this is one i like a lot and i hoped it was going to get a good response in the galleries, which it didn't, reasons why please?

Andrew I like this a lot - though I've not seen any of your photos that I didn't like (though in the context of my previous post this may not mean a lot!)   The only thing letting it down for me is the bland sky.

I also like your borders and titles - I think it finishes them off nicely, but each to their own I guess

MC

sortia:

I dont believe I was slagging anyone off, I was saying people generally are nice to each other!
Feel free to rip into my photo then!

I like the composition but personally would like to see more of it in focus (IMVHO - others may think otherwise )

PCthug:

I will kick it off with this one, taken with an old digital camera about 7 years ago...

Tell me that the colours are flat, the sky is rubbish and that i shouldnt give up my day job. I have broad shoulders and can take it.

I don't personally like the subject, but that aside, I think it's a good picture of a bike let down by a dull and flat background - not one for me I'm afraid. But what do I know?!!

MC

shelfy:

I kinda like the idea,

but a thread where you can offer "good" or bad criticism, isn't that what all the threads with pictures involve?

as for people who think pictures are cr*p and post saying  "I like it"...instead of a thread where they can indulge their honesty, shouldn't we have a thread offering them counselling?

Dunno, thinnking out loud, there was a simply awful shot newly posted recently. It was ghastly and pointless and a few people said so. (quite rightly in my opinion.)

but a few people were also cool and tried to be positive and helpful, which is one of the great things about this site.

In relation to the original post though, I just don't see how, erm, well, one rule says be honest, and another says don't slag stuff off.

I just remember thinking, if someone had the wit and ability to know how a computer works and were able to take and upload a shot, then surely they were smart enough to know that their pictures was  rubbish.

 

Most post with images do request criticism, but some people hold back on their true feelings for that photo in case they offend. I was hoping this would give people a place to hear TRUE thoughts about their photos, with the person giving criticism knowing that they can be fully honest, open and truthfull in how they think.

As for that photo you seen that was awful, i bet people give their true opinions not caring for the original posters level of expertise or feelings, and had other people sticking up and defending them.

If you read my post again, you will notice that i said "dont use it to slag SOMEONE off", and not "slag STUFF off". Meaning i dont want this to start an argument, by people taking personal hits at other people to belittle them. I want to keep it professional and make comments of their photos only (without pulling punches).

Some people dont know that their pictures are rubbish, they sometimes look at them and see a different picture to what someone else, not attached to it sees. They may know its rubbish, but not sure why, and need brute truth to help them.

PCthug:

Robert K.:

For me, it looks too normal, also there is nothing that really attracts me in this photo. Oh and the colours are flat And by the way great topic.

Taken today, it's an old clock and i tried to make it look "mysterious". However i'm not sure if it's not too dark?

Is there a clock somewhere there?

Seriously, i like it. However it is a little dark, but taken from a good angle though.

I agree - good concept, good angle just too dark

Up until a month ago almost all of my photos were of my family and they weren't even good, so I'm currently trying out lots of new things....   So I really would be grateful for lots of HONEST feedback - really if these are utter crap then please say so.

The first is one of those pictures that really did look a lot better in the flesh as the sunlight reflected off the cables.

Many thanks in advance

MC

madame_cholet:

I agree people should be honest.  But I don't personally feel confident enough to bluntly critique someone else's work as I don't feel I have the experience and am always worried people may think 'who the **** is she to be critiquing this work?'.  I'm not stupid, just relatively new to photography and greatly lacking in confidence - as I'm sure are a lot of other new members on this forum.  So if I don't personally like a photo, but have to critique it, I'll 'sit on the fence', generally pointing out something positive to balance anything negative I might find. 

People should be honest, but like you have just said, they hold back, either not wanting to offend or doubt their own levels and skills.

I would still appreciate your (or anyones) honest comments, as they are valued.

At the end of the day its only opinions, and if the poster likes their images and everyone else doesnt, then it doesnt matter at all.

In this thread, no one is going to say "who the **** is she to be critiquing this work", because we all know that the images posted here are meant to be pulled apart, and the easily offended shouldnt post here anyway.

madame_cholet:

The first is one of those pictures that really did look a lot better in the flesh as the sunlight reflected off the cables.

Many thanks in advance

MC

I do like the second one, and think it works great in B&W.

However the first one doesnt work for me. Its a little jumbled. There is nothing to rest your eyes on, you look at the pole, then scan your eyes on the wires all over the place. Also the foreground is too dark. it may have been better finding somewhere, away from the telegraph pole and wires, and having something in the foreground with a little fill in flash. Its a nice sunset though.

madame_cholet:

Up until a month ago almost all of my photos were of my family and they weren't even good, so I'm currently trying out lots of new things....   So I really would be grateful for lots of HONEST feedback - really if these are utter crap then please say so.

The first is one of those pictures that really did look a lot better in the flesh as the sunlight reflected off the cables.

The sky is nice and it looks sharp, but I cant see the light reflecting on cables they look silhouetted! Honestly, I look at the photo and think couldn't you have found something more interesting to silhouette.

madame_cholet:

Many thanks in advance

MC

I like the idea of this thread.  I am one of probably many who never really says what they think, for fear of it upsetting said individual, for the reasons Madame Cholet has already pointed out.  That said I always want people to be brutally honest with anything I post, so I guess that makes me a kind of a hypocrite.  Maybe I should stop worrying about being offensive and just say what I think.  Its just that in reality thats a bit harder to do (unless I'm drunk in which case its pretty easy ).

I'll start with the images posted so far, and see what happens ...

Andy - I really like this shot, and am surprised you received no comments on it.  As someone pointed out though I personally think the border may be a bit distracting due to its size.  Not much of a critiscism I know, but thats all I could find.

Madame Cholet - I think the DOF lets this bug picture down a bit, but then shooting this close-up is always going to have that affect.  I found a program the other day that lets you layer different pics of the same subject.  The idea is that you set the focus at different areas, and then layer them so the end result is that it is all in focus.  The example given was of a damselfly, and it worked well.  I have the link on my other PC, so if you are interested let me know and I will find it and let you know.  The software is free too.  Don't like all the cables in the sky shot, and I'll go against the grain on the second shot too.  I find it .... boring to be honest.  Now THAT is me being honest !

PCThug - I too think it looks a bit washed out.  Also the sky is featureless.  I think with a bit of post editing you could turn this into a much better shot.

Robert K - Agree with whats been said.  Nice idea, but a bit too dark.

So ... after all that I end up echoing what everyone else has said !  Thats what happens when you read a thread late I guess.