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Post by sekhmet on Feb 23, 2008 10:41:07 GMT -5
When I was at OCA (Ontario College of Art) I had to face critiques from my fellow students and teachers every day at least once, sometimes 4 times. It was fun and scary, but very helpful.
I wondered if anyone would like to DARE to critique the goddess' work. I mean the honestly. I don't require incense burned for me in the morning any more. It got boring.
Anyway, this is my backwoods way of suggesting that I'm up for discussions on the various aspects of what I post.
This section will become pretty lifeless if we all post our pictures and everyone says WOW.
I know some of my stuff is less than wonderful. Some of it is off the wall. Some of it is nice. Very few, but some, are lovely. I can use suggestions and an honest reaction.
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Post by t-bob on Feb 23, 2008 10:43:39 GMT -5
Put some amateur piece of crap up here, Sek. I'll be happy to comment...
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Post by sekhmet on Feb 23, 2008 11:29:37 GMT -5
LOL! I do have amateur pieces of crap to post. LOL.
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Post by Cornflake on Feb 23, 2008 14:18:14 GMT -5
Sure, if you want ignorant comments. I've visited some photo forums (without ever posting any pictures). The critiques there, beyond obvious points, seemed to be variations on "you gave me vanilla and I prefer chocolate." I.e., expressions of individual taste that weren't very enlightening.
I love your photos. The only thing resembling a negative reaction I've ever had was that some of them might have been better with a point of interest somewhere in the foreground. But that's my rap on a lot of landscapes.
All that said, I'd welcome constructive comments about any photos I post. I'm under no illusion that I know anything.
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Post by sekhmet on Feb 23, 2008 14:34:08 GMT -5
Your criticism is valid Flake. And that is exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about.
I try consciously to rid the landscape of any sign of human life. Sometimes that seems bleak. But the bleakness is part of the point.
I used to photograph people a lot and now it's birds and the planet.
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Post by Marshall on Feb 23, 2008 20:30:58 GMT -5
Criticism is probably a bad word. But it's one we're all familiar with. Critique is the more proper term. But, because it's so close to criticism, it takes on that critical tone. (I'm sure sek got exposed and toughened to criticism in art school. It's very similar in architecture school.) Any rate. It is beneficial for the artist to hear whatever anyone else is moved to think about a piece of art. It helps the artist greatly. Because art truly is about communication. I think analysis works better than criticism, or opinion as a term and a goal, though. We all can only speak from our own experience. And it will always be a different experience from that of another person. So, as long as we analyze and communicate what we personally see and feel, it can only be a help to the artist. Even if all she realizes is she's dealing with a bunch of worthless clods. That still informs her she should find a better audience.
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Post by Cornflake on Feb 23, 2008 21:10:20 GMT -5
"I try consciously to rid the landscape of any sign of human life. " Okay, include some Martians.
Marshall, I agree, but the critique-ee needs to know how to take it, and the critiquers need to be sure they're not just cramming everybody into some kind of rule-book orthodoxy.
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Post by sekhmet on Feb 23, 2008 22:07:06 GMT -5
Yes Marshall and Flake. And the mix makes for a good dense experience. The only critique at school I ever took exception to was from the students in my colour theory course. I was 35 and they were 18 and they thought I looked like Georgia O'Keefe. The little bastards. The teacher was one of my good friends and we teased them for the rest of the year. It was one of my favorite classes. I started out seeing a normal amount of colour and after the class my senses had been so heightened that I felt as though I were doing drugs. I'm still a fool for colour. I get lost looking at a field of grass. - like your haystacks Marshall, in the Art Institute. I think we are all adult enough to discuss photographs without getting all bent out of shape. Yes?
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Post by t-bob on Feb 23, 2008 22:08:06 GMT -5
LOL! I do have amateur pieces of crap to post. LOL. I do thorough enjoy a lot of your photos, especially since I spent my summers of youth on the other end of Georgian Bay near Sans Souci and Parry Sound. Photos of GB lend themselves well to being humanless - its stark and wild beauty can be easily lessened by us mortals.
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Post by sekhmet on Feb 23, 2008 22:21:04 GMT -5
Bob, I was working on a panorama of Killbear at sunset just now. Hang on a bit and I'll bring you a moment from your youth.
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Post by Cornflake on Feb 23, 2008 22:32:24 GMT -5
"I think we are all adult enough to discuss photographs without getting all bent out of shape."
I don't know. I cry pretty easily.
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Post by sekhmet on Feb 23, 2008 22:36:16 GMT -5
Well I'll comfort you.
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Post by Marshall on Feb 24, 2008 8:48:53 GMT -5
On a lot of internet sites people post things (songs mostly) and ask for critiques. When all they really want is to be affirmed. I've gotten in trouble more than once by offering thoughts to someone whose work I like; thinking that I might show them an alternate impression. Then other's jump down my throat,"Who are you ?"
I generally respond that I'm trying to be constructive, and that I really like the piece. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't say anything at all.
But this is different place. We all know each other. And I know Kate's been through art school where critiques are often brutal. So, I'm not worried about her fragile ego.
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Post by sekhmet on Feb 24, 2008 10:21:41 GMT -5
What fragile ego? HOW DARE YOU??
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Post by John B on Feb 24, 2008 15:19:38 GMT -5
I'm all up for it. Composition, perspective, things that should be cropped out, exposure/color, even whether the subject is interesting. And also, whether a combination of those things still result in a good picture.
I'm especially interested in composition.
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