Last edited by kiwi; 09-05-2011 at 8:14pm.
Darren
Gear : Nikon Goodness
Website : http://www.peakactionimages.com
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Constructive Critique of my images always appreciated
In my view a good photo has to create an emotional response in the viwer that is not apathy, boredom or disinterest. Interestingly, I just wrote a piece in our club newletter that referenced this sort of thing. I recently visited a local gallery and was struck with the thought that much of the photography presented lacked that essential element.
I am afraid there is a lot of photography (and art) which relies on the pedigree of the author as much as genuine artistic merit. The fact that the maker is a credentialled "artist" is often enough to earn a lack lustre image a place in galleries. People seem reluctant to discount any work of a recognised "talent" simply becuase it is assumed that because that person created it then it must be art by definition. There seems to be a reluctance to accept that even professionals can create rubbish.
Unfortunately, to me this tends to devalue the definition of what is truly artistic. I feel each work should be judged on merit rather than by the company it keeps.
That's good to hear :-)
To add a bit to the discussion, perhaps take away the personal element of a personal photo. So, yes, every photo I have of my family is great for me but blah for the general population
like the majority of wedding photos, there are the usual dozen that people will say are great shots and then the rest just mean something to the couple as a record of great day(hopefully). I have an out of focus motion blurred photo i took at a super x race that myself and my boys love, the colours just all blend together, it is the only piece of "art" we have in the house.
Canon 6d, 7d , 40d, 100-400L, 24-105Lmm, 50mm 1.8, 28-135 and a sigma 18-200
Aquatech underwater housing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilpoulton/
A good photo can evoke good memories. For a great photo you will always want to keep looking at it.
can i say none of the above?
...yeah sure i can.
photography is an emotive thing. those that have the greater emotive value are the best.
I have seen shots of all types that are perfectly exposed, sharp (or soft) and well composed that have left me feeling well... a bit ho hum. I have seen others that lack any really technical qualities at all that excite me on an emotional level and that is what i am more likely to be attracted too.
William I have a photo of my father's grandparents, their 6 children and many, many grandchildren. It was taken shortly before my father, his sister and his parents escaped to Australia, just about every single person in that photo was eventually killed in concentration camps. It is for me the most powerful photo I have ever seen.
For me a good photo is a photo that evokes a strong emotion. I prefer that emotion to be a nice one though
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
— Hunter S. Thompson