Is it too much to ask for guidance instead of ridicule?

PixelRabbit · Jul 18, 2013

To expand a little on what Steve said but from the other side of the fence I will say it is up to you as the one looking to learn in a public forum such as TPF to check out the source of the comments you receive, especially when you are new to the forum and don't know anyone.

When you post here you are inviting pretty much every and all opinions and it is your responsibility to sift through them, they will range from very informed professionals to the new guy that is just starting out and everything in between. When I get responses, both good and bad I ALWAYS check out the person posting's work and their history here on the forum (if I don't recognize them). Some may disagree but if I see work that is solid I will always put more stock into what they are saying, if I see little work I will check out their other forum posts to see what kind of feedback they are giving elsewhere and make a call based on that.

Always remove personal feelings from the feedback you get, yes some will be negative and not very eloquently stated, some will be rude PM's, heck I've even had people message me and say they don't agree with some positive feedback I've received but when questioned they won't expand on their thoughts. Once you sift through it all you will find the good stuff, it's there and you will learn but don't expect everyone to be "nice" because not everyone is.

Derrel · Jul 18, 2013

TPF has a couple of posters who constantly rant and rave about people who are "not pro's", but who would like to become pro's. These folks love to hate on female posters who say they want to start charging money, although they will occasionally attack a male newb who dares show any vulnerability. Every time one of these new folks shows up here, the same, self-selecting vigilantes just LOVE to rip them to shreds with biting, hurtful comments, rationalized under the guise of simply offering "constructive criticism". Ignore them. If one of these people was rude to you in a PM, I would just report it to the moderators, and put zero stock in their replies. These folks just loooove to hate on people who they see as upstarts. When their behavior is called out in open forum, they usually regurgitate some lame excuse about "just trying to be helpful". Laughable.

Steve5D · Jul 18, 2013

grafxman said:
This may or may not be of interest to you Pinupcollector. I served 29 years in the US Navy

20 years 11 days here.

Not that I was countin'...

opinions are just like rectums...

Yeah, that's the word I used to use, too...

manicmike · Jul 18, 2013

Don't listen to one jerk. Stick around. You'll learn a lot.

The_Traveler · Jul 18, 2013

I wish I could think of a term to characterize the phenomenon that this kind of thread elicits; the OP, with whom I sympathize if he was indeed a target of our resident jerks, posts a general complaint and the usual crew of suspects do indeed remark at length how it is the other guys who are rude and thoughtless and have no skill and don't post pictures.

I suggest that Steve et als instead of waiting to characterize the other bad guys just take it upon themselves to correct them mid-stream as it were. When these bad guys, who don't know anything or don't post pictures or who are just trying to up their post count, do emerge, why not call them out right then?

I will volunteer to the OP that if he ever is not getting the comments he would like, he can PM me and if I can say anything useful I will.

Ilovemycam · Jul 18, 2013

OP...You also have to figure that everyone that replies may not be on the level you are on, even though they make themselves out to be an expert with their critical comments.

With a Google image search, look up one of my shots...

'Pole dancer Ross County Ohio"

I posted it to another forum last year, I got 5 comments at the time:

1) It is OK, but I would have moved the pole to a different angle.

2) I would have picked out a different color for the base material.

3) I would have used another focal length lens.

4) What are you trying to say?

5) I don't like HDR, it looks phony.

These comments told me what type of photogs were commenting about my work. For one thing, some of them were not street photogs. As a street photog you don't move things around or change colors. Their minds were stuck in 'perfecting a studio setup shot.'

The most setup work I do is to yell out, "Hey...hold still!" as I walk by, if a candid wont get the job done. But studio, set up mentality asks...did you get a model release? Why didn't you move the pole to another angle? And...I have to find the perfect model and perfect props.

To me that is phony-baloney set up photography. These type of 'set up' photogs could not take a good street shot to save their lives...esp if their AF is on the fritz!

OK, hyper-real has some cartoonish aspects to it. But it generally does not change the colors, it just intensifies them unless you get all grunged out. But this IS a matter of taste, so can't argue with taste. My taste says I love it, esp the cartoonish look. So that is all that counts, unless I had a paying client to please.

As far as 'What was I trying to say with the photo?'

I was dumbfounded. That comment hurt the most. If I have to explain my photo - it is a failure. Again, another 'set up photog' thinking I had a message to create and make. I just recorded what I saw that day while walking by...Pole dancer Ross County Ohio

The_Traveler · Jul 18, 2013

Ilovemycam said:
OP...You also have to figure that everyone that replies may not be on the level you are on, even though they make themselves out to be an expert with their critical comments.

With a Google image search, look up one of my shots...

'Pole dancer Ross County Ohio"

I posted it to another forum last year, I got 5 comments at the time:

1) It is OK, but I would have moved the pole to a different angle.

2) I would have picked out a different color for the base material.

3) I would have used another focal length lens.

4) What are you trying to say?

5) I don't like HDR, it looks phony.

These comments told me what type of photogs were commenting about my work. For one thing, some of them were not street photogs. As a street photog you don't move things around or change colors. Their minds were stuck in 'perfecting a studio setup shot.'

The most setup work I do is to yell out, "Hey...hold still!" as I walk by, if a candid wont get the job done. But studio, set up mentality asks...did you get a model release? Why didn't you move the pole to another angle? And...I have to find the perfect model and perfect props.

To me that is phony-baloney set up photography. These type of 'set up' photogs could not take a good street shot to save their lives...esp if their AF is on the fritz!

OK, hyper-real has some cartoonish aspects to it. But it generally does not change the colors, it just intensifies them unless you get all grunged out. But this IS a matter of taste, so can't argue with taste. My taste says I love it, esp the cartoonish look. So that is all that counts, unless I had a paying client to please.

As far as 'What was I trying to say with the photo?'

I was dumbfounded. That comment hurt the most. If I have to explain my photo - it is a failure. Again, another 'set up photog' thinking I had a message to create and make. I just recorded what I saw that day while walking by...Pole dancer Ross County Ohio

and then, of course, there are people who will find a way to divert from your post to talk about themselves.
Here Ilovemycam is talking about some mystical responses on another forum but not anything about you.

What that teaches you is that you can't take anything personally, just read what people say, if it resonates with you, use it.
If people are unpleasant or rude, ignore them.
If people harass you, report them.
You need to learn to meet people partway by saying what you are thinking and asking the questions you need answered.

Nothing is magic.

amolitor · Jul 18, 2013

Here's a fun game.

Wait until the guy (it was a guy, wasn't it?) who sent you the nasty PM does post some picture. Then make some mild negative remark. Find some legitimate technical quibble and just offer it politely.

Then stand back and watch the fun. These guys hate critique so very very much. There will be excuses, there might be anger, there might be insults. There will definitely be vigorous and excited pushback. These lads have mostly trained the regular TPFers to not even bother with serious critique, so that they can bask in the glow of their imaginary awesomeness created by their little clique of friends and some new people who just follow whatever the friends say. Great shot!

PixelRabbit · Jul 18, 2013

*removed unnecessary post*

runnah · Jul 18, 2013

I have no idea who is talking about who in here.

amolitor · Jul 18, 2013

runnah said:
I have no idea who is talking about who in here.

That's what makes it fun! It could be me! Or you! If you don't know who the sucker at the table is, if you don't know who on the island is Piggy...

squirrels · Jul 18, 2013

runnah said:
I have no idea who is talking about who in here.

I can never tell if you've got your sarcasm font on, but yep. That's what I was thinking.

squirrels · Jul 18, 2013

amolitor said:
runnah said:

I have no idea who is talking about who in here.

Click to expand...

if you don't know who on the island is Piggy...

Uh oh.

runnah · Jul 18, 2013

amolitor said:
runnah said:

I have no idea who is talking about who in here.

Click to expand...

That's what makes it fun! It could be me! Or you! If you don't know who the sucker at the table is, if you don't know who on the island is Piggy...