Re: Cut or Keep? A Question About Editing

I see this thread has been exciting ... unpleasantly so.

On Oct 17, 2007, at 7:05 PM, Tom C wrote:

> So if I don't care for the subject matter of the photo
it's right  
> for me to
> state I think it's a poor image, regardless of any
other qualities  
> it may
> possess?

Tom,

If the subject matter of a photo is not to your liking, the
most you  
should say is just that. Otherwise, you're acting like a
pompous  
buffoon. Unless there is something about the photo,
UNRELATED to the  
subject matter and whether you like it or not, that is
worthy of some  
positive or constructive remark. And then you should make
that remark  
and shut up.

A poor image is something else entirely, not related one
whit to  
whether you like the subject matter.

Godfrey

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Exactly right, and my point (which I hope you were seeing).


I may not intrinsically like a certain image.  But
nevertheless, it may be a 
good image in numerous ways.  If I poo-poo it because it's
one I would not 
hang on my wall, then I am judging it subjectively.  If I
recognize it for 
qualities which make it rise above, in spite of my
preferences of subject 
matter, then hopefully I'm being objective and fair.  If I
praise it because 
it's a poor image, yet of a pretty subject, that might be
unfair as well.  
If I praise it simply because I enjoy photographs... well..
of what value is 
that?

Subjectivity is personal, right?  We all have that.  As
photographers, what 
I, hopefully you, and ohers wish to avoid, is the notion
that because *I* 
took the photograph, it's a good one.

It's hard not to let ego interfere.

Tom C.


>From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <goddersmac.com>
>Reply-To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdmlpdml.net>
>To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdmlpdml.net>
>Subject: Re: Cut or Keep? A Question About Editing
>Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:49:38 -0700
>
>I see this thread has been exciting ... unpleasantly
so.
>
>On Oct 17, 2007, at 7:05 PM, Tom C wrote:
>
> > So if I don't care for the subject matter of the
photo it's right
> > for me to
> > state I think it's a poor image, regardless of any
other qualities
> > it may
> > possess?
>
>Tom,
>
>If the subject matter of a photo is not to your liking,
the most you
>should say is just that. Otherwise, you're acting like a
pompous
>buffoon. Unless there is something about the photo,
UNRELATED to the
>subject matter and whether you like it or not, that is
worthy of some
>positive or constructive remark. And then you should
make that remark
>and shut up.
>
>A poor image is something else entirely, not related one
whit to
>whether you like the subject matter.
>
>Godfrey
>
>--
>PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
>PDMLpdml.net
>http:/
/pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
>to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link
directly above and 
>follow the directions.



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One other thought, as you allude to... I often refrain from
commenting 
negatively on a genre which I feel I have little experience
or knowledge in. 
OTOH, I sometimes see outstanding images in those genres I
never would have 
seen or taken, and say so.

Tom C.

>From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <goddersmac.com>
>Reply-To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdmlpdml.net>
>To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdmlpdml.net>
>Subject: Re: Cut or Keep? A Question About Editing
>Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:49:38 -0700
>
>I see this thread has been exciting ... unpleasantly
so.
>
>On Oct 17, 2007, at 7:05 PM, Tom C wrote:
>
> > So if I don't care for the subject matter of the
photo it's right
> > for me to
> > state I think it's a poor image, regardless of any
other qualities
> > it may
> > possess?
>
>Tom,
>
>If the subject matter of a photo is not to your liking,
the most you
>should say is just that. Otherwise, you're acting like a
pompous
>buffoon. Unless there is something about the photo,
UNRELATED to the
>subject matter and whether you like it or not, that is
worthy of some
>positive or constructive remark. And then you should
make that remark
>and shut up.
>
>A poor image is something else entirely, not related one
whit to
>whether you like the subject matter.
>
>Godfrey
>
>--
>PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
>PDMLpdml.net
>http:/
/pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
>to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link
directly above and 
>follow the directions.



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Commenting on photos is something I will do.
My comments fall into some general classes.

1.  Thanks for sharing the snapshot...a social way of
acknowledging
the sharing of experiences between friends on the list.

2.  Silence, No Comment...There is nothing special or moving
or of
interest about the photo to me.  I won't waste the
bandwidth.

3.  Silence, No Comment...There are some pretty good
photographers
here producing some damned fine images.  After 3 or 4 others
say what
and how that is a fine image, I just don't have anything to
add.  You
don't need 250 of us to say 'Atta Boy'.

4.  Comments...WOW, 'I hate you', or 'I don't like that'
happen when I
see something I like/dislike and few others have said
anything.  These
are my subjective opinions.  I try to get the right side of
my brain
to help articulate what the left side is feeling, sometimes
successfully.  I try to give a specific reason for that
feeling.  I
hope that this kind of critique is more meaningful to the
photographer.

And overall, the comments should be matched to the
photographer.
Beginners should get beginner's help and balding old pros
should be
subject to harsher review.

Regards,  Bob S.

On 10/18/07, Godfrey DiGiorgi <goddersmac.com> wrote:
> I see this thread has been exciting ... unpleasantly
so.
>
> On Oct 17, 2007, at 7:05 PM, Tom C wrote:
>
> > So if I don't care for the subject matter of the
photo it's right
> > for me to
> > state I think it's a poor image, regardless of any
other qualities
> > it may
> > possess?
>
> Tom,
>
> If the subject matter of a photo is not to your liking,
the most you
> should say is just that. Otherwise, you're acting like
a pompous
> buffoon. Unless there is something about the photo,
UNRELATED to the
> subject matter and whether you like it or not, that is
worthy of some
> positive or constructive remark. And then you should
make that remark
> and shut up.
>
> A poor image is something else entirely, not related
one whit to
> whether you like the subject matter.
>
> Godfrey
>
> --
> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
> PDMLpdml.net
> http:/
/pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link
directly above and follow the directions.
>

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