Comments

i have started to use longer words....";

There you go Mike. As i said only my opinion.

Thanks for your time and input

One man's meat is another man's poison.
IMHO, likes and dislikes are so subjective that often so-called critique means nothing.
If I see a picture that appeals to me, I will often comment without giving any specific reason. Do I necessarily need a reason to like what I see?

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About Comments and crits:
If I comment on any of your pics, please don't expect any one word/one line comments. If I think an image is 'stunning' I will endeavour to say in as word efficient manner as possible why I think it is so. Similarly, if I think a work has merit but is somehow flawed, I will say so too. That's the value of constructive criticism, otherwise we are all doing little else but blowing smoke. It follows that I take no offence should anyone offer a fair criticism of the flaws in my work.

We all know that in the process of constructive crit, you have to elevate yourself above the realm of personal likes and dislikes and consider the work in terms of things like composition, colour usage, technique, styling, direction, lighting control, post work etc. etc. I have been in the ad business for twenty nine years so I am no stranger to criticism. Sure, there have been times a client has told me "I dont like it", to which my usual response is "I could not give a toss, if you like it or not, this ad is created for your target market not for you. Give me your rationale as to why you dont like it and then we have a platform from which to move forward". So @ Pieter - yes you do need to have a reason, and oft-times, verbalising that reason makes your own perception that much sharper because you begin to analyse your own intrinsic responses and understand them better.

Of all the photographers on this site I know I can rely on AlecD, Peter Sealy-Fisher and a few others for good solid input. Alec has on frequent occasions pointed out major flaws in a piece that I have uploaded here (at least two of his crits are still viewable on my port) and those crits have in at least one instance led me to revise entirely the post-processing technique of an entire set of sixty images. As a result, the work is better, it has greater value and my own skill levels have improved. To me that is what it is all about.

Alec has on frequent occasions pointed out major flaws in a piece that I have uploaded here

Alec mate, in line with your comment on the Pirelli calendar thread and what Mike said above, if you are in the mood to tear my work to pieces, please do so.

So @ Pieter - yes you do need to have a reason, and oft-times, verbalising that reason makes your own perception that much sharper because you begin to analyse your own intrinsic responses and understand them better.

Thanks for this Mike. Yes, thinking about it, you are absolutely right. I sure have "my own" good reasons why I don't like something, so I should be able to say why I like something. I will have to work on this :-)
I never comment on something I don't like because very often, there are glowing comments as to how wonderful a picture is, that I don't like.
Over or under-exposed pics and blown highlights with bad white balance is not my scene, but some think it is art, especially if it is by a popular photographer. Perhaps I just don't appreciate "art".

blown highlights with ... is not my scene, but some think it is art, especially if it is by a popular photographer

show me ONE great photographer, classic or contemporary, that got away with blown highlights. its the one thing I can't handle (yes I know, I got one or two myself...)

Gerry, I didn't say great (classic or contemporary). I said "popular", referring specifically to ModelBase.

Can't think of any example right now though, but have seen what I am talking about on quite a number of occasions.

Pieter - My personal opinion is that a blown highlight is a schoolboy mistake, and anyone that takes his photography even mildly seriously should be cogniscent of.

(Of course, this does not count for white background images or purposefully high-key pics). But I want to cry when I see white pieces of clothing living out on planet 255 where no pixel life is possible. I want to commit murder when I see those same blown blinkie bits on cheeks and noses. (and yes, I know I guilty of this myself)

and don't forget, "highkey" On MB it seems Highkey means washed-out or blown out, and often those also get praised....makes me sick

I agree with what a few others have said here. MB became a popularity contest. Because there were no mods and rules from the beginning, some people became "the gods of photography" and others , Like Morgaen sometimes, Satan himself. Basical, you could not crit some people, or the models would have a riot and defend the tog.

I recall an incedent were just that happened because of a crit I posted. Likewise, the "gods of Photography" were criting everyone else about how it should be done, when by their own word ..."don't tell me how you would have done it, I aint interested..." and yet their own work showed a rather inflexible, and even uninventful style.

although crits (and comments) are a great way to improve ones skills and just relook at your own work, MB has never been a good place for it.

their own work showed a rather inflexible, and even uninventful style

Amen brotha!

Have you been on the cover of Vogue... Cosmo? Elle? If yes, then you may be as inflexible as you want. if not, sit down, shut up and learnn as much as you can, from where you can.

(And no, Sarie, Rooi Rose and Huisgenoot does not count...)

Gerry, look out for mail soon.
Mike, thanks a bunch.

Personally, I only give negative comments. There are enough ego-strokers who run around going "great" and "stunning", so rather than add to the noise, I generally comment on images where I feel that the comment will help the member in some way. On average, I feel this balances out.

There is also the perception that once I comment negative on a photo, the question is: Who died and make you ruler of all things photographic?

I will be the last to comment, I can see a photo has no merit, badly executed does neither the model or tog any favours yet if I comment am I now the uber expert?

There has been a few uploads over the past few day, my jaw dropped and I asked my self, WTF??
I just ignore these, and move on....

I comment to tell you I like your photo, it moved me enough to type something positive.

For models I will more often comment that I like your look or pose in this instance, never on the togs execution.