Lesson:
This week's lesson is a little bit different. This week's lesson is on how to critique the creative works of others. This is an important skill, not only for helping others improve, but for improving your own artwork too. Once you develop the skills necessary for critiquing others' works, then you will be better skilled at critiquing your own work, which is vital to any artist no matter their career stage - developing, established, or veteran.
On IG we have this great method known as the "123 Rule". This is a great tool to develop your critiquing skills. Its pretty simple: for every ONE photo that you post (in a specific challenge or forum) you are expected to comment on TWO photos by other people, and "like" THREE more photos by others. 1-2-3: Post One, Comment Two, Like Three. Easy!
Ok, so what to say in these comments? Its common place for people to just say, "great shot", "good job", "so cute", or whatever. This is NOT critiquing! There is nothing wrong with those comments - we all like the supportive statements that they are. But the problem with them, which makes them NOT critique statements, is that they don't really say anything at all. There is not detail, no feedback, nothing for the artist to learn from.
We all love our own images because we see them in ways that others don't - we have the back story of how they were created, the situation captured, knowing the people involved, and so forth. We all bring to an image our own experiences, and the artist and viewer have very different experiences of an image. Thus it is impossible for us to always know how the audience will experience our images, or to know what people will like and why, but we can learn to better view our images as audiences might.
This is why critiquing is so important to the artist: it allows the artist to understand better what/how other people see in the image. But to be able to effectively communicate this, we need to use our words. Our descriptive words (adjectives), our emotion words (feelings), and our art/design words (line, shape, form, colour, etc).
Through the course of these lessons that I am presenting @WirenLessons I will be helping you to develop and understand these art/design words - our critical language. But you will also need to practice using your adjectives and feeling words to communicate as well.
Please see each of the example images for this challenge for more details on how to write a critique comment.
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**************VERY IMPORTANT****************
Please be careful in your wording. There is a huge difference, even if sometimes a fine line, between a critique comment and a criticizing comment. A critique comment can point out a weakness in an image without being mean or hurtful - i.e. its an impersonal comment about the image, not the artist. A criticizing comment on the other hand is mean and hurtful and directed at the artist rather than the image. I do not want such statements here.
However, as challenge/lesson is a learning phase, I ask that you all please be understanding that this isn't the easiest skill for everyone to learn, so please do not take anything anyone writes personally.
If you feel something is particularly badly worded, you have two choices: if you are able to politely communicate with the poster of the comment a better, more neutral wording, do so if you feel the need to. If you feel it is particularly difficult to mediate such a comment yourself, please direct my attention to it, and I will try my best to communicate with the poster, helping them to learn the skill of critiquing. But please try to mediate between yourselves if possible - I have a life too and this could get vey time consuming for me! But I am here to help if you need me. Thanks!
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Example 1:
A special thank you this week to @musiccityace for letting me use this image as an example. Please go see her feed for some really great images and to thank her for letting us use her image!
EXAMPLES OF BAD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: I don't like this one very much.
Explanation 1: This doesn't tell us much at all. The artist has no information to learn from here.
Example 2: Ugh, I hate that black blob on the right.
Explanation 2: Although this indicates the problem, there is a negative tone that is not constructive.
Example 3: What were you thinking not cropping that stupid black blob out on the right - we can't see anything.
Explanation 3: Again, although it indicates the problem, it is a negative comment directed at the artist rather than at the image.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: This image doesn't excite me very much because I feel like it was an accidental photo, not a planned one.
Explanation 1: This lets the artist know in a neutral tone that the viewer doesn't care for the image, but the important part is that it says WHY the viewer doesn't like the image.
Example 2: I'm not liking the black mass at the right. It blocks my view of the space.
Explanation 2: This neutrally indicates the problem the viewer has with the image and gives a little bit of information about WHY its a problem.
Example 3: I can't tell if the black mass on the right is supposed to be something important in the image or if its accidental. Its blocking my view of what I could be seeing. I'd rather know what was behind it, or at least have a better idea of what it is, if it is important.
Explanation 3: This is a very clear comment that not only identifies the problem in the image, but also articulates WHY it is a problem for the viewer and gives an idea of how the viewer might like to see the image improved. This gives the artist the most information to use to improve her work. Also, the tone stays neutral and about the image, not about the artist personally.
With time and practice you will be able to better communicate and in greater detail what you see in an image, both the good and bad. You will also develop the ability to see possible ways of improving an image. Suggesting improvements helps both the viewer and the artist, giving the second ideas of seeing their own work differently, and allowing the first to practice seeing in such a way will improve their skills at seeing while out taking photos. This will cause both parties to think in greater detail when composing future photos.
Example 2:
A special thank you this week to @musiccityace for letting me use this image as an example. Please go see her feed and thank her!
EXAMPLES OF BAD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: Pretty! I love dew drops!
Explanation 1: This comment doesn't really give us much more feedback than double-tapping the image (liking it). Liking dew drops (or cats, dogs, classic cars, etc) is good for finding a common interest for the social side of IG, but doesn't help with the artistic side. If this artist took this advice to heart and started photographing only dewdrops, well, her feed might get a little boring!
Example 2: I like the colour, but not the image very much.
Explanation 2: Okay, we're getting a little bit of information here, but still not enough.
Example 3: What were you thinking? This is such a horrible composition and so dark!
Explanation 3: First problem, its personal criticism towards the artist, not the image. Yes, it starts to indicate the problem, but it is both unnecessarily negative and still not all that clear.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: I like the crisp focus of the dew drop.
Explanation 1: Indicating in detail what is liked is useful too. The artist is encouraged in their use of careful focus here.
Example 2: I like the dew drop but the background is a little too dark, and the position of the focused area feels unbalanced.
Explanation 2: Good, neutral critique with some information to help the artist. It could be more detailed, but this works too.
Example 3: I like how the photo has such a tight focus on the dew drop and its a lovely color, but I don't care for the overall composition because the background is too dark and murky, so the dew drop and blade of grass seem lost and random in the space. Also, the composition of the space feels unbalanced. I'd prefer if the blade of grass and the dew drop were more in the center of the image.
Explanation 3: Very detailed communication of how the viewer is seeing the image and how they are reacting to it. This critique keeps a neutral voice but also gives a great deal of detail using artistic terms and concepts to more clearly communicate with the artist.
Communicating with art and design language allows both parties to understand in greater detail what the they are talking about. Throughout this series of lessons @Wiren_Challenges you will gain more knowledge of these terms and become better at understanding them and communicating with each other by using them.
Example 3:
A special thank you this week to @kewiki for letting me use this image as an example. Please go see his feed for some really great images and to thank him for letting us use his images this way!
EXAMPLES OF BAD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: This image is just too much.
Explanation 1: Too much what? For this to be useful we need more information.
Example 2: Don't you own a tripod?
Explanation 2: Indicates the problem, in a round about manner, but its critical of the artist not the photo.
Example 3: I hate when people constantly over-use HDR! Its so annoying!
Explanation 3: Not a very nice statement, and although it indicates the problem briefly, its not very clear why its a problem.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: I'd prefer if the image weren't quite so contrasty.
Explanation 1: This is a decent start for a critique statement. It neutrally indicates the basis of the problem, but it could use more detail.
Example 2: The angle is not my taste. I also prefer less HDR in an image.
Explanation 2: This indicates the aspects that the viewer doesn't care for, and is neutral, and has a decent amount of detailed information.
Example 3: Personally, I don't care for the style of pushing the HDR effect to the far end, and I'm glad to see that this isn't pushed all the way to the end, but I'd still prefer if it were a little less HDR. I would like this image more if I could see more of the detail in the blacks and have this image look a little less fake. I'm not very excited about the awkward angle either, but I do see how it brings a new perspective of the scene too.
Explanation 3: Sometimes a comment can be vague; is it encouraging or not? Some things truly come down to a matter of opinion about aesthetics. Some people really like that intense HDR look, others don't. Indicating one's opinion, as long as its done in a neutral manner aimed at the photo, not the artist, is okay. Sometimes people don't know that they can change the intensity of the HDR effect, others don't realize that not everyone likes it. But as long as the viewer also understands that some people do like a certain style, and can see the positive sides too (the angle of the image here) they can share their opinion in a positive way and everyone can learn from the discussion.
As you begin critiquing, brief good critique statements are fine - everyone here is learning. With time and practice, you will be able to develop your critique statements to be more and more detailed. As you begin to learn more, you will see more, and then you will begin to be able to communicate more.
Example 4:
A special thank you this week to @kewiki for letting me use this image as an example. Please go see his second feed (@wilburtheant) and to discover the wonderful world of Wilbur the Ant!!! His first adventure has just been published as a children’s book! Congrats Kewiki & Wilbur!!!
EXAMPLES OF BAD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: This is kind of simple.
Explanation 1: Not really negative, but not really much information either.
Example 2: What app did you use to edit this?
Explanation 2: Okay - I had to throw this in here! :) Its okay to ask occasionally if its something totally different and new and you really want to try to use it in your own work, but this doesn't help the artist at all, and some view it as people thinking the app did all the work and not the artist. This simply isn't a critique statement at all.
Example 3: Why did you shoot this?
Explanation 3: This could go either way, depending on tone. Sometimes you do need more information about an image to better critique it, but the question alone is not a critique.
EXAMPLES OF GOOD CRITIQUE STATEMENTS:
Example 1: I like the texture.
Explanation 1: Good use of terminology to communicate exactly what in the image is liked.
Example 2: I like the intensity of the rich, saturated colours here.
Explanation 2: Although only one aspect, it gives the artist a lot of information.
Example 3: I really like how this image is edited. The added graphic texture along with the physical texture of the bricks gives an interesting feeling to the image. The saturation of the colours here gives the image a strong emotional feeling too. I really like this abstracted and emotional image. Great job!
Explanation 3: Even when giving a positive feedback, detail is key - if the artist understands what is liked about the image, s/he can learn from that too. If after a strong, positive, clearly articulated critique is given, it is okay to give positive reinforcement to the artist too, but only make it personal if its positive, and after much detail. Both "interesting feeling" and "emotional feeling" could be more specific.
Most of these examples have been pointing out weaknesses in images - this has been because these can be the more problematic statements to write and I wanted to to give advice on them, but you can write as many statements about strengths as you want - knowing the strengths can be just as useful as knowing the weaknesses of an image. But do try to comment on both the strengths and weaknesses - don't be afraid to comment on the weaknesses. Once you learn to give and receive critique statements, you will appreciate receiving the ones about your weaknesses and others will appreciate receiving them too.
One last thing - ALWAYS PROOF READ BEFORE YOU SEND!!! What sounds neutral as you type it may not seem so neutral once its read. I've had to proofread and edit these examples myself, as it is difficult to remember to address the image rather than the person. Plus, its a good habit to have in all aspects of our modern lives. :)
Assignment:
Tag 3 of your photos in your feed that you are comfortable having critiqued to #WirenAssignment1
Use the 123 Rule on other images submitted to this lesson. Your comments need to be "critique" comments. (You may have to come back a couple of times to find images to critique as more are posted throughout the week.)
"Grading" this week will be comments in response to your critique statements.
I’m looking for the quality of your critique comments. Are they neutral or positive in tone? Do the give clear and detailed information that will help the photographer?
This week we will have two guest teachers helping with this assignment: Jen (@partially_sane) and Michael (@cupcakesonstage). You may receive comments from either of them regarding your critique statements, please consider them as coming from me in order to help you develop your skills in critiquing.
Also, from here on out, on all lessons, please try to leave at least one critique comment on another submitted image. Its not going to be a rule per se, but it will be valuable to everyone, including yourself, to develop this skill.
Thank you for participating! And have fun!!!
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