[CT]

Originally Posted by lolyton

Hey guys, thanks for all the critiques i have been receiving, i am enjoying reading them all, and i am especially enjoying the fact that they are not some of yours/all of yours cup of tea. I have the thick skin that is required from us photographers (i have been in this business for a good few years to have calloused up) so i am not taking offence and nor holding any grudges, i put my images in the gallery for you guys to tell me what you think and what i can establish from these forums is that you are an honest bunch and we should all appreciate that fact, its all too common in this world for people to go around and avoid conflict by just trying to be polite.

That's way cool! [smilie=t:

[Adrian]

I think I'm a little late in the discussion here but I looked at all four pictures and thought little about the first three as they made no impact on me at all. The fourth, of the mother and child, is like it had been taken by someone else, and by that I mean someone with a clear understanding of what they intended to portray with the picture, and how they were going to achieve that. Every photographer has strengths and weaknesses so it might be that your strength is going to be an ability to turn out photographs of that impact.

I've got myself into a mindset of following two rules when I take a picture: 1 - do I REALLY (being totally honest with myself) like it? If not, bin it. If yes, move on to rule 2: Will other people like it? If you satisfy both rules you'll not go far wrong, in my opinion, for producing decent pictures. If you want to take it a little further another rule can be added - will it sell? I certainly like that picture, and I also think it would be a seller, (perhaps with a few tweaks), so the only thing to ask is, do you like it?

[Arkady]

I've PM'd Lolyton about this and explained my reasoning behind my comment. Hate is an emotive word, but it's just a word. I do hate these images, but that doesn't mean that they're not a valiant or valid attempt.
I'm prepared to comment further after he gets back to me on this as some of you have percieved that this was a personal attack, which it wasn't.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Arkady

I've PM'd Lolyton about this and explained my reasoning behind my comment. Hate is an emotive word, but it's just a word. I do hate these images, but that doesn't mean that they're not a valiant or valid attempt.
I'm prepared to comment further after he gets back to me on this as some of you have percieved that this was a personal attack, which it wasn't.

I personally did not see your reply as a personal attack however I feel that it would have been more helpful to expand on your reasons for saying that you hated the shots. Nobody is saying that you should like them, however without reasons and explanations people are not going to learn what it is that needs to be changed. People need assistance to develop, hitting them with a very negative comment and no other details is unfair.

[silkstone]

I'm even later in this thread (there was enough going on earlier :wink: ), so here are my (hopefully constructive) comments on the four pics.

The Fish: For me this doesn't really work too well because there's little of interest in the blue water. There's nothing wrong with it, but equally nothing that grabs my imagination. Perhaps if the image was cropped so there was less water and more fish it would look more interesting to me.

Sun and Silhouette: IMO this would be better if the silhouette was darker. As it is, there's just enough detail visible to make me want to see more, which I can't - if you see what I mean!

The West: Sorry, but I'm not sure what you were aiming for here - I may just be missing something.

Mother and Baby: This more than makes up for any reservations I may have about the other three. It is very atmospheric, and I could imagine it being used on the sleeve of a 1970s or 1980s Pink Floyd album (which I like!). Excellent!

Just my 2p, as usual.

[lolyton]

No one has to appologise for anything they have said about my images, i have not taken anything personally. As i mentioned before i am glad everyone is honest, and as i have found with the PM's i have received i am glad everyone is honest and also everyone has morals. I understand entirely and i appologise if i have replied to the PM's individually, but i hope this post can act as a response. As far as my images are concerned if i post them here you guys can say what ever you like..... Love them hate them i don't mind, just keep being honest! Thanks for the PM's, and i hope i haven't offended anyone by not replying to them.
[smilie=t: