2023-12-19 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-0:00pm

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.
The Fine Art SIG is a place where artists support each other and nurture creativity in others.
Unrequested criticism can feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth.

ATTENDEES
Robert Barley
Mike Barry
Judy Cannon
Heather Coe
Rich Ernst
Jim Fellion
Michael Hohol
Jim Limburg
Jack Lipscomb
Paul Marcoux
Cyndee Meese
Rich Roberts
Jim & Joan Sayre

OUR MAIN DISCUSSION TOPIC WAS "Constructive Critiques".
We spent the entire meeting giving Constructive Critiques to members' work. The goal of this meeting was for us to learn how to give a constructive critique and how to receive a constructive critique. Jim presented the images (about 12-14) anonymously so nobody was embarassed. I think that the critiques went well, were positive, and provided some valuable ways to improve our images. Not everyone submitted images for this critique, but I hope that seeing how the process went makes everyone feel more comfortable submitting images for critique in the future.

RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration for giving and receiving constructive critiques)

How to Give a Constructive Critique in Photography - https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2018/03/17/how-to-give-a-constructive-critique-in-photography/

Beginner’s Guide to Photo Critique| Use This Checklist Before You Upload https://www.slrlounge.com/beginners-guide-to-photo-critique-checklist/
Technical aspects of critique, but includes "telling the story"

10 Photo Critique Tips to Challenge and Improve Your Photos https://expertphotography.com/10-ways-to-critique-a-photo/
Covers technical aspects but not much about vision, which I think is the most important aspect of an image

Vision 11-Critiquing photographs
https://luminous-landscape.com/vision-11-critiquing-photographs/
Some interesting ideas...

PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
We picked shooting through something held in front of the lens, like a lens ball (crystal ball) or ice or water drops or even oil drops in water. They can distort the scene and even invert it. Combining the distorted image with the original scene can be quite interesting.

Amazon.com has lots of "Lens Balls" or "Crystal Balls" for $10 to $30.

What is Lensball Photography and How to Get Started https://www.digitalphotomentor.com/lensball-photography/

Creative Macro Photography | Water Droplets on Glass! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRsK_g2M9iQ

Photographing Waterdrops: Exploring Macro Worlds https://www.shutterbug.com/content/photographing-waterdrops-exploring-macro-worlds

Creative macro photography: shooting flowers reflected in droplets of water https://www.canon-europe.com/get-inspired/tips-and-techniques/water-droplet-macro/

Reflections in a Melting Icicle
https://open-window.typepad.com/blog/2010/02/reflections-in-an-icicle.html

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 1/16/2023 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Shooting through a lens ball, ice, water drops, or oil drops in water".
2. Constructive Critiques and Other Personal Projects
3. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.

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Some notes regarding Constructive Critiques

In order to become a better photographer, learn how to be a better constructive critiquer of the works of others (also being a better self-critic).

Finding and expressing our vision involves having our work critiqued in order to know where we are at and how others respond to our images.

A “constructive critique” is a critique which is constructive, positive, optimistic, and helpful/useful – it informs the photographer how to improve.

One of the experts says: "Generally when I give a constructive critique to a photographer, this is what I do:
1. Tell them what you like about the photograph: What you find interesting, or visually appealing.
2. Tell them what distracts you in the photograph, or what you don’t like.
3. Constructive ideas on how they can improve their photos in the future.
I also like to tell a photographer how my eyes scan a photograph. Imagine describing your own ‘eye tracking’ movements."

Give your critique in a positive, non-judgmental, and non-pretentious tone. What you DON’T want to do is to give a critique in a manner which causes the photographer to get defensive. When a photographer becomes defensive, they totally block their ears (and heart) to your feedback.

When in doubt how to give a constructive critique, simply give another photographer a critique in the manner how you would like to be critiqued. Put yourself in the shoes of someone else.

And remember– you are giving a constructive critique NOT to put down the other photographer, make them feel crappy, or to boost your own self-ego by putting them down. No — your duty as a photographer is to empower your fellow photographer, and see how he/she can achieve their personal maximum as a photographer.

Critique technical and artistic aspects separately. Technical aspects include focus, sharpness, exposure, processing, optimizing, cropping, collaging, HDR, printing and other technical aspects. Artistic aspects includes composition, light quality, color palette, facture, presence or absence of a recognizable personal style across a collection of images, creativity, motivation and other artistic aspects.

Adjust your evaluation according to the skill, knowledge and experience level of each photographer.

A photo may have several problems, but usually one stands out as the most important. That’s the one that needs to be addressed first.

We learn by fixing mistakes, but we gain confidence by building our self esteem. To be helpful a critique must therefore feature both negative and positive aspects.

If your audience cannot see a vision and a style in your work, it is not there. And if they cannot see it then your photographs are just another bunch of pretty pictures lost among the millions of pretty pictures taken everyday

If you acquire and develop your personal vision and your personal style, you will quickly become part of a very small group. The majority of photographers prefer to buy new gear and learn new tips and techniques than work on developing their vision and their style.

How to respond to criticism constructively
1. Do not accept criticism blindly
2. Do not argue unnecessarily
3. Do not be defensive
4. Do not be your own critic
5. Do not expect everyone to be pleased
6. You don't have to be rude
7. Seek an audience who likes your work
8. Don't disregard positive comments
9. Move on