Trains & more Trains!!!! (pic link)

Song Mi,

Is this in your humble opinion or is it a fact??

If it is a fact, could you xplain how you get to your conclussions?

If it is your opinion, I will have to dissagree. I overall like all pictures posted. I think 6th picture has nothing special compared to the others, and if had to choose only one, I dont think I'd ever pick it. I'd go probably with 5th or the one with the flowers.

Besides all this: is this the only way you know to say things?? Maybe you could mention the ones you dont like, say why, which are the problems you see in them, etc., so we the rest of the not so perfect human beings can make it a learning xperience.

Ayrow, Very nice shots, IMHO ;-)

Best,
Dioni

PS: sorry to get this back, but...

Now, reading this, I remember a friend of mine who was not very good playing soccer. He used to be the referee ;-)

Best,
Dioni

I have to say I agree with SongMi's ideas on critism. Not the photographs themselves, which I liked and expressed my views in a previous post, but his views and objectives in discussing them. It's immaterial if he posts his pictures or not, some of the most noted critics are not photographers in their own right, but have an ability to see beyond the pretty picture aspects into what lies beyond. We expand as photographers and artists if we take into consideration the comments made on our work. To just brush them off is the best way to stagnate as an artist.

"A laborer works with his hands, a craftsman works with his head, and an artist works with his heart." -I forgot who wrote that, a better mind than mine anyway (LOL)
Paul.

SongMi said:

In college courses (art and photo) I always look forward to art
critique - perhaps just as exciting as the actual art in of itself.

A renown commentator defined ART as only that pertaining to the
mind whereas CRAFT pertains to utility. For instance, a painting
is art because its only usefulness is to be seen and contemplated.
Photographs, however, can be useful for evidence or documentary -
CRAFT. Simply, photography can either be ART or CRAFT; depending
on INTENT.

Long story short, only one photo of yours (sixth pic) seemed more
"art" to me because it caused me to pause and contemplate. The
remaining photos were mere documentary of what you say and what it
is that you saw.

I hope this helps. Probably not. For whatever its worth, my
judgement of what is or is not ART is not based on my skills in
photography or painting, rather, in the substance of what I'm
judging. Perhaps my skills with the camera or the brush is better
than you or perhaps not. ART does not care.

Click to expand...

SongMi also wrote:

One of the most over-looked photographic technique is "numbers." That is to say, we have to take a "good" number of shots in order to get a few good photographs and you have one photo here that you presented that is OK to Good.

The sixth shot is the only one "good" here, in my opinion. The rest of the pics wasted download time for me, but I guess I had to go through it in order to see the sixth one.

The sixth picture works because of the strong geometry the tracks reveal in a train yard. Nice work to emphasis the tracks.
The others are not worth mentioning.

SongMi,

I for one strongly disagree with you on a number of points, but it really boils down to a simple concept.

Purity.

I would find it a depressing world to be surrounded by pure art, craft or utility. For myself, I find it best when all are in balance.

I think of a beautiful, agile, and well constructed automobile as a superb example. I find another example of such to be the beauty of the restored warbirds and the passion and regard that these are held in by the men who manned them. But when does it become art?

Certainly, if love is infinite, a little is enough. Perhaps such an interpretation should apply to art as well.

tom

Paul,

Isnt there the part of that quote that says, "A sales person works with his mouth?"

My critque is quite good in that its constructive; not destructive, but as you have seen, the "offended ones" reflexively dive into their fox holes to take cover from my good will.

Paul N said:

SongMi said:

In college courses (art and photo) I always look forward to art
critique - perhaps just as exciting as the actual art in of itself.

A renown commentator defined ART as only that pertaining to the
mind whereas CRAFT pertains to utility. For instance, a painting
is art because its only usefulness is to be seen and contemplated.
Photographs, however, can be useful for evidence or documentary -
CRAFT. Simply, photography can either be ART or CRAFT; depending
on INTENT.

Long story short, only one photo of yours (sixth pic) seemed more
"art" to me because it caused me to pause and contemplate. The
remaining photos were mere documentary of what you say and what it
is that you saw.

I hope this helps. Probably not. For whatever its worth, my
judgement of what is or is not ART is not based on my skills in
photography or painting, rather, in the substance of what I'm
judging. Perhaps my skills with the camera or the brush is better
than you or perhaps not. ART does not care.

Click to expand...

SongMi also wrote:
One of the most over-looked photographic technique is "numbers."
That is to say, we have to take a "good" number of shots in order
to get a few good photographs and you have one photo here that you
presented that is OK to Good.

The sixth shot is the only one "good" here, in my opinion. The rest
of the pics wasted download time for me, but I guess I had to go
through it in order to see the sixth one.

The sixth picture works because of the strong geometry the tracks
reveal in a train yard. Nice work to emphasis the tracks.
The others are not worth mentioning.

Click to expand...

--
Have a good day!

Tom,

I think I understand how you view my comments toward others' work. What all of the things we call "art" and "craft" boils down to INTENT, not PURITY.

Some "artists" strive for purity (like Ansel Adams) and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that and there are others whose intent is to strive for "artist" utility or what is commonly known as Industrial Design (International Design).

Designing an attractive and power performance automobile or an aircraft is a design intent (Industrial Design and engineering). Fine.

Just as fine is Ansel Adams producing the "purist" kinda photographs. Thats his intent.

I think where you really missed my point in all of my comments to our nervous, yet brave photographers who posts this forum is that fact that I'm NOT looking for "purity" in their photographs; rather, I make comments intended to help them achieve better results. I don't straightforwardly say this to them of my intent but if they are open to anyone's critique, they will get better at shooting.

Most of the photos here are terrible but I have not lost hope in the shooters, otherwise I wouldnt be posting.

Tom May said:

SongMi,

I for one strongly disagree with you on a number of points, but it
really boils down to a simple concept.

Purity.

I would find it a depressing world to be surrounded by pure art,
craft or utility. For myself, I find it best when all are in
balance.

I think of a beautiful, agile, and well constructed automobile as a
superb example. I find another example of such to be the beauty of
the restored warbirds and the passion and regard that these are
held in by the men who manned them. But when does it become art?

Certainly, if love is infinite, a little is enough. Perhaps such an
interpretation should apply to art as well.

tom

Click to expand...

--
Have a good day!

Thats funny,

My father never played soccer but he coached my sister's soccer team to the state championship playoffs and he refereed some of my games quite well (in my opinion, of course).

Have you ever listened to sports announcers/commentators who were formally pros? You wish they just retire and go away.

Why is it that the well known and well respected movie critics were never film makers? Hmmmm ....

I'm no expert but I have been around camera and film for a long time - since 4th grade and I'm no shadow to winning photo contests either. My first photo contest entry was in the 4th grade - didnt win (humbly) but I did manage to pull out over a dozen top prizes in photo contests. Still though, my photography experience does not make me an expert.

Have you

Dioni said:

Now, reading this, I remember a friend of mine who was not very
good playing soccer. He used to be the referee ;-)

Best,
Dioni

Click to expand...

--
Have a good day!