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Photo Mediocrity

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I never thaught I'd get a compliment on one of those photos. I did that series to compare the Sigma 70-200, 50-500 and the Canon 100 macro. In another post a while back somebody made the comment that it was impossible to take a "good" picture with a Sigma lens and apparently everyone knows it. Well I for one didn't know that and much like our friend here when I asked the poster for some proof or an example he had nothing to offer. So I decided to run a little test comparing the lenses I owned. When I posted it my friend never resopnded. Apparently he had never heard of a pinhole camera either. I've seen some pretty amazing photographs come out of lensless cardboard boxes. Talk about a budget camera :-) As far as Les Pauls go if you're gonna have a guitarest painted on one it better be Jimmie Page.
Cheers.
--
http://www.pbase.com/davkrat
 
SongMi said:
After several several months observing these forums I'm pretty
happy to see so much "photo medicority." The photo mediocrity
exposes the vast wasteland of bad photography, poorly skilled
photographers (AMATEUR AND PRO), and the most cancerous of all, the
popular acceptance of mediocre photographs.
Click to expand...
Guys, you're dealing with a college kid that has about as much life experience and understanding of the world he lives in as you would expect from someone who has only been on the planet for a few years.

His posting is typical of the of those in academia.. they know it all. Haven't any of you had "idealistic" conversations or debates with a teenager before?

Don't argue, don't defend, he or she will go away. The posting was more than likely placed to to give them something to do on a lonely weekend than anything else. It's hard to be offended by anyone with such little experience in life.

Now get out there and shoot some mediocrity.
 
SongMi said:
After several several months observing these forums I'm pretty
happy to see so much "photo medicority." The photo mediocrity
exposes the vast wasteland of bad photography, poorly skilled
photographers (AMATEUR AND PRO), and the most cancerous of all, the
popular acceptance of mediocre photographs.
Click to expand...
Like you, I sometimes tire at the sight of seeing yet another image of someone's child, pet or front lawn. But the tone and spirit of your comments are unfair, crass and disingenuous.

By citing the large number of unworthy screenplays you are already cognizant of the difficulty in producing work of the highest quality. To expect any different from our public forums at DPREVIEW is plain stupid. Since this is a public forum, many of the people posting their images are likely to be hobbyists who don't or can't devote all of their spare time to improving their skills. Nor does everyone possess the innate talent to meet your lofty standards. By the same token, not everyone aspires to be the next Pete Turner, Galen Rowell or Richard Avedon.

Since the mediocrity that you rail against here appears to nourish your ego you shouldn't complain. Otherwise spend your time elsewhere with others who are worthy of your company.

--
Richard D.
http://members.aol.com/richdong
 
I enjoy viewing the images of the photographic masters, i.e. Ansel Adams, for example and latterly Galen Rowell in the US, Stephen Dalton from the UK and Carl Hiebert from Canada, among others. My own approach, however, in the absence of such skill is to try capture for want of a better word," memories" that are important to me and the ones close to me. As long as they meet that criteria to my satisfaction, I don't much care what others think!

Mike, your "rainbow" captures that for me, based on your comments and for what its worth is one I would treasure.
Mike Spinak said:
Regarding the animal pictures, I think you need to look more closely.

Cheers,

Mike
SongMi said:
Most of your photos u posted are nice. Your strenght lies in
composition and you seem to find contrasts among subjects such as
the mountain (strenth) vs flowers (soft) or finding a red flower
among the yellow masses.

I dont like the animal shots because they dont tell me a story,
rather, just a witness of what you saw - snaps. Capture a wildlife
action such as a bear catching a salmon with its mouth or polar
bears dancing - yeah, few photographers have done such pics, a few.

I like the frozen pond, even though its so plain. The picture of
the rainbow and the human is banal and goofy, but nice rainbow.
Mike Spinak said:
I welcome honest criticism, no matter how severe, as long as it is
considered. Please feel welcome to review my portfolio:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=67986
Click to expand...
--
Have a good day!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
First, I have not yet posted because I have not wanted any of my pics critiqued. I know they are mediocre or worse. I hope I am getting better. I think I am. Sometimes I get lucky and get something I like.

In my first photography class when we discussed my first pic (which I thought was pretty good) the professor called it "better than a bullet wound". Each week we all got similar comments but we also learned what he was talking about.

I agree that "art" is subjective but I also know that better technique and understanding can make for better photos.

That said I do not see many negative critiques of the photos asking for input. I think that if someone asks for a critique he/she is also asking for the stregnths and weaknesses of the photo and how it could be improved.

I, as well as many others, have learned a lot reading this (and other) forums here, however, I find most of the info comes from the positive, helpful comments rather than the negative and while it is helpful to know what is good about a photo it is equally (or more) helpful to know what is bad about it.

Quite honestly if some from this forum called me mediocre I would not be offended. Being mediocre on this forum is ok with me. I'd love to be a mediocre concert pianist.
 
This guy is a bit of a blowhard; he's posted the same drivel over on the Fuji forum. If you search his postings, a couple of things become apparent: 1) A name change about 4 months ago? Why? 2) Frequent criticisms of everyone and everything. So, I guess what I am saying is now that you have the information, you can consider the source and his threads.
SongMi said:
After several several months observing these forums I'm pretty
happy to see so much "photo medicority." The photo mediocrity
exposes the vast wasteland of bad photography, poorly skilled
photographers (AMATEUR AND PRO), and the most cancerous of all, the
popular acceptance of mediocre photographs.

I will liken today's photography to screenplays. There are over
50,000 "new" screenplays written and passes through the big
Hollywood studios every year and only very very few makes it to the
silver screen and even those few stories selected among the vast
wasteland of talent are crummy.

Now some of you are as critical toward me as a critic as I am
critical to the junk photos posted here (and everywhere else). Some
of you are angered by my remarks and I have equally answered your
griefs, most of the time gently (sometimes I have thrown others
under the bus to get through the smoke of arrogance and pride).

First of all, I want to thank most of you for posting your mediocre
pictures to all the world so that I can be sure that good
photography is still a vast green pasture of opportunity. The
scornful mediocrity will always miss the green pasture and settle
for the parched valley and well, lets hope they still settle
themselves to tumbleweeds.

Now, for those who seek green pastures (not neccessarily for
profit) keep listening and follow to those "critics" who cry out in
the desert to show the wayward the way to the green pastures.

--
Have a good day!
Click to expand...
 
SongMi said:
After several several months observing these forums I'm pretty
happy to see so much "photo medicority." The photo mediocrity
exposes the vast wasteland of bad photography, poorly skilled
photographers (AMATEUR AND PRO), and the most cancerous of all, the
popular acceptance of mediocre photographs.
Click to expand...
Using subjective descriptions such as "photo medicority" (I assume you mean mediocrity - I'm not sure what "medicority" means) has neither validity nor value to anyone except the person who originated the comment. What "is" a mediocre photograph? Photography can be many things. If considered as "art," it will mean different things to different observers. Some artists and critics don't appreciate Monet - others think Picasso grotesque. Others of equal qualification have 180% polar opposite opinions. If considered as representative of what was seen by the photographer - if the exposure and focus are correct then the photo has probably done what it was intended to do.

I think you are attempting to criticize photographers as artists - but really not making your point clearly. As a college student, you should pay more attention to composition and to organizing your thoughts before "publishing them" on a public forum. Then, perhaps, you might reach your intended audience.

Lin
--
http://208.56.82.71
 
I really enjoyed seeing your pics. While I listen to criticism of my photos, I'm more concerned with wether or not my wife and I enjoy them and if the ones that I take today are better then the ones I took last year.

Your photos are very nice.
Mike Spinak said:
I welcome honest criticism, no matter how severe, as long as it is
considered. Please feel welcome to review my portfolio:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=67986
Click to expand...
 
I've been gone a couple of weeks, so I may have missed something, but we discuss mainly equipments and DSLRs here right? This forum although wonderful to post images, is not a photosig.

If you do not like what you see, don't look at it or go find what you look for!

good luck, Alfred.
 
Maybe SongMi should show us what isn't mediocrity.

Ideally, with examples of his own work.

David
 
Richard Dong said:
Like you, I sometimes tire at the sight of seeing yet another image
of someone's child, pet or front lawn.
Click to expand...
In forty or fifty years even these mundane pictures could become interesting Photography books are full of old shots taken by amateurs with brownie boxes and a hundred years later, they've become glimpses into life in those times. I'm sure the photographers had no idea this would happen.
 
This is a perfect example of mediocre criticism.
Mook
SongMi said:
After several several months observing these forums I'm pretty
happy to see so much "photo medicority." The photo mediocrity
exposes the vast wasteland of bad photography, poorly skilled
photographers (AMATEUR AND PRO), and the most cancerous of all, the
popular acceptance of mediocre photographs.

I will liken today's photography to screenplays. There are over
50,000 "new" screenplays written and passes through the big
Hollywood studios every year and only very very few makes it to the
silver screen and even those few stories selected among the vast
wasteland of talent are crummy.

Now some of you are as critical toward me as a critic as I am
critical to the junk photos posted here (and everywhere else). Some
of you are angered by my remarks and I have equally answered your
griefs, most of the time gently (sometimes I have thrown others
under the bus to get through the smoke of arrogance and pride).

First of all, I want to thank most of you for posting your mediocre
pictures to all the world so that I can be sure that good
photography is still a vast green pasture of opportunity. The
scornful mediocrity will always miss the green pasture and settle
for the parched valley and well, lets hope they still settle
themselves to tumbleweeds.

Now, for those who seek green pastures (not neccessarily for
profit) keep listening and follow to those "critics" who cry out in
the desert to show the wayward the way to the green pastures.

--
Have a good day!
Click to expand...
 
Scott Larson said:
In forty or fifty years even these mundane pictures could become
interesting Photography books are full of old shots taken by
amateurs with brownie boxes and a hundred years later, they've
become glimpses into life in those times. I'm sure the
photographers had no idea this would happen.
Click to expand...
An excellent point, no one person is the arbiter of good taste or art.

--
Richard D.
http://members.aol.com/richdong
 
I'll add that when he grows up and actually has to go out and support himself his attitude will change. He might even be a good critic someday when he learns to temper his comments and after he gains more experience.

Kids, geeesh.
Jim Radcliffe said:
SongMi said:
After several several months observing these forums I'm pretty
happy to see so much "photo medicority." The photo mediocrity
exposes the vast wasteland of bad photography, poorly skilled
photographers (AMATEUR AND PRO), and the most cancerous of all, the
popular acceptance of mediocre photographs.
Click to expand...
Guys, you're dealing with a college kid that has about as much life
experience and understanding of the world he lives in as you would
expect from someone who has only been on the planet for a few years.

His posting is typical of the of those in academia.. they know it
all. Haven't any of you had "idealistic" conversations or debates
with a teenager before?

Don't argue, don't defend, he or she will go away. The posting was
more than likely placed to to give them something to do on a lonely
weekend than anything else. It's hard to be offended by anyone
with such little experience in life.

Now get out there and shoot some mediocrity.
Click to expand...
 
Speaking as a college student, I take offense to the assertion that we are plagued by immaturity and the hubris of the young. I believe that many of us, myself included, often conduct ourselves with more wisdom and dignity than those who are greatly learned and experienced in the ways of the world.

And if you disagree, well, my dad can beat up your dad.

Jason
 
You need to re-read my post. Was I talking about you? No I was talking about SongMi. As far as my last sentence is concerned, you will have a better understanding of it in about 20 years. You will then see that it is not a knock but a fact of life. Some things only come with time no matter how mature you act at a young age and some never grow up. Don't take offense because none is intended.
Jason M. Stone said:
Speaking as a college student, I take offense to the assertion that
we are plagued by immaturity and the hubris of the young. I believe
that many of us, myself included, often conduct ourselves with more
wisdom and dignity than those who are greatly learned and
experienced in the ways of the world.

And if you disagree, well, my dad can beat up your dad.

Jason
Click to expand...
 
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