[Leica] Harshness on the Lug ? NOT ENOUGH!

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Critiquing others' photography when you do not know the emotional stability 
of a poster? That in itself can be a surprising event! It can be a tough 
call making comments when you find the shooter takes comments personally 
rather than about their photograph. And you receive a smashing tongue 
lashing for your comments. Usually private.

During the Leica Seminar for the past 16 years the final part of my 
involvement is critiquing a selection of images from the attendees shot on a 
similar theme line during the three days, trust me a tough call for about 4 
hours one image right after the other up on the screen! However it is 
considered one of the best learning elements of the seminar.

You have the good, bad, ugly and absolutely beautiful imagination of a 
creative photographer. This is all done in the open so everyone can hear and 
learn, not just one individual at a time. The crowd effect much as we see on 
the LUG. I don't think I've ever said "nice picture"other than on one 
occasion when I was admonished because "I didn't say why it was a good all 
round great photo!"

At the time I had automatically assumed everyone would know why it was a 
smashing good photograph! So I made a simple non-descript comment and moved 
on. That was wrong! Simply because not everyone is of equal experience nor 
of seeing talent. Certainly as we see here day after day. That isn't a 
problem having the mixture of talent and years of experience simply because 
there's a wonderful depth of learning power here no matter if one is 
starting out or doing it for 60 years! You always learn and or, are 
motivated because of what you see and read.

However, if one takes the time to firmly critique every posting you'd never 
leave the screen, period! Mine sort of go in fits and starts not on a fixed 
day to day, image to image. But I do try to make points for all to learn 
something or a positive comment simply because it is a damn fine picture! 
Obviously it doesn't always work when you have such a diversified group of 
experiences and talents. I'm sure some comments aren't made simply because a 
poster "doesn't want to hurt a persons feelings!" And that's fair enough, 
but by not posting we aren't doing anyone any favors whether you get yer 
butt whipped or praised to the highest points of success. It isn't about you 
personally, it's about the photograph you made and how you may or maynot 
make it better! Or as simple as a pat on the back for a neat one.

 So a suggestion? We post our comments about a photo good, bad or ugly! Let 
your comments roll and see where we go with it.  Certainly worth a try given 
we've seen such a number of posts about being harsher?  What think you?
cheers,
ted