[Leica] Well, that was educational

[mark at whitedogs.co.uk (Mark Pope)]

Been there and done that myself.  I had the same experience as Ted when 
I submitted some prints to the RPS and decided there and then not to 
pursue any of the accreditations any further.  I felt that they were 
easy to get of you followed the formula laid down by the 'Fellows' of 
the RPS.
After leaving a bit bruised, I thought about it and decided that from 
then on I would take pictures for *ME*, NOT for the RPS.  If others like 
them, then that's fantastic.  If they don't, then that's fine too.

I love to receive constructive criticism.  I remember when Barry 
Thornton taught me to print in B&W.  He would make all sorts of gentle 
suggestions of how to improve a print by altering the grade, a touch of 
burning here, dodging there or a slight crop.  A couple of times he 
would reject a picture out of hand, but he did so with a good reason and 
was almost always right.

It sounds like your portfolio is there or there abouts.  Why not try 
tweaking a few of them to see how they look?  The most important thing 
to remember though is that they are *your* images and only show them if 
you are satisfied with them.  Sod's law will almost certainly guarantee 
that if Gallery Owner A says they aren't punchy enough, B will say they 
are too punchy and so it goes on.

And don't forget that prints will look different depending on the 
lighting conditions where they are hung.

One last thing.  Those XPAN shots you showed a few weeks back? You know 
the ones of the trees in the mist?  If there's ever a set of prints 
crying out to be beautifully printed and put up for sale then it's these.

Best of luck!





Mark Pope,
Swindon, Wilts
UK

Homepage               http://www.monomagic.co.uk
Blog                   http://www.monomagic.co.uk/blog
Picture a week (2010)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2010
Picture a week (2009)  http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2009
                (2008) 
http://www.monomagic.co.uk/index.php?gallery=paw/2008

On 24/12/2010 06:21, tedgrant at shaw.ca wrote:
> Richard Man Offered:
> " <richard at imagecraft.com>
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2010 7:17 PM
> Subject: [Leica] Well, that was educational
>
>
>> re: rejection
>
> Richard my on screen friend let me offer a tidbit about this gallery etc
> competition thing and rejection!
>
> About? Ready? 58 years ago I joined the Ottawa Camera Club so I might
> learn more about being a better photographer and photography in general.
> They had a monthly photo/print competition as most community clubs do.
>
> They also had the "guru if the club," an old guy. :-) Ok that's easy for
> me to relate to these days. :-) He was "Old Doc. Martin!" Well
> everything and anything he said was gospel. Your photography lived or
> died according to Old Doc Martin and his comments, good, bad or ugly!"
>
> I hung on his words as did many others. That was until other people
> began making very nice comments about my photographs. I was seeing neat
> things and recording same. Others in the club offered praise and many
> positive remarks about my photo results.
>
> One evening it was an open critique and "Old Doc Martin" was doing his
> thing.. He said his piece about a photograph before the enchanted
> members because "Here he was, the God of Photography making comments
> about a photograph!" In many cases he just ravaged unmercifully at times
> as there wasn't anybody who challenged what he said! :-( That's the way
> it was in the real olden days.
>
> Some of the older folks, usually the very devoted senior lady
> photographers would shed a tear at his ravaging commentary about their
> photograph. As it was I had entered one that I thought was pretty damn
> good, Even "she who must be obeyed" was very positive about it.
>
> So I made a 16X20 wet tray double weight E surface paper print and man I
> was glowing in pride about it. :-)Yet humble! Because I was still the
> "new kid" on the block with all the elder folks in the club. Many I
> secretively admired their photographic ability. But I did kind of feel I
> was catching up to some of them on occasion! :-)
>
> In any event there was "Old Doc Martin" holding my print on high and
> ranting on about any number of tiddly things, but never offering
> anything positive in how to make it a better photograph! Oh he was great
> at reaming yer butt, no problem! Rarely did he ever offer "HOW TO FIX
> IT!" Make it better. Believe me that isn't anyway to critique! PERIOD!
> Nobody learns anything!
>
> I sat there almost petrified as he ranted on. Then I thought, "UP
> YOURS!" Now consider this is a twenty something kid so wet behind the
> ears I was still dripping! Got up, walked to the front where he was
> still holding my print on high, took it out of his hands before he
> realized what was happening. Tore it up and threw it in the air!
>
> "Screw you and your BS!" And I walked out until about twenty years later
> when the Ottawa Camera Club asked me if I would judge and critique their
> annual photo competition. :-)
>
> The first thing I did after my introduction was to relate the above
> story of many years past! Fortunately it turned out much to their
> delight! ;-) And yes I did kick butt! Not every picture is a good one!
> But I did offer how it might or should have been shot to improve the
> final image. Trust me, they did learn that evening, it wasn't just
> ranting! :-)
>
> So my friend it comes down to "we, ourselves are the most important
> person to be satisfied with our photography! PERIOD! " If we in our
> hearts and minds produce a quality we are proud to have "OUR NAME" on
> the photograph, then in 99.99% of the time all viewers will see the same
> goodness in it. :-) For what it's worth.
>
> cheers,
> Dr. ted
>
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>>
>> I did not get juried into a "gallery show" course. Congratulations to Bob
>> Adler though as he will be showing his stuff at the group show in March.
>>
>> The thoughts of selling all my gears and take up... something else
>> occurred
>> to me. But I figured I should just "pick up the pieces and soldier on,
>> soldier on"
>>
>> I talked to the gallery owners and the instructor. They made it clear
>> that
>> the format, and the content in my portfolio generally are OK, but the
>> printing and post processing need more "punch."
>>
>> While I know people have different preferences on printing and
>> post-processing, I agree with their general assessment and more
>> importantly,
>> this is a technicality and techniques I know I can tweak and improve. I
>> would be more concerned if the content fails. As an artist, it's
>> sometimes
>> difficult to ascertain whether an image is a good image or whether one is
>> deluding oneself.
>>
>> Techniques I can handle. After all, it's only in early Nov that I started
>> the digital negative contact printing.
>>
>> More printing and full speed ahead.
>> --
>> // richard <http://www.imagecraft.com/>
>> // icc blog: <http://imagecraft.com/blog/>
>> // photo blog: <http://www.5pmlight.com>
>> [ For technical support on ImageCraft products, please include all
>> previous
>> replies in your msgs. ]
>>
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