RE: [Leica] Was Alfie's PAW...BD, now objective criticism

["Zeissler, Mitch" <mzeissle@gcipoa.gannett.com>]

Everyone can post what they want.  

However, if they wish to receive objective criticism in order to grow as
a photographer they must be prepared to receive the good with the bad,
particularly here on the LUG where many pros contribute.  

Most LUG comments I have observed, both good and bad, are tame compared
to the cutthroat critiques experienced in a good art school photo class
[being a VCU Communication Arts and Design alumni, I know first hand
what I'm talking about].  I have seen those come close to physical blows
at times and leave some of the more sensitive participants in tears.

While I would not have chosen the same words as B.D., my response would
have been along similar lines.  Having experienced bad responses to a
few critiques I sent others via e-mail in the past, I know that
delivering them in person is *much* better and can alleviate any
misunderstanding as to tone and content.  Thus, unless I know the
recipient and they know me, I tend to *not* critique via e-mail because
of the lack of verbal and non-verbal dialog.

/Mitch

- -----Original Message-----
From: lea [mailto:lea@whinydogpress.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 10:19 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Alfie's January 26th PAW...BD

<<Alfie, you have to give much, much more thought to what you shoot - at
least you do if you are planning to post the images>>

If I have any complaints about the PAW it is summed up in this
extraction from B.D.'s post to Alfie regarding his post for the week.

First of all, Alfie can post whatever the hell he wants. And who is B.D.
to say Alfie didn't give a heck of a lot of thought to this image even
before he posted it? Who made B.D. the judge-god-almighty of what should
and shouldn't get posted to a PAW?

B.D. goes further in his mean-spirited (I can't help but think he
thought it might be interpreted as mean spirited since he writes << I
don't want to be mean - honest - >>) letter to say Alfie is shooting
like a child with his/her first camera in that Alfie is shooting
everything in sight. So the hell what????? How do you think a person is
supposed to learn? I'm more than certain that HCB, Eugene Atget, Walker
Evans and all the others didn't start out shooting masterpieces when
they first pulled their cameras out of the box. Photography is art and
becoming good at it takes time...and practice. Why in the world would a
fellow photographer begrudge another the right to shoot (and POST)
whatever in the world he/she wants.

I am appalled.
Lea
- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html