In this episode of Critique the Community, we are looking for your best photographs featuring groups of people. The group needs to be more than 2 people and can be of any genre of photography. Keep in mind, our critiques are always based on the idea that only your best work should be featured in your portfolio and these images would be used to gain future clients. Feel free to submit any images you want that fit the guideline but we will still critique based on portfolio quality work regardless.
As always, the highest rated image will win a free tutorial from the Fstoppers Store. During filming, we will also pick one random winner who will also get a copy of any tutorial in our store as well. The deadline for this Critique the Community is April 16th at 11:15pm.
Good luck and we hope everyone is doing well and staying safe as we continue to quarantine ourselves across the world.
Dear Fstoppers,
I know quarantine can sap your will to live, but the last few critiques we agonizing to watch. This used to be my favorite content.
May I please suggest that you add some variety, mix it up for your sakes and ours?
It might peak your interest to have a 3rd party choose the 20 photos to be critiqued. Keep it fresh for you and give a layer of transparency to the process. And since the voting can be crazy it's not necessarily fair to only choose from the pool of highest rated photos.
You could even make it fun and have a previous winner choose the 20. Maybe a third critiquer via Zoom? Or rotate through your roster of contributors. Anything to make it exciting for us all again.
Are you just tired of us? Lee said some things in last week’s episode that seems to make people believe we’ve changed the way we pick the CTC images but I can assure, for the last year and a half, the critiques have all been curated the same way. We don’t like picking 1-2 star images because there isn’t much for us to say about them and so we’ve always tried to pick the most exciting images of the bunch. Almost always, those 20 images fall within the top 100 images rated by the community.
We can try to do something remotely with a guest and test that out. I think what you might want though is Lee and I to be more entertaining and polarizing....we can do that for sure!
Naw, I wouldn't bother commenting if I didn't enjoy you guys... When you're having fun.
I'm just hoping you can get the spark back and was wondering what might light the fire also for everyone who submits.
Being polarising and controversial is easy, that's why the internet is full of that kind of content. But I've never felt that the critiques were controversial. I tend to agree with you two on your observations (on photography) more than not. That's why I come here!
I'm sure being a creator gets old some days, and these are very tiring days stuck inside. But if critiquing the community can spark others to improve their craft then I am also hoping that critiquing the creators will do the same. Rock on.
noooo mr patrick don't read the comments!!! only unhappy keyboard warriors here!
Innovative a display system which can allow the photos to be visualized in an exciting way relative to one another vs. a long list of bland boring
The way in which we view and critique images could be far better and more relevant in the YouTube critiques themselves
The online community critique should be developed by game designers and the allow for Pat and Lee to surf through content more spontaneous and organically in the context of their live interactions which would do better in a twitch format with increased interaction
Just an opinion
visualize a 3 dimensional web of images wherein the various axis can serve as a weighting mechanism .. you fly over to the snap shots noticing that within this domain of low liers we have a number of tags which have emerged via the critiques indicating some as possessing humor and in turn have been upvoted to the top of the stack as it were despite not being found in a more respectable part of town
Honestly, the only thing I think you should change is the fact that you don’t read the description of the images. If you’re worried it would sway your vote one way or another, don’t read it until after you vote. There’s just so many times that you guys debate over what the story is behind it and sometimes the description makes it pretty clear. I personally really enjoy these. Especially now more than ever with having the shelter in place in effect.
😇
Critique the community is:
1. Lee sorting images by community ratings and taking top 10, no matter how shit they are.
2. Patrick not liking any photo and finding a fault in everything.
I agree with the above 2 comments. And did I hear correct, Not even looking through all the photos...Haha.
I’ve rarely ever looked past the top 100-150 images because consistently the lowest rated images are not worth putting in the episode. Trust me, it’s always been this way.
I'm just giving everything 5 stars because why not.
Wouldn't that cancel out the effect of all of your votes?... and the photographers can't tell you've done it anyway.
Childish mindset.
As opposed to everyone who gives 1 star, because they are so mature?
Correct. The ones giving out the 1 stars have valid reasons. The ones giving "everything" 5 stars are just throwing a tantrum.
The ‘valid reason’ being they have their own photo in the submission and don’t want to risk others having higher scores? Because nobody is ever giving a valid reason, or any reason for giving the score.
Aside from that troll who just repeats the same shit every week on each different theme.
I'm sure that's one of the reasons, but, that's not all of the reasons. I've read through some of their comments. Sounds like you don't want to accept their reasonings. You just want to hear what you want to hear.
Just so we are clear, ‘I’ don’t want anything and I certainly aren’t talking about people rating my photos because I don’t care.. what I do take issue with is people putting a 1 star rating on photos that are clearly above that level (90% of submissions are better than 1star if we follow the guidelines) and the only reason they would do it is to either fudge the system or they are just outright trolls/undesirable human beings.
Isn’t it funny that a pastime/profession that centres itself around capturing the earths greatest moments and in general positivity, has such a toxic community once people are safely tucked away behind their keyboard.
From my observation, the ones constantly bringing up "toxic community" are ones usually hostile, and they too are safely tucked away behind their keyboard. Toxicity spreads and lingers longer when people fan it.
And has anyone noticed that they do not read the descriptions of the photo by the photographer or comments by reviewers? I'm not saying they have to read them aloud, but for their own information. They could argue this by saying they are trying to be as objective as possible but when they sit there and try to figure out what or where a photo is and aren't even close I'm embarrassed for them. Was it the last critique Lee had forgotten to include each photo community rating? There almost seems to be a reluctance on their part to take the time to do these sessions, that it's a chore for them. I suggest they do more homework before their presentation in addition to the recommendations from other commenters here to make it more interesting for us and perhaps less of a burden for them.
The idea was that we haven’t seen the images beforehand. That worked well in Charleston when we had other people in the office to curate them but now inevitably one of us has to pick the images ourselves.
That being said, what’s the old quote “if you have to explain a photograph then it’s not a good photography?” It’s interesting to read the descriptions but those descriptions won’t be printed next to your portfolio 99% of the time.
Thank you for writing back. Points well taken. Your opinion is much appreciated since you and Lee are the ones taking the brunt of the opinions expressed. Ansel Adams actually told me that saying during a private visit to his house in 1980 and have kept it in mind when taking or critiquing photos ever since (not that it ever brought me to his level!). And you are correct, the descriptions won't be printed next to your photos 99% of the time. Perhaps my suggestion should have been... see the photo, rate the photo, then read the description so there is less time speculating about what it is, and then maybe a comment from a forum member if there is a relevant one (not often unfortunately). I now understand how much more pressure is on you guys now that you're pretty much doing it all yourselves (I'm a relative newcomer to the forum so don't know much about the past goings on). I enjoy the critiques and hope you continue them. I also hope you can incorporate some of the suggestions to some degree from the forum members as there is obviously some frustrations out there. Many thanks again. [sorry for the "Anonymous Reviewer" moniker. I submit photos under my real name but don't critique under my name anymore because of name calling and retaliatory voting against my photos.]
Surely this is a parody account.
Just a bit of a thought on the rating system. Having the lowest rating a 1 star and highest a 5, making 3 a portfolio worthy image doesn't make sense, its 50%. Most images fall in the middle of the road. A basic understanding of photography but minor details that don't take it to the next level.
A rating of 1 star = snapshot, 2 = needs work, 3 = solid image, minor work needed, 4 = portfolio worthy 5 = pro
When pro photographers who can take 5 star images submit on here but rarely make it over the 4 mark, it seem like its impossible to reach.
I mean their idea is even if you take 10,000 images a year it's likely that less than 10 belong in your portfolio. Their rating system puts a 4 star image as the highlight of your portfolio and a 5 star is basically unattainable.
I do see the logic in this rating system but it doesn't seem to have enough fidelity (even Patrick & Lee will often rate images 2.5 in the CTC videos... if that doesn't tell you scale needs more points I don't know what would).
I would like to see the rating system changed so there is more middle ground. 4 star should be portfolio quality and 5 star should be highlight image. Get rid of "world class" because you will never get a group of people to agree what world class is for something as objective as a photo.
Personally I feel the rating system should follow more in line with:
1 - Snapshot - No consideration given to composition etc.
2 - Okay - Needs SIGNIFICANT work
3 - Good - could still use some improvements
4 - Solid photo - Needs very minor improvements
5 - Stunning - No improvements needed, you killed it
I think this gives context to the range of these numbers. 3 being portfolio worthy may still be true but that is so subjective. I might be way more critical of what goes into my portfolio than someone else.
Yes, people rate things so theirs look better but I have found a lot of value in seeing the harsh ratings (on my photos) so I know to always keep pushing myself. Very few photographers in the world would produce consistent 5 star photos. If I hit 3 (being an amateur and not doing this full time) I'm pretty pumped.
However, I do wish people would leave constructive feedback so I know exactly what they feel could be improved.
Side note, I wish I was able to see the number of each vote I received. did I get all 1s and 5s? I feel like that gives more insight to the validity of the votes. i.e. if I consistently got 2s and 3s I know people probably spent a little more time actually looking at the photo but if its widely 1s and 5s were they just quickly going through not really caring?! And to be clear, idc who gave the rating just curious as to the number of each received.
Do you think it would be good idea for next time to let the community vote for the next contest topic.I mean giving about 3 options to choose from. I believe it could be nice idea.
5 Star idea. :)
Only 1 entry this time around?
Yes, only one.
What classifies as a group of people then ???
When are we expecting the next CtC video to be released?
I'm excited for the next challenge. :)
Did I miss the episode where Lee and Patrick rate the images? If so, could someone please link me to the video? I'm a bit confused, because there is already a new contest to which we can submit to.
They will upload it tonight or tomorrow.
Ah, okay, thanks! It has seriously been a long time since the last critique. They've devoted a little too much of their efforts towards this COVID-19 analysis, in my opinion.