Inspiration? Photography course problems

[Mr Silly]

I'm doing a photography course (a beginners one as you'll have guessed from my pics ;) ). There are 6 of us on the course and three of them are good, but sneer at the non traditional stuff - if its not a bird, landscape or house, then in their book, its a con :shrug: The other two and I, like allsorts of things and enjoy experimenting, getting different effects, macro work and some abstract stuff.

Problem is, the two who are like me, may not do the next stage in September. One has health problems and the other is pregnant.

I find I need someone to bounce off, whether they like my ideas or not. Our tutor is good, but being stuck with the snobs won't get my creative.

So any ideas? Is it worth seeking a club to join?

Thanks

[John C]

Why not flickr, or a blog?

Or here? I can't promise any great insights, given my own limited ability, but I'd be happy to offer an honest opinion on stuff, if it'd be useful to you.

[Radiohead]

Ditto what John said, on all counts.

[Boink!]

Apart from the Hit or Miss type groups on flickr that don't give any (constructive) feedback I'm sure there are some that would have helpful comments. You could try a local photography group, to see if it isn't also full of snobs (local groups of all types seem to attract people with more opinion than ability) before you put your money down.
Otherwise there's here, we're always happy to <s>point and laugh</s> help out, especially if you give some info about your photos, ie what you were trying to say with the subject, composition and exposure.

[John C]

I think one thing we should try and do as a group is comment rather more on things. Certainly the weekly comp doesn't generate the amount of commentary that it used to - whether that's because people are busier or less confident in critiquing stuff, I don't know.

I think a similar thing is true of flickr - lots of groups seem to require comments as a condition of posting to the pool these days, with the apparent result that people have a kind of comment fatigue when it comes to other photos. The plus of local photography groups would, I guess, be the ability to go on organised trips to places, and possibly use gear you wouldn't get to otherwise (my local club has cheap studio hire, I think, for example, and does model days etc).

There will come a point too where you know what you're trying to do and the whole thing of what other people think becomes slightly less important. If people don't get what you're trying to do, that's less important if you've achieved what you set out to.

(As an aside, the hit or miss etc groups seem to have a very pedestrian taste to me - I suspect you'd have the same problem you do with the people on your course in those).

[jec]

Some very good comments there John and it echoes with me a lot.

I think one thing we should try and do as a group is comment rather more on things. Certainly the weekly comp doesn't generate the amount of commentary that it used to - whether that's because people are busier or less confident in critiquing stuff, I don't know.

I would be interested in participating in something like this as it would hopefully help my own photography too. I wasn't confident providing critique until I started to watch <a href="http://www.radiantvista.com/dailyCritique/">The Daily Critique</a> at Radiant Vista who provide great critiques, it has also helped me develop my photographic eye and understanding.


I think a similar thing is true of flickr - lots of groups seem to require comments as a condition of posting to the pool these days, with the apparent result that people have a kind of comment fatigue when it comes to other photos. The plus of local photography groups would, I guess, be the ability to go on organised trips to places, and possibly use gear you wouldn't get to otherwise (my local club has cheap studio hire, I think, for example, and does model days etc).

I don't think proper critique exists in mass groups or at least I haven't found it.

Photoblogs looked promising but the comments tend to come from the same people and are usually superficial and are just a method to drive traffic to your own site.

The big Flickr groups are even worse (i.e., 1-2-3, Hit Miss, A+++ style groups) since you'll just get people quickly commenting so they can post their photo. Most of the people are posting to try to boost their interestingness rating.


There will come a point too where you know what you're trying to do and the whole thing of what other people think becomes slightly less important. If people don't get what you're trying to do, that's less important if you've achieved what you set out to.


I've been thinking along these lines for a few weeks now, but I'm finding it difficult to get to...

[Boink!]

We could always start an "Official comment on my photo" thread, the "Perpetual..." is more of a post a few of my latest work.

It could be limited to a single photo per discussion, so make it your best. The photographer submitting his stuff should say what they were trying to achieve with the shot for someone else to critique (otherwise it's just bragging).

Otherwise we resurrect the monthly themed contest.

[downhillbiker]

Otherwise we resurrect the monthly themed contest.

I was wondering where that had gone...

[Arthur Fowler]

We could always start an "Official comment on my photo" thread, the "Perpetual..." is more of a post a few of my latest work.

It could be limited to a single photo per discussion, so make it your best. The photographer submitting his stuff should say what they were trying to achieve with the shot for someone else to critique (otherwise it's just bragging).


That sounds good.

I don't know about others, but I am daunted by the quality of the photos posted here, and the techniques that are talked about.

I was thinking about the possibilities of a perpetual thread for the "not so good" photographers ;) But I might be encouraged by a "critique my beginners/intermediate/good photo" thread.

[Mr Silly]

Thanks folks, some good discussions there.

I've no problems with opinions, whether they like/dislike my work, or agree/disagree with what I like. What annoyed was the "anything that isn't traditional is not right" line.

Might start posting in the perpetual thread - think I've put one in so far

Would anyone be interested in a project thread as mentioned? Perhaps we dedicate each month to a topic and we can all post serveral pics

[JimLin]

We could always start an "Official comment on my photo" thread, the "Perpetual..." is more of a post a few of my latest work.

It could be limited to a single photo per discussion, so make it your best. The photographer submitting his stuff should say what they were trying to achieve with the shot for someone else to critique (otherwise it's just bragging).

Otherwise we resurrect the monthly themed contest.

There is a sub-forum on Dgrin.com (part of Smugmug.com) called the Whipping Post (http://www.dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30). Some of the comments seem to be quite useful. Although I have never posted anything, my sister has and I think she found the advice helpful.