You know I'm on 500px all the time, and I agree those pictures are on there, I look at them as a standard! And I go to get inspired! I agree I have a huge issue with creating ideas, I'm just bad at it! Nice Vid!
Another great point. Always trying to comment with more than just emojis. I also try not to criticise other people's work. I believe artistic progress doesn't come from reading realistic comments. It comes from a personal realisation there is space for improvement. And it takes time and experience.
Always a pleasure hearing from you Sebastian. I've always found the word "critique" to be abrasive and a terrible word to associate with our craft. Critique is akin to critical - being critical of someone's work - and that almost implies that one is nitpicking or being hard on someone unnecessarily. I prefer to look at it as providing a perspective, because in doing so you're not saying your way is right or wrong, you merely saying it's a way. I may take a certain way to get to your house every time I come visit, and you could say "Anthony, there's a way that will get you here faster"; it's a perspective, it's not saying my way is wrong, it's merely saying there's another option that may make sense for me to explore.
@@AnthonyToglife Anthony I love your example here, because it rings so true for me, and the route I use to get work; its not the quickest, but its the route I prefer. I find there opportunities to see life (people jogging, couples walking, children playing... etc) as I drive along, which the alternative route doesn't offer.
Hi again Anthony from across the pond, just watched this video and its so deep and honest. My feeling is if you are going to offer critique, show the individual how they could perhaps improve what they have done, but only if they ask for your opinion. Because as you said art/photography is so subjective, and therefore my opinion on something, is just that my opinion. Thank you again Anthony for producing this great video, the bar is so low because of the modern smartphone (AI generated blur, sharpening, other effects), which allows everyone to be a photographer, without understanding the science and art of photography. Keep up this fantastic work, and your personal journey to excellence. PS: that is also my goal, to continually improve my photography, thank you for the inspiration.
Always a pleasure hearing from you Michael. We often have that stance - I'll offer critique when it's asked for - but something to ponder ... do people ask for help if they don't feel like what they're doing is wrong? If you walked past someone changing a tire and they jacked up the car before loosening the lug nuts, would you not tell them the dangers in such because they didn't ask "hey, what are your thoughts on how I'm doing this"? I know that's an extreme example in terms of comparison (someone's photography methods won't lead to any real damage) but the point remains, if someone doesn't feel they're doing anything wrong in their photography, why would they ask for help or critique? Many don't, so how do we help them grow and get better? Sometimes it's "necessary" to offer unsolicited advice to those who may think they don't need. Of course, this is just an opinion as well and hence the dilemma that plagues photography, who really is right or wrong?!
@@AnthonyToglife good point Anthony 🤔 (no pun intended with this emoji). I guess it's the way the critique is done/offered; simply saying this is wrong or this is how not to do it, and leaving it at that is of no help. However; if you say that looks good, but have you thought about doing this (change the crop ratio), or this (change the perspective) that would/might enhance the look, that way giving them something to go away with to think on. I think that would also apply to your example of changing the wheel, by showing them the advantage of the alternative approach. Again I look forward to your videos, because they are so down to earth, insightful and inspiring. PS: you were almost in silhouette for this video, gave it a very moody vibe 👍
@@MichaelThomas-qh4yv that, indeed, is the key - offering alternatives. It's easy to say "that's wrong" but there's not much value in that. And yeah, I switch up my lighting every week. It's been a way for me to practice cinematic lighting techniques. Every Friday video for the past three weeks has had quite an elaborate (and intentional) lighting setup.
@@AnthonyToglife "intentional" that's the key to photography and that's one of the key points I've learn from watching your videos; and that is what ("intentional") I will employ in my own photography 👍
This is a very interesting topic and one for which there is no simple answer. I'll only ever give constructive criticism if I am specifically asked, I never do so of my own abolition. Regards " likes " and emojis well lets be honest here, we say we like something simply because that person might be a friend and we dont want to put that friendship on the line. Yes, it can really come down to this! I'm guilty of this, I hit like whether I think the image is good or not, we all do. Either its because we feel pressured into doing this for the sake of a friendship or we like it so we can get likes in return. People are so " precious " about their work and are easily offended. As a modern society we are also taught that everybody is wonderful and amazing in their own special way, such that you simply cannot criticise anybody's work however bad it is lol. We have basically set up people to fail! The emoji choice is also linked to the language we use to engage in. You might verbally say, that image is butter, so you'd use a butter block emoji to reflect this. You are not suggesting the image has anything to do with butter, its just a slang colloquialism used to say it good 🙂 Ultimately the only people who have to like your work are those parting with their money to buy your services. Objectively there are photographers work that really isnt that great but they manage to run sucessful businesses on the basis that their work is good enough. In the end you have to learn to be your own critic, look at others work, take the good things and disgard the bad things and create your own style from that 😉
🔥🔥🔥🔥, kidding. It's a good Ted Talk.👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾But I do believe that confidence along with competence that a individual knows their work is par excellente. And if it's that motivation to fuel them further than why knock it. Michael Jordan for example didn't rely on your opinion of him he knew was great, but the acknowledgement on him on a more global level solidified his greatness as a legend.
That would be the question - does leaving fire emojis under someone's work motivate them to progress further, or does it reinforce in their mind that they've "made it"? I would akin Jordan to the work on 500px; he knew he was great, but he was always hungry to be better, especially when someone doubted him. I would argue Jordan fed off of people's opinion; those that thought he was great was confirmation his effort had paid off, those who thought anything less was fuel to absolutely obliterate their train of thought. To be frank, I don't think leaving fire emojis all the time pushes photographers to grow and become even better, especially when the driver behind their work is for likes on IG and other platforms. Their motivation often stems from a place of laziness and convenience, and congratulating that certainly won't help them achieve Jordan-level greatness.
Hence is why i mentioned confidence along with the competence. Someone can have the confidence internally they are doing great but they don't have the competence externally of knowing how to expand or push themselves on it. I think the example of America's Got talent left out the fact people allowed themselves to just want to be on TV and nothing else. They knew they really sucked but being in the spotlight for that 15 min of fame was more important to them.@@AnthonyToglife
You know I'm on 500px all the time, and I agree those pictures are on there, I look at them as a standard! And I go to get inspired! I agree I have a huge issue with creating ideas, I'm just bad at it! Nice Vid!
500px is where you go to be humbled, LOL. But nah for real, I've gotten a lot of lighting inspiration from 500px over the years.
@@AnthonyToglife I 💯 agree to that!
Good ideas my friend. I try and say something specific about what I like and I don’t critique unless asked to.
Specifics are key, because most people don’t grow off of generalities.
Awesome!
Thank you so much Agnetha! Stay warm!
Another great point. Always trying to comment with more than just emojis. I also try not to criticise other people's work. I believe artistic progress doesn't come from reading realistic comments. It comes from a personal realisation there is space for improvement. And it takes time and experience.
Always a pleasure hearing from you Sebastian. I've always found the word "critique" to be abrasive and a terrible word to associate with our craft. Critique is akin to critical - being critical of someone's work - and that almost implies that one is nitpicking or being hard on someone unnecessarily. I prefer to look at it as providing a perspective, because in doing so you're not saying your way is right or wrong, you merely saying it's a way. I may take a certain way to get to your house every time I come visit, and you could say "Anthony, there's a way that will get you here faster"; it's a perspective, it's not saying my way is wrong, it's merely saying there's another option that may make sense for me to explore.
@@AnthonyToglife Anthony I love your example here, because it rings so true for me, and the route I use to get work; its not the quickest, but its the route I prefer. I find there opportunities to see life (people jogging, couples walking, children playing... etc) as I drive along, which the alternative route doesn't offer.
@@AnthonyToglife You described way better what I had in mind than I :) English is not my primary language, and I often explain my point poorly.
Hi again Anthony from across the pond, just watched this video and its so deep and honest.
My feeling is if you are going to offer critique, show the individual how they could perhaps improve what they have done, but only if they ask for your opinion. Because as you said art/photography is so subjective, and therefore my opinion on something, is just that my opinion.
Thank you again Anthony for producing this great video, the bar is so low because of the modern smartphone (AI generated blur, sharpening, other effects), which allows everyone to be a photographer, without understanding the science and art of photography. Keep up this fantastic work, and your personal journey to excellence.
PS: that is also my goal, to continually improve my photography, thank you for the inspiration.
Always a pleasure hearing from you Michael. We often have that stance - I'll offer critique when it's asked for - but something to ponder ... do people ask for help if they don't feel like what they're doing is wrong? If you walked past someone changing a tire and they jacked up the car before loosening the lug nuts, would you not tell them the dangers in such because they didn't ask "hey, what are your thoughts on how I'm doing this"? I know that's an extreme example in terms of comparison (someone's photography methods won't lead to any real damage) but the point remains, if someone doesn't feel they're doing anything wrong in their photography, why would they ask for help or critique? Many don't, so how do we help them grow and get better? Sometimes it's "necessary" to offer unsolicited advice to those who may think they don't need. Of course, this is just an opinion as well and hence the dilemma that plagues photography, who really is right or wrong?!
@@AnthonyToglife good point Anthony 🤔 (no pun intended with this emoji). I guess it's the way the critique is done/offered; simply saying this is wrong or this is how not to do it, and leaving it at that is of no help.
However; if you say that looks good, but have you thought about doing this (change the crop ratio), or this (change the perspective) that would/might enhance the look, that way giving them something to go away with to think on.
I think that would also apply to your example of changing the wheel, by showing them the advantage of the alternative approach.
Again I look forward to your videos, because they are so down to earth, insightful and inspiring.
PS: you were almost in silhouette for this video, gave it a very moody vibe 👍
@@MichaelThomas-qh4yv that, indeed, is the key - offering alternatives. It's easy to say "that's wrong" but there's not much value in that.
And yeah, I switch up my lighting every week. It's been a way for me to practice cinematic lighting techniques. Every Friday video for the past three weeks has had quite an elaborate (and intentional) lighting setup.
@@AnthonyToglife "intentional" that's the key to photography and that's one of the key points I've learn from watching your videos; and that is what ("intentional") I will employ in my own photography 👍
This is a very interesting topic and one for which there is no simple answer. I'll only ever give constructive criticism if I am specifically asked, I never do so of my own abolition. Regards " likes " and emojis well lets be honest here, we say we like something simply because that person might be a friend and we dont want to put that friendship on the line. Yes, it can really come down to this! I'm guilty of this, I hit like whether I think the image is good or not, we all do. Either its because we feel pressured into doing this for the sake of a friendship or we like it so we can get likes in return. People are so " precious " about their work and are easily offended. As a modern society we are also taught that everybody is wonderful and amazing in their own special way, such that you simply cannot criticise anybody's work however bad it is lol. We have basically set up people to fail! The emoji choice is also linked to the language we use to engage in. You might verbally say, that image is butter, so you'd use a butter block emoji to reflect this. You are not suggesting the image has anything to do with butter, its just a slang colloquialism used to say it good 🙂 Ultimately the only people who have to like your work are those parting with their money to buy your services. Objectively there are photographers work that really isnt that great but they manage to run sucessful businesses on the basis that their work is good enough. In the end you have to learn to be your own critic, look at others work, take the good things and disgard the bad things and create your own style from that 😉
I generally try to provide substance in all my responses on here, but you've hit everything on the head, there's nothing more I can add to this. :-D
🔥🔥🔥🔥, kidding. It's a good Ted Talk.👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾But I do believe that confidence along with competence that a individual knows their work is par excellente. And if it's that motivation to fuel them further than why knock it. Michael Jordan for example didn't rely on your opinion of him he knew was great, but the acknowledgement on him on a more global level solidified his greatness as a legend.
That would be the question - does leaving fire emojis under someone's work motivate them to progress further, or does it reinforce in their mind that they've "made it"? I would akin Jordan to the work on 500px; he knew he was great, but he was always hungry to be better, especially when someone doubted him. I would argue Jordan fed off of people's opinion; those that thought he was great was confirmation his effort had paid off, those who thought anything less was fuel to absolutely obliterate their train of thought.
To be frank, I don't think leaving fire emojis all the time pushes photographers to grow and become even better, especially when the driver behind their work is for likes on IG and other platforms. Their motivation often stems from a place of laziness and convenience, and congratulating that certainly won't help them achieve Jordan-level greatness.
Hence is why i mentioned confidence along with the competence. Someone can have the confidence internally they are doing great but they don't have the competence externally of knowing how to expand or push themselves on it. I think the example of America's Got talent left out the fact people allowed themselves to just want to be on TV and nothing else. They knew they really sucked but being in the spotlight for that 15 min of fame was more important to them.@@AnthonyToglife