Digital BW, The Print

Folks,

Please don't take my statement the wrong way. I have no problem with my work receiving criticism. I do object to the "photo club" vernacular of crits that can be canned, typed up and distributed and no one would know the difference. You know what I am talking about "Nice image, try this crop or that crop", "You have merging edges", "you have diagonals that touch a corner", "ohh nice composition, but you violated the rule of thirds!", or the one I love...."Too bad your image shows the hand of man". 

Critics use criticism to describe the work of art, they interpret it, they evaluate it, and they theorize about it. When critics criticize they don't just express their likes and dislikes nor do they just approve or disapprove of the work of art. Critics learn they ask questions in their mind, and they look for answers. I think that it was the art historian Edward Feldman that said  that criticism of a work of art is the "act of informed talk about the art".

I think it is ok to share images. I think it is also ok for some to provide criticism of the photographs, but more importantly I think that it is vitally important for Austin, Lawrence, Don, and others to feel fulfilled with the process of exchange. If that fulfillment includes criticism I think that is wonderful. On the other hand I don't consider myself enough of an informed critic to intelligently provide "informed talk about an image" Criticism is not a coldly intellectual endeavor (1).

Mike

(1) Criticizing Photographs, Terry Barrett, Mayfield Press.

Michael J. Kravit
Architect/Photographer
Boca Raton, Florida
www.kravit.net



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