criticism

The Dos and Don’ts of Taking Photography Criticism

Photography, like every art form, is subjective. As such, anything we create is open to criticism, whether we like it or not. When criticism is given with the best of intentions, it can lead to growth.

The Dos and Don’ts of Giving Photography Criticism

I’d like to start by saying that I feel the word ‘criticism’ is interpreted by some as inherently negative, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Throughout this article, I’ve used the words ‘critique’, ‘criticism', and ‘feedback’, interchangeably, because I consider them to be more or less the same in this particular context.

Dear Fujifilm: Please Learn a Lesson in Consistency from Sony

In spite of my great fondness for my Fujifilm cameras, I have some constructive criticism. My biggest pet peeve with Fuji is their frustrating lack of consistency among bodies. It drives me a little nuts when switching between my Fujifilm bodies that are different models.

Photographers, This is Why Other Photographers Hate Adobe

My name is Adam Marsh, and I'm a Melbourne-based event photographer. I recently wrote an article titled "Adobe, This is Why Photographers Are Hating on You,” and it seems to have been incredibly divisive. There was a huge amount of feedback and engagement on this topic in the wider global photography community.

The Nikon D6 is a Pro Camera for a Vanishingly Small Demographic

When it comes to technology, consumers have been conditioned to expect notable feature changes with version numbers increases. The iPhone 11 Pro, for example, not only included the snappier A13 Bionic chip, it also sported a three lens array and significantly better low light performance.

Why Can’t We Celebrate An Image Without Snark?

I’ve read The Onion headlines and McSweeney’s pieces that have knocked me off my chair. I can still remember staying up late during high school to watch Saturday Night Live sketches like “Change Bank,” or Dave Chapelle’s Killing Me Softly on HBO. I’m a person who can appreciate good humor and satire.

On Photo Contest Controversy and Criticism

I'm Allen Murabayashi, the co-founder of PhotoShelter. We recently launched our Guide to Photo Contests 2019, an annual look at contests around the world that we think are worth your consideration. Here's an excerpt from this year’s guide that looks at the sometimes controversial world of contests.

Brooklyn Beckham’s New Photo Book is Getting Slammed

Brooklyn Beckham, the son of soccer star David Beckham, caused a stir in the photo industry a couple of years ago when he jumped in and shot a campaign for Burberry -- industry veterans reportedly called the hiring "sheer nepotism" and a "devaluation of photography." Now the 18-year-old is set to release his first photo book later this week, and this new endeavor is getting slammed as well.

Is Street Photography Killing Itself?

Is the most egalitarian form of photography, ‘street photography’, being destroyed by its own popularity? Is such a thing even possible? I won’t profess to have a clear answer to this question, but I do have some thoughts. Those thoughts may turn into a rant, but I'll try to contain myself!

Critiquing the Photography of Famous Mugshots

French criminologist (and high school dropout) Alphonse Bertillon was a pioneer in the field of anthropometry – the use of human measurements – to identify criminals. As a part of this practice, Bertillon standardized the modern mugshot in 1888 with the now familiar frontal and profile portrait, the latter of which was selected because Bertillon believed the ears to be a highly identifiable characteristic.

Should We Care Who Took This Photo?

Mahmoud Raslan’s photograph of “the boy in the ambulance” from Aleppo has struck a chord with viewers in a way that we haven’t seen since Nilüfer Demir’s image of 3-year old refugee Alan Kurdi in 2015. The photo and accompanying video of 5-year old Omran Daqneesh covered in dust and blood and sitting motionless is a stark reminder of a desperate war that started the year he was born.

Which Critics Count? Identifying the Truly Constructive Criticism

When it comes to critical feedback, knowing who to listen to and who to ignore is challenging. While I am by no means a “known” photographer, I’ve put enough of my work out into the wild that I’ve run into the inevitable criticism that it catches.