DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT CRITIQUE...its probably worth less than 2 cents

Do you need it? 2 cents worth!!!!
I once asked an experienced photographer how I could make progress, the reply was "stop asking other photographers (my peers) what they think about your pictures."
Strange, but surely you have to ask someone to get some feedback??
'Sure. but look' he said' what are you trying to do with these pictures, something commercial? If so show them to an ad agency, people in the business, insiders, youll soon find out where you are and where you need to go, and they wont be saying great shot, how did you light that, or do you use the new Gazebo Mark3f camera with the Tinkertoy 1.3 zoom lens. These guys know what was, is, and will be and theyre not the self indulgent peer gratification junkies you hang out with.
Ouch, but it was going to get worse.
OK so you tell me what you think.
Well how long have you been photographing seriousley
About 5 years
It looks like one year five times over to me. You got your peer approval the first year and spent the next 4 years trying to keep it.
But there must be something good?
Sure but you're not selling the goods just your own ego.
"Look," he repeated." think about selling the goods, not yourself,(then came the thing I remembered most) If your going down the commercial route suppress the creative ego, we'll find out that youre a genius later."
Ouch (that hurt) bigger ouch (he was right).
Formerly there were only a handful of people to ask about your pictures unless you joined a camera club but now with the web you can interact with literally thousands and play critique tennis all day long if you wish.

I asked an internet acquaintance about this recently. NYC fashion photographer Richard Warren.
This is what he said
I question the value of critiques in a public forum . Aside from the self-indulgent need for peer approval, what is the point ? If you took the photo and liked it enough to place it on a server then obviously the image meant something to you. I understand that when you are starting out it is good to ask others about basic composition, lighting, lens choice etc.If you have a good grasp of lighting, composition, technique and style. and are trying to develop a personal style then you should not listen to others as to how "take the photo" or even their opinion of the composition .
The editing process is just as important as the image making process. You wouldn't let others take photos for you right ? So why ask others to edit for you ?
When I was still an assistant, I was helping my boss edit some film from a Lineia Italia shoot done in Rome. It was rare that I was helping with the edit, but I guess he had his reasons for wanting to turn-around the film quickly. He pulled a slide out and asked me what I thought of it. I was duly impressed with the shot and innocently mentioned "Great shot , sort of looks like a Helmet Newton shot". He took the chrome and through it on the floor and stomped on it " I can't make photos that look like Newton; I have to take photos that look like me !"
As "decoration" to one of my posts I placed an image on a public forum. I was not even asking for a critique; but received a mouthful.
"Never cut a girls head in half !" , " Instead of over head light, why not try a big soft box from the side" I even had folks telling me what type of background to use.
I took the photo (good or bad) and liked it enough to print it and put my name on it. Why in the world would I want another photographers opinion on my personal work ? Don't get me wrong; I like strokes as much as anyone else. Just be honest with yourself and realize that "strokes" is the only tangible reason to post a photo on a forum (other than to solicit models to hire you for portfolio shots)
Yes, the varied cast of characters. Some are making photos as their art while others are following the editorial fashion route. Really the only comment I could make about someone's "art" is that it works or does not work for me. Otherwise I start telling them how to take a picture; and no one needs that.
Narrow the criteria. Putting an image up on an forum and saying "What Do you think ?" puts all the work on the person willing to comment. If someone is putting this little effort in a post , then why should I put more effort in my reply ? Its too much work.
I would be able to comment better if someone limited the critique.
"I was trying to do a Maxim type photo; What do you think ?"
OK. Now the criteria is set and I have something to judge by. I have seen Maxim photos and can use that as a reference to judge the photo in front of me. I have always done this with my own fashion work simply by looking at the magazine and then looking at my photo. If my photo is as good as the one in the magazine then it is a "keeper". In this case you really do not need a lot of folks commenting on your photo.
Finally , variety in the posts. I did a "no-holds-barred" critique on another forum once. The following 20 posts were "What Do you Think ?"
Too many "What do you think?" is just as bad as "Model booking January-December" posts. Its nice to see a mix

And that doesnt include 'any and all comments welcome'. So is there any real value to photographers via forum critiques. Personally I view them as market research. I ignore all the ones that suggest I should have gone for more detail in the whites, and the How did you do that etc' but look for something else.
Suppose someone said 'your photographs are scary', or 'depressing,'' or (heaven forbid) they make me want to go out and buy that dress or tie. Well you could react to that kind of comment. Why do they think that way? Should I take another look? If youre a poster when was the last time some one critiqued that way. When was the last time you wanted that type of response.

Any and all comments welcome


Richard Warren kindly agreed to let me post his comments. His work can be found here
Fashion photographer Richard Warren http://www.richardwarrenphotos.com/