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| Corina Scoggins March 2014 Spring has arrived in the Ozarks |
Invest in yourself. Never sell yourself short
on dreams that you know you truly want. It is easy to forget that the most
coveted things are not easily attained. Go beyond what may seem like your
limits and you will succeed in maximizing your return.
-Unknown
Good
Day PSPN
I
like to first apologize for my missing in action this past Wednesday. The day
prior I had a last minute surgery that for the most part was in and out and
left me feeling well until Wednesday morning. It’s been a week of recovery and
all is well again.
With
that said, today I would like to talk about assignment critiques. As online
students our main outlet of communication is based on critiquing our peers work
in discussion threads. At first I thought that I would have no problem
critiquing because I love to write and talk. Then I realized that writing a
critique is not as easy as I thought. There are a couple of aspects one must
keep in mind, after all discussion should not be viewed as just a requirement.
I
believe the first hurdle we must overcome is being receptacle to constructive
criticism as individuals. We all want to believe that our work is the best, and
for the most part it is your best at that moment. The goal in attending school
is to learn, and ultimately earn a degree in the field of photography. The
first time I heard the term “constructive criticism” was in a high school
career class. In order to understand the term we must first define what
constructive criticism is all about.
The dictionary defines “constructive
criticism” as the following:
“Criticism
or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with
an offer of possible solutions.”
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| Corina Scoggins March 2014 Reaching for the sky |
Normally
the instructor has provided a set of discussion guidelines within the
assignment or course. I like to reference the guidelines in writing critiques
so that I don’t miss the talking points for the assignment. In the past year I
have enjoyed instructors who post video critiques. Being our classroom is a
virtual workspace it’s hard to gauge peers and instructor response when we’re
not physically in front of one another. This makes writing an honest critique
even harder. The videos allow us to hear the temperament of the voice and to
visually receive constructive criticism. Remember the definition states
“criticism or advice is useful and intended to help or improve something, often
with an offer of possible solutions.”
Writing is a challenge to convey a message through words. One must think
about the words they write and to how those reading may perceive these words.
The
general rule is to write a positive, then provide any advice, and end on a
positive. In high school we had the DAIJ rule when writing critiques. DAIJ
represents “Description, Analysis, Interpretation, Judgment”. www.twistedtextiles.com
has a great explanation using the DAIJ rule titled “How to: critique artwork
like a pro”. Following this rule will help anyone in writing quality
critiques.
The
goal in this blog is to provide resources and inspiration to student’s who may
not understand the power of critiques. I get excited when a fellow student has
left me a critique only to find “Your pictures are beautiful. Great work and I
can’t wait to see more”. In a way I feel cheated but at the same time I also
feel the fellow student is selling themselves short. For the amount of money
spent to obtain an education, I can’t stress more the importance of quality
written critiques. Be receptive, and
provide quality in return. Critiques or constructive criticism is not meant as
a means to downgrade a peer’s work. It’s an opportunity to build on the
foundation you have come to lay. It’s great practice in verbalizing artistically
through writing while in school. Once you’re in the field, the professional eye
is upon you. Work the kinks out now, and get the most for the buck.
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| Corina Scoggins March 2014 Mini Grass Flower |
Each
week as I sit to write a blog, I to wonder the response the blog will receive. The
same goes for the classroom discussion and critiquing. I hope classmates are
receptive, and read what is written as a positive step forward. Remember even
the greatest of photographers can always improve something in a composition. We
are the worst critics of our work, but in the end the only opinion that matters
is the clients.
Resources:
Here is your chance to critique my work
displayed above. Spring has finally arrived in Missouri, and the flowers have
started to bloom. Looking at the images above, what design elements and
principals are present? Any recommendations for improvement? Does the images
excite any emotion? Is one image more successful than another?
Post your critique below. I look forward to
the response and accept the constructive criticism.
From my camera to yours
Corina
Wednesday Student Ambassador
“Confidence comes not from always being right
but from not fearing to be wrong.”
-Peter
T. Mcintyre
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