Success for Creative Impostors

This week I was thinking about how hard it is to get my business up and running., The amount of work that we have to do to get noticed as well as thinking about whether I am really good enough to make a living as a photographer.

I think we all go through these stages. Why am I really doing this degree? Are my photographs worth the money that I charge?  Will I be able to do this on a full-time basis and support my family?

Well as I was thinking about this, a blog came across my desk that I often scam through but then seldom read because I just do not have enough time to read everything because of "life" happening around me. Today however I decided to read it for some inspiration and I thought this would benefit a lot of people because of the content.

We are all creative people and when you think you might be an impostor or even someone not worthy of success then I suggest you read this article.

It is taken in its entirety from an article that Amy Butcher wrote over on Big Brand Systems

Don't listen to me but rather read what others in the industry have done and what people thought about them before their success.

Enjoy the article.
Denzil

Imagine you’ve just learned to drive, and you’re about to merge onto the freeway for the first time.

But while everyone is whooshing by in sleek machines with turbo engines, you’re putting along in a beat-up Plymouth with a rattly exhaust pipe. You fear you’ll never get on that freeway, or look as good or go as fast as everyone else.

Kind of like how you feel when you think your creative skills don’t measure up to the best in your business.

But to paraphrase something the wise Pamela Wilson told me, “Why would you compare yourself to the best?” That’s the worst thing to do, whether you are just starting out or have been around for years.

Did you know that in business, you can go really far in a rattly old Plymouth?

To convince you, here are ten “creative impostors,” or people who have succeeded in business even though their production values suck or they don’t fit the typical mold of creative success.

Yet succeed they do.

1. Race Grooves

Race Grooves is a toy car entertainment channel run by Mark Kasimoff, who designs downhill toy race car tracks for kids’ birthday parties.

Hop on over to his YouTube channel, and you’ll find over a thousand videos of him playing with Hot Wheels race sets.

His most popular videos have almost 20 million views, and he was featured on the show Mythbusters. And he’s done this with a website looks like it’s from the dark ages and a personality that is, well, the opposite of magnetic.

What’s his secret?

He committed to creating one video a day for kids who simply want to watch cars go fast and do tricks.

That’s it.

Impostor Lesson: Know the core of what appeals to your audience. Then do that.

2. Napoleon Dynamite

Hollywood has plenty of examples of small movies that go big, but a recent classic is Napoleon Dynamite, a sleeper hit that achieved cult status back in 2004.

It doesn’t get more low-budget bad than this riff on boy-versus-world, with its awkward pauses and stiff dialogue.

Roger Ebert gave it one and a half stars for its “stupidity.”

Audiences swooned for its charm anyway, as underneath the stupidity lay a well of emotion that had people telling their friends and family in droves.

Impostor Lesson: Big heart always trumps big budgets.

3. David Byrne

Talking Heads’ front man David Byrne is one of the worst singers in pop history, with a nasally voice that can barely hold a note.

His fans are extremely devoted, not because he’s the best singer in the world but because of his pre-hipster aesthetic and ethos of anti-consumption. In fact, Byrne’s voice represents an entire generation’s alternative angst.

Listen just once to his cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and you can’t imagine it being sung any other way.

Impostor Lesson: Distinctive style that speaks to an audience beats generic talent any day.

4. Henneke Duistermaat

Copywriter and writing coach Henneke, who has guest posted for Copyblogger and Big Brand System, got “sick of clichéd stock photography” and decided to start drawing her own blog graphics.

But art isn’t easy. What is easy? Getting depressed at your creative shortcomings.

Six months after starting to draw, Henneke published her first art piece:

“The evening before publication, I tried to perfect the drawing. Henrietta’s nose wasn’t pointing in the right direction, her finger was odd, or the laptop perspective was wrong. I drew 7 or 8 versions before giving up.” – Henneke

She didn’t give up on drawing, but rather on the idea of perfection.

Because in a world that relies on the ready-made, Henneke’s artwork makes her blog warm and personable for her audience, no matter how imperfect her art supposedly is.

Impostor Lesson: A personal connection beats slick yet run-of-the-mill creative output.

5. Zach Galifianakis

Zach Galifianakis should not be famous for his creativity.

His personality is off-putting, and his beard looks like a Yeti threw up on his face.

However, Zach’s humor stands out from the Jimmy Fallons and Jerry Seinfelds of the world who yearn to be liked. He’s translated his hostile style into success in movies and an Internet show, Between Two Ferns, where he pelts celebrities with his word bombs.

In any normal context, Galifianakis would be booed or ignored.

In his own surroundings, he’s the perfect mensch.

Impostor Lesson: Even grating personalities can make business magic with the right context and execution.

6. Fitness Blender

If you’re not a YouTube exercise freak, then meet Fitness Blender, a fitness channel by a husband-and-wife team who don’t look like the impossibly beautiful models who usually do workout videos.

Instead, they’re just regular nice-looking people who promote fitness and healthy eating.

Creatively, their down-hominess can get too quaint: here, you can listen to them go on for ten minutes about their grocery shopping.

Despite small video personalities and an inability to edit themselves, they still shine with authenticity.

The result? Ad revenue from millions of viewers who also support them through patron donations.

Impostor Lesson: Keep things real and people will get hooked on your business.

7. Fifty Shades of Grey

Brace yourself, ‘cause I’m about to let you in on a little secret:

Fifty Shades of Grey is a bloody awful book.

The tome is full of grammar misdemeanors and insipid lines such as “His voice is warm and husky like dark melted chocolate fudge caramel… or something.”

How on earth did this barely run-of-the-mill novel become a trilogy, a movie and a brand that’s still going strong?

Because the fans don’t care a hoot about the writing.

They obviously care about something else entirely…

Impostor Lesson: You can take your business far when you focus less on perfect execution and more on your audience’s desires.

8. Dogs Playing Poker

Since 1903, art critics have panned this series of paintings by C.M. Coolidge for kowtowing to petit bourgeois tastes.

Most of us would readily agree: dogs playing poker just ain’t art.

But the paintings weren’t meant to be art. They were originally commissioned as ads by a cigar company.

They eventually became fixtures of middle-class basement décor because they spoke to an era.

And their kitsch appeal has had cultural legs that many artists would sell their children for.

Impostor Lesson: Ignore the snobs. What’s horrible to them may be exactly what your audience wants.

9. Wikipedia

While Wikipedia isn’t actually a business, this impostor still has a lot to teach about getting far with bad stuff.

Some Wikipedia articles are so boring, your eyes want to escape their sockets and take your brain on the town to drown its sorrows. The content can be nonsensical, overly complex, badly structured and susceptible to hoaxes.

But Wikipedia’s strength comes from the collective action of its volunteer editors who vigilantly edit, add and flag with the dedication of a Roman army.

While the claim that it is better than the Encyclopedia Britannica is arguable, Wikipedia still wins top spot in, well, every Google search.

Impostor Lesson: A dedicated tribe can overcome any creative flaws in your business.

10. Chris Brogan

Successful author and business advisor Chris Brogan has a blog that’s a creative mishmash of musings about things like healthcare and coffee.

In his presentations, he can ramble from one topic to another.

Yet, he’s built an uber-thriving business built on a big message of not living a life that other people set out for you.

And he does it in a very funny, human way.

Mostly, though, Brogan bares his soul like few others online. And that is extremely powerful.

Impostor Lesson: People will love you for your completely honest self, not your perfectly honed thoughts.

Own That Plymouth

In business, you can easily get caught up in comparisons.

Like how someone else has a gorgeous website, killer design, or always-flowing creative juices. But the next time the world careens by you at light speed, just remember that any “impostor” weakness can be turned into a strength.

Don’t know how to draw? Doodle from the heart.

Have a horrible sense of humor? Dazzle your audience with your honestly bad puns.

Can’t afford fancy video or podcasting gear? Win your customers over with simplicity and clarity.

Be as clinky and clanky as you have to be. Because your customers aren’t comparing you to the best in the business. They’re just looking for a simple ride to their specific destination.

And if you can take them where they need to go, then you are no impostor.

You’re a force of business who lets people view some awesome sights, hang out with an interesting person, or learn something new along the way.

And those are all great reasons to get out there and proudly putter down that highway.

Top Ten tips for Success in the Classroom…

This weeks post comes from one of our other Alumni, P. Seth Roberts. Seth graduated with his BS in photography back in October of 2014. You can check out his website here.

Hello! My name is P. Seth Roberts, owner of PSR Images, and a former student from AIO. I have since graduated in October of 2014, with a Bachelor’s degree in Photography. I have been asked to create what I believe to be the top ten things to consider for success in the classroom. My list contains technical, academic, and personal considerations. I am honored by this request, so, I humbly submit the following list.

Be Open / Be Humble

When I first joined AIO, I already had several years of professional filmmaking under my belt. I wasn’t sure what, if anything, AIO could offer me. However, I also knew that if I had entered my studies with anything but a complete willingness to learn, it would ultimately prove futile. I learned more about capturing images through my complete commitment to studies than I did in my experience as a film director. My time at AIO not only made me a good photographer, but a much better filmmaker.

Also, remember, this isn’t a competition between you and your classmates, or you and the Professor. It isn’t whether your images are the best in class, but are your images the best they can be, for the sake of the assignment.

Criticism isn’t Mean, it is Critical

Learning to take criticism is part of the student process. Let’s face the truth of it, you will never impress or get everyone to like your work. That’s life, you have to learn to deal with it. People will love or hate your work for various reasons. You take it, and you move on.

However, criticism in class is NEVER meant to be destructive. I remember several classes when I did what I thought was my best work. I was ready for the shower of praises I felt was sure to come once I posted my assignment. Then, when I logged in and saw this litany of criticism from Professors and peers, I was devastated. I questioned whether or not I even belonged there.

Having the wrong attitude toward criticism will inhibit your growth as an artist, professional, and human being. I had to determine that I was going to be a photographer, and that meant putting on my big boy pants, growing thick skin, deeply considering the criticism, then making the changes that were necessary to my growth. Don’t let personal pride get in your way!

Breaking Away from Safe

By nature, I am a very introverted individual. New people worry me, crowds scare me, and the world to me is a dark and dangerous place.  With that said, my introverted nature was actually hampering my ability to perform as a photographic student, it can also be contradictory to the very practice of photography. Unless I was going to simply photograph my walls, I needed to go against the grain and step out into the world. It was uncomfortable, it was challenging, and at times I hated to do it.

However, once I took the step, and I adhered to the requirements of my assignments, (shooting in manual only, etc…), I noticed an enormous increase of skill and understanding of the science behind picture taking. We don’t get better by doing what we’ve always done, we get better, we become masters of our crafts, by doing the things we haven’t, the things that challenge us to depart from our very natures.

Owning a Camera, does not a Photographer make

Your Professors will say this over and over again, and it may become so repetitious that it becomes annoying, but ask yourself these two questions: 1. If it weren’t so true, so important, would so many Professors say it so often? 2. What does a photographer do, if he/she does not take pictures?

Taking pictures is what we do folks, and if that annoys you, then perhaps being a photographer isn’t for you. I get it, I understand, believe me. I have been sick, tired, stressed, all of that. Realize this, that only through practicing your craft, experimenting with equipment and light, will you ever become a professional photographer. Take pictures, take thousands of images.

Technically Speaking, Can You Do It Again
I remember several classes both for outdoor and indoor shooting when we were required to record all of our camera settings, for each shot. This included, lighting scheme, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, color setting, and more. This was done for two reasons, first to make you think about what you were doing and why. More importantly however, I feel it is to help you understand how you were able to create an image.
We’ve all been there, when we snap 400 images, hoping to capture the one that will be what we wanted, what we were hoping for. Not only does that waste time and energy, but it shows a serious lack of understanding about the science and aesthetics of good photography. That doesn’t mean you won’t take 400 images of a subject, however, knowing how and why things work will ensure that many of those images will be what you are looking for. Learn you camera, learn your light meter, and learn those pesky little settings, and you will see the quality of your work improve greatly.

Attitude and Habit Follow You Out The Door

Consider this, and if it makes you mad, well…. perhaps you should reconsider your attitude. Your approach to your studies, and your assignments will be the exact same way you operate as a professional photographer. If you are lazy and late, only do half the research, or try to fudge your way through your assignments, not only do your Professors know, but you will do the exact same thing when you open your own shop.

Your time at AIO is there to teach you not only the craft, but the professional habits and actions of a successful photographer. Treat each assignment, even written assignments, as if you’ve been approached by a client. While granted, some of the images I had passed in were a disaster, I put my best effort into each and every one. Only through risk and hard work, was I able to grow and become a success.

Communication

Talking with your Professors is paramount to your success. These highly trained and experienced experts are photographers that currently work in the field, and make money at what they do. If there is something, anything you do not understand, they are the BEST source of knowledge you will have far beyond anything you could learn in a text book, or from fellow students who are learning right alongside you.

That isn’t to say text books aren’t important. To the contrary, they are very important to building a solid foundation of understanding. With that said, books can’t directly answer question, but your Professor can. Reach out to them, it is after all what they do.

This should include times when you are confused about your grade, struggling with deadlines, or any other issues you may have.

Obstacles Are Nothing More Than Challenges To Overcome

I live in Maine and come from a small town, so there were two big challenges for me to overcome to meet several assignment requirements. These particular challenges were weather and a small population. It was often difficult to shoot in snow, and to meet particular assignments because we were far from any real large city or population center.

Do not let this become a stumbling block for your success. There are always ways of overcoming anything that gets in your way. It is times like this that you must learn to think outside the box. These challenges, whatever they may be, are not to be feared, but embraced. They will make you stronger and more effective as a professional photographer.

You will learn to do things you would never have thought of if these challenges hadn’t arisen. Believe me when I say, challenges will come with every shoot. The last thing you want is to be on a professional shoot, have something occur, and be unable to come up with a solution.

Study, Study, Study, then Study Some More

Studying is the very essence of learning and truly comprehending your craft. Fudging it, plagiarism, and trying to sneak your way through is unacceptable. It goes back to who you want to be as a professional. You must have a firm foundation of your art, if you truly expect to be a recognized contributor to photography.

Yes, there are so many text books, and so many chapters, and so much information you are expected to have, however, without it, you’re just another person with a camera, that can take cute pictures. To be successfully active within your field of study means that you have a firm grasp of the science, history, and aesthetics of the program.

On another note, many students attempt to enhance their images by “breaking or bending” the rules of photography for the sake of art. STOP right there. Before rules can be broken or bent, you must first have a clear understanding of the rules, why they are there, and how to “break” them in order to create the best image possible. Breaking or bending the rules of photography, especially as a student does not show a deeper understanding of art, rather it shows an ignorance of professional camera use.

Put It Into Practice

As I have stated earlier, your Professors are experienced professionals, currently working within the field of photography. When they give you pointers, PAY ATTENTION, and put it into practice. They know what they are talking about, and coming from someone who was a fellow student, it works.

This includes carefully constructed portfolios, well-made and functional websites, the proper use of social media, a smartly crafted artist statement, understanding context versus content, business plans, dealing with galleries, and methods of marketing. IT WORKS!!! Regardless of your brand, there is something in their wisdom and lessons for everyone.

These 10 methods worked very well for me, and while I could go on and on with many techniques that helped me to graduate with Dean’s Award, we could save that for further discussion. Each one of you has something unique to contribute. Don’t give up, don’t give in, believe in yourself. You will find your voice, I promise.
Comments/Questions

Now & Then: A Personal Retrospective

I'm sure at some time or another you have heard that one of the great things about photography is that there are endless things to learn--we are always learning.  I know that after being enrolled in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division for over two years now I still have such a long way to go in terms of knowledge/wisdom still to be acquired, but I would like to take this time to reflect on how far I have come.  Maybe you can relate  ;-)

Before I started school I had almost no knowledge of photography but I just knew it was the path I wanted to take--we all have to start somewhere, right!?  It is so thrilling to be able to have random, advanced conversations with new people about photography, cameras, and other related topics.  I even remember my first shooting class before I had my first DSLR.  I was using an old point-and-shoot to capture images for my assignments in Digital Image Management.  (Keep in mind, this was two years ago!)  I had to choose four different categories for images in which to build my collection.  

Without much insight as to what made great photos at this point I chose what I felt would be fun and still a little challenging: Line, Pattern, People, and Nature.  The first time I went out to photograph people was the first time I realized that I did not want to be a portrait photographer!  It was difficult, intimidating, frustrating, and just did not feel like something I could ever be comfortable doing even in a studio.  I couldn't even get Line and Pattern straight in that class, I was always submitting the wrong kinds of subjects.  I just didn't get it and didn't understand photographic design at all.

Move forward two years to present day and I have a whole new outlook on my skills and abilities as a photographer, I have actually exclaimed that I feel as though I was born to be a photographer!  Working with people now feels like second nature and even though I don't always know what I am doing when I use my "fancy" setups, I have definitely improved in technique as well as developed my mind's eye and artistic observation.  Now I did get better after that first shooting class, especially after I learned more about how to use my DSLR, but, as embarrassing as it is, I will post some of my own work today to illustrate how far I have come and to give you inspiration about never giving up and working hard to pursue your dreams.  (By the way, I just recently began considering staying in school to pursue a degree in Journalism!) 

Going from thinking I would only ever be a Nature photographer to feeling like I could do absolutely anything with a camera (career-wise) gives me such pride in my journey thus far.  In two years I will probably look back and grimace at my work now, but in the meantime I will just keep learning.

Now & Then: People (candid)

Now & Then: Line

Now & Then: Nature

The thing that has changed the most in the last two years is my comfort zone.  I went from a shy, awkward, stalker-like person with a camera to approaching people and asking if they would mind me photographing them, making phone calls to get access or permission to do something, and feeling more confident with my presence--I don't feel like I look like a stalker, I look like a photographer now.  

I think I get turned down about 1% of the time when asking to photograph people candidly so there really is no need to fear rejection when faced with an opportunity to break out of your comfort zone.  In my experience, I have found that people are very willing to be photographed or even to let you have access to something.  A lot of it has to do with personality.  I am approachable, engaging, polite, and respectful when I talk to new people but I also give cues with my facial expressions while I'm shooting if I haven't had a chance to speak to them yet.  I will smile a lot, give the appearance of satisfaction after previewing some of the exposures I have captured, and linger around a bit rather than abruptly walking away.  

So, what qualities do you have or do you think need improvement as you progress as a photographer?  Do you have a story you would like to share about breaking out of your comfort zone, how you have developed, or maybe some examples of your work that show how far you have come?  Leave me some feedback in the comments or post your questions, I would love to hear your experiences!

What I Have Learned vs. What School Can't Teach You

When I made the decision to go back to school I had absolutely no knowledge of DSLR cameras, I didn't know what they meant when pro's talked about "glass", I had no idea why you use umbrellas in the studio, and what's even more embarrassing was that I had no clue about just how a photograph was taken--for all I knew it was some mysterious magic that went *poof* as soon as you pushed the button.  Silly, right?  Well, after less than two years I now know so much about photography that I work part-time as a digital photography and Adobe software tutor while I finish up my degree.  I have come such a long way in a short amount of time; while I owe much of the credit to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh-Online Division for teaching me, there were two things that school never taught me that helped me excel as much as I have.

1. Passion

The textbook definition of passion is " a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something." 

I have always loved taking photos and my dream job, for as long as I can remember, has been to be a National Geographic photographer.  I mention this often in my posts and use it as criteria for many assignments because it is definitely one of my strongest passions.  You can often answer your own questions sometimes by listening to yourself and discovering a passion you had never considered before.  Without these strong feelings of enthusiasm for photography and becoming a photographer, I would not have pursued going back to school nor would I have done so well thus far (I have a 4.0 GPA with four classes left).  When you feel so strongly about something you stop making excuses and "can't" is not an option; and when you have a passion for success, there is nothing that is impossible, no obstacle too difficult to overcome.  School can not teach you passion.  It has to come from within.  Realizing your passion is only half the battle; pursuing it 100% makes it achievable.

2. Curiosity

Like passion, the textbook definition of curiosity is "the desire to learn or know more about something or someone."

Without curiosity it is likely that I would never learn as much as I have.  It takes both passion and curiosity to learn and grow as well as improve.  For example, it takes serious passion to but in 100% effort and it takes just as much curiosity to exceed standards and expectations.  This is because you're not only pushing yourself to do better than what is expected, but you're also challenging your curiosity to "see what else I can learn about this subject." 

So, school will teach you how to shoot in manual mode on a DSLR, but it does not necessarily insert the information into your brain; it takes curiosity to learn what acronyms, such as DSLR, stands for, what exactly "single lens reflex" means, and how you can take what you have learned and use your knowledge to set you apart from your competition.  You may think to yourself, "wait, I need to set myself apart?  How do I establish my own unique brand from what is already out there??"  That curiosity, my friend, will drive you to always do better, always be better, and get you closer to your dreams than only learning the basics. 

The Photography program can teach you the basics and get you to the door of opportunity, but you have to have passion and curiosity within yourself to want to see what's on the other side of that door.

Do you have the passion and curiosity to open that door and see what opportunities are out there?

Tell me about your experiences in school and how curiosity and passion have led you to success!

Works Cited

"A young man mountain climbing the classic north west ridge of Mt." Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 23 Jun 2014.
<http://quest-preview.eb.com/#/search/167_4015375/1/167_4015375/cite>

"Curiosity."  Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, n.d. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curiosity>

"Passion." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, n.d. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passion>

"Show Them the Door." Photograph. ccm. Christ Church Manchester, 12 June 2013. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.ccm.org.uk/academy/entry/show_them_the_door/ >

Your New Tuesday Ambassador is Here!

Hello, everyone!  I am Abby, your new Tuesday Ambassador bringing you insight and inspiration as well as answering your questions from the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  I have been attending AIPOD for almost two years and am preparing to graduate this December.  I went to college the first time right after high school but just wasn't sure what I wanted to do for a career.  Of course I had aspirations of becoming a dental hygienist and even major in Philosophy, but they were all lacking something that I needed in a career.  I have had jobs in which I have excelled and done well at, but they were never going to make me happy because I couldn't explore my artistry.

Like many other photographers, I got my first camera for my 10th birthday and my passion for capturing photos became an integral part of my being though I had never had any experience with photography beyond the two point-and-shoot cameras.  Growing up I was fascinated by National Geographic magazines and they served to illustrate the world as I had never seen it.  It inspired a desire to take a deeper interest in the splendors and mysteries of Earth and nature.  It was not until after my son was born that I stopped making excuses for not following my dreams of working for National Geographic; I needed to set a good example for him and teach him that hard work pays off--your dreams don't come true if you don't pursue them.  He is my reason for going back to school, he why I work so hard at everything I do.

I may not be a National Geographic photographer yet, but I have come a long way since I began school at AIPOD and the level of accomplishment and success I have achieved thus far is only a confirmation that with time, dedication, persistence, passion, and determination you have the power to make your dreams a reality.  Are you pursuing a dream?  What are your career aspirations? 



Wide-Angle Wednesday: Invest in yourself and maximize your return

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.”

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.

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:

www.twistedtextiles.com : How to: critique artwork like a pro

www.dictionary.com : Definition of constructive criticism

University of Wisconsin Green Bay: Art Criticism and Formal Analysis Outline

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