The first thing we learn to do at about the age of 2 is decide that there are some things we like and some things we don't like. Unqualified opinion "This is nice, I like it" "This is not nice, I don't like it" My students, in the first couple of lessons learn to make qualified judgements about picture quality. "I think the exposure is wrong" "I think it is out of focus" Aesthetic judgement requires more experience but it is encouraged from day one. They are not encouraged to express an unqualified opinion, even of their own work. If your opinion is all you have to offer, then you ought to get some photographic education so that you can make meaningful comment on, not only other people's work but also on your own. After all, if you can not clearly state what is good and what is bad about an image, beyond the fundamentals of exposure and acutance, then how can you know that your own images are any good at all, even with 40 years experience in the lab and shooting 100's of images with with an 11X14 camera. herschel --- Bob Maxey <written_by@xxxxxxx> wrote: > >>>>One-thousand-four-hundred-and eigthy-one (1,481) digitally counted words > of > self-glorification (unsupported by ANY evidence) and of deprecation of other > > people's work (unsupported by ANY analytical critique other than > self-centered opinions).>>> > > > Like I posted, all I can offer are my opinions. I felt it necessary for > people to learn what it is I personally prefer in a photograph and know about > my past because it does make a difference. Like my preference for extremely > sharp images. I did post a few critiques and what I had to say is about all I > felt the works were worth. > > > >>>With due respect, your endless list of bragging about over your > self-proclaimed skills and successes are less useful to me than the worst > picture ever posted on the PF gallery.>>> > > > I do not feel the need to prove anything. I know what I know and you are > certainly free to challenge me. (Bragging ahead) I likely know things you do > not know. By the way, I worked for Bill Shipler Photo, 118 South Main Street, > SLC, Utah. Established in 1890. I ran the lab, maintained and printed from > the image collection, and printed everything form Minox to 16 x 20 as well as > Cirkit and banquet negatives. > > > My expertise is in the lab, forgotten techniques, and the history of the > technology. Perhaps you can learn something. > > > >>>You say you have OPINIONS. My friend, these come a dime a dozen in > today's > world! Opinions are of value if one can learn something from them that will > > help one become a better photographer.>>> > > > That is all I can offer. I did critique a few images. All I could offer is > what I posted. > > > >>>To be frank, I've learned more from my workshop students discussing what's > > good and bad about their work. However bad a picture might be, it will > always have the invaluable merit of being the starting point for a > discussion about what IS a successfull photograph and HOW to go about making > > one.>>> > > > Good for you. You might even be correct. Like I said before, when you know > what I like, you will know what i care about. If I do not like something, I > will not comment. Please teach me a better way and I will listen. Oh, I also > ran the Salt Lake City Art Center photographic department and weekend lab on > Finch Lane, here in SLC Utah. I learned a few things from students but mostly > taught them what they did not know. > > > >>>I teach my students what my teachers taught me: "Film is cheap, > experience > is dear and talent comes from making plenty of mistakes". Feel free to > replace the word "film" with "pixels".>>> > > > As did I. I tend to agree with what your teachers taught you. > > > >>>PS - The last time I used my 11x14 view camera was about two years ago. > I've since been too busy turning rooms into giant pinhole cameras to create > 9x12 feet paper negatives of the urban lanscape (using DW fiber paper, > hand-processed with archival standards and selenium-toned). On the last > shooting, I shot/processed 8 giant paper negs before I was satisfied that > the results were up to par with my requirements. I used up a full roll of > 100feet by 52in of paper and lots of chemistry. I learned something > significant on each exposures. My friends keep asking "Why do you do this > to yourself?" > > When was it you said you last used your 11x14 view camera?>>> > > > Good luck with the giant pinhole cameras. I prefer sharpness and I do not > care about pinhole images. Therefore, I would never critique your work except > to ask why waste all that paper and chemicals. Sorry, that was another > opinion. I like what I like and I ignore what I do not like. > > > As for when I last used my 11x14, it has been awhile. The last commercial > assignment I used it on was to copy a collection of paintings for a local > museum. I am, however planning to use the Fairchild aerial camera next month. > > > > Bob > .. > Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msncom > Herschel Mair Head of the Department of Photography, Higher College of Technology Muscat Sultanate of Oman Adobe Certified instructor + (986) 99899 673 www.herschelmair.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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