Becoming more Critical

[Paradox]

Have any of you noticed that you get a huge amount more critical of photographs when you get into photography? Now whenever I look at a photograph, I don't see a pretty subject or a beautiful landscape, I check the exposure, photo quality, and most of all the composition, and THEN take a good look at the subject matter.

I'm not saying I appreciate a good photograph any less, not at all, but now every time I see any photo I end up instantly finding flaws and judging how it could possibly be improved. Am I alone in this one, or do other people now have a Rule of Thirds grid burnt into their retinas? :eek:

[TheWengler]

Yeah, I do the same thing. I appreciate great shots more though.

[toriaj]

I know what you mean, I don't even enjoy looking at the typical landscapes in offices, etc. anymore :)

Mostly I'm critical when I'm looking at photos on the computer. But if I'm looking at pictures with people, either people who just want to show off their snapshots or budding photographers, I tailor my comments to their level.

Meaning that if it's a happy P&Ser with a snapshot, I comment on the child's beautiful expression rather than the completely underexposed shot ... that's what they care about anyway. And if it's a budding photographer, I find some aspect of their work that is legitimately good or improving, maybe a shot with good lighting or composition, and point that out.

What I have really begun to dislike is those gimmicks, soft focus or PSd "reflections," etc that are just so badly done :eek:

But we're forever ruined for simple appreciation of a pretty picture, aren't we? :D

[Paradox]

True enough - Obviously I don't look at someone's snapshots of their newborn baby and start rattling off a stream of comments about the technical issues with the photo! That might be missing the point slightly. ;)

[faisal]

Do the same here. I am also overly critical of the shots I used to take with a mobile before I bought a DSLR. The noise just hurts my eyes now... :p

[cdifoto]

Every time I look at a technically bad snapshot, I feel like I just killed a kitten.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Yep me too.

Watching a movie last weekend and they cut back and forth from one face lined up on the 1/3rd to another. I thought to myself how cliche'.

I can at least now appreciate good photography more.

[raven15]

Don't even get me started.

The office I was working in ordered a dozen large high quality landscape prints from a local photographer for a large sum. Most of them were nice, but one had a huge ugly tree branch completely obstructing some nice fall foliage. I couldn't stop looking at it. Also, there is a calendar I found at my parents house put out by the some local organization. I started looking through, and woah :eek:. I could take 15 better pictures than that in a weekend. Bad composition, one was apparently a 100% crop of a ISO400 shot on a superzoom, or else a ISO3200 shot on a DSLR, because even at 8x10 the noise was bad.

Now, regarding movies, I voted worst composition ever to Transformers, & 2, because of horrible artificial lighting and cluttered, confusing compositions. However, if you watch the original Shrek, you will find a jewel of composition, with a wide variety of focal lengths and perspectives that take maximum advantage of the frame.

Etc.