deviantART has always encouraced advanced critique. Today we sit down and find out what this means to us.

Advanced: adjective

1. Ahead of current trends or customs: (forward, precocious, progressive.)

Current trends and online customs (when asking for "Advanced Critique") are as follows:

I liek it! (notice the misspelling of the word like. Doing it once is a typo. doing it on purpose is not constructive)

OMG ( oh my god ) Thats so KawaiiiiiI!!!!!!1!!!one (note the japanese word for cute, with the four extra I's to show the commenters urgency.) (also note the inclusion of far too many exclamation marks and actual occurrences of both the number, and the letter one.

To avoid this, please keep your finger firmly on the shift button while gently tapping the one key a maximum of two times. Sadly, nothing can be done for the appearance of the "one" it is a user malfunction.


Critique: Noun

1. A critical review or commentary, especially one dealing with works of art or literature.
2. A critical discussion of a specified topic.
3. The art of criticism.**

_{Critique has been used as a verb meaning “to review or discuss critically” since the 18th century, but lately this usage has gained much wider currency, in part because the verb criticize, once neutral between praise and censure, is now mainly used in a negative sense. But this use of critique is still regarded by many as pretentious jargon, although resistance appears to be weakening.}

Now that we know the definitions of both words, We explore the differences between acceptable critiquing, and unacceptable criticizing.

For example: [link]

Using that photo by one of the masters of street photography, we look at what it is to critique, and what it is to criticize. (please note i think this photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson is quite amazing)


Critique:

1) I like the photo overall, Its a great capture of motion, reflection, and silhouette. I think the high ISO (or ASA) and the grain detracts a bit from the image. Your series of street photos are great. Keep it up, and take your time composing, and meter your surroundings..

2) Would it be possible to have shot this horizontal? I think the void at the top and bottom of the image could have been better filled framing it horizontal (note: this image was spur of the moment, so technically this doesn't apply, but is still an example of good critique.)

*Note: You want to stay away from sentances like.. "should have done it this way..." it implies that the shot is 'redo-able' and not every shot is. Instead phrase it "For your next shot like this, try..."

Some people think they don't know enough about art to write critiques. This isn't true. To write a useful critique, you need only three things:

- a reasonably decent monitor to view the images
- at least one functioning eye
- a desire to help by writing honestly and constructively ¹


Criticize:

1)This is not a good shot, its all grainy, and the person is blurry.. perhaps you can learn how to better use your camera for the next time

2) I would have liked it better horizontal.. crop it and re-submit it.


As you can see, both examples generally talk about the same things, but which one would you rather receive? A harshly written comment by a seemingly idiotic know-it-all? Or a politely worded great comment by a fellow photographer?

If you want to be belittled and berated, you can ask people to do that, but i don't see why you would want that.



You do? Cool... Why?


There are another brand of comments, the positive, non-descriptive.

Cool!

I like this!

I love it!

Im going to


While these are great comments... as far as positivity goes, they aren't necessarily what people are looking for as far as building up their art. Most photographers at many levels of professionalism are still learning, every day, every image, and YOUR input helps.

Instead of the above comments, spend a few extra seconds telling the photographer what you like about the photo, maybe not everything, but just one sentence more goes a long way. For example:



Cool! I love the way the light shines on the mans shoulders!

I like this! The silhouette looks great against the backlighting!

I love it! The symmetrical feel adds to the mans loneliness, sitting on the bench alone!

This is a great capture, Im going to


- -


It may take a few seconds longer, but its worth it. Proper commenting on others work will in turn bring people to your page, increasing the exposure of your works.

I hope this helps you increase the positive power of your comments. If every deviant adopted this ideal, who knows how great this community can become.

Oh, and using made up words and intentionally spelling bad online, often transfers to real life. No one wants to see on your resumé that your first job was at "TEH GAS-STATION", or McD0n47d5... (mcdonalds)

altho, the occasional woot is ok...

_{¹Source: How do I critique a photo-FAQ (for the one paragraph)}


Some of my recent favs to practice constructive critique on!






Or just to look at..