Martin Patten - How to Critique Your Own Images
During our weekly meeting on Tuesday 1st December NDPS was host to professional photographer, President of the Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs and well known and respected competition judge, Martin Patten.
Martin's Special Presentation was How to Critique Your Own Images. An area of photography of interest to all those who make pictures, not just for competitions but for exhibition, photographic qualifications, projects, memories and even commercial reasons.
Martin's well-structured presentation began by asking 'Why are you taking pictures?' and continued with a discussion on emotions, critiques and characteristics of genres. At the end he said that this was a huge subject and that he had only 'scratched the surface'. Well that may be the case from his point of view but he laid out before us many pitfalls to avoid and many points to follow.
He said that we should 'divorce ourselves from the emotion of the shot!' A difficult process but one that should put distance between that moment of excitement when the shutter was pressed and the post processing began. Don't process a photo the same day! Don't choose the first frame you come to! Get another view - someone else to look at it, turn it upside down look at it in a mirror!
Then the suggestions on artistic appreciation; impact, composition, mood, communication and so on, a long list of considerations. and all this before moving on to 'What makes a winner?' Another catalogue of ideas including such things as; beauty, delight, atmosphere, narrative and surprise. The list continued.
Martin rounded off his presentation by commenting on several images which members had offered for critique. All his comments were useful, helpful and valid. Perhaps the evening can best be summed up by a member who described the presentation as ‘memorable and insightful!’
This Special Presentation was also attended by four of our friends from Foo-Club Koblenz in Germany.
