Michael Kirst wrote:
I just looked at a port that had a model with an average body and the face ONLY a mother could love. I have seen some of my fellow photographers with ports that have pics that look as if they handed the camera to a 5 year old to get the shot........and when I read the tags on their MM page they have nothing but PRAISES!!?! What gives?

Now I know what you're thinking..... some of you are probably thinking that 'art' is a very subjective thing and beauty comes in many forms, but seriously folks.. a lot of these people ask for critiques and we blow smoke right up there butts!!

Now I am not a mean person by nature and when I come across someones work (or face) that I find seriously damaging to my psyche I just don't say anything. I certainly don't hop on the 'ol tag line and start singing a bunch of bullsh*t praises!

Do you think this sort of thing goes on a little much here? I am interested to get my fellow MM'rs views on this one....
bring on the hate mail!!!

You must be new.

Nerlande wrote:

You must be new.

To MM yes....to the industry ...no

Michael Kirst wrote:
Do you think this sort of thing goes on a little much here?

No.  Unless I'm in the critique forum, I only leave positive feedback.  I think it's tacky to leave unsolicited critiques on someone's tags or image comments.

Sita Mae Edwards wrote:

No.  Unless I'm in the critique forum, I only leave positive feedback.  I think it's tacky to leave unsolicited critiques on someone's tags or image comments.

I agree.  Real, brutal critiques are best left in either the critique forum (they asked for it!) or personal mail.  It's just rude to leave them on a comment or as a tag.  If someone who is far less than stellar leaves a comment or something for me, I just say "thanks" in return and move on.

KatieK wrote:

I agree.  Real, brutal critiques are best left in either the critique forum (they asked for it!) or personal mail.  It's just rude to leave them on a comment or as a tag.  If someone who is far less than stellar leaves a comment or something for me, I just say "thanks" in return and move on.

I agree with you on this one...and by the way...you have a hot port!

Michael Kirst wrote:
I just looked at a port that had a model with an average body and the face ONLY a mother could love. I have seen some of my fellow photographers with ports that have pics that look as if they handed the camera to a 5 year old to get the shot........and when I read the tags on their MM page they have nothing but PRAISES!!?! What gives?

Now I know what you're thinking..... some of you are probably thinking that 'art' is a very subjective thing and beauty comes in many forms, but seriously folks.. a lot of these people ask for critiques and we blow smoke right up there butts!!

Now I am not a mean person by nature and when I come across someones work (or face) that I find seriously damaging to my psyche I just don't say anything. I certainly don't hop on the 'ol tag line and start singing a bunch of bullsh*t praises!

Do you think this sort of thing goes on a little much here? I am interested to get my fellow MM'rs views on this one....
bring on the hate mail!!!

You ain't just whistling Dixie!

Michael Kirst wrote:
I just looked at a port that had a model with an average body and the face ONLY a mother could love. I have seen some of my fellow photographers with ports that have pics that look as if they handed the camera to a 5 year old to get the shot........and when I read the tags on their MM page they have nothing but PRAISES!!?! What gives?

Now I know what you're thinking..... some of you are probably thinking that 'art' is a very subjective thing and beauty comes in many forms, but seriously folks.. a lot of these people ask for critiques and we blow smoke right up there butts!!

Now I am not a mean person by nature and when I come across someones work (or face) that I find seriously damaging to my psyche I just don't say anything. I certainly don't hop on the 'ol tag line and start singing a bunch of bullsh*t praises!

Do you think this sort of thing goes on a little much here? I am interested to get my fellow MM'rs views on this one....
bring on the hate mail!!!

What I'm thinking is that you're questioning the honesty and genuineness of people who are complimentary in situations where you, "... just don't say anything."  And I wonder if you question the sincerity of people who compliment your work.

vanWingo wrote:
What I'm thinking is that you're questioning the honesty and genuineness of people who are complimentary in situations where you, "... just don't say anything."  And I wonder if you question the sincerity of people who compliment your work.

Yeah!!! The first hatemail that has a touch of sarcasm!! Yipppeeeee!!!
Let's see who the sender is shall we? BRB..

Ok I'm back and all I have to say is....heh

Claire Elizabeth wrote:
When I see a newbie with camera phone pics and comments such as:
"great look!"
"cant wait to see more of you"
"youve got what it takes"
I usually want to hurl. How can someone tell any of those things based on blurry pictures of someone holding the camera phone and taking their own shot?

Simple rule: If you, as the model, are holding the camera, the picture does not belong here.

Michael Kirst wrote:
I just looked at a port that had a model with an average body and the face ONLY a mother could love. I have seen some of my fellow photographers with ports that have pics that look as if they handed the camera to a 5 year old to get the shot...

your luck you are across the country or I would have to kick your a$$, that is a picture that my 6yo son took of my wife

Tom Tesarik Photography wrote:
your luck you are across the country or I would have to kick your a$$, that is a picture that my 6yo son took of my wife

LMAO....Ok there is one exceptionally talented kid!!

Michael Kirst wrote:

Yeah!!! The first hatemail that has a touch of sarcasm!! Yipppeeeee!!!
Let's see who the sender is shall we? BRB..

Ok I'm back and all I have to say is....heh

That's all you have to say?

So what you're telling us is that you posted this simply to stir the pot and get hatemail? Oh yeah, I'm impressed now. (did you get that sarcasm?)

Why not simply answer the question posed to you?  Or does your vanity and elitism exclude interaction with your inferiors?

Simple rule: If you, as the model, are holding the camera, the picture does not belong here.

Agreed.  We have let some people through though, thinking that s/he would get better photos.  Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't.  Depends on whether or not the "model" actually wants to shoot, or if s/he just wants the ego boost/validation of photographers ASKING.

Personally, I'd love to institute some sort of thing where, if you have webcam/cellphone photos and don't swap them out with REAL photos within a month-- BALETED.

But then again, I'm feeling somewhat bitchy this morning. :p

---
We do our best to keep the overall quality of the site from going to total shit (with the bio length limits/content requirements, photo # requirements, the fact that photographers should have photos of MODELS and not CATS/LANDSCAPES/THEMSELVES etc), but it's like rolling a boulder up hill... and one that keeps rolling back down the second you slack off.

But besides that, it's really hard to make value judgements on people's work, because --yeahyeah-- everyone's gotta start somewhere.

Josie Nutter wrote:

But then again, I'm feeling somewhat bitchy this morning. :p

Ditto.

Art_Wraith wrote:
That's all you have to say?

So what you're telling us is that you posted this simply to stir the pot and get hatemail? Oh yeah, I'm impressed now. (did you get that sarcasm?)

Why not simply answer the question posed to you?  Or does your vanity and elitism exclude interaction with your inferiors?

Exactamundo!!! You hit the nail on the head....sorta...
To endulge the likes of a dipstick such as yourself I will in fact answer..and the answer is an astounding NO, I am not worried that ppl are being dishonest with me...after all, my 'vanity and elitesm' wouldn't allow it!

Cheers! heh (did you get all that sarcasm?)

theda wrote:
Let the economic Darwinism deal with it.

Prai$e Dog

Michael Kirst wrote:
I just looked at a port that had a model with an average body and the face ONLY a mother could love. I have seen some of my fellow photographers with ports that have pics that look as if they handed the camera to a 5 year old to get the shot........and when I read the tags on their MM page they have nothing but PRAISES!!?! What gives?

Now I know what you're thinking..... some of you are probably thinking that 'art' is a very subjective thing and beauty comes in many forms, but seriously folks.. a lot of these people ask for critiques and we blow smoke right up there butts!!

Now I am not a mean person by nature and when I come across someones work (or face) that I find seriously damaging to my psyche I just don't say anything. I certainly don't hop on the 'ol tag line and start singing a bunch of bullsh*t praises!

Do you think this sort of thing goes on a little much here? I am interested to get my fellow MM'rs views on this one....
bring on the hate mail!!!

*shrug*..

A lot of different kinds of models and photogs around here..  Many of whom aren't pros.. Some of whom have no interest in becoming..

Not surprising that there would be a large variation in people's tastes..

I, personally, wouldn't have much to say if asked to comment about the OP's port.  Nothing wrong with it, and obviously you can tell he's been doing this a while and has his business going.. Just not my taste..  Then again, I shoot pictures of F'in teddy bears.. So what would I know..

Every comment here comes with a free grain of salt, and generally they're worth about the price of a cup of coffee, minus the cost of the cup, the water, and the coffee...

My general rule is if someone asks for a general comment, I'll give it.  If they're asking, "Do I have IT?" or "Would this get me into an agency?" or "Could I make money off these photos?" I leave it alone..  How would I know? 

I always hope the ones who ask the above questions get the harshest responses from those who are in the business, because obviously they're the ones who need to see how thick of a skin it takes to make it in the business.. 

But MM is a pool of pros, semi-pros, semi-deluded, amatures with potential, hopeless amatures, and simple hobbyists..  (amature/amatuer? Brain broke.)

It's kind of important to keep that in mind..

Every comment here comes with a free grain of salt, and generally they're worth about the price of a cup of coffee, minus the cost of the cup, the water, and the coffee...

That's exactly right and is usually the premise behind most posts which is just to get the juices flowing....after all we are all here on MM creative ppl right?

Art_Wraith wrote:
Well congratulations Michael, you definately got me going and I have to honestly thank you for igniting the desire in me to step up my effort much, much more.

Don't mention it...glad I could help!