"It's on a wall so it's important." .... That's the thing I love about photography a photo can be completely boring to one person, but absolutely amazing to another.
I loved that one. Thee's definitely a difference between "pop"art or designed art thats meeting standards vs just plain art that just plainly taps into emotions using any variety of ways. Both are totally different, pop art is usually what you go to school for, what you can put into numbers or what you would bring to a thing like this where someone is objectively criticizing your work. There's no point in having your "art" art be criticized other than just boasting about it. This is a bit off the wall, but I could see similarities to autism in where their unable to see the value in facial expressions or body language instead only understanding the hard and straightforward dialogue.
Aral Ynot abstract is for wanna artist whos either lazy to redo the photo or or lacks technical skills esp for portraits and buildings no excuse for it not to be sharp
Jared Polin i looked all around but i cant find the link to the full raw talk :( . (ill have to find it some other way) ANYWAYS. i really dont get why people feel this is one sided or unfair critique. I find it really balanced between fair praise in a mature way (good photo, strong etc) while others are just bad as you(jared) said, not sharp, composition can be better etc. Even in the description and through out the video, they knew each other and as friends/mentors go sometimes being brutally honest is the way to go. I see comments saying that other pros/famous photographers have blur photos and can get away with it but the important part for a freshmen student are not there to real art photos. Students are there to study how to get a clear strong photo without having to rely on the "because its ART" format. Just like music theory, you study the basics, you study the theory of what makes a good song. Once you graduate or go pro, these composers break all the rules in the name of art, be unique. Before you can do all of that you gotta get a strong base to be able to do other stuff in the future.
Your videos are fun and informative sometimes, but you're SO wrong so many times! There are so many great and famous pictures that aren't sharp. You're rejecting some perfectly good photos for no good reason.
Marcin Kaluza absolutely wrong! There are so many famous captures where focused was missed but It pushing the emotion of these in a much better way. Granted, a lot of time this is with street photography, it’s still a fact. If It allows the photograph to better portray emotion or evokes a stronger emotional response, then It is absolutely suitable. It does not have to be on purpose.
@@neelixramirez9411 Agree. at my school, we were not allowed to turn in photos with technical errors. A photo with missed focus gets an F no matter how good the composition, light and subject are
There's a theory that mispronouncing or using made up words results in people correcting those words in comments, resulting in a higher placing in youtube resulting in more comments , the cycle repeats itself ;-)
I actually loved the 'everything went wrong' Holga shot. It's so beautiful when nothing goes according to plan but you still end up with something unexpectedly interesting. It's so eery and mysterious. It looks like one of those pictures of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. What are the lights in the background? Is it a spaceship? And I'm sure it looks even better on print. I like that Jared gives his honest opinion, even though I find it a bit harsh sometimes. If you want to be a photographer, you better grow some thick skin. And if you want to be an artist, then you should be able to recieve harsh criticism without having your own belief rocked by it. Does he have an online portfolio so I can check out how he's developed the last three years?
technical side of the shot, yes, it is bad. but it captivated me, it makes me think of a story. it looks like this family of 3 that's facing the end of the world or something. i just think we need to make sure weigh technical application, the artistic element, and how those two interact with one another.
+Rebassed - If you capture an important, emotional or moving moment in time where the story inside the image far outweighs everything else (i.e good photo-journalism) then yeah, technical quality does not matter so much. However if you have the time to setup a very deliberate & pre-meditated shot for a portfolio then you had better prove you can handle your gear.
I remember brushing developer on prints when I did Black and White photography in High School; It's a cool effect. If you think that Jared's being a jerk in his critique, then you've never had a real critique. I've been through worse with people that didn't care whether I succeeded or not. Appreciate the honesty Jared.
Not even photography related. Most people can't handle criticism in any field, they don't realize it's necessary to learn more or they think they don't need to learn more.
This is not the harshest critique at all. If I'm a beginner at something and I have the opportunity for a professional to critique my work, I would feel more blessed than upset.
LOL I was thinking that too... right after making fun of the other guy's slip-up too. So mental note made, as long as I make up words and BS babytalk all the time, no one will notice when I screw one up on occasion.
I looked in the comments just to figure out if it was a photography thing or he just meant horizontal. I think he meant horizontal hahaha I've noticed he keeps saying it in every video. I wonder if people just always think he must be right, and coincidentally, nobody ever bothered telling him lol
Its funny this guy critiques this kid. Have you seen this guys portfolio? Shooting 10mm close range. Distortion and vignettes out the ass. Shabby at best.
The picture where he said is "everything in photography gone wrong" is amazing. It's going against all rules and that's the beauty of it. Jared, you gotta remember that photography is an art.
I don't think the critique was too harsh, but it seemed harsher based on Sam's lack of a audible response to many of the questions, like he wasn't prepared to defend his work. Plus, he needs to smile a little more, despite the feedback coming in. Don't let them know that what they are saying is hurting your pride, make them think you love being there to hear it. I think confidence is a key trait in being a good photographer, as important as the skill. Being young, he has a lifetime to work on both, his images are very good and it's great he is learning darkroom techniques. It will make him a better digital photographer.
You obviously have never watched his videos before. Thats a joke he always says. I didnt know jokes could kill peoples credibility though...damn i should be more careful lol
I generally really enjoy your videos, this one however i felt came in poor taste. Arrogance is never an attractive quality' although when it comes to arrogance interweaving with art the translated feeling is quite gross.
this afro guy giving shit to the other for not saying "correct" right at 9:40, but he says horizontical..........and that picture of the shadow and the stairs was amazing imo.
I really feel like Jared is WAY too harsh on things that are just not his preference... Quality and mistakes are one thing, but every photographer has their own style. That's what's so great about the arts is each individual's ability to express themselves. Jared consistently degrades Sam's photos just because it isn't his style or his preference. Doesn't matter how skilled or famous you are, you should respect each person's individual style.
First of all, Jared is soft compared to a lot of companies/AD's/studios that look at your portfolio. A part of the critique is to teach you how to deal with criticism AND to develop your ability and see different perspectives. Secondly - he is very clear about what is his preference and what is just clear mistakes (like something not in focus).
This reminds me of my last photographic course in 1982, when I submitted a picture for assessment by the head of the department. He gave a withering critique of my work and told me that I had to be "ruthlessly self-critical" when it comes to my photographs. That critique completely destroyed my ego and self confidence and made me question my own life choices as a 19 year old. I actually ended up dropping out of college a year later and being totally depressed for a few years. Years later though, I realise that how you handle failure is just as important as how you handle success! Whatever area of work you're doing, it is important to handle criticism correctly, listen to advice and be better than you think you are if you want to succeed in any job, profession or career. As Jesus said, no student is above his master.
ooh harsh! currently at 5 mins in and was really hoping to hear more about the reasoning for that holga shot. not surprised it won fine art prize. to say your going to throw up was harsh.
I think Jared's reasoning was that it wasn't planned. Admittedly some great work can come from mistakes but when it comes to judging, the artist should be able to back it up with a conceptual plan. Not; "everything in photography going wrong".
The holga shot shows how people can have differing opinions. It's ok for Jared not to like it and say why but to say something is "total crap" and have it be a competition winner is kind of funny. Just shows it's just one mans opinion. Do agree with Jared though, focus on getting basics right...composition, focus, processing. Can't wait for Sam's second year critique.
I believe it won because the judges didn't realise this was basically a 'balls up'. I believe Jared judged based on application, not on outcome. The outcome in my opinion was great. It's that age old saying "what you don't know about, can't hurt".
Honestly, I feel like Jared reacts this way to some images because he feels threatened that his photography is inferior. That's the entire vibe I got from this video. He couldn't someone who was younger and with less experience have more raw talent than his own. It was immature. That first comment shows what kind of person this Fro guy is. I'm no longer surprised he isn't favoured among other photography communities like This Week in Photo or the creativelive community.
Anthony Woodruffe Photography is rarely planned, most things just happen through luck or proper preparation, but to capture an image and say "this is exactly how I imagined this image to turnout and this is exactly how I imagined I would edit it" is a bunch of crap. He put himself in a good spot to capture the image and did just that, the process is a mere technicality and for Jared to complain about that makes him a hypocrite because he has videos on his own website about how something photos are lucky and just happen.
Too much of Jared's own private taste and style was present in his opinion to make this a valid critique. His comments on the Fine Art piece made me LOL and lose some respect for this guy. I'm excited for Jared to put out a video with his fine art photography to see just how much better it is.
You can not critique someones work without using your own opinion. That's why people get critiques from multiple people. One thinks this one thinks that. And I do not do fine art photos so I wouldn't have a fine art portfolio.
Gmen pg Did you go to Art School? Critiques of work isn't all opinion, the fact you believe that is evidence that you know nothing about this medium besides what you see on TH-cam. When curators or art critics look at work there is a set of guidelines and "rules" that they analyze and how well everything in the art piece plays together (or not at all) but most importantly CONTEXT and MESSAGE are the front runners of importance when it comes to critiques, without that there IS NO CRITIQUE. If this guy wants to promote himself as an expert in this field and getting people to send in work for critique etc. it's only fair he gets called out when his methods are flawed. Seriously tho, do you jerk off to his videos or something? You seem extremely defensive and unable to hold a proper discussion.
Gmen pg the beauty about the internet and youtube is that you have the opportunity to watch both videos of people you like and dislike, you can learn from both and there's different discussions that rise and questions that come up when you watch someone you agree with, as well as someone you disagree with. I watch his videos few and far between and only comment if it's justified. You don't like my opinion because you are a fanboy, and that's OK , I understand. Most of this audience is unable to have a discussion with people who disagree with this guy.
Gmen pg I do not watch the videos in their entirety. I mainly skip to the main topic (if it's interesting) otherwise I don't watch. Editing for 5-6 hours a day multiple times a week, it gets easy to go through background videos and podcasts.
I feel that this is a stronger portfolio than the previous one, keep up the great work. I do have a suggestion to improve for the future, though. As a photographer, you are responsible for the entire photo, not just the technical aspect of it. From hearing you, it seems a lot of shots just happened that way, and you mostly aimed at keeping them technically correct (exposure, etc). This may not be true for all your shots, and I know a 17 min quick-fire critique may not give you enough time to explain your photos properly, but it feels like a theme that keeps recurring for many photos. For next time, it would be interesting to see you go beyond the technical aspect, and think about composition and directing your subject. For example, you could say for the 8:30 photo that you composed it as a diagonal line (bottom left third to top right third), and you tilted the glasses in the opposite direction (top left to bottom right) to add some quirkiness to the character, while you had them give you crazy eyes. There should be a reason for every composition, and a reason for every thing every subject is doing in the shot. That way your photos will be better at telling stories by themselves, and you will be better at telling stories about your photos. Looking forward to your progress next time!
I like how hes like it's not sharp it's not super contrasted it's not what I like to shoot...guy has it displayed on a wall and a winner...not everything is supossed to be super sharp
Is there really a point in going to school for art or photography? Seems like a brutally efficient way to burn through tuition money that can be invested into a business while you learn your craft on your own.
jared isnt being mature about this, his being too mean, whenever you critique someones work that they're passionate about, you HAVE to make them feel good and make them understand why you're saying what you're saying, throwing their work at them and then throwing their work on the floor saying you should rip it up is disrespectful
Hey Jared, nice video. Kind of wish Sam gave a bit more back in terms of defending his choices but it's great to see honesty. It'll be interesting to see how he progresses next year. I hope you've got some more five minute portraits coming up, I can't even remember how long it's been since we've seen you shoot something. p.s. I'm not ragging on you here but you do know that 'horizontical' isn't a word right?
There was a guy I went to high school with who always did the paint brush developer trick on all his photos and everyone praised him for his work. The problem was, his starting images were weak both creatively and technically but the gimmicky developing made people think it was better than it was. I think you can do stuff like that but only if your image is strong in the first place. Otherwise, you are just polishing a turd
I quite liked his portraits, but the three final photos weren't very good. Specifically with the bike shot, it's seems like he took the easy way out, shot the action straight on and gave little consideration to composition. When you shoot something like biking, one of your goals should be to make the trick look as impressive and as big as possible, and shooting at eye lever with the action is an amateur accentuates the amateur-ness.
This is SO helpful for artists. It's when people are questioning all your work that you realize your reoccurring mistakes. You're forced to step up and be responsible for your work and the decisions you make. It seems harsh and is uncomfortable to hear and sit through, but it's infinitely helpful.
While doing critiques when I was a college student, i WISH more people had been this honest when critiquing others work. It just turned into a sea of " i like it....I don't like it that much". Good to see Jared doing a genuine critique, with the honest intent of helping Sam grow as a photographer!
Jared I would like to see your work. You always have something negative to say about everyone else's work but we hardly ever see your current work. I think you should put up or shut up.
People need constructive criticism. He will only grow into a even better photographer. You cant let people go around thinking they are the shit. They will never get better and just continue thinking they are great. I would love Jared to give me a harsh critique on my porfolio.
Waahh that guy is defensive!!! This is a CRITIQUE!!!! How do you expect to be in a creative field without accepting critiques. You will never get better if you see yourself as already perfect.
Nice video. I hope to see more like this although the analysis can be very personal, it's always very interesting to hear other people's opinion. By the way, the "Fine Art" photo was not that bad... you only have to find the appropriate curator to explain it :P
Makes me miss the darkroom. Interesting technique with the paintbrush. I once tried adding gasoline to the film developer. Didn't work- stripped the emulsion right off the gelatin, but just wanted to see what would happen.
i remember my photography teacher critiqueing my work and well what can i say she's the one with a degree in photography not me so i sat there and took it but who's the one making money and not stuck at school lol
i was oddly captivated by the stairs picture at around 11:00 it made me feel an odd way the longer i stared. maybe nostalgic? And i know, when it comes to film-making anyway, there's appropriate times to "break the rules" creatively, if it helps convey the emotion you're going for.
Came back to watch this again after a couple years. What I think is that Jared doesn’t quite understand what art is. I didn’t know what “art” is either. The shot that won the award is really cool. It’s not supposed to be a senior portrait, it’s art. Get weird with it.
Anton Corbijn once said... "hardly any of my pictures are sharp" so the first thing he said of a not sharp photo is that it sucks? who is he to say what is good or bad?
Fantastic critique Jared, I think that the honest feedback for Sam was necessary and really the only way a photographer can grow. How do you know if your work is any good if you don't constantly get valuable information like this coming back at you?
Hey Jared.. I think you didn't ser the message in the prison photo with the stairs. To me it looked like the outlibe for a christmas tree in the shadow from the rails.. Correct me if i am wrong sam, but thats what i see. A message like "a place where cheerfull times are nothing but shadows/dreams". Or maybe i'm just looking for artistic meaning haha But nice work sam, ur gettin better. Greets from the Netherlands
Anyone can be a critique when it comes to photography. Beautiful thing about photography is someone may not like one picture but someone else will love it.
I actually won eastern state penitentiary's 2013 photo contest that happen last month and wanted to know what the fro's critique would be. Submitted a rapid fire to the site.
Sam was a really good sport here! Keep it up Sam! I do enjoy that holga shot to be honest! You could tell it was very intentional and he pulled it off. :)
My first conversation I ever had with my photography professor when I entered college as a photo major was this: "please be very critical of my work. I plan on being a professional photographer as a career. I don't want to hear bull sh!%, I want the truth to better myself as a photographer". Boy golly did he let me have it during our first in-class critique ever. I was crushed, but learned so much from him over the next years of studying. To this day, he is on my instagram, and I thanked him for this recently :)
Even for a critique, this was way too harsh. It would've helped Sam if you had actually explained what you didn't like about the first images, rather than simply dismissing them because the sharpness was off a little because even if the sharpness was off, the image was still very clear. For the first image especially I want more constructive criticism because I actually really liked the image, and since you're a professional photographer it would be helpful to know your views. Otherwise what's the pint other than to step on this guys confidence.
I love the critique but I feel like there was a conversation missing. I can't tell if it was because Sam was intimidated or a bit angry at the critique but I feel like if he stood up for his photo decisions a bit more there could be a bit more back and forth talking to see why he specifically did something or made a mistake on purpose or for artistic effect.
Jared - ignore the hate, I think you did Sam an ENORMOUS favor! A boring picture of some concrete steps when you're actually in an interesting location? Please - you went easy on him. That being said, I think for a first year student, he's awesome!
Jared seems to be too hung up on technical perfection. I admit that he is right in many aspects, but for example that panorama picture of the night cityscape if very cool. He says there is pixelation in the buildings. Come on man, leave the kid alone. This picture is really good for its composition and that matters way more than ultra sharpness at the brick level.
I believe you were too harsh. The kid has talent, and you're going to harden his heart to your advice if you are not careful. Then you won't be able to build his ability. Don't give up on him!
In order to critique you should really give helpful advice. For the first few photos, you were very vague maybe it would be best to give him advice. But from all the videos I've watched from you, you're very rude to other photographers with titles like "You think this photo is great... WELL IT'S NOT" or with this "the harshest critique." In my opinion you should do a "best of" video that people have sent you.
I don't think the Holga shot was vomit inducing. It would have been nice to hear more about the image. Maybe if it was done in PS, you might have praised him on creative processing? In the shot @11:00, the interesting part of the photograph I see is a bunch of straight lines and one zig zag line caused by the shadow. That is what I would have said I was going for.
Sam's in photography school where peer critiques are harsh as well. What others may wince as, the student takes as opportunity to see what's working and what he needs to work on. Sam took it well, as any art student should. That said, I really like the experimentation in developing, but to keep reserved for later once he's got the sharpness down. I don't agree with all Jared says-the shoes? Boring as the stairs even if they are tack sharp in the right place. Like the portraits if the focus would be on the eyes. I like that he does many verticals which is less seen these days due to computer screens being horizontal. The shoreline vertical is great work. Love the textures caught in the arboretum building. The one I remember most is the woman looking at him, turned a bit, and then he did the brushing of the developer on it. Very nice, and would be even better with the focus sharp on the eyes. I like that experimentation and it worked very well! Very nice overall work, Sam!
I don't think it was harsh at all. why should you tell him it sucked then kiss him on the forehead. We are all adults. Fro is just one mans opinion anyway. So overall, it means nothing
@Sam- as others have said, you need to be able to explain the "why" better. You're studying an art form, so be creative with your reasoning for showing a picture and what it means to you. That's all that matters in the end.
Great critique . . . there is no point in giving Sam anything less than your 100% honest opinion. Generous of you to do this for him. Art is subjective and Sam realizes that I'm sure. Given that, he still wants your opinion which he can take or leave, his choice . . .
As brutal as your opinions can be- since I'm new to photography, I can't tell you much I appreciate this kind of gut level feedback and the photographers that have the courage to be critiqued this way in your videos, Jared Polin. It makes me more aware as a photographer of the professional standard that is expected. Thanks for being a great resource!
I agree with Jared about the "Show Winning Piece", I once read a Steichen quote that said something about being satisfied with achieving a sharp, focused picture instead of obsessing over soft focus and what not (not even close to exact words but you get the picture). Stuff like that makes me not want to go to school for photography. I feel bad for the kids that spent an arm and a leg on equipment, time spent in the studio and finding a interesting subject; only to get beat out by a soft focus Holga shot. I guess Art can be fickle and subjective sure, but if things like that happen is it really worth the tuition?
Photography has a variety of ways to process photos giving you various finished work. Being creative is nothing wrong. It's awesome to see you encouraging young photographer's as they become more experienced. Way to go!
not sure about yours (academic) photo schools, but in eu for ex. it would be way around, this night shots with spot on focus, perfect composition and all that would be consider amateur. in the end you're looking at "artsy", blurred images which are hard to interpreted to regular, hobby photographer (like most of us are here, i guess), but it does have higher meaning and story in the background but most most of all, author statement, so it's really more like ways of expressions, not just taking snaps. i guess what i'm trying to say is that some schools try to teach you how to sell photos, others how to express yourself or world around you with photography. not sure in which one your friend is going to, but i have feeling, you'll be looking very different portfolio in his last year and i doubt you will like the prints.
I am so envious of Sam Green right now. To be critiqued by such a successful photographer? Omg my eyes are quickly turning from shades of blue to deep shades of green. Great job Sam! Always take Jared's advice. He is just trying to help you! I'm so stoked for this dude!
"It's on a wall so it's important." .... That's the thing I love about photography a photo can be completely boring to one person, but absolutely amazing to another.
exactly.
I loved that one. Thee's definitely a difference between "pop"art or designed art thats meeting standards vs just plain art that just plainly taps into emotions using any variety of ways.
Both are totally different, pop art is usually what you go to school for, what you can put into numbers or what you would bring to a thing like this where someone is objectively criticizing your work. There's no point in having your "art" art be criticized other than just boasting about it.
This is a bit off the wall, but I could see similarities to autism in where their unable to see the value in facial expressions or body language instead only understanding the hard and straightforward dialogue.
I loved that one too. They looked alien.
The picture that won 1st in fine art deserved it. The strangeness of the scene is intriguing. I liked it very much - photography is not reality.
No lol very wrong
And when someone declares a piece of art as "wrong", that tells you all you need to know about the value of their opinion.
As a cinematographer, I think the piece works better than maybe a photographer would.
I liked it alot.
Have you been following Sam's progression?
Another great video .. I'm learning a lot from watching your critiques .. Keep them coming :)
myungskywalker Does it matter? You're here to learn, hush...
Yo Fro. You didn't observe his abstract point of view.
It's not always about sharpness a h.
Aral Ynot abstract is for wanna artist whos either lazy to redo the photo or or lacks technical skills esp for portraits and buildings no excuse for it not to be sharp
Jared Polin i looked all around but i cant find the link to the full raw talk :( . (ill have to find it some other way) ANYWAYS. i really dont get why people feel this is one sided or unfair critique. I find it really balanced between fair praise in a mature way (good photo, strong etc) while others are just bad as you(jared) said, not sharp, composition can be better etc. Even in the description and through out the video, they knew each other and as friends/mentors go sometimes being brutally honest is the way to go.
I see comments saying that other pros/famous photographers have blur photos and can get away with it but the important part for a freshmen student are not there to real art photos. Students are there to study how to get a clear strong photo without having to rely on the "because its ART" format.
Just like music theory, you study the basics, you study the theory of what makes a good song. Once you graduate or go pro, these composers break all the rules in the name of art, be unique. Before you can do all of that you gotta get a strong base to be able to do other stuff in the future.
Your videos are fun and informative sometimes, but you're SO wrong so many times! There are so many great and famous pictures that aren't sharp. You're rejecting some perfectly good photos for no good reason.
Only if the OOF was a desired and intentional effect, not if it was a result of poor skills.
This is school work tho and usually a big part of the grade is the focus once you can nail focus you can be off because you want to .
@@onemaninaboat absolutely right
Marcin Kaluza absolutely wrong! There are so many famous captures where focused was missed but It pushing the emotion of these in a much better way. Granted, a lot of time this is with street photography, it’s still a fact. If It allows the photograph to better portray emotion or evokes a stronger emotional response, then It is absolutely suitable. It does not have to be on purpose.
@@neelixramirez9411 Agree. at my school, we were not allowed to turn in photos with technical errors. A photo with missed focus gets an F no matter how good the composition, light and subject are
horizontical is NOT A WORD!!!! STOP SAYING IT!
lol, you've never invented a word and liked it so much that you use it anyways? Leave the guy alone.
There's a theory that mispronouncing or using made up words results in people correcting those words in comments, resulting in a higher placing in youtube resulting in more comments , the cycle repeats itself ;-)
Makes me laugh whenever I hear it. Blimey, I may start using it myself :D
I actually loved the 'everything went wrong' Holga shot. It's so beautiful when nothing goes according to plan but you still end up with something unexpectedly interesting. It's so eery and mysterious. It looks like one of those pictures of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. What are the lights in the background? Is it a spaceship? And I'm sure it looks even better on print. I like that Jared gives his honest opinion, even though I find it a bit harsh sometimes. If you want to be a photographer, you better grow some thick skin. And if you want to be an artist, then you should be able to recieve harsh criticism without having your own belief rocked by it. Does he have an online portfolio so I can check out how he's developed the last three years?
it looks like complete garbage. that's is why the public does not take photography seriously. There are people actually charging for this garbage.
edwads74 comments like this are how to spot someone who doesn’t know about art
technical side of the shot, yes, it is bad. but it captivated me, it makes me think of a story. it looks like this family of 3 that's facing the end of the world or something.
i just think we need to make sure weigh technical application, the artistic element, and how those two interact with one another.
It would be better if Sam was able to recreate it like that. That way it was intentionally messy. Make it a style.
Jareds logic ''not sharp = nog a good picture'' Since when did we judge photo's on their technical qualitys? like seriously wtf?
are u dumb
+Rebassed - If you capture an important, emotional or moving moment in time where the story inside the image far outweighs everything else (i.e good photo-journalism) then yeah, technical quality does not matter so much. However if you have the time to setup a very deliberate & pre-meditated shot for a portfolio then you had better prove you can handle your gear.
Prove to whom? Photography, or any form of art isn't about proving anything to anyone. Standard internet photographer response!
I remember brushing developer on prints when I did Black and White photography in High School; It's a cool effect. If you think that Jared's being a jerk in his critique, then you've never had a real critique. I've been through worse with people that didn't care whether I succeeded or not. Appreciate the honesty Jared.
thank you Omar.
Jared Polin totally agree, nicely done sir
Not even photography related. Most people can't handle criticism in any field, they don't realize it's necessary to learn more or they think they don't need to learn more.
This is not the harshest critique at all. If I'm a beginner at something and I have the opportunity for a professional to critique my work, I would feel more blessed than upset.
9:50 what is a horizontical?
LOL I was thinking that too... right after making fun of the other guy's slip-up too.
So mental note made, as long as I make up words and BS babytalk all the time, no one will notice when I screw one up on occasion.
Wondering the same thing meself.
I looked in the comments just to figure out if it was a photography thing or he just meant horizontal. I think he meant horizontal hahaha I've noticed he keeps saying it in every video. I wonder if people just always think he must be right, and coincidentally, nobody ever bothered telling him lol
It's like a 'diagonical" but east to west.
A horizontal photo with testicals
horizontical?
Its funny this guy critiques this kid. Have you seen this guys portfolio? Shooting 10mm close range. Distortion and vignettes out the ass. Shabby at best.
The kid isn't the one with a million followers and Jared is a pro. Toughen up
So might makes right in photography?
The picture where he said is "everything in photography gone wrong" is amazing. It's going against all rules and that's the beauty of it. Jared, you gotta remember that photography is an art.
I don't think the critique was too harsh, but it seemed harsher based on Sam's lack of a audible response to many of the questions, like he wasn't prepared to defend his work. Plus, he needs to smile a little more, despite the feedback coming in. Don't let them know that what they are saying is hurting your pride, make them think you love being there to hear it. I think confidence is a key trait in being a good photographer, as important as the skill. Being young, he has a lifetime to work on both, his images are very good and it's great he is learning darkroom techniques. It will make him a better digital photographer.
Honestly, you lose a lot of creditably when you can't properly pronounce "horizontals."
+Andrew Woods I thought he was kidding at first
Andrew Woods not really lol
I don’t see the correlation between pronunciation and photography experience?
You obviously have never watched his videos before. Thats a joke he always says. I didnt know jokes could kill peoples credibility though...damn i should be more careful lol
Is it just me or ... I like most of this guys photos more than any of jareds...
I generally really enjoy your videos, this one however i felt came in poor taste. Arrogance is never an attractive quality' although when it comes to arrogance interweaving with art the translated feeling is quite gross.
this afro guy giving shit to the other for not saying "correct" right at 9:40, but he says horizontical..........and that picture of the shadow and the stairs was amazing imo.
Carlos Parra that's exactly why he was saying horizontical... he was doing it on purpose because of what Sam said
@@simfarmer1913 he says that all the time.
I really feel like Jared is WAY too harsh on things that are just not his preference... Quality and mistakes are one thing, but every photographer has their own style. That's what's so great about the arts is each individual's ability to express themselves. Jared consistently degrades Sam's photos just because it isn't his style or his preference. Doesn't matter how skilled or famous you are, you should respect each person's individual style.
thank you
First of all, Jared is soft compared to a lot of companies/AD's/studios that look at your portfolio. A part of the critique is to teach you how to deal with criticism AND to develop your ability and see different perspectives. Secondly - he is very clear about what is his preference and what is just clear mistakes (like something not in focus).
This reminds me of my last photographic course in 1982, when I submitted a picture for assessment by the head of the department. He gave a withering critique of my work and told me that I had to be "ruthlessly self-critical" when it comes to my photographs. That critique completely destroyed my ego and self confidence and made me question my own life choices as a 19 year old. I actually ended up dropping out of college a year later and being totally depressed for a few years. Years later though, I realise that how you handle failure is just as important as how you handle success! Whatever area of work you're doing, it is important to handle criticism correctly, listen to advice and be better than you think you are if you want to succeed in any job, profession or career. As Jesus said, no student is above his master.
Does "horizontical" mean "horizontal"?
Buddy Cox yea
5:26 epic moment - it happens of course but still a feel good moment when a pro rejects an award winning shot
ooh harsh! currently at 5 mins in and was really hoping to hear more about the reasoning for that holga shot. not surprised it won fine art prize. to say your going to throw up was harsh.
I think Jared's reasoning was that it wasn't planned. Admittedly some great work can come from mistakes but when it comes to judging, the artist should be able to back it up with a conceptual plan. Not; "everything in photography going wrong".
The holga shot shows how people can have differing opinions. It's ok for Jared not to like it and say why but to say something is "total crap" and have it be a competition winner is kind of funny. Just shows it's just one mans opinion. Do agree with Jared though, focus on getting basics right...composition, focus, processing. Can't wait for Sam's second year critique.
I believe it won because the judges didn't realise this was basically a 'balls up'. I believe Jared judged based on application, not on outcome. The outcome in my opinion was great.
It's that age old saying "what you don't know about, can't hurt".
Honestly, I feel like Jared reacts this way to some images because he feels threatened that his photography is inferior. That's the entire vibe I got from this video. He couldn't someone who was younger and with less experience have more raw talent than his own. It was immature. That first comment shows what kind of person this Fro guy is. I'm no longer surprised he isn't favoured among other photography communities like This Week in Photo or the creativelive community.
Anthony Woodruffe Photography is rarely planned, most things just happen through luck or proper preparation, but to capture an image and say "this is exactly how I imagined this image to turnout and this is exactly how I imagined I would edit it" is a bunch of crap. He put himself in a good spot to capture the image and did just that, the process is a mere technicality and for Jared to complain about that makes him a hypocrite because he has videos on his own website about how something photos are lucky and just happen.
Too much of Jared's own private taste and style was present in his opinion to make this a valid critique. His comments on the Fine Art piece made me LOL and lose some respect for this guy. I'm excited for Jared to put out a video with his fine art photography to see just how much better it is.
Well an opinion is influence by your own taste and style... That is why it's called an opinion.
You can not critique someones work without using your own opinion. That's why people get critiques from multiple people. One thinks this one thinks that. And I do not do fine art photos so I wouldn't have a fine art portfolio.
Gmen pg Did you go to Art School? Critiques of work isn't all opinion, the fact you believe that is evidence that you know nothing about this medium besides what you see on TH-cam. When curators or art critics look at work there is a set of guidelines and "rules" that they analyze and how well everything in the art piece plays together (or not at all) but most importantly CONTEXT and MESSAGE are the front runners of importance when it comes to critiques, without that there IS NO CRITIQUE. If this guy wants to promote himself as an expert in this field and getting people to send in work for critique etc. it's only fair he gets called out when his methods are flawed.
Seriously tho, do you jerk off to his videos or something? You seem extremely defensive and unable to hold a proper discussion.
Gmen pg the beauty about the internet and youtube is that you have the opportunity to watch both videos of people you like and dislike, you can learn from both and there's different discussions that rise and questions that come up when you watch someone you agree with, as well as someone you disagree with. I watch his videos few and far between and only comment if it's justified. You don't like my opinion because you are a fanboy, and that's OK , I understand. Most of this audience is unable to have a discussion with people who disagree with this guy.
Gmen pg I do not watch the videos in their entirety. I mainly skip to the main topic (if it's interesting) otherwise I don't watch. Editing for 5-6 hours a day multiple times a week, it gets easy to go through background videos and podcasts.
I thought the Holga was great. The fact that it was unintentional makes it even better, in my opinion. Maybe not skill-wise, but artistically.
define sharp? I am seriously confused by the constant Not sharp script, viewers cant see the photos as you see them.
I feel that this is a stronger portfolio than the previous one, keep up the great work. I do have a suggestion to improve for the future, though. As a photographer, you are responsible for the entire photo, not just the technical aspect of it. From hearing you, it seems a lot of shots just happened that way, and you mostly aimed at keeping them technically correct (exposure, etc). This may not be true for all your shots, and I know a 17 min quick-fire critique may not give you enough time to explain your photos properly, but it feels like a theme that keeps recurring for many photos. For next time, it would be interesting to see you go beyond the technical aspect, and think about composition and directing your subject. For example, you could say for the 8:30 photo that you composed it as a diagonal line (bottom left third to top right third), and you tilted the glasses in the opposite direction (top left to bottom right) to add some quirkiness to the character, while you had them give you crazy eyes. There should be a reason for every composition, and a reason for every thing every subject is doing in the shot. That way your photos will be better at telling stories by themselves, and you will be better at telling stories about your photos. Looking forward to your progress next time!
I like how hes like it's not sharp it's not super contrasted it's not what I like to shoot...guy has it displayed on a wall and a winner...not everything is supossed to be super sharp
this guy makes photography seem so damn hard goddamn. nothing's good
He's a pretentious jerk. I like his teachings and what not but still
Is there really a point in going to school for art or photography? Seems like a brutally efficient way to burn through tuition money that can be invested into a business while you learn your craft on your own.
jared isnt being mature about this, his being too mean, whenever you critique someones work that they're passionate about, you HAVE to make them feel good and make them understand why you're saying what you're saying, throwing their work at them and then throwing their work on the floor saying you should rip it up is disrespectful
I'm a newcomer to photography, what did he mean by 4 x 5 he wasn't talking about the old school camera was he?
Hey Jared, nice video. Kind of wish Sam gave a bit more back in terms of defending his choices but it's great to see honesty. It'll be interesting to see how he progresses next year.
I hope you've got some more five minute portraits coming up, I can't even remember how long it's been since we've seen you shoot something.
p.s. I'm not ragging on you here but you do know that 'horizontical' isn't a word right?
Everyone that complained about his critiques being too harsh, this was a light critique compared to a day at the college we went to lol
That's called studio/fine art matting. I had to do that at RIT when I presented work for show.
What microphone is that?
I'm sorry whats the mic you use in this video? sorry if you've answered this question before
There was a guy I went to high school with who always did the paint brush developer trick on all his photos and everyone praised him for his work. The problem was, his starting images were weak both creatively and technically but the gimmicky developing made people think it was better than it was. I think you can do stuff like that but only if your image is strong in the first place. Otherwise, you are just polishing a turd
I quite liked his portraits, but the three final photos weren't very good. Specifically with the bike shot, it's seems like he took the easy way out, shot the action straight on and gave little consideration to composition. When you shoot something like biking, one of your goals should be to make the trick look as impressive and as big as possible, and shooting at eye lever with the action is an amateur accentuates the amateur-ness.
is there any way i can send you my photos, I am a high school student and would like some advice
This is SO helpful for artists. It's when people are questioning all your work that you realize your reoccurring mistakes. You're forced to step up and be responsible for your work and the decisions you make. It seems harsh and is uncomfortable to hear and sit through, but it's infinitely helpful.
You were little 2 hard on Sam JP, you came across a little patronizing as well as belittling him, but you got there eventually!
While doing critiques when I was a college student, i WISH more people had been this honest when critiquing others work. It just turned into a sea of " i like it....I don't like it that much". Good to see Jared doing a genuine critique, with the honest intent of helping Sam grow as a photographer!
Jared I would like to see your work. You always have something negative to say about everyone else's work but we hardly ever see your current work. I think you should put up or shut up.
Invest in a colormunki or similar device to calibrate your printer. You need to do this even if you are printing black and white.
People need constructive criticism. He will only grow into a even better photographer. You cant let people go around thinking they are the shit. They will never get better and just continue thinking they are great. I would love Jared to give me a harsh critique on my porfolio.
Waahh that guy is defensive!!! This is a CRITIQUE!!!! How do you expect to be in a creative field without accepting critiques. You will never get better if you see yourself as already perfect.
"You do a lot of verticals" Instagram
loves 4x5 format 😂
Nice video. I hope to see more like this although the analysis can be very personal, it's always very interesting to hear other people's opinion.
By the way, the "Fine Art" photo was not that bad... you only have to find the appropriate curator to explain it :P
Exactly, about fine art.
So, it's been 5 years. What happened to Sam Green? I wasn't really able to find follow up videos so far.
Makes me miss the darkroom. Interesting technique with the paintbrush. I once tried adding gasoline to the film developer. Didn't work- stripped the emulsion right off the gelatin, but just wanted to see what would happen.
i remember my photography teacher critiqueing my work and well what can i say she's the one with a degree in photography not me so i sat there and took it but who's the one making money and not stuck at school lol
i was oddly captivated by the stairs picture at around 11:00 it made me feel an odd way the longer i stared. maybe nostalgic? And i know, when it comes to film-making anyway, there's appropriate times to "break the rules" creatively, if it helps convey the emotion you're going for.
Came back to watch this again after a couple years. What I think is that Jared doesn’t quite understand what art is. I didn’t know what “art” is either. The shot that won the award is really cool. It’s not supposed to be a senior portrait, it’s art. Get weird with it.
Anton Corbijn once said... "hardly any of my pictures are sharp" so the first thing he said of a not sharp photo is that it sucks? who is he to say what is good or bad?
Fantastic critique Jared, I think that the honest feedback for Sam was necessary and really the only way a photographer can grow. How do you know if your work is any good if you don't constantly get valuable information like this coming back at you?
Hey Jared.. I think you didn't ser the message in the prison photo with the stairs.
To me it looked like the outlibe for a christmas tree in the shadow from the rails.. Correct me if i am wrong sam, but thats what i see. A message like "a place where cheerfull times are nothing but shadows/dreams".
Or maybe i'm just looking for artistic meaning haha
But nice work sam, ur gettin better.
Greets from the Netherlands
Love that "Christmas Tree"
A hipster kid using a holga, what a surprise.
I'm 50 and I use a Holga. Am I a hipster? I think not. lol
"You do a lot of verticals...not a lot of horizonticals"
I don't think anybody does "horizonticals"
Anyone can be a critique when it comes to photography.
Beautiful thing about photography is someone may not like one picture but someone else will love it.
I actually won eastern state penitentiary's 2013 photo contest that happen last month and wanted to know what the fro's critique would be. Submitted a rapid fire to the site.
Horizontical???
Fro does NOT Know PRONUNCIATION !!!
how exactly did he mount these?
Sam was a really good sport here! Keep it up Sam! I do enjoy that holga shot to be honest! You could tell it was very intentional and he pulled it off. :)
I always have issues with black and white photos. They always have a green tinge.
My first conversation I ever had with my photography professor when I entered college as a photo major was this: "please be very critical of my work. I plan on being a professional photographer as a career. I don't want to hear bull sh!%, I want the truth to better myself as a photographer". Boy golly did he let me have it during our first in-class critique ever. I was crushed, but learned so much from him over the next years of studying. To this day, he is on my instagram, and I thanked him for this recently :)
Even for a critique, this was way too harsh. It would've helped Sam if you had actually explained what you didn't like about the first images, rather than simply dismissing them because the sharpness was off a little because even if the sharpness was off, the image was still very clear. For the first image especially I want more constructive criticism because I actually really liked the image, and since you're a professional photographer it would be helpful to know your views. Otherwise what's the pint other than to step on this guys confidence.
When you make a pano in photoshop it sets the ppi to 72.
I love the critique but I feel like there was a conversation missing. I can't tell if it was because Sam was intimidated or a bit angry at the critique but I feel like if he stood up for his photo decisions a bit more there could be a bit more back and forth talking to see why he specifically did something or made a mistake on purpose or for artistic effect.
Jared - ignore the hate, I think you did Sam an ENORMOUS favor! A boring picture of some concrete steps when you're actually in an interesting location? Please - you went easy on him. That being said, I think for a first year student, he's awesome!
To all the people confused with "horizontical", he was heckling Sam for saying "Corright". Lord!
Jared seems to be too hung up on technical perfection. I admit that he is right in many aspects, but for example that panorama picture of the night cityscape if very cool. He says there is pixelation in the buildings. Come on man, leave the kid alone. This picture is really good for its composition and that matters way more than ultra sharpness at the brick level.
Why is everyone hating so much on this critique? Jared clearly was giving his opinion, you don't have to agree with it just respect it.
Was not harsh at all. Why do we feel as though we have to dance around other people's feelings when they want and need constructive criticism?
I love horizonticals. So many serious photographers, so little humor.
I like "diagonicals" too
I believe you were too harsh. The kid has talent, and you're going to harden his heart to your advice if you are not careful. Then you won't be able to build his ability. Don't give up on him!
+Zachary Drummond wait till he gets a job in the field and he gets his criticism then... it will be much worse.
***** Haven't you heard that two wrongs don't make a right? What I'm trying to say is that being truthful without grace is just meanness.
what do you guys mean when you say 4x5?
ok so looking further in the video i guess is the old accordeon cameras
?
In order to critique you should really give helpful advice. For the first few photos, you were very vague maybe it would be best to give him advice. But from all the videos I've watched from you, you're very rude to other photographers with titles like "You think this photo is great... WELL IT'S NOT" or with this "the harshest critique." In my opinion you should do a "best of" video that people have sent you.
I don't think the Holga shot was vomit inducing. It would have been nice to hear more about the image. Maybe if it was done in PS, you might have praised him on creative processing?
In the shot @11:00, the interesting part of the photograph I see is a bunch of straight lines and one zig zag line caused by the shadow. That is what I would have said I was going for.
It's called horizontal btw.. not horizontical
Sam's in photography school where peer critiques are harsh as well. What others may wince as, the student takes as opportunity to see what's working and what he needs to work on. Sam took it well, as any art student should. That said, I really like the experimentation in developing, but to keep reserved for later once he's got the sharpness down. I don't agree with all Jared says-the shoes? Boring as the stairs even if they are tack sharp in the right place. Like the portraits if the focus would be on the eyes. I like that he does many verticals which is less seen these days due to computer screens being horizontal. The shoreline vertical is great work. Love the textures caught in the arboretum building. The one I remember most is the woman looking at him, turned a bit, and then he did the brushing of the developer on it. Very nice, and would be even better with the focus sharp on the eyes. I like that experimentation and it worked very well! Very nice overall work, Sam!
Horzontical?? What does that mean? :/
you talk too much! where is your work? lets see how good you are
Hes amazing Actually, hes a professional, so unless your better, chill tf out
You gotta be kidding right? He is a pro, and although I don't agree with all his points, I still acknowledge his skills and years of experience.
Does sam green have an online portfolio?
how would one get critiqued by Jared?
I don't think it was harsh at all. why should you tell him it sucked then kiss him on the forehead. We are all adults. Fro is just one mans opinion anyway. So overall, it means nothing
hello everyone, just asking, they talked about shooting 4/5
i'm just wondering what that might be!!
Large format film.
although critiquing seems rough sometimes,I think you are spot on jared..good job to the photographer as well..
Guys calm down. He did this critique to critique the pictures and the kid knows that! If Sam couldn't handle the critique he wouldn't have done it!
@Sam- as others have said, you need to be able to explain the "why" better. You're studying an art form, so be creative with your reasoning for showing a picture and what it means to you. That's all that matters in the end.
Great critique . . . there is no point in giving Sam anything less than your 100% honest opinion. Generous of you to do this for him. Art is subjective and Sam realizes that I'm sure. Given that, he still wants your opinion which he can take or leave, his choice . . .
I really like all of your video´s Jared Polin except for this one .....
Is horizonticals even a word 9:52
As brutal as your opinions can be- since I'm new to photography, I can't tell you much I appreciate this kind of gut level feedback and the photographers that have the courage to be critiqued this way in your videos, Jared Polin. It makes me more aware as a photographer of the professional standard that is expected.
Thanks for being a great resource!
Great critique, looking forward to seeing Sam's growth
I agree with Jared about the "Show Winning Piece", I once read a Steichen quote that said something about being satisfied with achieving a sharp, focused picture instead of obsessing over soft focus and what not (not even close to exact words but you get the picture). Stuff like that makes me not want to go to school for photography. I feel bad for the kids that spent an arm and a leg on equipment, time spent in the studio and finding a interesting subject; only to get beat out by a soft focus Holga shot. I guess Art can be fickle and subjective sure, but if things like that happen is it really worth the tuition?
Photography has a variety of ways to process photos giving you various finished work. Being creative is nothing wrong. It's awesome to see you encouraging young photographer's as they become more experienced. Way to go!
I need some solid critiques
not sure about yours (academic) photo schools, but in eu for ex. it would be way around, this night shots with spot on focus, perfect composition and all that would be consider amateur. in the end you're looking at "artsy", blurred images which are hard to interpreted to regular, hobby photographer (like most of us are here, i guess), but it does have higher meaning and story in the background but most most of all, author statement, so it's really more like ways of expressions, not just taking snaps. i guess what i'm trying to say is that some schools try to teach you how to sell photos, others how to express yourself or world around you with photography. not sure in which one your friend is going to, but i have feeling, you'll be looking very different portfolio in his last year and i doubt you will like the prints.
I am so envious of Sam Green right now. To be critiqued by such a successful photographer? Omg my eyes are quickly turning from shades of blue to deep shades of green. Great job Sam! Always take Jared's advice. He is just trying to help you! I'm so stoked for this dude!
the fine art one was really dope, jared really needs to stop imposing his taste on stuff and take it as is.