Joy!!

Ed, if you're going to show your work publicly, in any forum, be it an online gallery or a brick an mortar one, you're going to get comments. Solicited or not. And some of the comments will not be to your liking. Having thin skin and the attitiude that you're not going to show your work again makes you seem extremely defensive and whether it's true or not, gives people the impression that you've had so many bad comments about your work that you have reached the limits of your endurance.

Just relax and understand that when you show your work to 10 people you are likely to get 10 comments, and that is not a bad thing. No photograph is perfect and never can be so there is always room for criticism and improvement.

As for the color balance of this image, according to my calibrated Eizo Color edge monitor, I have to agree with the comments that the color is off. Now do not take this as a personal attack, take the fact that there are several commenters using calibrated monitors saying exactly the same thing about the color as there possibly might be an issue with color calibration somewhere on the chain from your monitor to APUG. All it means is that there's room for improvement, and that should come as no surprise because it's always the case.

To me this image is interesting on several levels.

Like others, I find the colour of the model distracting, whether this is intentional or not. As for her pose, I find it akward. I sense that it was spontaneous. It shows that she was relaxed and playful during this particular shoot. Overall, I'm not drawn to this image. I find myself looking at what are distractions to me, but others may view them as what makes the image. I don't like her pose, I don't like her teeth showing so much, I don't like the colour of her skin tone. So, that's my reaction to the image - it's interesting, but I'm not a fan of it. Sorry, Ed.

I had my finger poised over the "delete" button and you last three have come through, honoring my request for "emotional reactions". Thank you ...that should be **THANKS**!!!
Yes .. we were BOTH breaking up over each others' silly jokes. A sure sign of established rapport.

I will say it once more, and for the last time: I am NOT "offended" by these comments - any of them. I am only disappointed that my reason for submitting this image in the first place - "emotional reaction" - was so intensely ignored by some. "Like/ dislike" - All fair game, if something less than more finely descriptive of "reaction to ..".
It is fairly obvious that the color balancing opinions pre-conditioned the comments following.
"Running away"? If I am avoiding what was posted here, why am I posting this? Does anyone realize that I have to BE here?
Why don't I WANT my images to be posted "perfectly"? First, I did no expect so intense a focus on the FAULTS of my work; second, I would not take an evaluation from this medium as being "precise" enough to warrant extensive additional WORK.

I am "thin-skinned"? And just how would you characterize those whose Critical comments I disagree with/ do not deem useful/ plain reject? Consider well your own egos, and their fragility.

Ed, why was it necessary of you to add another comment stating that you were not offended by the comments? It seemed like the issue was done. It's just my opinion, but then again I've been around photo criticism daily for over 3 decades, but you are a bit too sensitive about this. Don't take comments about your work personally. try to sort through useful constructive criticism provided by knowledgeable people and useless criticism. Not every critic is right, but they're not all wrong either.

You need to understand when you show your work publicly, or to anyone for that matter, is that you do not control their response. You may have submitted this image for "emotional reaction" but that does not mean that those who view it are required to limit themselves to the reaction that you are seeking.

The next thing you may want to ponder is that the color being off may elicit an "emotional reaction" in the audience. Color, content, lighting, design all elicit an emotional reaction in the audience. After all a photograph's total existance is made of those things.

Skin color is the most critical color aspect in a photo. Skies can go purple, it happens during sunrise/set, leaves are every shade of green and can go from yellow to gold to orange to red, even rocks can vary in color. But skin color is pretty limited, and skin going off color is disturbing to people. Yellowish skin color can mean liver disease, reddish skin color can indicate sun burn, anger, excitement, etc. If you're trying to photograph a woman and make her beautiful, her skin tone making her appear ill is not what you want. People notice small changes in skin color and react to it, consciously and unconsciously. If you photograph people you have to nail skin color. And if a siginificant number of knowledgeable people using calibrated monitors are saying that the color appears off, it is your best interest not to view it as some sort of personal attack, but as a problem that you need to address because just imagine how off the color must look on non calibrated monitors.

If you're going to show your work publicly you had better be prepared to hear comments that will not be to your liking, that's just the way it is.

Well, it would probably help if you encouraged those that posted comments that were useful to you instead of going on about what was not useful.
I did my best in trying to explain what I felt when I viewed your image, but no reply to that.

Thom Bertilsson,

I did NOT mean to ignore you are disregard your comments. They are useful in recalibrating *my* assessment of "how the work" affects others... Thank you for what I perceive as your honest opinion - within the framework of "My reactions."
I, and I think everyone else, CANNOT ask for more.
Please do not assume that everything I write applies equally to everyone here - it certainly does not.

Early Riser,

"If I am going to show my work publicly ...?"
Well, I have been for a few years now. I don't intend to stop. I consider all comments. I even agree with a few.

Prepared for adverse criticism ... ? The Critics had better be prepared for my reactions to their criticism as well.

Why did I post? Because i could not think of a better way to say, "Wrong! I am not running."

"Ad hominem" attacks aside, this Critique Gallery is not a good place for two way conversations.

BTW, I make a lousy Lemming.

Ed you think my comments are an "ad hominem" attacks? I'm trying to be helpful to you. Your own words indicate that you have a very negative reaction to anything even remotely critical of your work. It's not healthy to view any critical comments in such a personal way.

Your comment of:
"Prepared for adverse criticism ... ? The Critics had better be prepared for my reactions to their criticism as well." says it all. Do you actually read your own words? This is not a healthy response to criticism for someone in the arts and being closed minded does not allow someone to grow.

I've had a lot of help from other photographers, artists and instructors over the course of my career, and very often that help came in the form of constructive criticism. Your extremely defensive response means that you will turn off anyone who is trying to be helpful if that help in any way is something that you don't want to hear. Maybe I'm not nearly as good a photographer as you because I welcomed the criticism and advice of others. In fact I sought it out and I still do.

I'm curious. Has your photographic career proceeded in such a stellar fashion that you feel that you have come to a point where you believe that you know it all and any comments or criticisms are only being made by people to repress you in some way?

Well, I've invested enough time here and will not beat my head against a wall trying to give advice based on extensive experience to someone who has no interest in it. Sincerely, best of luck with your photography Ed.

BTW, taking heed of someone's good advice does not make you a Lemming. However burying one's head in the sand does make you an Ostrich.