OFFICIAL Eorzea's Next Top Model Discussion Thread

[NarikoStar]

ffffffffff
Regarding Character Creation Restrictions:
　○ Balmung

Goes to make character,

"World is full"

SE Y U LIE 2 ME

[Eirwen]

OMG O_o I can't believe I crawled up to a third place!
Thank you guys so much for all the votes this round.
I'll make sure that next round will be memorable too!

[Kaelah]

It doesn't matter that the judges are random. The judge actually stated that he was singled out:

"While the other judges may not agree with me, I just really haven't seen anything from you in the previous rounds that stands out to me as a quality shot, and the same goes in this round too."

This is true, however I was referring to this part:

And sorry to Judge C - I have seem to upset them or something, judging by the way they have commented on my work every week

[AmalahRose]

I have to say the scores were what I expected for my picture. Sorry I disappointed the judges though, I think I was just lucky with my round 2 pic.

[Yamimarik]

Congratulations to this week's S-Rank Shot: Marik Destiel!

OMGaga!!!! I would have never expected this!! Thank you all so much!

@The Judges: Thank you for the comments as always, as for the lighting, like I stated earlier I tried my best to get that prefect lighting and tried to use the sun minion, and even when I finally got the sun minion placed on the ropes it just did not want to get low enough to hit my character as it kept going at an angle. But I will try my best for better lighting in the future. Thank you all.

[Corfish]

Welp, I got majorly distracted by Dragon Age Inquisition and kinda forgot about the screenshots, OOPS! Definitely not my strongest this week, but don't have a whole lot of time to fiddle with them :x Oh well! Hopefully I find an hour or two to mess around with it a little more today.

[Rikkustrife]

Yes! I shall before last my way to the top!

I created a rikkustrife on balmung this morning

2 rikkustrifes actually, since i did not know if we are meeting in la noscea or elsewhere

[RoninDarkchild]

Thank you everyone for liking my photos so far. Been following the feedback since round 1, and appreciate the comments given to me.
Though some feedback in round 3 made me wanna comment. The few comments of "i wish your character wasnt looking directly into the camera" and "You're posing in the middle of a group talking, so you look out of place" and "I wish you were looking at the npc like the rest" from the judges and audience. I just wanted to point out that is the "/Think" emote is supposed to represent "deep in thought and trying hard to come up with an answer". And often times when you are deep in thought about something in a discussion you will look away from the person you are talking too for a moment as you think about it. Most of the emotes in game will have you gesture directly to the person in some way. But the "/think" emote will have you look in just about every direction except the target to mimic real life. So it's not that Ronin is looking AT the camera with his chin rest on his hand, but he is looking at the "ground" in thought.

What I had hoped came across to the audience from the picture:
Group of workers discussing plans for a project in the area.
Female human is talking, everyone is paying attention to her.
Ronin goes into deep thought about what she just said looks away and reflects on her words.

Or atleast that is what I had hoped came across.
Thank you for the feedback, and I will try for a better and more clear shot next time.

Mor Dhona has been really cleaned up, there isnt much "construction" left anymore

[Kyan]

This is true, however I was referring to this part:

Sorry, I should clarify - I am assuming by the tone that these are the same people and could be wrong. i just get a vibe from all three posts that I have done something to upset this person, possibly quoting them after week 1 and suggesting more constructive feedback?

Judge A: "This shot doesn't excite me at all. I just feel like it's very bland and could just be completely scrapped and redone."

Judge C: "But sorry L'yhan, maybe next round you'll prove me wrong about you.”

Judge C: "While the other judges may not agree with me, I just really haven't seen anything from you in the previous rounds that stands out to me as a quality shot, and the same goes in this round too."

It just feels that there was some preconceived notion about me (as stated in round 2) and I wanted to apologise if I had unintentionally done something to that person they may have perceived as malicious. I really just want to get along and be happy

[Jinxie]

I dont think so, I trust Ty when he says something is done a specific way, and it's my understanding that Judge C is not the same judge each week. So you may have gotten just really unfortunate commentary three times. I hope so, as no one should feel like they're being singled out. But I do agree that the way it was worded this week was unnecessarily harsh... I actually read every critique and when I got to yours I had to pause and go 'damn.' Mostly because nearly the entirety of that particular critique was not entirely 'constructive' to me.

However Judge C was also rather nice to me (Which I'm damn thankful for. <3 In case it's unclear XD) I appreciated what he/she had to say on my photo, and pretty much every other critique. Including this one, even though it can be seen as harsh. (I wanted to point this out, just in case. Also that this is my only post on this topic now OR in the future. They're doing the best they can.)

I understand that the LITERAL MEANING of 'Critique' is to provide criticism, however the proper act of performing a critique is to provide criticism with the intent to improve the value of the medium you're having critiqued. If an artist wanted flat criticism of their work, as the old saying goes 'we are our worst critics' which is still incredibly true. I've hated EVERY picture I've turned in for several small reasons, or large reasons. I like yet I hate. I can look at ANY of my pictures and find a dozen or more flaws that 'if I could just...' even well after the voting has started.

So I am very sorry that you got such a harsh hand dealt to you. Truly I am. It does seem a bit overly critical to the point of unhelpfulness, and even bordering on insulting.

So for the purpose of critique for future judge critiquing, I will critique that particular critique.

Judge C: "While the other judges may not agree with me, I just really haven't seen anything from you in the previous rounds that stands out to me as a quality shot, and the same goes in this round too. Nothing excites me about this shot and the chosen area seems clunky. The background while full of pretty colors, is cut off (on both sides for that matter) and doesn't make up for the rest of the shots downsides. The only thing I could say done well is the lighting, but...? You're going to need a whole lot more than just good lighting to make me give you a high score." (Quoted in entirety.)

Lets break down the difference between constructive and nonconstructive criticism.

"While the other judges may not agree with me, I just really haven't seen anything from you in the previous rounds that stands out to me as a quality shot and the same goes in this round too."

Alright. While not particularly nice, it IS a criticism. However it lacks constructiveness because you entirely forgot how to rectify this for the recipient. How can we improve this shot, in your opinion? When you offer a criticism, you must also offer a means to improve that criticism. The very act of critique is born from the desire to improve a work. That is one of the defining differences between a direct criticism, and a critique. The desire to help the artist improve.

"Nothing excites me about this shot and the chosen area seems clunky."

Ok, now this is CONSTRUCTIVE. You've pointed out a flaw in the image, as well as why you've viewed it as such. From this we can draw that the area is not a desirable setup, use a different location for future photos, and perhaps even consider what all is included in the photo. Wonderful!

"The background while full of pretty colors, is cut off (on both sides for that matter)"

Again, valuable information was included in this criticism. You let us know what has made you displeased, as well as suggested how we may improve this shot. You even complimented the background's coloration.

"and doesn't make up for the rest of the shots downsides."

Whoops, again we've broken into the nonconstructive criticism. What other downsides? Or are you referring to the background getting cut off and the clunky scenery (So far the only two downsides you've actually pointed out here.) Information is key! Give us details on what you see wrong, list them off if you must but be sure to provide us with ways to resolve the problems you see in the shot. "This shot sucks" is much less helpful than "I dislike the scene, and the lighting is poor, perhaps you could utilize a different area and pull in other friends with sun minions to help, or ask someone else to snap the shot if camera barriers are getting in your way."

"The only thing I could say done well is the lighting" "but...?

You do not need to quantify a compliment with a 'but'. If he got the lighting good, then leave it at that. No one likes being mooned anyway (hur hur, get it? Butts. Yeah, I squeezed a butt joke in here.)

"You're going to need a whole lot more than just good lighting to make me give you a high score."

Here is a statement that while acceptable borders on nonconstructive. It's true, if an image is flawed we must all strive to become better to improve our scores. You dont NEED to tell us that, it's pretty obvious based on the score that will immediately FOLLOW this very critique. BUT I cannot fault you for stating this, as it is indeed a true statement, albeit a little harsh to see thrown at a person. So my only advice here is to be mindful of the fact that again we are all critiquing right along with you, some of us more harshly than others.

So overall this was a good critique. Only two areas needed improved, three were spot on, and one was a bit iffy but totally factual. It was just a bit harshly phrased in those red areas, or lacked the means to improve <3

Critique completed, I have to say a big thank you to ALL judges (including this one) for taking the time out to do us this service. It IS a service, they are taking time out of their days to provide us feedback for our art submitted (and it pretty much is just that.)

You guys are all wonderful people in my book, and I appreciate every thing you do, even in the moments where it's less friendly. I know it's not intentional, NOR is it meant to come off as malicious. <3 I know, I've judged things before and it can be super SUPER hard to remember the differences between constructive and nonconstructive criticisms especially when you're on a deadline, in a hurry, or if you're just doing something as a service.

It really can be the hardest job in the world to judge another person's creation, and for that I wholly respect each and every one of you. Your job is hard, thankless oftentimes, and you will catch more heat than any of us models will, even in the harshest of critiques.

YOU. ARE. AWESOME. Remember it.