Critics...

I spent a good part of my time recently editing two weddings I photographed this summer. Looking back to the wedding I unintentionally fell into last summer, compared to now. I can sure see the growth I have made. I imagine myself further than I am. I have always been my own worst critic and I don't see it changing anytime soon.
I spend a good portion of my time analyzing my work and others. In school that was called a critique. I ask for people to give me feed back all the time in the name of constructive criticism. I believe in its power. The way someone can put to good use criticism is amazing. In college I grew a lot. It wasn't until after college that it really made sense. It wasn't until now that I see it starting to benefit me.
When looking through other designers, other photographers, and other artists, I always start the thought process off as a critiquer. Just like in college. What do I see first, how do I move through the piece, color, line, shape, emphasis; all of those words come in to my head. I look at their exposure, their focus, their saturation. In my heart it feels like by doing this, I am training my eye to look for those things in my own art. In my head I feel like I'm just a negative person, and am not only my own worst critic, but I am everyone else's too.
Do I notice the line, shape, emphasis, saturation in my art? Do I see all of those things before I show them to people? Yea, absolutely NOT! I really wish I did. If I went by that method, I'd still be a closet artist, wishing I was brave enough. My goal is to do what I love though, and the only way I'm going to get to do that, is just do it.
My teacher said, the only way to become an artist was to make art. I guess that is where I am at. I'm nothing compared to what I want to be, I'm better than some of what I see out there, and I'm constantly learning and growing. I guess there is a place in the world for critics... because I am getting better.