Fall's Reflection in Northern Minnesota

[AgentDrex]

Nice, you caught it!!!! Call me a weirdo but lately I've been prone to intentionally making mistakes to pick out sugar-coaters and ass-patters.

I'm sure a few people will think differently of me, think I'm a jerk or a myriad of other things. I've been meaning to say this for awhile and need to get this off of my chest. I love TPF and anyone who has seen me here should know that. I appreciate this forum more than any other place on the internet. It is my home. I do not participate anywhere else as much as I do here (though from the four years here and my lack of posts for such a time it may not seem so but trust me it is).

When I first came on here, my photos were being torn apart and I had to learn to get a thick-skin or learn to soak up my tears with a rag.

Recently I had been gone for awhile as life had torn me away from the forum.

Now I am back and have noticed that some of the same people that tore me a new hole are not so tough on their critiques. In fact, I had noticed an instance where people were calling an under-exposed, mis-aligned photo good. Some of the commenters were the same people that had almost made me give up with their harshness. Is it age that has softened them?

I was so taken aback by the awfulness of this photo and the "kind" comments that I decided to re-work some of my photos to include small mistakes and see who would pick them out (not that any of my photos are without unintentional mistakes). None of my photos are worthy of framing and while I do appreciate the kind comments, I grow from the critiques and the "ticky" people who make them.

I hope that I don't seem unappreciative of kind comments posted on my photos but just want to let you know it was not the kind comments that got me this far, it was the honest words about what was wrong and how to change it. While I do still see that, I see a growing movement towards glad-handing. Did I miss a memo or something while I was gone?

Now that my rant is through, I'm sure there will be fire to pay. Flame away.

 

[ceeboy14]

Well, if it is any consiolation, I am not in favor of the "Great Shot" commenters as well. We look at images for a reason and that reason should revolve around their being wonderful and thusly given due adulation which should include why we like so much, as well as nitpick the ones needing further adjustment, again with explanation. No one has to agree with your opinion, edit or comment, but to not do so waters down the intent of the forum and members eventually move on to other venues.

 

[AgentDrex]

That's the reason I stuck around here for so long. I'm also an amateur writer and was participating at thepoetsanctuary. I was hoping that it, like this place, would offer critiques and suggestions for improvement. All I found was glad-handing. Each of my posts were exalted as being really good. I know my writing was far from that, hence my desire to participate in a community that would help me to grow.

While I did receive a few critiques, those few that were willing to help me would be punished by the ones that feel one should never tell someone they need to work more on their writing. I've been looking and looking for years for a forum that would cater to my need to grow in my writing but have thus far been heavily disappointed.

At least I have this place to assist in one of my creative outlets. I just hope that it doesn't end up like thepoetsanctuary somewhere down the road. If I wanted to be told my writing/photography/etc. was good, I'd give it to my friends. I don't want that however. I want people who have no vested interest in my happinesss to tell me my work is great. If it isn't, I want to know what to change to make them say, "Wow! That is an incredible photo! Why are you not making money with this?!"

 

[AgentDrex]

Thank you very much for turning me on to Fred Archer. I'm researching him today.

 

[shefjr]

Not everyone here are "sugar-coaters and ass-patters". I am a mediocre amateur at best and never would have caught your horizon leaning as slightly as it is. I do think that the colors of your photo are very nice however soft the photo may be. I also am not confident enough in my skills to C+C someone else work. If there is something that strikes me about a photo I will let them know with an "IMO" type of thing. And so with that said, all of the is IMO there are many opinions and this is mine.

 

[AgentDrex]

While this rant was directed mostly at some of the long-timers here, I do appreciate the IMO statements. There's no problem with opinions. What was bothering me were the comments on poor photos that didn't have the critiques I was used to. I was thinking that while I was absent that there had been a change from harsh critiques to soft comments. By harsh critiques, I do not mean mean-spirited commenting but direct and honest views of the photos presented. I don't mean to sound like an ass though that may be how this is all coming out. I wish I knew of a better way to express how I feel if this is not taken the way I meant it.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You get what you pay for!

But then one has to think...if I am critiqueing something and being set up for a trick, maybe I won't bother at all.

Hope it all works out well for you, and you get what you are looking for.

 

[AgentDrex]

It was just a couple photos I did that to. I wasn't planning on continuing that malarkey. Just enough to raise a stink for some stupid reason. It wasn't directed at you by any means. I was just concerned about some glad-handing I saw on some posts and was wondering if I had missed something while I was gone about being more gentle with people.

I do understand what you mean though and now I feel bad I chose to bring it up at all. Sometimes Drex opens his fool mouth and has to swallow his two feet. I apologize if I offended you at all David. Your wisdom and help have been a benefit to me in my struggle to produce anything worth looking at. I still have a long way to go obviously. Can I get away with just saying my rant was all drunk talk? It wasn't but can I use that as an excuse?

 

[ceeboy14]

Just for clarification, I wasn't agreeing with your self imposed "trickery" but did agree with wanting others on the forum to do good critiquing. That said, I am not in the least offended by a lack of response or even a simple one...just would prefer something a little more in depth. I be easy.

 

[Derrel]

So, is that a faked reflection?

 

[ceeboy14]

It looks to be a long exposure and perhaps is two exposures, one short, one long. Hard to tell...

I do think it is time to accept Drex'es apology and move on. There are far more important things in the world to worry over.

 

[AgentDrex]

Derrel has a good eye. That is indeed a faked reflection that I tilted on purpose just about two pixels worth or so. The tilt was the trickery however. The faked reflection was to cover up the bland reflection and distracting elements in the foreground of the original.

I do apologize sincerely for whatever hurt feelings I may have caused (if any). I'll understand fully if, in future posts, that my photos are not commented on or critiqued because of my careless rant here. I care deeply about all of you that have had such a deep impact in my life. If only you knew how much I talk up this place outside of the internets. Anyone I find that is getting into photography, I point them here first and fore-most. I promise them that if they stick with it, they WILL become better.

I should listen to my own advice and spend ten minutes going over my thoughts first before posting them or saying them. I do that a lot as is and most likely should have done it this time too. I'm glad I got it out there though so you know how I feel.

 

[shefjr]

FWIW, I was simply trying to point out that for some on the forum the best that they could maybe formulate to say is, "I think the photo looks really nice and has great colors" or simply, "I like it!". They may not know all the things to look for or have a understanding of the "why" quite yet, but still want to give their input. I don't think that merits ignoring their opinion simply because for some parts of photography it can be subjective.
If your apologizing to me, there is no need. I'm thick skinned. I just wanted to give my input to some of the remarks that were previously posted. Also, I do think that to some extent you are right. Some of the critiques have become softer on here. It is funny how every once in a while I notice one of two types of threads on the forum. Either, "discouraged because of the discouraging remarks", or "the forum is becoming too soft."
In either case, the is just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions.:thumbup:

 

[AgentDrex]

Opinions are like armpits and if exercised too much they tend to stink???

 

[shefjr]

Opinions are like armpits and if exercised too much they tend to stink???

I have never heard that one. That's funny! The one I heard is a little more gauche.

Opinions are like A$$ holes. Everyone has one and sometimes they stink!