I thought this was Beyond the Basics?

[jdphotos]

I am a beginner and i like to just read through the posts on all of the different sections of the forum. But this kind of posts makes me as a beginner not want to post if everyone is just going to think i am an idiot for asking a question. I have discovered the search button and have been using that to answer a lot of my questions now so i guess i don't have to post much because i can usually find the answers elsewhere. We all have to start somewhere and it's great to be able to ask people and get differing points of view. And as for posting about liking someone's photo without any actually critique i didn't realize that was such a problem... as a beginner i may not know how to fix that picture but i know what i like and thought it was alright just to say "hey i like photo #3 great job!" now i will think twice about it. Just my 2 cents maybe i am way off.... i have had a good response from people since my first post so i have had no problems but i tend to post in the beginners area.... I like this forum and it has been really helpful to me... which is what this forum is about or so i thought.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

... as a beginner i may not know how to fix that picture but i know what i like and thought it was alright just to say "hey i like photo #3 great job!" now i will think twice about it.

What is maybe more helpful to you, when commenting on pictures you like, is trying to say why you like them. It helps develop your own critical eye and ability to put your reaction into words.
It's not a bad thing to just say you like an image, but it should be treated the same as posting "This image is bad". The poster would want to know why.

 

[MichiganFarts]

Honesty is not always harsh.

If you were actually honest, you'd be both harsh, and sympathetic...and then you wouldn't need a disclaimer for your harshness.

 

[GeneralBenson]

I fully agreethat this forum, and especially this section and the "Professional" section have gone to hell in a hand basket. The problems are numerous. We need more moderation. Posts that get posted in the BTB forum that are beginner questions should be moved. The problem is, that Beyond The Basics is way to big of a category. The basics are pretty simple, and a tone of stuff falls outside of them without necessarily being "Advanced". There should at least be another section on top of the BTB section. The other problem is that everyone knows that the experienced people frequent the BTB section and the newbs are in the Beginners section. So people that want to get there question answered by people who know what they're talking about post in BTB even if the question isn't appropriate.

The Pro Gallery on the other hand need lots of moderation, and I think should require account approval by mods. Pro means you make your living doing this, not that you occasionally get paid to do a portrait session.

 

[RyanLilly]

I would just like to mention, when people here complain about the lack of moderation, I think that BigMike is one of the exceptions to the rule, and does a fantastic job of not only moderating, but being extremely helpful answering questions, and giving genuine advice to others.

Mike, you're the best!

 

[imagemaker46]

Why should someone be sympathetic when to comes to a poor image? Can I say I feel alot of sympathy for your lack of photographic skills? That really wouldn't be honest. Would I have sympathy if someone screws up a shoot because they don't have the experience, not likely. If someone runs into a string of bad luck while on assignment or they have camera problems, I would feel sympathy for that. But feel sympathy for a poor image? nope.

 

[kundalini]

Honesty is not always harsh.

True, however your followup....

If you were actually honest, you'd be both harsh, and sympathetic...and then you wouldn't need a disclaimer for your harshness.

....has holes large enough to drive a Mack truck through. Honesty has no prerequisites or supplementals. It just is.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Sympathy replaces honesty. Sympathy can even keep one from commenting altogether.

It's the namby pamby everyone is a winner world.

 

[GeneralBenson]

Sympathy replaces honesty. Sympathy can even keep one from commenting altogether.

It's the namby pamby everyone is a winner world.

I am harshly critical of your post. Sympathy is for newbz.

 

[bentcountershaft]

Maybe instead of selecting "My photos are OK to edit" the choices should be "I prefer to be coddled" or "Give it to me straight."

 

[Calypso b]

I have read many, many posts by professional photographers on this forum being rude and condescending to others who are trying to learn. They claim to be honest. As a teacher myself, I can tell you that teaching people is special skill that does not require one to belittle the student, this is in turn the opposite of how one teaches. In fact I often wonder why photographers who claim to be so almighty spend so much time on here posting cruel, demeaning comments; shouldn't you be busy photographing because you are in such high demand? Or is that it makes you feel better about yourself to "teach" others and stand above them waving your finger in their faces saying they are doing things all wrong.

I will admit Image Maker that I am not a professional photographer, as I do not make over half of my income from photography but I am not afraid to say that I DO in fact charge for my photography because there are people who appreciate what I do and will pay for it. For the record, you may know much, much more about photography than me but I believe that there are many clients who would choose me as their photographer over you simply because I am a nice person with social skills. It is pretty evident that you do not. I could give you a few pointers on how to communicate with others if you like. It might help your business

 

[imagemaker46]

Calypso, It does appear that you have little time for my social skills or believe that I am a nice person. You are a teacher, so what, I know lots of teachers that have no social skills and really aren't very nice people. You have based your opinion of me on my honesty, you have no idea who I am, what I have done, and I seriously doubt that you are working at the same photographic level that I currently am working at, or have been working at for most of my life. I assisited teaching 3rd year photojournalism students at the university level, I have lectured at a Leica seminar, I have been photo co-ordinator at five World Championship events, been personal photographer to a Prime Minister of Canada, and all this without any social skills. Being a professional photographer does not mean making half your income from photography, it means making all your money from photography, and there are lots of other factors involved in being a professional that go beyond just charging for photographs. Just wondering what area of photography are you currently following, weddings, baby pictures, family portraits?

I'm pretty sure that I don't need any pointers on how to be nice, or a need to improve my social skills. When to comes to photography, why should I soft sell someones images? If they aren't good I'll ay it, i'll say why. I can also read though the BS that people post on these forums, I've been in this business long enough to know. I don't say anything about myself that isn't fact, it's not being anything more than being honest. Take it or leave, everyone knows exactly where I stand. My professional and personal social skills are just fine. Thanks for the kind offer though.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

 

[Stevenl]

As a former paratrooper, I have no problem with a critical review of any image I post. 'Hard but fair' was thrown around a bunch, the only difference between that and this is as a paratrooper I might die with a silly mistake. Worse thing here is you guys leave a snarky remark and do not leave me any details on how to better a shot.
An example is the shot I took last night at a timed exposure, the second one I've done in my life. I leave my info that it was f/8 for 13 seconds The first response I get is (paraphrased) "wow! The duck sat still for 13 seconds!" After responding back they were bedding down for the night and looking through some other threads it dawned on me he was being sarcastic. After a PM he tells me 13 seconds exceeds what is needed to achieve the silky effect of the water falling.

But he also mistakenly assumes my shot is taken while the sun is out. I'm pretty sure sure that if the sun was out with details given my picture would have been a near white out.

As serious as I am about it you can laugh at my mistakes just as long as you are teaching me (i.e. pointing out my mistake) while you are doing so, hell, I may even laugh with you.

 

[imagemaker46]

Best attitude I've read on here