I'm with Mike and PNA

[karissa]

I feel, after reading this thread, that many of you question the intentions of the mod team. Please keep in mind that we are not paid to do this job. The moderators are here because we have a passion for this site and a passion for photography as well.

I'm very glad that members have come forward with opinions. We all want to do what is best for this site and the members in it.

PNA said that he was always flexible. This forum is also always flexing. We welcome constructive criticism and suggestions.

 

[The_Traveler]

I feel, after reading this thread, that many of you question the intentions of the mod team. Please keep in mind that we are not paid to do this job.

The mods' motivations aren't my concern as long as their actions are appropriate and don't hurt the Forum. This is a different situation.

I, along with others, are saying that the actual activity is wrong and hurtful; I could not care less what the motivation is.

 

[TwistMyArm]

I first of all want to thank all of the members who participated in the critique forum discussions and assisted in the new forum's creation. Thanks to Will, Matt, Lew, and Max for all of your work. I also want to thank those of you who, for various reasons, were unable to participate in a larger capacity. Thanks you guys.

Obviously some people don't see the new forum as an improvement and that's unfortunate. It was only ever intended to improve the overall quality of the forum. Hopefully this will still be the case.

For those of you who wish to know what discussions took place in the critique forum all you need to do is read the guidelines.

General Critical Analysis Guidelines
General Critical Analysis References

Specific Technical Assistance Guidelines
Specific Technical Assistance References

I would suggest that each and everyone of you take the time to read through these guidelines. If there is anything in those guidelines that you believe could be improved upon please take the time to reference them and make your suggestions.

As for the use of the template, it was something that all moderators had the opportunity to view and make comments on. Most of us did not see it as being a problem, but hindsight is 20/20. The template is something we can definitely look to improve upon.

Thanks again to those who participated in the discussions and also to those who simply want to make the critique forum better.

 

[skieur]

I'll post more on this later, as I am sitting in an airport terminal typing this, but please keep in mind this is one area of an overall forum (and the rest of the forum hasn't changed). The bottom line is that critique has never worked well, and we've had several attempts at different methods to handle it.

Critique has been discussed time and time again over the life of the forum and the bottom line is that we've never yet found a way to really make everyone happy. If its largely unmoderated, we're told the content is crap and that there is no value in that section....essentially, it may as well be a normal gallery. If we try to impose rules, we're told we are too strict and taking things too far. Unfortunately, I have not yet seen a middle ground that is acceptable.

To answer another question, I am the owner of the site. I had actually made the decision to go ahead and close the critique area completely, but ended up having a small group of members who offered to get together and attempt a revamp of that section. I decided to give them a shot at doing things there way after lengthy discussions and this is the format they put together. There will definitely be debate over how closely the current handling of the section maps to what their ideas were, but this is the overall process.

Again, this is one area of the site that we are focusing on and are attempting to improve. No other area on the site has been changed. I'd like to ask everyone to keep this in mind when I start reading posts about how this change is affecting the site as a whole. Also, as Matt said, we welcome input on this. However, I'm really hoping for specific ideas on how it gets improved (and "fixed" in the long run), and while I realize the need to vent and welcome it, I hope to see more ideas on how to make it work along with the venting I am seeing.

I applaud your efforts and that of motocon to make Critique more of a learning experience and to reduce the often meaningless comments that drown out useful critique. 'I like it' or 'I don't like it' certainly does not give the photographer any useful information about what he/she did correctly or incorrectly. I also want to point out that your critique forum is certainly one heck of a lot better than that of another large american photo web site where they congratulate each other on the quality of some really terrible photos.

My experience in photographic critique with the National Association of Photographic Art by the way dates back to the 60s.

skieur

 

[elsaspet]

Thanks for the PMs guys. I've calmed down, and a good friend made me understand that quitting was only being defeated.
So, I'll stay in my little corner of the world "Weddings and Portraits" as strongly suggested, and won't bother the very heavy and litegous world of Critiqe anymore. Instead, I'll send them to PPA and WPPI as always. They don't edit the critiques others took so much time to post.
New photos going up in the Wedding Forum..........my little corner of the net.
Thanks Sheldon!
Hugs,
Cindy

 

[mysteryscribe]

Glad to see you back

 

[elsaspet]

OMG, I just saw what they did to NewerMike in Critique about the out of focus guy.
This will prolly be erased, but I'm on another board run by PPA judges in the crit section. None of this nonesense exists there. Only the real honest to God PPA judges can comment for critique. That way you don't have to put up with Motcom's sqigglies and advice.
Try it out, of course with this forum as well.
www.photoartsforum.com

 

[elsaspet]

Nixsay the last post. I guess I can no longer link either. Thank you powers that be!
The real link is:
http.//forums.photoartsforum.com

You will have to cut and paste as that is apparently turned off for me. Go figure. Nothing like the truth, eh?

 

[elsaspet]

Just type it into a browser. I guess my links are blocked as well. Go figure.

 

[Corry]

Nothing is blocked. NOthing has been done to you. Your links show up.

 

[elsaspet]

Great then. The site I posted is wonderful for crits. ONLY PPA judges, can comment.
If you really want to know, and you don't want your crits to turn into a drawing, swiss cheese, or a mockey of critique, go here.
Honest to God, real live PPA judges rule this. I've been killed here, but learned a ton.
Kinda wished this forum worked this way. Oh well. Thanks anyways. Going back to my hole now.

 

[elsaspet]

New try on the PPA forum
http://forums.photoartsforum.com/

 

[newrmdmike]

thanks its always good to here from different folks!

 

[his4ever]

Whew... I just read everything that has been going on. I am so happy that PNA and Elaspet have not disapeard. I would be so sad!! I really like the people who have been here for a long time because they are so insightful and they have some beautiful pictures to show. I also learn so much from what I see and read.

I really like the Critique forum in this... because so many people are on the Gallery... I do not seem to get any good critiques or suggestions. People who are on the critique forum -- that it is for critiques and I am guaranteed help. Please dont get rid of that part of the forum... I like it a lot. If it does go away... someone is going to have to take me under their wing and help me get better and give me hard-core thoughts on my work.

Again... thanks PNA and Elaspet for not leaving... there would have been a void here without you.

 

[PNA]

his4ever....Your review and comments of the thread are noteworthy. Hopefully they will add to the efforts to make the forum better for everyone.......

Thanks you and be asured that I appreciate you comments.