Is it just me or?

[kundalini]

In the last 6 months I have started 10 threads with photos posted for C&C. There have been 2,617 views and a total of 59 replies. I didn't go back and look, but I'm guessing several of those replies were from me either bumping the thread or adding further explaination to the photos.

Just because I have a larger post count and more longevity than most here....... I need some luvin' too. :hugs:

 

[Tillit]

Is it that people are "too general" with their critique? What do you mean by "too general?" In reading the C&Cs here, what I've found is that the more pictures you post at once, and the less detail YOU give about your camera, lens, technique and goal for the photo, the more general a response you're going to get. But when you post one or two

Yea that was what I was looking for. Thank you.

What "Other" problems are you guys having? (since 3 people voted that way)

 

[Kerbouchard]

Generally, my threads usually get comments in the range of 'nice photo' or ignored completely, so I will say, no, not completely satisfied.

In any case, I've found that it's just about pointless to post photos to a beginner photo forum(which is what this is).

You will either get, "Nice Photo", or it will be ignored. A lot of it has to do with the fact that most of the people on these forum's are beginners and only feel comfortable tearing down(or offering advice on) work that they think they can do better.

There are several forums that have a professional critique sub-section that do a much better job than the 'nice photo' or 'it's tilted' comments on here. I would encourage you to search them out.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

When I post a photo for critique the majority of answers I get are either: "Wow cool picture" or a big blot of way too general almost "stream-of-consiousness"-type of critiques. These are just comments, not really what I'm looking for in a critique. Do you understand?

Well, in a forum this size, you have a bunch of other learners who can't formulate why they like or dislike something, YET.
You have the intermediates, that are picking up on generalities.
The advanced that fear critiqueing backlash from the new member.

To me though, critiqueing is sort of a stream of conciousness. I look at an image and apply what I know and how I feel, based on all that I have learned and basically, what I feel works for me. What I may comment on, another may disagree. The disagree'r may be more advanced than I or not, and then you have to weigh the information yourself. There is a lot of grey area and personal opinion involved in critiqueing "art". There is more opinion involved that actual fact. Once you move beyond the easier technical stuff, like exposure and white balance, which still can fall on creative choices.

So don't expect "do this, do that" and your picture will be perfect.

I could tell you your image is stronger cropped this way, get 5 to agree, and 3 to disagree. Does that make me right? Not necessarily. LOL

See what I am getting at?

 

[RichardsTPF]

All I'm asking here is "Is it just me that is disappointed with the lack of good quallity critiques"... maybe it is

I spend at least 3 hours on TPF daily, read lots of CC. Yes I am not satisfy with some of them. Some guys & girls here are very knowledgeable, I can learn a lot from them.
This is a free resource, I appreciate members volunteer share time and knowledge with others. Even in college, I have to chase after my professor after class.
I can't really complain. As a noob, just wish to see more specific CC.

 

[Meekminx]

I normally get a few views with one or two replies from others, which is fine by me. As long as one "forum veteran" responds, I'm normally happy. I was stalking the forum long before I posted my first picture, and you know who took the time to offer his advice in a nice, positive, awesome way?

BitterJeweler

Honestly, I think people really need to remember that there are ACTUAL PEOPLE writing into this little dialog box. Sometimes those people are in a rush, sometimes they are in a bad mood or a good mood, and sometimes.. They just want to tell you that the picture made them feel good, bad, strange, tingly (depending if a shoulder is naked and exposed!)

I feel that the majority of replies ARE helpful, but the trolling drama tends to take center stage. I probably read most of the 7+ page threads and their responses. Why? Well, I'm bored and the App is very easy. Mostly, however, I scanned the posts to catch the important stuff.

If I read something that ruffles my haunches (easy to ruffle, hard to make bark), do I jump into the dog pile to offer "My .02 cents", after seeing my exact feelings written 3 or 5 times by other people? Nope.

TL;DR?

SMILE!

 

[e.rose]

And that's just the ones i post!

I like your sense of humor.

 

[e.rose]

By the way, Bitter, if you're still here... this is the link to the other poll:

Is it just me or? - Canon Digital Photography Forums

I would have posted it sooner, but I was reading and responding from my phone for a bit because my computer was hard at work on something.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I normally get a few views with one or two replies from others, which is fine by me. As long as one "forum veteran" responds, I'm normally happy. I was stalking the forum long before I posted my first picture, and you know who took the time to offer his advice in a nice, positive, awesome way?

BitterJeweler

No way! You have to be joking, right? Are you taking a stab at me?

 

[Tillit]

When I post a photo for critique the majority of answers I get are either: "Wow cool picture" or a big blot of way too general almost "stream-of-consiousness"-type of critiques. These are just comments, not really what I'm looking for in a critique. Do you understand?

Well, in a forum this size, you have a bunch of other learners who can't formulate why they like or dislike something, YET.
You have the intermediates, that are picking up on generalities.
The advanced that fear critiqueing backlash from the new member.

To me though, critiqueing is sort of a stream of conciousness. I look at an image and apply what I know and how I feel, based on all that I have learned and basically, what I feel works for me. What I may comment on, another may disagree. The disagree'r may be more advanced than I or not, and then you have to weigh the information yourself. There is a lot of grey area and personal opinion involved in critiqueing "art". There is more opinion involved that actual fact. Once you move beyond the easier technical stuff, like exposure and white balance, which still can fall on creative choices.

So don't expect "do this, do that" and your picture will be perfect.

I could tell you your image is stronger cropped this way, get 5 to agree, and 3 to disagree. Does that make me right? Not necessarily. LOL

See what I am getting at?

Don't get me wrong I wassnt taking a stab at this forum, or any other specific forum out there, I was mearly wondering if there is a general tendency agains the sort of critiques you get from an online forum.

No I know that photography is an art and it is hard to get an objective opinion - that is not my issue. My issue is not if people like the photos or not - its how they present their case. And I'm simply saying that if I could choose I would rather have it be specific and constructive critiques, than just a "write as I feel" type of composition. That's it. And so I asked the forum if they felt the same thing.

 

[dots]

We could have a method of scoring which a) is meaningful in how it works b) allows the OP to follow-up with more specific questions.

e.g 1-5: Appeal, Composition, Lighting, Editing ..something like photo.net's 'rate photos' method.

 

[e.rose]

We could have a method of scoring which a) is meaningful in how it works b) allows the OP to follow-up with more specific questions.

e.g 1-5: Appeal, Composition, Lighting, Editing ..something like photo.net's 'rate photos' method.

I've never been to photo.net... but I personally would hate that I think.

I think it would give people more of an excuse to come into a thread, hit a button, and never return.

I think dialog kind of stimulates more interest and people will come back to see if there's a response to their response and more help is gotten that way.

I could be wrong though.

It happens.

 

[MLeeK]

I haven't posted anything for critique here, but I would expect these guys to be brutally honest. I do see a lot here kind of glossing over some stuff, but it seems to only be on the people who don't want or aren't ready for EVERYTHING.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Don't get me wrong I wassnt taking a stab at this forum, or any other specific forum out there, I was mearly wondering if there is a general tendency agains the sort of critiques you get from an online forum.

No I know that photography is an art and it is hard to get an objective opinion - that is not my issue. My issue is not if people like the photos or not - its how they present their case. And I'm simply saying that if I could choose I would rather have it be specific and constructive critiques, than just a "write as I feel" type of composition. That's it. And so I asked the forum if they felt the same thing.

But that was my point, largely, critique of art is about what individuals feel and think rather than concrete "nail the rule of thirds intersection" type stuff.
There is no one answer, there is no right or wrong. Even the "rules" are bendy. Perhaps that is why you are dissatisfied with how you have been critiqued. There are no *real* answers.

I know you weren't taking a stab at the forum. You are merely asking what people "think".


Also, something I see lacking is the typical OP not engaging in dialogue with anything that is said, or acting upon the advice given. The posters asking for critique can be critiqued for not taking part in the conversation.

If someone suggests an image is under exposed, or if crops are suggested, RARELY do I see someone repost a modification. This tells me right off how interested the OP is in learning. If I see no reaction to, or modifications, or discussion, I probably won't bother taking MY time to critique that person again.

So, it *is* a two way street.

 

[JAC526]

I agree with Bitter about the OP not "fixing" things and posting them.

Sometimes I have and sometimes I haven't. So I'm somewhat guilty of that.

More than anything though, if someone has something negative to say:

1. Say it without malice (apply the Golden Rule).

2. Provide some solution for improvement.