Getting a decent review of a PaD is getting harder and harde

[rtwo]

And to Scott Clarke who said above.

For the first time ever I offered a suggestion on a photo. It was for Robin Reid. I had never been to his site, and did not go through until I posted it. Once I had been through his site, I felt the fool. I gave this guy a suggestion on photoshop. This guy is Mr photoshop. So not likely I will comment on anything again soon.

I appreciated what you said, learned from it, and I believe I sent you a Pmail telling you that. So if you are reluctant to critique others, it says more about you than it does about them.

[rl1323]

Well guys I was gone for most of the winter and I just came back at the beginning of June. I love it when people look at my photos. It means I made an image that was interesting enough to get someone to go from the PaD new upload gallery to mine. But I don't care if you vote for mine, for the longest time I didn't even know what that meant. And how many people visit my galleries isn't as important to me as the fact that I'm trying to take a good photograph every day.

I do care if people comment because its nice to be noticed and makes me feel like I'm part of a community that has some incredible photographers in it. Sometimes I even get helpful criticism and I really appreciate it. I'm doing this to take better photos. But for the life of me I can't take a wonderful image everyday, so I either have to quit or put up the best I can manage. Its true that some people use the site and PaD to make a diary, and some are more confessional that I'm interested in. Other times I click on an image that catches my eye and discover that it was taken a month or 6 ago and posted as the "PaD". But even in the year since I started the community has grown hugely. And as more new people, people who are new to photography or new to PaD come into the group the group will change.

So if we want it to be a community that provides constructive criticism and heads in the direction of art-ful images then we need to post criticism and try to do the best we can both taking photos and responding and giving constructive criticism. "good capture" is nice to read, a "bravo" so to speak, but a suggestion about cropping an image is more helpful. So let the experienced photographers and the ones with an "eye" say more, and if something bothers you, like posting a photo from last month as today's photo bothers me, then say so.

Oh and feel free to pan my photos because I got really stale and I'm struggling.

rl

[dannyshoots]

To some extent, I agree. The need to get a photo posted every day has had me shooting some really bad stuff and posting it for the sake of posting it alone. So I stopped and took a couple of weeks off. Don't know if this will help me to start looking and seeing again. But I had to do it.

[camera0bug]

Oh yeah, one more thought - wouldn't it be cool to have anonymous PaD meta-gallery? You don't know who did what, but you can leave comments on them (comments would not be anonymous). Later on, photo ownership can be revealed. Hmmm...

Got news for you, it's already in use on another website (I used to be a member there but can't even remember it's name - Photopoints or something...). I found it a boring routine.

Photosig rates you on your commenting skills and it's just a game for those with idle time. I was a member there too for several years until
it became less than fun. Those that didn't pay up were locked out of viewing even their own images! ...Sayonara Photosig!

If you really want serious critiques, seek out those that leave them on other's photos and engage them in some discussion via e-mailing or by doing likewise on their images.

Not everyone has time to leave serious criticism. Typically I'll go the humor route since my brain functions quickly in that capacity (runs in my family). If a piece moves me, I'll go into serious detail about what I like or what I think could or should be different. I rarely get nasty e-mails for giving advice and if I did, that person would probably not get much viewing by this critic.

One particularly nasty ex-PBaser, a couple years ago, didn't care for my comments and tried to rip me a new a**hole!
Seems he tried to do the same to others and alas, his ass is gone from here.

If you want comments, you can hook up with a clique [my term] here and comment on each others photos. Just look for the list of names under a photo and get in line. Not only will you make new friends on PBase but you'll become part of one of the smaller, unadvertised communities of photographers that exist here. Many will be happy to look at your stuff and offer serious remarks, humor and one-on-one advice without complaint.
Of course you have to remember, this can take a little time to start up, so keep up the comments and eventually you'll see you have like-minded photo friends out there in the photographic abyss.

Getting and giving go hand-in-hand on photo websites, so if you want to receive, you better give...tenfold!

As they say: "What goes around, comes around".

[pierresphotography]

Yes. Criticize me, please!

I know human language is a conduit for emotional belonging, but the kind of mindless, reciprocating backslapping going on in the PAD community is just a little too much at times. It's as if your photos cannot get hits if you don't join the I'm-so-nice club.

Let's get honest with each other.

[halesr]

I am relatively new to PaD. In fact, for the longest I did not even see the link to the PaD discussion area right from the gallery LOL.

I took some courses at BetterPhoto. There you fill out a questionnaire about how you want to be criticized. Here are your options:

What kind of critiques you are looking for? Which of the following best describes you?

1. Be brutally honest. Give it to me straight.
2. Take out the "brutal" part. However, I still want to learn. Be somewhat tough.
3. Push me to get better. I know some things but need direction and motivation.
4. Go somewhat easy on me...
5. Go even easier... I'm totally new and value encouragement.

I always select #1 as what I want. I try to give honest and specific feedback. I have had all kinds of reactions. I have people try my suggestion and get in touch and tell me it worked. I have people tell me that they did not care for my suggestion or it was just not what they were after. I have had some deleted. I have never had any kind of retaliation--a good thing.

I have received some great feedback with neat suggestions. Some I tried others I was not able to implement. And, some I did not agree with. I seem to have a penchant for cropping and frequently make that suggestion. But, I usually say, why not try another version and see if you like it. I do think the way to get feedback is to give some to others.

I like the idea of a critique gallery where you post images that you think don't quite make it, but might be improved. I have taken several online workshops and attended some. I find I get the greatest benefit from the critiques. I like it when you are able to tell me what is working and more importantly, what is NOT working.

Katrin Eismann says asking for a second opinion is a must. It is important to find individuals with a good eye and who don't feel they need to protect your feelings. Perhaps we could put a 1*, 2*, 3*, 4*, or 5* rating next to the title of our PaD photos indicating what type of critique we are seeking. As far as I am concerned, hit me with your best shot and I will try to do the same for you.

Anyway, this got far too long. Sorry for that.--Rene

[jude_53]

Dan said

If you want comments, you can hook up with a clique [my term] here and comment on each others photos. Just look for the list of names under a photo and get in line.

the down side of that is when you get to a place where you have no time for constant comments to people in the "cliques" (my word too) you'll find they'll drop commenting on your pics like a hot potato.

I used to comment alll the time .. i spent HOURS.. I was obsessed. After a while I began to question what I was doing. I was commenting on photos I didn't like very much JUST because I liked the people. I re-evaluated and started to comment just on what grabbed me from the meta. Doing that helped me find great photographers I'd never have found otherwise - that and the popular gallery/photos.

Plus, there was RARELY (I like using capitalized words where I would stress something by my voice.. can you hear it? ) criticism of any sort.

Once I began to work and do photos for a living I had even less time to comment on pics, although I DO try to catch up every few days. I appreciate every person who stops by my photos/galleries ..

That being said..

erm...

what were we talking about?

[jude_53]

Oh, and if you want to find great photographers, just look at the comments on some of your favorite's.. I've found such excellent ones that way.. and I would never have found them if I only stayed on the meta..

[markcas]

I like the meta gallery idea. I would like to submit any picture in any of my galleries for severe critique. Yes I really mean that!

I don't delete negative comments unless they are stupid. Also, I always look at the person's gallery that is critiqing me and if they are good, I take the advice.

thanks!

http://www.pbase.com/markcas

[noearlybird]

Getting and giving go hand-in-hand on photo websites, so if you want to receive, you better give...tenfold!

As they say: "What goes around, comes around".

I'm new to PAD and enjoying it very much, don't know how it has been. But I do have lots of experience in managing email loops. I often read this, "well I'm not getting what I want here". I challenge the person to do something evocative and ask questions about the things they want to read.

If you want constructive criticism, you probably have to ask for it and also give it to others. I believe you will get it back if you do these two things.

Kathie

[halesr]

Kathie, I think you might be on to something. I was on another photo sharing site and I noticed one person that gave very detailed and helpful critiques of other's works. I sent him a message and just asked if he would review my images. He did and it was great. Perhaps as has been said, we should ask for what we want from people whose opinions we value.--Rene

[steveman]

Dan said

I used to comment alll the time .. i spent HOURS.. I was obsessed. After a while I began to question what I was doing. I was commenting on photos I didn't like very much JUST because I liked the people. I re-evaluated and started to comment just on what grabbed me from the meta. Doing that helped me find great photographers I'd never have found otherwise - that and the popular gallery/photos.

I almost never indulged in that sort of commenting. Early on, when there were so few of us doing PaD here, I commented on most posts. I quickly found though that I was just looking for nice things to say to nice people.
When I steped out of that and tried to offer constructive criticism, asking for it in return, I found myself rebuked and began to receive far far fewer comments. Just as well. The people commenting on the assumption that I was a nice guy were just blowing smoke up my skirt anyway.
So, I commented less and less over time, mostly finding images I like from the popular galleries and dipping in to the PaD meta now and again.
I've recently cleaned out my favorite artist list to people who consitantly deliver the good...along with a few sentimental favorites.

[horsegoggles]

I don't take it that seriously, this is more a fun place for me. I have no desire to say anything uncomplimentary (constructive criticism?) about a persons photos. When I look through PAD, I comment on the images that catch my unsophisticated eye. I suppose PAD is many things to many people. That's probably what makes it fun and keeps it interesting. I enjoy peoples comments on my photos, but I realize some of them are pretty lame and people are being nice. Some people want critique and some people are just having fun. Maybe we need a "critique please" flag that we could add to our photos.

[andrys]

What does one have to do to get a decent critique of a photo around here. Some of mine are just what I had on hand others are in my opinion briliant, but you can't get any constructive criticism anymore.

You want constructive criticism on an already brilliant job?

If I remember correctly the PaD was a means of showing off your better shots and learning from the following posts, but now it has degenerated into a show and tell and some of it isn't very good.

I think you're mixing up forums and sites. Photo A Day. Not
Show off better shots A Day ("SaD") but Taking an uploading a
somewhat interesting photo a day. This is to spur the creative
juices (I saw some wonderful stuff in the July 6-10 favorites! -
supremely talented people here).

I note with interest that some people have a continuing theme in the PaD, which in the long run will be an interesting gallery to review, but in all honesty would most of you put the photos you post on display as a pinnacle of your photographic achievements and in your physical photo albums?

PhotoADay was never meant to display the pinnacle of your
photographic achievements.

There are a ZILLION (it seems that way) photos a day. How could
people go through and do justice to critiquing them, especially since
the community is supposed to be actively photographing and uploading
their own. That takes time, assuming full-time jobs for most.

While writting this remember I don't have an artisitic eye, but that is no excuse for some of this stuff exhibited.

You should visit just your favorite photographers. And, remember,
you originally were going to do this to 'see' more, making yourself
stop once a day to see and make an interesting image. If you
want feedback on some, come here and ask people to look and
comment but don't do it by saying how bad others' offerings are.

(I'm not a PaD member but enjoyed some of those shots today.)

[drachen]

I post my comments in a private scenario. That way it is only viewed by the owner of the site. I am a student so I keep that in mind when I address another person's photograph. I am polite and respectful and offer whatever I can in ways to fix something that I see. I do not do this because I think I am better or because I think I have more skill. I do this because I believe that a second set of eyes can sometimes see what your own cannot or will not. I hope that people will be open and politely honest with me with my work as I try to improve my skill set.