This forum

[harrysixtie7]

I feel with the size of this forum it could become something great, but as of now I don't find it useful anymore. I placed an image in the critique section a week ago and received 1 reply.....not even from a moderator. I guess I need to add a line at the end of my signature that reads; "please leave a comment, I don’t care if it is one word, just leave a comment so that I know that I am uploading pictures and not empty white squares." I feel photography more than any form of personal expression or art needs to be criticized and that it is the only way to improve.

The format of this site also needs changing, the share your shots section is a cesspool. Normally the top thread beign something with a cheeky title, containing photos of a mundane object taken with a point and shoot or on auto mode. I fully understand that it is beneficial to beginners to receive praise even if what they post is short of being a good image, but if anyone is to use this site to get better, quality photographs need to make more of a mark. I feel a this community would benefit greatly from a voting system, a one click deal, up or down i.e. reddit.com. That way the better images of the day will stay at the top and be examples of what a properly composed and/or exposed image should look like.

I am not competing with anyone, I don’t want to be better than you at photography. I want to be as good as I can be, and I know the only way to get there is through making mistakes and learning from them.

I could make a post that certainly would get me in trouble and could tell you all sorts of opinions that... once again would get me banned... Suffice to say that you are not alone in your sentiments.

~Eric

[windrider86]

Interesting. Who would decide what are the "better" images that would stay on top??? I dont think that putting the newer folks into a category of whose shots are better is an ok thing to do. I dont know your expierience but would you be mad if you put a photo in a thread that was made to show off your best work and someone else decided it want the best of the bunch so you got put back at the bottom of the pile? Art in general is a mtter of taste. What you may find to be art or good photography may be garbage to someone else and vice versa.

As far as the critique section goes, sometimes people just dont have much to add or suggest in the critique section or they dont find an image interesting enough or, sometimes an image is just to awful (or good) to even know where to begin to offer suggestions. I'm not saying yours is because I dont know which post was yours.

Sometimes if a specific question isnt asked, the viewer doesnt know what to offer as help as they have no clue where your mind set is at. Did you ask something specific in your post?

I wouldnt take it personal. Perhaps yours just got missed somehow.
Lord knows I have done posts that didnt even get ONE response

I have never been a fan of voting systems. More often than not someone feels they should make themselves look better and give everyone else bad votes. So with that being said........................

[harrysixtie7]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I could make a post that certainly would get me in trouble and could tell you all sorts of opinions that... once again would get me banned... Suffice to say that you are not alone in your sentiments.

~Eric

Oh I know what you mean, this wasn't my first draft of this post I assure you. Things can be improved, but changes must be wanted first.

Originally Posted by windrider86

Who would decide what are the "better" images that would stay on top???

We...as a democratic group would decide. I personally have faith in other humans to do the right thing. The point of the forum is for all of us to improve...not just the beginners.

Originally Posted by windrider86

I have never been a fan of voting systems. More often than not someone feels they should make themselves look better and give everyone else bad votes. So with that being said........................

Ok so lets make it a system with no down votes, only up. Either way this forum's format doesn't support photography in the way it should and needs revision.

[AndCity]

Yes, it is frustrating seeing your post zoom down the list but I counter that with it will be viewed just as many times by a wider audience than it may have been before this Forum became so successful.

If you want to reach a different 'audience' try posting at different times of the day because somewhere in the world that will be a popular viewing time and maybe not as many people will be posting then.

[harrysixtie7]

Originally Posted by AndCity

Yes, it is frustrating seeing your post zoom down the list but I counter that with it will be viewed just as many times by a wider audience than it may have been before this Forum became so successful.

If you want to reach a different 'audience' try posting at different times of the day because somewhere in the world that will be a popular viewing time and maybe not as many people will be posting then.

You are entirely right about the size and range of this site, but even if a picture doesn't warrent comments, there needs to be a method of indicating it as an example for growth of other memebers.

[Snowdust]

I have been seeing the same thing for some time now and even sent a mod a PM with constructive thoughts. This forum has sure grown over the past year.

Perhaps some new rule changes and sections are needed. Here is a thought to address the OP. We have the share your shots which scroll way to fast and has too many to even look at. We have the critique sections for specific questions. How about a new section for where you don't have a specific question but want to know what others think. You can post one, and must comment on either 5 random ones, or the last 5 posted. Flicker has groups like this. Comments would need to either be about something specific that stands out good that should try to be repeated, or feedback on what you think would make the shot better. Exposure, cropping, composition, etc.

[harrysixtie7]

Originally Posted by Snowdust

I have been seeing the same thing for some time now and even sent a mod a PM with constructive thoughts. This forum has sure grown over the past year.

Perhaps some new rule changes and sections are needed. Here is a thought to address the OP. We have the share your shots which scroll way to fast and has too many to even look at. We have the critique sections for specific questions. How about a new section for where you don't have a specific question but want to know what others think. You can post one, and must comment on either 5 random ones, or the last 5 posted. Flicker has groups like this. Comments would need to either be about something specific that stands out good that should try to be repeated, or feedback on what you think would make the shot better. Exposure, cropping, composition, etc.

Glad I am not alone. I agree that new/improved sections would strongly benefit this forum. Making a section that forces people to comment is kind of tough to enforce. I too have seen it work in flickr, but it could end up being a lot of work for the moderators.

[Elmo]

And I thought my attitude was harsh!!

My first thought is why is a moderator’s comment so important? Being a moderator does not automatically make them an expert only someone who keeps thing in order. As for wanting to know how many folks look, the opening format gives you the exact number.

You do have on excellent statement Photography art is a personal statement. Then I get confused you say others need to tell you how it is to be done, making it not your personal statement. This leads to another thing, I do not critique unless I have an idea of what the artist is trying to say. Often a clue to what the artist is trying to say is a “Cheeky” title.

As for the “Show your Shots” section the title say it all, anyone show your shots. Does it have any good points? Yes, not only do you get some good pointers but you can also see lots of mistakes to learn from.

Do I agree with the forums rules, not always; but I am using someone else’s site I need to abide by their rules. I suspect these rules are based on things from the past .

[Snowdust]

Who said anything about wanting comments from Moderaters? And with regards to my comments about "new rules", that would pertain to any new sections created, not in reference to not wanting to follow new rules.