Balance between Critique and Share Your Shots

[Sterling]

I've spent a lot of time here over the last couple of months and I've noticed something about the various forums. It appears, for the most part, that in the Share Your Shots section that there is an unwritten rule against any type of comments other than praise. While in the Critique sections there are strict rules requesting very specific critiques on components of the photo.

However, where is the section where one can post a photo and expect general criticisms as well as kudos? I think this is why there are so many rule breakers in the Critique section. Sometimes people just want general feedback on their photo including criticism and suggestions. I suspect that the original intention was that this could occur in Share Your Shots. But clearly that section has evolved into a back slapping fest (which is fine).

I just seems to me that there is nowhere to post a photo and ask "How can I improve this photo?" or "Tell me what you like or dislike about this photo"

Agree? Disagree? Comments?

[fletch]

You can ask both those questions in the critique section.

You just need to demonstrate that you have put some prior thought into you photo rather than expecting everyone else to do it for you. If you really don't know where to start say so and I'm sure the mods will be fine with it and people will help you out as much as they can.

The critique rules just stop the dump and run/look at me posts.

(personal interpretation, not an official line!)

[Sterling]

I agree that is the intent of the rules. Are they working though? Out of the first 10 threads in Landscape Critique, five haven't followed the rules anyway.

[PowerPix]

I critique in share your shots....

[Saralonde]

Fletch pretty much has it right.

If you notice, SYS is way over crowded and if you expect good critique there, you are likely to be disappointed when your thread falls to page 2 or 3 in a few hours. SYS is just that; a way to let others see your pictures in a friendly manner, images you thought were funny or turned out well, etc.

Critique is for asking specifics. If it didn't turn out as you hoped and you want to improve your shot, that's where you go. There you should be prepared for possibly harsher (but hopefully not nasty) comments designed to help you learn.

Rule breakers in the Critique section? We try hard to keep up with that. Newbies are given a little leeway, older members that have used that section should know better. Lots of reminders to "read the rules" help, but there will always be those that can't be bothered or think it doesn't apply to them .

[fletch]

If people don't follow the rules in critique I tend to ignore them (unless they are new and clearly made an effort), if everyone did that then people would soon stop breaking the rules.

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by fletch

If people don't follow the rules in critique I tend to ignore them (unless they are new and clearly made an effort), if everyone did that then people would soon stop breaking the rules.

Exactly. I usually avoid responding to rules-ignoring posts. I figure that a moderator will probably be through with a gentle reminder soon anyhow, at which that post will be back near the top of the list.

[Gobae]

Originally Posted by fletch

You can ask both those questions in the critique section.

From what I've seen, the mods prefer MUCH more specific questions than that in the Critique areas.

[wulf]

The reason for the extra stipulations in the critique areas are:

1. To show that you've put some thought and time into your photo before expecting others to do the same

2. To give a starting point for discussion. Often the settings will suggest an obvious flaw (eg. a very high ISO, a very slow shutter speed and a blurry, noisy image). There is also a difference between photos of a unique event and a scene that can easily be revisited - you can't ask someone to ask their friend to get married again but you can suggest they get up early again and try to capture a sunrise from a different vantage point.

Wulf

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by Sterling

It appears, for the most part, that in the Share Your Shots section that there is an unwritten rule against any type of comments other than praise.

I'm not sure that the rule is unwritten for SYS...

This forum is the place to just share your shots that you are happy with and are not looking for critique on.
...
If you request critique on one of your threads, moderators and admins reserve the right to move the thread to a more appropriate location.

And I don't think there's much wrong with asking those more general questions that you mentioned in the critique section as long as you've given it some thought. I actually agree quite a bit with what Fletch said about it trying to stop the "dump / run look at me" posts. For example, a post like: "I was trying to capture the dark and moody look in this shot, but what's your overall opinion? Did I do that? What else could I do better?" is much more specific than posting up a shot with only "What do you think of this".