Advanced critiques welcome

[Boddie]

On my deviant art pages I have the option, when submitting an image, to request advanced critiques.

Essentially this means that I am inviting people to tell me what they think of the image, positive or negative and, hopefully, give tips and hints on aperture, ISO etc, should they feel that I may have got a better result had I tried a different setting.

Had I known, for example, that it is better to start at around F8 for my macro shots then part of the grasshoppers that I shot recently would not be out of focus (being as they were not exactly horizontal to the lens)

This is optional, so I choose which images I want to be critiqued, and which I do not.

Is this a possibility on WAB's gallery, and who would be in favour of it?

[dustyshadow]

Not sure if it would be possible, but I expect wildlife fans would be against a photograhic debate in the gallery, although I may be wrong.

You could post the image then start a thread in the Photography section asking for feedback, or ask Stu to start a new forum section for image feedback.

[Boddie]

Not sure if it would be possible, but I expect wildlife fans would be against a photograhic debate in the gallery, although I may be wrong.




I did suggest it be optional.

I just saw the gallery has a photo critiques section but it seems under utilised

[dustyshadow]

It may be possible with the current site software, hopefully Stu will let us know.

[DaiTheDragon]

I also would like critiques. Maybe you could put it in your signature so that people will know that you won't be offended.

Dai

[Boddie]

I think people are already aware that I am not easily offended by criticism

[Barbara]

I would certainly welcome any critiques on my images, I would only be too glad of them, if it helps me take better images then I would be all for it
Barbara

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by Barbara

I would certainly welcome any critiques on my images, I would only be too glad of them, if it helps me take better images then I would be all for it
Barbara

I would also welcome critique, but I aren't sure that this site is the place for it, after all we are primarily a wildlife not a photographic site. Fair enough we have a gallery and a very good one at that so in a way we are kind of photographic if you see what I mean. However that's only my opinion. I this does happen I would happily participate in it.
Roger

[SteveHL]

Is the Photo Critique in the Galleries not an option?
If you use it can you post into both the subject of the photo( ie Fungi) and the critique galleries?
That would keep the critique post out of the main galleries.
If it works and you can post to both I for one will be using it.
Regards
SteveHL

[GerryNick2]

Originally Posted by SteveHL

Is the Photo Critique in the Galleries not an option?
If you use it can you post into both the subject of the photo( ie Fungi) and the critique galleries?
That would keep the critique post out of the main galleries.
If it works and you can post to both I for one will be using it.
Regards
SteveHL

Your right Steve there is a Photo Critique section in the Gallery index along with unidentified etc. Currently there are only 4 images in it. To me this either suggests that majority of members do not require feedback on their photo capabilities or just do not know the facility exists, probably the latter.

Personally cannot see the need for any change to the gallery when there is already a facility provided for those who wish to use it.

Cannot see why you should not be able to upload a photo into more than one gallery. Just changing the file name on the second uploaded image should do the trick. Perhaps one of the Mods. could comment on this aspect.

Gerry

[Barbara]

What about, when uploading an image to the gallery there could be an option tick box if you wish to invite critique.
Barbara

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by GerryNick2

Your right Steve there is a Photo Critique section in the Gallery index Gerry

I though our current photo critique section was in the forums rather than the gallery , as a subsection of the photography forum.

One thing that puts me off a bit is on other sites I have seen people put an image up for "critique" then get all precious if you say anything even mildly critical,

I always remember being their when some loud mouth know it all asked andy rouse to "critique" his pictures, obviously expecting high praise and the rousemeister said "these are terrible" (although actually there were a couple of expletives in there too) Andy did go on to give some pointer for improvement but mr loud mouth was too busy nursing his hurt pride to listen.

To my mind there is no point in asking for critique if all you really want is for everyone to say "oooh your pictures are wonderful, you're so clever" if anyone wants to grow as a photographer they have to be prepared to listen to criticism. - and what puts me off the idea here is the potential for hurt feelings amongst community members leading to bad feeling on the forum as a whole.

[SteveHL]

Its a tricky one in that as you say Eeyore there is potential to hurt feelings.
I guess the solution is: If your looking for a "Oh what a lovely picture!" post it in the relevent subject gallery. If you want a gritique to help you improve your photography skills, put your Ego and pride away in a locked draw and use the information provided in the critique to try and improve your technique.
For those critiquing they must remember that not everyone will be at your level and we all have to learn and be encouraged to take a step up the skill level. It is therefor imperative that there is positive information provided to help improvement. A comment like " Oh thats rubbish , can't understand why it was even posted here!" wont help. Something like " Ok you've not got it right, but if you'd got down low to the ground and opened up to F12 you'd have got better Depth of field, and better shown the subject in its enviroment".
It is also imperative that the posted informs the readers what equipment ws used, settings and what they were trying to accomplish.
I've finished giving my 2p worth. I've been a memeber of another forum which is a nature photographic forum and it was very hard at first because a very high standard is required and the members have no problem telling you if you didn't make it, but by the same token there is a vast amount of info an d help avalable from the members. Its improved my photography no end.
Regards

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by SteveHL

Its a tricky one in that as you say Eeyore there is potential to hurt feelings.
A comment like " Oh thats rubbish , can't understand why it was even posted here!" wont help. Something like " Ok you've not got it right, but if you'd got down low to the ground and opened up to F12 you'd have got better Depth of field, and better shown the subject in its enviroment".

you're bang on steve as far as the sought of general critiques likely to be needed here , but for aspiring pros (like erm, me) even savage criticism can be useful - I am a member of a limited access pro forum ( not giving the url here because you have to be invited in by a pro level "sponsor" which i'm not,) this forum is totallly closed access and cant even be viewed without a password, which enables people to be pretty free with what they say, but I have found that if an established pro continually says your pics are "unmitigated and total ***** " when he finally does say , "yeah that ones pretty good" then you know you can take that to the bank

Also picture editors are far more nasty in rejection than even the feircest critic , I remember a rejection letter which said "these are unworthy of publication , please do not waste my time in this manner again" ouch indeed but it was sweet victory when the same guy paid me 200 notes for a cover picture - litterally punching air and dancing round office.

[Andy Warne]

Reminds me of my art class at college. At the end of our first year we each had to take our years work and go to see the teacher who was standing at the front of the class next to a large dustbin. He went through my thick pile of work one at a time chucking them in the bin, "No. No. That didn't work. No. What's that supposed to be? No. This one's okay, not worth saving it though. No. No...." Think I had about three pieces left by the end.

That kind of thing can be invaluable but I agree that it would be out of place on WAB. I'm all for constructive criticism and a little encouragement though.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Boddie

On my deviant art pages I have the option, when submitting an image, to request advanced critiques.

Essentially this means that I am inviting people to tell me what they think of the image, positive or negative and, hopefully, give tips and hints on aperture, ISO etc, should they feel that I may have got a better result had I tried a different setting.

Had I known, for example, that it is better to start at around F8 for my macro shots then part of the grasshoppers that I shot recently would not be out of focus (being as they were not exactly horizontal to the lens)

This is optional, so I choose which images I want to be critiqued, and which I do not.

Is this a possibility on WAB's gallery, and who would be in favour of it?

I have raised this issue previously as I do appreciate comments on my shots. I think there are quite a few people who would genuinely appreciate feedback but there are probably more who would not appreciate neagtive feedback. This is why the issue keeps turning up. Sending the images to a separate section seems inefficient to me.
To some extent I have sent messages directly to other photographers enquiring over their images or requesting their views on mine.

At the risk of being repetitive I would appreciate comments on my shots, and I will not be offended - I have previously been a member and President of Birkenhead Phtographic Society so I am quite familiar with feedback, even from Andy Rouse who is somewhat direct but you are left in doubt about his opinion!. Jon

[MalcolmX]

i think this option of critique is very dependant on how you view the gallery, in as much as there are i think 3 types of gallery postees
1 is the semi pro who takes wildlife either for profit or as a medium for the enhancement of his photography, essentially photography first wildlife second
the second type wants us to both appreciate his photography but essentially wants to portray wildlife at its best ,critique here is probably about getting better shots of wildlife rather than technically correct photographs
the thirds is the snapper who wants us to enjoy the same wild life experience they have and are not to fussed about the photograph ,here critique is probably has an adverse effect .
as some of you know i am semi professional shooting to order for calenders ,and in general i get enough criticism without wanting more so i don't post a lot of photographs ,i enjoy this site as a chance to keep in touch with the out doors whilst stuck in a factory ,i do think this must remain essentially a wildlife site with pictures and not a photographic site with wild life
i would like to see only specific requests for appraisal rather than a general expectation to criticise

[Alan]

Originally Posted by MALCOLMX

i do think this must remain essentially a wildlife site with pictures and not a photographic site with wild life
i would like to see only specific requests for appraisal rather than a general expectation to criticise

Ditto to that Malcolm..