Image Comments
 

Someone on the gallery has left comments on one of my images saying (too nice evening shots but do take part in acknowledging other people's work too) just like everyone on hear you can leave open the Critique Required? bit so other members can have a say. i look at his images & the Critique Required? is not open on any of this members images. my point is if you like something you tell everyone you like it. im not one for Criticising other members work but i will let any member no that an image is good or i like it. i have also informed the member that there is a forum to voice thing's not to blast someone's image. hes also pointed out but saying things like good image, well done, ect is just like been on facebook. not sure what this new member wants :confused:

archie, i believe the concern is that this forum is a very small one that seems to be getting smaller. as another new member i can usually count on 3 or 4 people to comment on my images. however there seems to be at least 8 or 9 people regularly posting images. it's not that they're not commenting on my images, they're not commenting on anybody's. it is frustrating when people post and run. as for the critique required, i try to remember to put something in there, but it is an extra step that doesn't always happen (maybe change this so a comment is required if we don't want a critique. nearly everyone allows critiques.)
i'm not asking you directly, archie, this is more of an open question to everyone - when was the last time you posted a photo and when was the last time you commented on someone else's photo?

I can appreciate that Stan is trying to wake us from our slumber and make the site more active. As I have said on many occasions I am one of the guilty for not making many comments. To be honest I rarely find the time these days to view the site and make comments. Today an example of working 11hrs getting things ready for a Trade show next week. I tend to use the number views as a barometer to whether an image has created some interest with people. Good to see people experimenting with different ideas. Nice to see some quality work from Clive this week. Now the dark winter days are starting to fade away maybe a few more will get their mojo kick started again.

Thanks Rob. It's the first time I've posted for about 12 months but I agree the site is shrinking & has been for a while. Sad to say that it's probably fallen below the critical numbers needed to keep it afloat. There just isn't enough activity to stimulate interest & keep people coming back. :(

Yes I'm fully aware of the direction the site has been going in recent years. In the beginning I made comments to Christine, Duncan and Andy about how the site was very slow to pick up. But with the keen interest of the likes of Don Hoey and his DIY projects the site picked up. It's unlikely we will get the same hit rate again with the general public interest in photography waning. Maybe if we all make a conscious effort to make a couple of comments a week on various topic it may make new members feel worth while to stay for longer. For the Gallery comments instead of saying good shot etc perhaps we should be more like Facebook and say "I like it".

I'm not sure this is the case Rob, although it maybe depends on how one defines photography. Facebook reports around 350 million pictures being posted per day & Instagram around 40 million per day. OK so you could argue with some justification that those posters are not interested in photography as an art form. But if you look at Flickr, which think has a much greater number of "photographers" they are still reporting ~50 million per month.

I wonder how much any lack of general public interest is do to the rise of the phone camera. Convenient, always with you, generally does a reasonable job of exposure & adjusting ISO to get a higher enough shutter speed make shape images. But actually creating interesting, creative images with a fixed ~30mm equivalent, fixed ~f2 lens is quite challenging. It much easier to create interesting images with a "proper" camera where you have more creative control. Without any training about how to creating interesting images (composition / angles / view points etc etc ) phone camera photography is like candy floss - instant gratification but no long term satisfaction - which maybe contribution to the waning interest to which you allude.

I have in mind to develop a training course to try to address the issue of boring phone camera photography - of course whether anyone enrols or not remains to be seen!

all I was saying is for someone to acknowledge other people's work not just put shots on and bypass other people on here we would like to know what I can do better and how to do better that's all I was saying,I'm sorry if that's got some people's backs up that is not my intentions
Stan

Stan I acknowledge other peoples work if I consider the resulting image to be worth commenting on, not just for the sake of commenting. However I must admit to being a little frugal in my comments of late, mainly due to my fading interest in photography. probably due to old age. Hopefully my interest will improve when Spring as sprung.

Harry

If you'd like people to comment on your work, then I suggest that, when uploading, you put something in the "critique required" box. Ever since someone took objection to some constructive feedback I gave that wasn't asked for, I don't generally don't comment - positive or constructive criticism, where the author hasn't indicated that feedback is welcome.

Hi Stan, I usually comment on things that catch my eye, I have no idea how to tell someone how to make their shot better,I just know I like what I like. I think everyone is still trying to better themselves,the learning never ends, just keep taking photos of what you like, and enjoy it...there is a critique section on the home page to get full on critique if there is anyone left here who still looks there, we don't have many active members anymore.

so the group is not what I was expecting it to be so as far as I'm concerned it's not for me bye
Stan

with the attitude of some of the members I can understand why it's not been very good
you might as well just put love it on everything because that's all I want

stan, you've been on this site for less than a month and twice already you've decided your work can't compete with everyone else and you delete everything, including all of the comments, advice and criticism you already have. it does put some people off from giving you feedback of any sort. why should we take time out to tell you something if you're just going to delete it? just because you've gotten criticism doesn't mean you have to agree with it, however you have to have a good reason as to why you disagree with it. not all criticism is right for your images.
i've told you some easy, basic things like leveling your horizon or staying away from hdr because it's decreasing your contrast but you continue to make the same mistakes. you have the potential to be a great photographer, you just need to learn the basics. everyone on here started where you are right now. this site is not a competition or a race, it's a group of people who can help each other grow regardless of their experience or skill level.

Well it looks like Stan has packed his bags and gone for a second time. Did anybody managed to work out what he was expecting or was it a just childish sulk ?

Clive raises the question what do we define as photography. Well I don't call photocopying your bum photography although techically correct. Yes a big shift to mobile phone cameras and I know a few people who attempt to use it in ways other than selfies, groups of mates down the pub or holiday snaps. However in the group I follow on Flickr I see far less activity over the last year or so.

My question really is to ask what is the future for this site. Are we so stuck in the mud or is there room for change in direction. To be honest there are times when I feel it is time to pack up and shut shop.

what? photocopying your butt isn't photography? well there goes my 4 years of university down the drain. :D

i don't think photography is declining so much as sites like flickr, 500px and forums are declining. there are a ton of groups on fb, and you can post as many photos on there as you like so your photography and nonphotography friends can see them. most of the fb groups are full of fights over who's is bigger and stupid beginner questions about how to turn on a $5000 camera because they're too cool to read a manual. i've had better luck with the local photography groups on fb, people remember they have manners and human decency because they're afraid they'll run into each other offline. but then you miss out on views of the wider world. personally, i prefer forums.

that's why i left his images alone his critque box was never open. & also i got the same from another member many moon's ago. for a comment on a picture, (he said many thanks for my comment but i didn't ask for a critque.) its easy to comment on an image but also easy to upset someone.

i was confused because it seemed he kept asking people for critiques. he didn't think "nice picture" was enough. maybe it was a lack of punctuation though, sometimes i had trouble figuring out what he was saying.

?????I am confused by it all, I missed a lot of it,didn't understand why he got so upset,obviously didn't want critique.

He complained that people only posted and did not comment. Then he said his images were not good enough and removed them. Basically his photos were OK but a few tweak and a bit of forethought before pressing the shutter goes a long way. I said his action were a bit rash and then he asked for people to be honest about his images. A number of people offered suggestions which he seemed to take on-board. Then he throws his toys out of the pram as you can see above.

The issue is how can we persuade fresh blood to stay ?

Trena, I thought that it was quite clear that Stan did or did not want people to make, or maybe not make, favourable or unfavourable comments or perhaps not to so do on his or other people's (but not exclusively either, but definitely one or the other or none of them, but possibly both) images that they may or may not have posted. Hope that that explains it all.

haha Mike, perfectly clear now,thankyou.

Rob, yes we definately need to encourage and keep new members. (lol ,we would say "he spat the dummy" ) or "took his bat and ball and went home"

I think that sums it up in a nutshell :D

thanks for the laugh, i loved this! :D

And the cat came back the very next day ?

obviously none of you were listening what I was trying to say end of

Stan, we were listening, but just couldn't make head nor tail if it.

rofl :) ....

end of
end of
end of
end of
Is that enough now let it rest now ok