Critique - A proposal to members

I like the idea Paul.

I do make comments but not on everything, again like some have said it's due to not being a catagory i've explored/have experience with so feel unable to comment technically, but would be more prepared to leave comments with some simple guidelines to assist. I've learnt so much in the few months i've been here, more than i've learnt in the last couple of years to be honest.

I love all comments and crits from anyone and everyone as everything helps in the learning process.

I like the idea of the points scheme too, as limiting the number of uploads/posts means i'm likely to be able to get round to commenting on more than i do at present. Tend to get overwhelmed with the number to view since last visit etc. It will also help us less experienced to approach leaving comments with less fear of not knowing what to say and a way of encouraging us so we can post more of our own shots.

I've found the smallest of comments i've made have been appreciated by the person who posted and if i feel there's something that could be improved but i don't know how technically, i just say that i hope one of the more experienced bods can assist with the how-to bit, which generally then happens too.

With regards to loading and not posting, i only load shots for comment and crit as i feel that's what the site is for, to learn from others on how to improve, and over the time i've been here, it's working.

Big hugs to all, this is a tough area and look forward to seeing how we can all work together to improve it

Hi Paul,
Is excellent an idea, I am completely agreement with this good news formulates, the fact of critic each photograph of each memeber.They shows us our defect of quality or our point view, or it is necessary to work more on the quality of photograph, then it encourages us has to better do has to advance in the catch of photograph. Nobody is perfect... One needs to be made critic by OTHERS memebre is thus one progresses in the life

One should not be timid! me = same I speak and I writes ENGLISH as a little porky!!!! I leaves very well

Cheers~~

Ivan!

Hi Paul;

Although I am relatively new here I think in order to keep the interest going, the critiqueing of images is amlost mandatory. I spent 4 years on another site, and had limited success in getting people to critique, mainly because they felt inadequate to do so. This is not true, because everyone sees an image from a different perspective, likes or dislikes, etc., and that is what people what to hear. If they are unsure about technical aspects, they can at least give some sort of emotional response to the image, not jus great, amazing, good stuuf, etc. They should ba a little more descriptive.I came across a "Guide" to critiquing images on another site. I posted it for all to see. I did not claim that I wrote the article, but since it was on a public site I saw no harm in posting. I feel that many people can benefit from it on this forum so I am posting it here. If you do not feel comfortable with this, or it's not appropriate plse let me know, and remove the post.

Critique - For members information.

Some people think they don't know enough about photography to write critiques. This isn't true. To write a useful critique, you need only three things:
- a reasonably decent monitor to view the photos
- at least one functioning eye
- a desire to help by writing honestly and constructively
If you like a photo, then say so. Tell the photographer what you like about it. Tell them how it made you feel, or what it made you think about. Very often, the most technically-proficient photographers are the least able to express their feelings about a photo, so people who can do that are particularly valuable critiquers.
If you see something that you don't like about a photo, then say that. You can't be wrong. If you don't like something about a photo then either the photographer intended it to be that way (in which case you simply have a difference of opinion) or the photographer didn't notice it (in which case your critique will be enlightening). If the photo looks dark then say so. Maybe the photographer intended it to be dark, but so what? If you don't like the darkness of it, then probably other people don't as well, and the photographer should be aware of that.
Some things that you may want to consider:
Effort: Has the photographer made full use of the facilities at their disposal? Or, are there things that the photographer could have improved with a little more work? Does it look like the photographer made an extra effort to capture the best possible image under the circumstances, or did they just go with what was in front of them?
Color: Was the photographer's choice to use or not use color sound? If they used colour, does the colour contribute to the image, or would it have been more effective in b&w? If its b&w, does that help to focus on the essentials of the image, or are we missing something important? This will always be a subjective judgement, of course, but hearing other people's opinions on this is often useful.
Spatial positioning and composition: Please, please, please do NOT just spout standard photographic guidelines as if they were the law! The rule of thirds, for example, is not an instruction handed down from the gods - it is a handy guideline to what will often work well. For some photos, a centred composition will be perfect and using the rule of thirds would ruin it. So think about what works in this case. Does anything look squeezed up against the side of the frame? Are there big open spaces around the edges that could be cropped out? Is there a clear subject that occupies the majority of the frame, or is the subject unclear or small and surrounded by irrelevant material?
Direction of attention: What do you see first in the photo? Is it the right thing? Do you have to hunt for the subject or does it stand out? Is your eye drawn to objects in the background, rather than the subject, or do you look to the edge of the frame, expecting to find something that isn't there?
Focus: Is anything in focus? Is it the subject or something else? Is the depth of field appropriate? Is the subject contained within the depth of field or are parts of the subject fuzzy? Are there distracting elements in the background that are in focus which would have been blurred out by a wider aperture? As with composition, remember that there are no fixed rules. Think about what works or doesn't work in the case of this particular photo.
Exposure: Is the photo properly exposed? Are there details both in the highlights and in the shadows, or are there large "blown-out" highlight areas or "blocked-up" shadow areas? Again, blown highlights are not necessarily wrong. If you look at sunlight reflected in a glass window, what the eye will see is a white area, so there is no reason at all why a photo shouldn't show the same thing. Sometimes blown highlights can be used to good artistic effect. As always, don't parrot rules, think about how well things work in this photo. If the exposure is biased towards light (high key) or dark (low key), did the photographer make a good choice?

Sylmac

*standing up at the back of the class; toes pointed inwards; waving sheepishly and lamely to the rest of the class*.

I've been hearing comments about 'those' who are only uploading but not into the critique section. Me thinks, 'those' are me. The only reason I use that feature is because...well, hell!, it's there...AND it fits my quirkiness to a 'T'.

Besides being quirky, I can also say that I am flexible. I'm not bootlicking--but Paul, I can't express enough, how I appreciate your strong leadership, without being pompous. Whatever it takes, I also, want this site to continue to grow and to flourish and to avoid pitfalls that may have befallen other sites.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm agreeing with Diane. (lol)..keep it simple.

For awhile, I was part of PhotoSig, where it is clearly understood that you are there, primarily, for critiquing; give 3 critiques and then you have the priviledge of uploading one of yours.....very simple and extremely effective. When I and some friends joined up there, it was so refreshing to be in a place where the expectations were clear and simple

I haven't even read Sylmac's comments yet but it looks like us 2 Canadians on opposite sides of the country were writing our opinions at the same time. I'm sensing something cosmic here...LOL

Paul, When I first joined the site a few months ago there were only a few pictures posted for critique. Now it seems that people (mostly from another site that is closing down and I stopped using the this very reason) are posting as many as ten or more at a time. Some are worthy of a critique, but most seem to be snapshots which should not be there. To make a decent critique is time consuming and it is impossible to do it for everyone. Some way of limiting pictures for critique is required and your suggestion of credits for comments seems a good possibility as long as it can be automated.

Just my 2p worth. Rex

Paul,
I can see what you are trying to achieve but I'm just a little concerned that less experienced members may feel they are not qualified to comment. Even I feel a little nervous critiquing a shot that is better than I could do. That said, I haven't got a better idea so why not try it and see.

__________________
Martin Megson

Canon EOS400d

Paul~
I think same if there is photograph which its step has their place in this site it is necessary as same to encourage them everyone the right has to better do has its same chance a photograph which am worth anything… It is necessary regards it as a photograph....It will be an FeedBack for 2 words or more or can be small a gest by a sign~~I am for~~~ ~~~

I have to agree. I think I am one of those from the other site that you mention. While I was there I very seldom posted images in the gallery for a specific critique. I uploaded most of my images to my general gallery. I did this for 2 reasons (1) I found that too many images were posted for critiqueing to actually get one, especially a good one. (2) Most people scanned the general galleries, and posted their comments there. I suspect that it was because most felt that they were to inexperienced to make a good critqiue, they did not want to bother, or they really did not know how. I feel that if this is going to work, a memeber should be limited to how many images he/she can upload for specific critiqueing, but unlimited uploads to their general gallery.

My 2 cts worth.

Sylmac

Paul,
I have read all the comments and agree with most. I also like the idea of allowing only one image per day - it is too time consuming to scroll through dozens of images and then give an intelligent(hopefully!)critique on each!
Another 'concern' I have is that I often feel 'moved' by an image and want to leave a critique, but don't simply because there are already several, and I feel I can't really contribute anything further to what has already been said ....
In my own case, I really NEED my photography critiqued seriously - I am hungry to learn and have found comments so very helpful - as well as reading comments left on other's photos.
Thankyou, Paul, for such thoughtful ways to improve the site ... it is much appreciated (even tho I'm just a 'new kid on the block'!).
Lenita