Critique - A proposal to members

**Paul** · #1 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 03:46 PM

As the site is growing steadily, it gives me the opportunity to see how the site is being used and most importantly absorbing feedback from members either in the forum or by PMs sent directly to myself with concerns about parts of the site.

There is an amazing new feature that is on the books for the future which is going to give a massive WOW factor to all members to help with personal photographic development. It's really exciting but I'm not going to let the cat out of the bag just yet.

Firstly, one very important area of the site really needs to be sorted out first which are critiques and a way to encourage members that don't usually leave comments to do so. After all, posting critique can be a valuable part of development as well as receiving critique on the photos that post.

The proposal (based on a PM from Ric a while ago but left us because of nobody was commenting on his images) below is nothing more than a proposal at this stage I'm looking for feedback from our members to make sure I'm doing the right thing for the community. I'm putting forward this proposal to everyone as it would be a radical change to the gallery and the way images are uploaded just as AutoPost was when that was introduced.

The Proposal

1.. Make the galleries sole purpose a repository for you to upload images for critique only! The gallery has never really been a photo sharing gallery and as there is a very large amount of images there that have not been AutoPosted for critique, this is making the gallery feel very open ended! This stage will see every single photo in the gallery that has not been AutoPosted for critique removed as part of a big initial clean up.

When this step has been done, we will then be left with a gallery who's main purpose is indeed for critique and photographic development and all images that remain will only be images that members require feedback on.

2.. Every existing member and every new member will receive 10 credit points. For each photo you upload, you will spend 2 credit points.

3.. For each critique, viewpoint and constructive comment left against someone else's photo you will receive 1 credit point. Providing 2 valid comments/feedback on photos will provide you with the ability to upload another image for critique.

4.. A new special team will be created and made up of respected regular members that will be able to issue credits based on the comments. A team will be required to do this manually so general responses and chit chat posts are not credited incorrectly.

This is just an idea, a thought and a possible solution that will provide our community with much fairer system to encourage members who don't normally leave critique to post comments. We are really missing many members viewpoints and we need to see them to help us all learn more.

I know it can be frightening for members who are a little shy when it comes to commenting on others photos but we will also put together a guide to help them with some pointers to make it quite easy. If anyone has time to put a guide together regardless if we go ahead with the above or not would be fantastic. Please PM me if you are able too.

Providing critique can be a valuable part of the learning process and it would be incredible to see comments on every photo uploaded for critique.

OK, that's the initial proposal and I'm ready to take on board your feedback, thoughts and suggestions!

**Ogofmole** · #2 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:18 PM

I like the idea of this, but it would be a very time consuming job for the person/s nominated to issue credits. would it be possible to have a icon for that person commenting on image to click if they are leaving a comment on the image, or not to click if they are just chatting as we do.

Pete E · #3 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:19 PM

Paul, I for one am very much for this idea, as the main reason I joined "this" site was to gain valuable critique. As it stands and from my own personal point of view, the site is in danger of going the same way as others that may of us belong to, in that there are small groups of critiquers (If such a word exists) that will comment on each others work & leave every one else out in the cold.
If this were to be introduced, then this would stop this from possibly happening and keep a bloody great site fresh & on its toes.
Pete

**Paul** · #4 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogofmole

I like the idea of this, but it would be a very time consuming job for the person/s nominated to issue credits. would it be possible to have a icon for that person commenting on image to click if they are leaving a comment on the image, or not to click if they are just chatting as we do.

Yes that is what I intend to do, each post/comment will have a special Quick Credit option. All that is needed by the team is to click the button and the credit is awarded and it will also be visible to the team if credit has already been awarded.

In terms of team size this could be anything up to 20 strong and team members will be chosen based on previous critique participation. A good strong team should make the process a lot time consuming.

**Paul** · #5 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete E

Paul, I for one am very much for this idea, as the main reason I joined "this" site was to gain valuable critique. As it stands and from my own personal point of view, the site is in danger of going the same way as others that may of us belong to, in that there are small groups of critiquers (If such a word exists) that will comment on each others work & leave every one else out in the cold.
If this were to be introduced, then this would stop this from possibly happening and keep a bloody great site fresh & on its toes.
Pete

Thanks Pete, this is one of my fears too and I can see it happening right now. I hope there will be a positive outcome from this proposal and a good thumbs up from members as we do need to address his area quite quickly before it impacts the site negatively beyond recovery.

steve.milner · #6 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:32 PM

I am in 2 minds about this.

I don't offer much in the war of helpful advice, since I don't consider I have enough photography experience for it to be valuable, and hence I don't offer much.

However I do value the advice of others.

I worry that any system that limits people could have an overall negative effect on the traffic to the site, so we must be careful not to kill the site off in the process.

Perhaps you should limit the number of posts to the gallery to 1 per member per day. Then how about a rating system that allows you to "DIG" or similar the comments made by others and these points would increase your daily posting allowance.

100+ - An extra post per day
500+ - 2 post per day
etc.

This would encourage the use of advice while allowing the others with less confidence still to make active use of the site.

Just an idea?

Steve

Dennyboy · #7 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:36 PM

The main issue i see is already identified when it starts off serious critique and ends up having some fun(not saying its wrong by the way because if the site is to serious people will leave as well)i have seen photos not posted for critique i thought were amazing and couldnt say so!

If you just want a place on the Net to put your photos you can use Flickr or any other reputable provider. I personally put all mine on Flickr with a link here to them if someone wants to go look as several people have. I put mine on here because i want comments and want to improve.

One issue i can see is volume, sometimes someone posts 10 images at once but the new system would only allow 5 so you have to offer critique to get points to post more.

Would we not see members who are too shy leave???

Rambling here but will help as always even though i havent got a clue how??

**Ogofmole** · #8 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:42 PM

Agree with Dennis here, there have been quite a few images that I would have loved to comment on, but they were not autoposted. I also post a lot of images on Flickr and link them directly into a post here.

**Paul** · #9 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve.milner

I am in 2 minds about this.

I don't offer much in the war of helpful advice, since I don't consider I have enough photography experience for it to be valuable, and hence I don't offer much.

However I do value the advice of others.

I worry that any system that limits people could have an overall negative effect on the traffic to the site, so we must be careful not to kill the site off in the process.

Perhaps you should limit the number of posts to the gallery to 1 per member per day. Then how about a rating system that allows you to "DIG" or similar the comments made by others and these points would increase your daily posting allowance.

100+ - An extra post per day
500+ - 2 post per day
etc.

This would encourage the use of advice while allowing the others with less confidence still to make active use of the site.

Just an idea?

Steve

Thanks for the feedback Steve and a good idea. If we go with the proposal it will be done with members with less confidence in mind and make things extremely easy for them to leave feedback.

One of the things I had in mind is maybe something like a standard template, really easy stuff so members can fill in the gaps. I want to help members get the best out of their photography and I know that members who currently don't leave feedback, when they do and start to get into that mindset they will learn so much.

Again, good idea and something for me to think about while collecting all feedback especially before making any decisions.

There is still a lot to think about

**Eos1nrs** · #10 (**permalink**) 14-03-2008, 04:46 PM

I agree with the changes that need to be made to ensure the progression of the site. I will put my hand up as one who makes plenty of chatty remarks, one that i have tried to address recently. occasionally i make PMs to members when i feel that i want to make more personal crit..mainly idolising some of their work.
In terms of shots not getting critique, the ones i dont comment on prob fall outside of my experience or its a subject that doesnt really hold my attention..not always helpful but i wouldnt know what to write against an image that just isnt inspiring me..
One rule some flickr galleries have is post 1, comment on 5 etc.
I have taken the time to look round the member list pages and find that there are some members that join up, poss to look at something and then never bother taking it further..Also, flooding the galleries with more than 5 shots in one go prob doesnt help either i feel so i am all for something that limits daily posts for critique. but i hope that wouldnt deter anyone from posting at all...
Andy