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I don't really care which section this is in. Maybe it is just human nature, but this is a photo forum. It is frustrating when you are trying to learn and nobody says anything. Then a 12 year old, who shall remain nameless, starts asking about kids picking on him and the thread has 10 pages of responses.

Then again, nobody is forced to say anything. I for one, am relatively new to photography (3 years), so if a picture looks more advanced than I am capable of, I assume the poster doesn't want to hear from me. But if it looks like a newbie pic, I usually chime in.

mckinleypics wrote in post #12263648
I don't really care which section this is in. Maybe it is just human nature, but this is a photo forum. It is frustrating when you are trying to learn and nobody says anything. Then a 12 year old, who shall remain nameless, starts asking about kids picking on him and the thread has 10 pages of responses.

Then again, nobody is forced to say anything. I for one, am relatively new to photography (3 years), so if a picture looks more advanced than I am capable of, I assume the poster doesn't want to hear from me. But if it looks like a newbie pic, I usually chime in.

NO NO NO NO, if the photo looks more advanced than you are capable of, SPEAK UP! talk about it, think about it, reflect on your feelings about it, because after all, THIS IS ART people. then ask about it, ask the poster, ask other forum members.

never be afraid to ask questions- if my degree taught me anything, its never stop asking questions!

I figured I would hear that but seriously, some of the talent on here is ridiculous. It would be like telling Tiger Woods how to putt.

The proliferation of dSLRs in society is completely mirrored here on POTN as witnessed by the pace of posting. There is so much stuff being posted so quickly that often times, a new thread can get shoved lower almost in a blink.

One thing I'm seeing more and more though: Images are being posted with a disclaimer that runs along the lines of "Straight out of the camera, didn't have time (or couldn't be bothered to take the time) to process this." Well if the images aren't compelling enough for you to take the time to make them the best they can be, why should I take the time to comment on them when they're obviously half baked?

If people truly want "hard core" C&C, there is a section for that and it also never hurts to flat out ask for it either. By and large, relative experience level shouldn't matter. If you like something, say so. But, put some meat on your comment. Don't just yack up "Nice Shot" and move on. Even if you have no clue as to the technical requirements that made the shot work, there was obviously an aesthetic quality to it that hooked you so say something about that!

Jeff25rs above me makes a good point regarding how repetitive critiques can become. So many people who are new to photography and/or new to POTN could learn a lot by just taking a stroll through the different sections before they post an image or start a thread. If they'd apply just some of what they discover by doing some reading, there would probably be a lot less of the same basic errors over and over again. And by basic errors, I mean crooked horizons, dust spots, cropping out bits and bobs around the edges of the frame, simple composition adjustments via crop, etc. Stuff that can be seen and understood without any graduate-level help.

So that's my $0.02 worth...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12264836
The proliferation of dSLRs in society is completely mirrored here on POTN as witnessed by the pace of posting. There is so much stuff being posted so quickly that often times, a new thread can get shoved lower almost in a blink.

One thing I'm seeing more and more though: Images are being posted with a disclaimer that runs along the lines of "Straight out of the camera, didn't have time (or couldn't be bothered to take the time) to process this." Well if the images aren't compelling enough for you to take the time to make them the best they can be, why should I take the time to comment on them when they're obviously half baked?

If people truly want "hard core" C&C, there is a section for that and it also never hurts to flat out ask for it either. By and large, relative experience level shouldn't matter. If you like something, say so. But, put some meat on your comment. Don't just yack up "Nice Shot" and move on. Even if you have no clue as to the technical requirements that made the shot work, there was obviously an aesthetic quality to it that hooked you so say something about that!

Jeff25rs above me makes a good point regarding how repetitive critiques can become. So many people who are new to photography and/or new to POTN could learn a lot by just taking a stroll through the different sections before they post an image or start a thread. If they'd apply just some of what they discover by doing some reading, there would probably be a lot less of the same basic errors over and over again. And by basic errors, I mean crooked horizons, dust spots, cropping out bits and bobs around the edges of the frame, simple composition adjustments via crop, etc. Stuff that can be seen and understood without any graduate-level help.

So that's my $0.02 worth...

This is a good point and comports with something I read on here a year or so ago that has stuck with me. Only show/keep your best work. Of course, as a beginner, your best work keeps getting better. It amazes me how bad some of my earlier shots are that I was so proud of at the time. My ever-more critical eye I owe to this forum. It is a fantastic medium for studying the very best photos and learning to discern good from bad.

The beginners, however, must start somewhere and, after doing their best at PP like you say, should feel free to post and get feedback. I see no harm in the occasional "bump" to bring a thread back up on the list if there are no comments after a day or so.

Perhaps a beginner critique forum may be appropriate?

aemravan wrote in post #12263609
Although I understand where you are coming from (op) and have made an effort to motivate the posters with 0 replies with atleast a casual comment, i will say this:

I have come to a conclusion that if you have 0 replies and a lot of view, or a very small amount of replies, you are on the right track and are doing something right. Keep shooting and you will perfect your skills to a point where your pictures are on par with the rest of the brilliant images that some of the members share. If you are recieving a lot of positive feedback... well before you even post you images you already know that you are very highly skilled and enjoy the fact that people love seeing your work, the comments therefor are just there as a token of appreciation for the excellent execution.

thats just my opinion....

I just take it like, I am so bad no one wants to make me feel bad lol. and i feel if its not a pretty girl it doesnt garnish much response

Having been a judge in photographic competitions back before the internet as it is was around I was expected to pick apart an image for faults to determine the winner. I can find faults all over my own images and seriously doubt you want my views. Multiple hits on your images and minimal negative input should tell you good things about your images. Keep it up and enjoy.

I am used to nobody posting on my pics....No big deal, just do like I do and comment on your own pic, then respond to your own comment...Keep it up and before you know it, you will have a couple pages of posts

pprice wrote in post #12278117
I am used to nobody posting on my pics....No big deal, just do like I do and comment on your own pic, then respond to your own comment...Keep it up and before you know it, you will have a couple pages of posts

^hahahahaha.

Joe Ravenstein wrote in post #12266464
Having been a judge in photographic competitions back before the internet as it is was around I was expected to pick apart an image for faults to determine the winner. I can find faults all over my own images and seriously doubt you want my views. Multiple hits on your images and minimal negative input should tell you good things about your images. Keep it up and enjoy.

Since last September I've been a member of a local photo club. It has 200+ members and weekly meetings. At the meetings we typically get 100 members in attendance. No joke. They often count and announce.

Once a month they have a competition with printed and digital images. There are multiple categories, and usually in each category are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards, along with honorable mentions. While some of the judges are awful, some are very good. The very good ones will discuss the good points of a photo and then make suggestions on what is wrong or weak with a photo, and what one might do to improve. Occasionally a judge will admit a genre isn't their specialty and will suggest submitting the photo in a later competition. Over the year I've received two honorable mentions.

When I post c&c on a photo now, I will tend to do so on photos I find to be striking to me in some way, whether they have 0 responses or 20. I will praise the good, offer constructive comments on the "less than good", and make the occasional suggestion for either improvement or simply a variation on what the photographer did.

Thanks for posting in my thread OP. I too was wondering the same thing. My thread has a couple hundred views but only a couple responses.

It seems like when people post in G&N rather than People, there are always tons of responses.

bmurf wrote in post #12321433
It seems like when people post in G&N rather than People, there are always tons of responses.

I can't say that that would be terribly surprising. Putting something you've done out there and not hearing anything can be discouraging, but that can happen. I'm sure it helps too to comment on other threads and get your name out there in the community...

maybe i should post on G&N, but there's some weird protocol you have to follow before they even let you post feedback.

that said, i've posted some photos on here that received no comments. then i'd post the same photos on FM and they'd get lots. reverse has also happened. i also think that the time of day you post matters. most of the guys want to see pretty girls at night (i think). so sometimes i coordinate it that way.

i also think a lot of it has to do with the initial comment. after that, suddenly everyone wants to throw in their 2 cents (usually, it's just rewording what the first comment said)

i think one tip that might be useful, is to talk about your photo like it mattered to you. people want to help you out more if you do that.

It's a good and valid observation. I've had a few threads that have just gone dead - I think it's a timing thing, nothing else. Once a photo is passed the first one or two pages, the chances of a thread picking up a comment are diminishing. I usually give it a week before I go back and post another shot in the thread.

People post to get feedback but the with the volume of threads being started (with many excellent photos), it's inevitable that some threads are going to be missed. I don't think a gentle bump does any harm. We should all try and comment more (including me)