Less critiquing, more just looking/liking?

After being gone for several years from POTN, I came back after getting reacquainted with my camera. (New lenses will do that to a person.) Maybe I'm just old school, but I remember the norm being lots of individual threads, more often than not with constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. This was one of the main reasons I liked POTN so much before and why I came back again. However, it seems I see fewer threads, although there are more shared ones a la "Post your best blanketyblank". Now there's more just looking, liking and moving on. Is it just me or is this just the evolution of another form of social media? I don't want to monopolize the C&C forum, but I honestly am disappointed when I post a photo in a photo sharing forum (even asking for C&C in the text) and I get no feedback. "Likes" are nice, but I can't use likes as a tool to make me a better photographer.

That being said, I am grateful when I do get suggestions and help. I just wish there were more of those types of responses.

The social media mindset of quickly moving on might be to blame, yes. Then again, sometimes one doesn't have much to say. Or maybe all your images are winners and hardly need any critique .

Ha - don't I wish. We're all usually our own worst critic, but I know I'm not that good. I'm one of those that took a photo of a brick wall and thought it was interesting - maybe the brick wall is, but my photo is definitely not.

Here's a post from yesterday that got no responses.

https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=18088910&i=​i107910105

Well, you've got one now.

No comments is critiquing. If here is nothing in the photo, nothing is to say about it.

Based on my total lack of any artistic training I have come to the conclusion that there are two types of photo. Documentary and artistic. Documentary ones rely on their message/meaning, while artistic ones rely on their aesthetic qualities. (Obviously images can be a mix of both types as well). Documentary images rely on the viewers existing connection to the subject matter - a place I have been, a person I know, a politician I hate, a moment in history that interests me. Artistic images rely on the aesthetic qualities of the image itself. A person with no existing connection to the subject will get more out of an artistic photo than a documentary one.

I think one of the reasons you aren't getting any comments is that (at least in relation to the images posted in that other thread) the photographs are quite documentary in nature. You are showing me what I would see if I stood there, not what YOU see artistically. As such the image relies for it's appeal on any existing connection I have (which is zero). Photography is so ubiquitous now that we are awash with photos like this that millions of other people are taking/posting all the time. As such, if the viewer has no existing connection, they don't stand out from the crowd and people don't really consider them comment worthy.

People also have a limited bandwidth to comment (given the overload of images available). Your images have to either be really bad or really good for them to invest their limited time. There is also the issue that many people react badly to any critique that isn't overwhelmingly positive, so people tend to shy away from offering proper constructively negative critique.

Hey, I'll join in!

I will say that POTN has been a great place to frequent over the years! A few reasons: 1) It's a great place for sharing and getting valuable info and inspiration, both regarding photography (of different sorts) and also regarding the "stuff" we use, both the gear and also the post processing tools we use (what some us call "The Digital Darkroom"). 2) POTN is a great place to talk about all this stuff. In that sense, it's what you could call a "Photography Social Network". In that sense we are inclined to be friendly and, supportive toward each other, rather than being focused on criticizing and fault-finding... 3) POTN is indeed a great place for sharing photos! Heck, we have super photographers who share, active professionals of various fields, people of a strong "artistic" bent, and then, likely the majority, those of us to whom photography is a passion, but not a profession or an artistic "specialty" (although that can come with growth), but we all like to Share, both our photos and our thoughts, and we are often not interested in the "C&C" side of things...

And then, you ask about the "C&C" aspect. Well, yes, people do post and ask for "C&C", sure, and that's great that people are looking to improve! My one practical suggestion would be to spend time in the Critique Corner here:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=12

People in that sub-forum do take such stuff seriously, check it out...

Also, there are threads devoted to Post Processing topics, found in the RAW, Post Processing and Printing forum here, topics covering a range from straight RAW processing to producing Composites, and everything in between, and we have some active discussion in those threads...

But as to photo "Sharing", in sections such as the "Landscapes" section that you posted in, well, I'd say the fact that we've leaned toward being a friendly and supportive gang rather than a bunch of died-in-the-wool critics pretty muchspeaks for itself...

So, if you want serious C&C, like I said, check out the "Critique Corner"!!!

I do think it has changed since the software changed...i think if youre looking for interaction, or CC, then the talk forums are better for that

I think the OP has a valid point. On Flickr there used to be a time where other users would comment on your pictures if they liked them, now they just 'Fav' them. Then again, back then the comments would mostly be "nice shot" which also doesn't really help you improve.

I tried using some of the Critique groups on Flickr but stopped after a while. The problem with most of these groups is that most of the users are only interested in getting critique, not giving it. But as the guidelines of the groups ask of you to give critique to, the users seem to pick a random picture and write critiques like "I don't like that faded look" or "You did not follow the rule of thirds", just to be able to claim the right to critique on their own pictures.
Again, this really doesn't help you improve much.

Wow.. that became a bit rant'ish

David duChemin had the topic of giving and getting critique in two of his Vision is better episodes:
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=x5XnebHYPzw
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=ptrgWll_DEQ

I think he is right about trying to find someone who understands what you are trying to do with your photography better, but how?
Maybe POTN should have a forum that could help photographers find a "counterpart" or set up "mentor"/"mentee" pairs?

In many cases I think that the problem is that Photographers don't know what they are trying to achieve or why and so finding a partner that understands them is impossible.

sued5320 wrote in post #18090151
... I honestly am disappointed when I post a photo in a photo sharing forum (even asking for C&C in the text) and I get no feedback. "Likes" are nice, but I can't use likes as a tool to make me a better photographer.
.

Alveric wrote in post #18090154
The social media mindset of quickly moving on might be to blame, yes.

Pekka did that to potn when he gave in to the requests of the masses and the pressures to be like other social media.

True, there is no growth potential whatsoever in a "like."

POTN used to be a place of advice, growth and improvement. And I am glad I was here while it was - I improved because of it. It's what made POTN so popular. It is sad when those who manage things forget where they came from and what put them on the map in the first place. Still is a place of growth, but certainly not to the degree it used to be.

It is what it is, and there's nothing you can do about it except find another forum where people still take the time to communicate and help each other and not just press a button and move on.

Speaking only for myself, I only comment/critique on pictures that the poster earnestly wants feedback on.

It has gotten to be commonplace for someone to offer feedback or opinion on the photo only to have the poster respond with something like "I wanted it to look that way (ex. out of focus, blown out highlights, messy background, whatever). Some posters want their ego stroked thinking their photos are always great but the shot is average at best. What looks good to some doesn't necessarily look good to all.

Having said this, it has gotten harder to determine if the poster will accept feedback or blow it off because their feelings got hurt.

If you want to try a different place for critique, enter your photos into a contest. Normally, but not all the time, the feedback you receive is worthwhile if you accept it.

Don't let it bother you if nobody responds.

Gart

Normally, I only volunteer critique on posts in the Critique forums and/or where the original poster is asking for it. Images posted in the Share & Enjoy, I assume that the photographer isn't looking for advice nor wanting any critique, and there I just either 'like' the images or make a small comment if I like them.

As for the 'like' button, I use it mostly as a '++1' post to shew that I agree with someone's comments, for which I find it useful to keep the number of posts down.

Just for the smile value: Great Photographers on the Internet ; )

People get offended.

I often want to give my honest opinion because honestly a lot of photos on here are below average but I am worried that the person will take it too close to hearth.