Posting guidelines/suggestions for Critique Corner

I like to browse through the Critique Corner every now and again. I learn a lot from the photos and from the comments made by other forum members.

However, I would suggest that a lot more could be learned and comments could be more meaningful if we were to all include EXIF information with the photos to be critiqued.

Often the question is asked, what could I have done different? It is hard to say without some idea of what you have actually done! It really doesn't take that long. At minimum, post the Tv, Av and ISO. Preferably include the focal length and the lens used.

If you want serious critique, then put some effort into the submission.

Me thinks this calls for a poll....

I don't know about "Mandantory" but I do think that this information would be helpful to all, even those just looking and not making comments.

Your poll is very poorly designed and flawed. Your basic choices are mandatory and no. You should have added a choice of "voluntary" also. The poll seems to be skewed to force a victory for "mandatory" which I think is obviously reflected in your text explanation of the poll. Forcing such restrictions would discourage some from posting. Participation should be encouraged, not discouraged.

The problem with including the metadata is

1) if an image is posted with metadata online, then chances are it has to be hosted outside, due to size restrictions on attachments. The data takes up a significant chunk of the image. Compressing the image enough to attach it with the exif data intact usually will cause the image to suffer.

2) The poster could extract the information as text and paste it with the image, but many aren't that computer literate. I'd say its completely optional, and besides... Unless the poster of the image has a question related to shooting information, does anyone really need to know the image was shot at f/5.6 versus f/6.3 when critiquing a shot?

Well, the reason I went "ALL OR NOTHING" on the post is so that if it is mandatory, then hopefully at least MOST people would post some info.

As far as having to be computer literate... at least in windows (and I am sure MAC wouldn't be much harder), simply right-click on the image and select properties - advanced and voila, all the info is there (at least enough).

"...does anyone really need to know the image was shot at f/5.6 versus f/6.3 when critiquing a shot?" Well maybe not, but f/2.8 vs f/8 does tell a lot. So the EXIF data is relevant. I think most people shooting with dSLR's at least pay some attention to the shutter speed and aperture when "creating" a photo. Snapshots are obviously something different. I would hazard to guess that there are a lot of P&S users who pay attention to the shutter speed and/or aperture when they shoot and post in the Critique forum.

Really, if you want educated critique, then why not give up all the info.

4walls wrote in post #2540332
Well, the reason I went "ALL OR NOTHING" on the post is so that if it is mandatory, then hopefully at least MOST people would post some info.

I doubt it will ever become mandatory to post Exif information.

That said I think is it a good idea to include the Exif information when posting the photo. Most of my photos include the Exif information in the border of the photo.

4walls wrote in post #2540332
Really, if you want educated critique, then why not give up all the info.

I don't think the point being discussed is whether or not the data is helpful. I think the point in question is your suggestion that it be mandatory, and to reword what you said in your original post: post it or else (you won't get helpful or serious critique).

That type of dictitorial/restrictiv​e ultimatum is alienating, exclusionary, and discouraging to everything potn is trying to provide in the exchange of ideas, and antithetical to potn itself. /Dan

4walls wrote in post #2540332
Well maybe not, but f/2.8 vs f/8 does tell a lot. So the EXIF data is relevant. I think most people shooting with dSLR's at least pay some attention to the shutter speed and aperture when "creating" a photo. Snapshots are obviously something different.

...

Really, if you want educated critique, then why not give up all the info.

So, are we critiquing the final image, or their technique? Why not also make it mandantory to detail every single step of post-processing they applied, including exact parameters in the camera raw coversion (If they used camera raw)? Why not stop there? They should also be required to submit their current monitor profile and quality of calibration as well as their working color space and proofing settings.

Most people when they post an image for critique are looking for an opinion of the final product, unless they were specifically asking about a particular technique. And I'm sure they'll supply the relavent information to anyone who asks.

As I stated before, it should be optional. I'd rather the person posting the image use the best compression settings they can, rather than compromise the image by including extra data that may require them to reduce the quality of their images. A quality sample is the best way to a "educated" critique, not a mediocre sample with the metadata intact.

MRaiford wrote in post #2540399
So, are we critiquing the final image, or their technique? ...
Most people when they post an image for critique are looking for an opinion of the final product,

Those are accurate points. I was actually going to say that in my first post, but decided not to. To quote the main menu of potn, Critique Corner is defined as:

"By posting your photos here you are specifically requesting comments, advice and critique of value and merits of both photos and the photographer."

Which at least to me, references the final image. Discussions of DOF, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc. are encouraged and sometimes necessary and helpful in the discussion and critique. They can be discussed when relevant, but should not mandated even in cases where they may not be relevant (poor composition, for example) /Dan

It's meaningless to make something "mandatory" unless you have an enforcement method. What's your enforcement plan? Have a moderator delete posts that don't have EXIF data? Have them delete responses to posts that have EXIF? Pout at anybody who dares to post without EXIF, or who dares to respond to posts without it?

Your reasons for going "all or nothing" aren't very defensible, either. Regardless of the outcome you desire, it's not fair to eliminate reasonable alternatives that others might choose. I suggest that if you're interested in a fair vote, you repost with other choices such as "voluntary", "in response to requests", "as text", "if the poster considers the information relevant", etc.

My own experience is that most people post the information they think relevant. Beginners are much more likely to omit EXIF--but then, beginners are precisely the people who are least likely to know HOW to include EXIF. I suspect that a polite "Did you shoot that wide open or stopped down?" is more likely to produce desirable results than an unenforceable "mandatory" policy.

It should only be posted if the poster is having problems with photography or is not getting the look he/she is looking for.