How about a little consideration....

[opus]

As Gary mentioned, I've always pointed out to people that any time you view "who's online" at any given moment, you'll see far more guests and Google Spiders looking at posts, than members. Each time a search engine indexes your post, it counts for a view. As well as guests who may have found your post during a search for "baseball" or "sawed off shotgun" or something completely unrelated to photography. So I never judge by "number of views" how many members are *actually* looking at my photos.

Here's what I've done over the time I've been here. Most of my shots get very few comments. Usually when I've posted them I've been rather excited about them for some reason, and when I'd get NO comments, it was disappointing to me. I needed validation. I needed feedback. So what I'd end up doing was waiting awhile, (weeks and weeks!), then revisiting my shots. If they still thrilled me, then I knew I was decent and I gave myself the validation. If they seemed much more mundane than I thought, then I figured I knew the reason why nobody commented. The picture was only average.

I still go through my file of pictures I've posted on a regular basis. As time goes on, some of them still thrill me, I know they're some of my best, even if I got few or no comments on them. And others, I cringe that I ever posted them.

FYI, I haven't posted anything for critique in months, and I haven't been to the critique boards in as long. I just don't have time to formulate cohesive thoughts about others' work right now.

[swmdrayfan]

Thanks Kelly and Gary for adding your sentiments. This is a very good forum. Many outstanding photographers with much to say. I intend to stay and keep posting. I may not always know what I'm talking about, but I'll try to contribute anyhow.

[payn817]

That's my problem, is either I don't know what I am talking about, or feel that my view is so out of the norm, that I'll look stupid. I like things that are very different, and typically have nothing to add to anything that is common.

I do not get alot of responses myself, and know exactly why. It is simply because everything I post here is either new technique, or sometihng I am not sure about (so either mundane, or just horrible). Like you, I feel it is important to be well rounded, and know many aspects of photography, no matter what my personal type may be.

Most of these people started shooting many years ago, and us new guys got some learning to do before we can add anything beneficial.

[CLKunst]

That's my problem, is either I don't know what I am talking about, or feel that my view is so out of the norm, that I'll look stupid. I like things that are very different, and typically have nothing to add to anything that is common.

I do not get alot of responses myself, and know exactly why. It is simply because everything I post here is either new technique, or sometihng I am not sure about (so either mundane, or just horrible). Like you, I feel it is important to be well rounded, and know many aspects of photography, no matter what my personal type may be.

Most of these people started shooting many years ago, and us new guys got some learning to do before we can add anything beneficial.

I DISAGREE Payne! ;)

EVERYONE has something beneficial to share! It's called unique perspective and it is the Crux of the Biscuit, so to speak. To illustrate I'm encouraging my local photography workshop folks to come out for a digital SLR "Shootout" this Spring. A two part class weekend where we spend the first day shooting it out in a confined area and then spend day two in live critique of everyone's results. This follows the whole point of how unique your perspective is and if you put 100 photographers in a room together no one will come out with exactly the same thing. Someone may say 'I have that exact same shot." but it isn't. It may be from the same place and have the same color or background but it's not the SAME shot. Don't repeat, reconsider, then add your perspective.

[payn817]

You are right!

I guess perhaps it was stated wrong, but if you read the beginning of my reply, you'll see why I feel that way.

If someone posts a photo for critique, and *I* don't like the DOF (for example), but everyone else thinks it is technically correct, then most would say (or assume) I have no clue. If we critique a photo based on our own tastes and expectations, then you are correct, we can all offer something. However, (and this seems to be the case) if we are attempting to be technically accurate, most of us newer people have nothing more than "great shot, etc." to offer.

That being said, we have had great discussions on some works here, and they usually are very informative, and give us an idea of how others perceive our work.

[readingr]

or feel that my view is so out of the norm, that I'll look stupid.

Hmmm! out of the norm? Have you read some of my comments in here? I'm lucky the Institution hasn't; otherwise I'd be straight back into the straight jacket ad rubber room :-)

Seriously though, as you get older especially having run loads of business workshops you realise that there are no stupid ideas or points of view, you may chose to reject them but they are valid to the person making them so don't hold back; and you never know if its the gem that person is looking for. I won't hold back, if I disagree with a comment you'll know about it, in a polite way I hope.

Just to answer some of the points raised in this thread, I am at the moment guilty of browsing and only sporadically adding comments to photos that I think my comments would benefit, i.e. I will not just say great, or repeat a comment. The reason is that I am running at 200% of capacity in work (the cusre of the IT business) and get little time to do any photo's justice, and I haven't picked up my camera in weeks or even looked at some of the pictures I last took.

However, I do try and comment on anyone's photos not just people I have seen and got to know on this site. I will also add my interpretation of a photo to help the photographer to see what my warped brain sees where I think it needs it.

So please don't be offended if you only hear from me infrequently or you have to wait a long while for me to respond, its purely work getting in the way of the things I enjoy.

Hopefully at the begining of January 2006 work will ease off to only 130% allocated.

Roger

PS. appologies if any of my comments offend anyone as they are sometimes very rushed and not properly read and spell checked before submiting.

[swmdrayfan]

I think this is working out pretty good. Everyone who's responded has added weight to the thread, and with any good exchange of dialogue, people step back and consider what the others have said. My attitude has changed significantly, and I'm becoming more aware of what I need to do to become a better photographer, as well as really looking at what others are trying to convey thru their photos. I've stopped letting my ego take a bruising if I don't elicit a lot of comments, and that is worth a lot. By the same token, I've become more active in viewing the work of others. I'm feeling more involved on all fronts.