Who wants some 'real' critique?

ivar

Okay, so it is hard sometimes to get a lot/useful/helpful/... critique on a forums; That's because of a lot of reasons, but a lot of people (seem to) want more critique.

So, besides all the normal posts, I'm thinking maybe 'spotlighting' one or two posts a week and seeing if we can give those some extra critique-love. The refinery is meant to be similar, but very few people-people seem to frequent it :dunno

By critique I don't mean listing all the things you think are bad about, but I mean giving your honest opinions, good and bad, including helpful tips & tricks if you have them.

Everyone who wants some extra constructive critique (should be just about anyone?) let me know either here or by PM and I'll stick your posts.

Everyone is able to play, and please remember not to give the other threads less attention.

To quote Kinkajou "go comment on something and spread the love!"

met

Great idea!

Art Scott

The Refinery...............isn't that where the real and straight forward and cut to the bone critiques are
supposed to be????? I am just saying ..............

kdog

Art Scott wrote: »

The Refinery...............isn't that where the real and straight forward and cut to the bone critiques are
supposed to be????? I am just saying ..............

Yeah, why reinvent the wheel?

anonymouscuban

Honestly, I think the Refinery sucks, at least for people shots. It doesn't get much traffic to begin with and the people that do frequent it are mostly into landscape shots. Every portrait I've posted there gets the same type of reply... "Well, this is not my type of work but I think it's pretty good". However, isn't that what we do here already when we ask for feedback. I know it's typically the same people that post real feedback but I doubt that will change by creating a sticky thread. Just my $0.02.

OTH, what I do love and think is a great idea is the "What did you do" and "Before and After" threads that have recently been created. Those are cool and great learning for all of us!

ivar

Art Scott wrote: »

The Refinery...............isn't that where the real and straight forward and cut to the bone critiques are
supposed to be????? I am just saying ..............

No, it is not actually. It is A place for critique, but not THE place for critique.

kdog wrote: »

Yeah, why reinvent the wheel?

Nothing is going to be reinvented here; All I want is to jumpstart the replies and critiques a bit; No special rules, etc. Just like it has always been here, just hoping for more.

anonymouscuban wrote: »

Honestly, I think the Refinery sucks, at least for people shots. It doesn't get much traffic to begin with and the people that do frequent it are mostly into landscape shots. Every portrait I've posted there gets the same type of reply... "Well, this is not my type of work but I think it's pretty good". However, isn't that what we do here already when we ask for feedback. I know it's typically the same people that post real feedback but I doubt that will change by creating a sticky thread. Just my $0.02.

OTH, what I do love and think is a great idea is the "What did you do" and "Before and After" threads that have recently been created. Those are cool and great learning for all of us!

People seem to want more critique/replies here at the People forum (and others). Sometimes people seem to think that the Refinery is the only place to get that. Also, posting in the Refinery doesn't always work for that; Sometimes people-shooters don't get out of the people forum. Sometimes people seem to be afraid to either post there, or critique there.


So, hoping to get some more critique/replies, I'm going to stick one or two posts for critique. It seems that once a more lengthy reply has been given, it generally results in more posts. Either because people are less afraid to say things or they can reply to (one of) the replies. That, I hope will result in more critiques in general; I could write a lengthy reply to all posts, but I'm trying to find a way that the forum doesn't depend on anyone (me or someone else) to keep going/improve. If anyone has other/better thoughts, I'm listening!

eoren1

Hi Ivar
I appreciate what you are trying to do...get more people critiquing. I think this is an issue site-wide and proposed a possible fix in the dgrin support forum but it essentially went nowhere. Here is the thread:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=175009
I still think this would generate more input on a given photo with less 'work'. It will at least offer something to those posts that fall to page 2 with only 1 reply.
E

anonymouscuban

E...

I read your other post. It's very similar to another forum I frequent. At that forum, you can give the photo a thumbs down or up to 3 thumbs up. You earn points that entitle you to post more pics. Your critique of other photos can also be rated with a thumbs up/down and you earn points for that. Critique points are valued higher than photo points. Therefore, the more you critique, the more photos you can post.

I'm not saying we should have this exact system. Just pointing out that other sites do something like this.

eoren1

I definitely would not want to see points used to limit the ability to post photos. But I do think that the thumbs/points system would make it easier to rate a photo and may drive more comments/critiques in time.

Agnieszka

I think it would be a great idea. There are always comments like "I think you've done great", "love the image", but very rarely people take their time to point out the goods & bads. I think if we would have a couple threads highlighted, it would make us all force to rethink the photo and see if / what we would make better, or what exactly we love about it, so we can learn from each other. I know many of us don't have the time nor desire to type up a long reply - and trust I know I've posted quick replies also. But it would be nice to see what other people have to say that are interested in the same subject.

divamum

Count me IN - the most useful replies are those with serious criticism along with suggestions for how to make it better.

I think the dgrin Challenges forum strikes a really good balance - people definitely offer more than "great photo!", but always in the spirit of constructive criticism and improvement.

And may I just say HOW MUCH I have benefited from the people in People who have taken the time to really dig into my shots and give me a swift kick up the proverbial booty when I needed it - Nik, Angie, Scott Q, Heather, ChatKat and many others, many of whom are busy working professional photographers who took the time to help me improve. I am forever grateful.

l.k.madison

divamum wrote: »

Count me IN - the most useful replies are those with serious criticism along with suggestions for how to make it better.

I think the dgrin Challenges forum strikes a really good balance - people definitely offer more than "great photo!", but always in the spirit of constructive criticism and improvement.

And may I just say HOW MUCH I have benefited from the people in People who have taken the time to really dig into my shots and give me a swift kick up the proverbial booty when I needed it - Nik, Angie, Scott Q, Heather, ChatKat and many others, many of whom are busy working professional photographers who took the time to help me improve. I am forever grateful.

110%!!

count me in, too!! I'd love to hear some critique!

b08rsa

So what ever happened to the "Whipin Post" forum?

anonymouscuban

b08rsa wrote: »

So what ever happened to the "Whipin Post" forum?

Still around but they changed the name to "The Refinery". It's talked about in several posts above.

reyvee61

Count me in too...
I totally agree that the refinery has not worked as far as people shots go....
So would you make stickies for those that wanted more serious critique?

ivar

reyvee61 wrote: »

So would you make stickies for those that wanted more serious critique?

Yes, I'm going to sticky a few posts tomorrow to see how it goes

briandelion

Sounds like a great idea. Count me in three!

reyvee61

With bells on I'll be waiting.....

du8die

So - how do you actually get feedback now? For example, on the 14th, I posted two threads with new photos I've taken. I specifically asked for feedback. Here we are, three days later, one has 150 views and another 100, with not a single comment. I've had this happen before, where I've had to bump a thread with a comment like "wow - these must suck" to get any response. I don't like doing that, and didn't this time around. But it makes me not want to post stuff, if it's just going to be ignored.

ivar

du8die wrote: »

So - how do you actually get feedback now? For example, on the 14th, I posted two threads with new photos I've taken. I specifically asked for feedback. Here we are, three days later, one has 150 views and another 100, with not a single comment. I've had this happen before, where I've had to bump a thread with a comment like "wow - these must suck" to get any response. I don't like doing that, and didn't this time around. But it makes me not want to post stuff, if it's just going to be ignored.

</rant>

I just stuck one of your threads for some extra critique (put it in the title as well) <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/deal.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >