I added a topic - a place where you can post a link to your blog if you want constructive criticism.

I want to keep that topic as just a list of names.

here is the link to the critical list.

the key thing is to keep a spirit of respect.

Is it just me, but I cannot find your post Julia?

I click on the link in your post and it's there - however, when I look through the 'Off Topic' list, it's not. ~Confused~

As nice as it is that there is a community with a social aspect, I notice how quickly that leads to a feeling of polite social obligations. I notice many people send a thank you message for every positive comment they receive.

Some people seem to put out hundreds of smileyface or 'great capture' type of comments every day, and I cannot believe they really look at all those pictures. When I get a comment of a smiley face (or these days, three smileyfaces) I delete it. I haven't been getting as many of those lately.

I am, in my way, a pretty reserved person, so here on photoblog, for the most part, the connections are about the photography for me.

I do agree; a smiley face or three does not help me. I tend to delete, also. I love it when someone tells me that they like a photo because of the foreground, or, as rolpa writes, "...interest added by trees in the foreground." Then I see something new.

I don't seek technical expertise from the comment, eidea, nor a great deal of time, or perfect communication skills. Just a sentence, or two sometimes, that says perhaps, "I noticed this in your photo."

Ummmm, I'm in agreement with both Julia and LF. I now delete every "thanks for the comment" entry in my guestbook. It has become tiresome and boring. It's not me being ignorant as I am always grateful for people taking the time to comment, it's just beyond a joke at times. I do understand that when it is possibly someone new as it can be used as a polite way of initiating contact...perhaps.

I do enjoy the social side of le blog, which I do not think one would get on larger photo sharing sites. I have come across some wonderful characters and made a few friends, whom I do hope to stay in contact with in the future. I (as my partner likes to occasionally remind me) can be a little aloof or as Julia puts it, a little reserved; it just takes me a while to warm to some people more than others...

;););)

Further to my earlier comment, I am willing to give critical feedback to others, however sometimes I do not feel there is a need. I don't think I could possibly do it for every shot, just as I said, when the need arises I guess...

I also feel some may find the art of giving feedback to friends a little difficult, however I do not honestly feel anyone on the list of bloggers willing to be critiqued and critique others would leave feedback that was in anyway insulting or upsetting. I think it's about being honest - we all know it's relative to the viewer, however if you feel something is right or wrong with the shot and you have advice on how that could be corrected/improved, I think then is the time when 'the need arises' to leave feedback...

An idea...

What about the people who want critique on certain shots put something like "critiqueme" as a tag?? Just a thought...

great idea - a tag. I wondered if "critiqueme" was french!

took me a minute to understand it was "critique me".

this could work as well - using the tag. you can move it from group to group, adding it to something new you're working on, and then, when you get enough feedback, moving the tag to a different group of images.

Thinking critically about someone's work takes time and effort. absolutely impossible to critique everyone or everything. like you said, Emma, it only seems meaningful to do sometimes, when something strikes you and you have something to say.

for me, for example, I have such an interest in people as subjects in pictures that I'm more likely to have something to offer to someone photographing people. because it's something I think a lot about.

I just want people who are looking for feedback to also be generous and offer feedback to others on the list.

Emma, you do the most breathtaking photography of natural subjects and still life (among many other things). though you are always kind, I'm sure you see a lot of pictures on the blog where someone has snapped a shot of something pretty, but without inspiration or attention to detail.

For me, even if I take time and thought, I wouldn't begin to know how to capture the delicate detail in the way you do, or how you process your images to bring this out. I would be excited to get feedback like that from you - maybe a suggestion or two of things I could try with lighting, processing, camera settings.

As fully fledged member of the JuliaGotz appreciation society, I must reply to this and say that it is the same with my shots of people...I too want feedback from yourself on this area of photography. You are without doubt the 'Queen of people photography' for me...

Although I take a lot of natural and still life images, which I am most of the time happy with, I still welcome and would like feedback on this area as I feel there is always room for imrprovement...

"constructive criticism" is a stillbirth. in general, most of the stuff you can't pronounce without getting your tongue twisted is ideological bullshit.

i therefore don't want it on my blog, no thank you. rather just tell me what i post is fucked up, freakin' beautiful or plain nonsense... i get more kicks out of that then any well balanced "your right edge of the picture is slightly more shiny then your lower left corner" bla bla.

sorry, posted that on the "name list" as well... what the heck.

Thank you for roaring/sharing.

I love the bluntness of your roar... ever true to character ...

Sorry for being ignorant. I keep going in circles between these threads. Is there a thread to exactly how it is going to work? I'd love to join in if it's for pics I submit. Getting critiques is essential to my growth as a photog.

I just wanted to add that I don't mind the smilies or minimal blanket comments. Sometimes a photo really moves me and I just want the person to know I saw it and loved it. Those three little smiley faces mean a lot to me and I wouldn't delete them for anything. When people write a thank you in my guestbook I've always looked at it as a gracious gesture.

I don't take offense to the small or big comments, nor do I take offense if my comments are deleted or people feel opposite as I do.

I think Mike is working on it, in his "spare" time. Meanwhile, did you notice JuliaGotz' suggested series of questions that you could post beneath your photos? She suggests asking:
How can I get better contrast?
Would you have cropped this differently?
Which photo grabbed your attention most?
Which do you think is the weakest in the set? Which the strongest?

Or something similar. People have been kind enough to write a few sentences about what they like and why or how I could improve something. I've learned a great deal in the past several months, and feel exhilarated when I can attempt a similar photo setting again, applying what I've learned.

Today was "aperture day" for me. Thanks to to rolpa or jajungal's suggestion -- no, it was kangshung's suggestion, I set the camera to aperture priority. This way I hope to understand the complexity of the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO and then improve my eye and...exciting. But I digress.

So, TheCrazyCroat, you're ready for feedback? One other thing; if your EXIF data does not show, you might want to include ISO, f/stop, etc. in writing, along with a request for constructive criticism.

Thanks LF! I'm definitely ready from some critiquing. It's essential to my growth as a photog. I did see Julia's suggestions, but was trying to figure out if something more definitive was decided.

I'll be sure and include my exif data. For some reason my watermarking program strips that info.

I'm so in agreement, because when I apply something new I've learned it's so exciting and a great step in learning.

Off to check out your blog! Thanks again!

@TheCrazyCroat, I truly didn't reply so that you would check my blog. I'm just thrilled every time I learn something via a comment and wanted to share that exhilaration.

LastFrontier, If you are learning and posting about it I learn. It's so dang exciting and I wanted to go running to your blog.

Never in a million years did I think your reply was anything but informative and kind of you to take the time. There's no way your post came off as a "check out my blog" post.

Thanks for the reassurance. Now, I don't know who or if others pay attention to this list, but add your name here, too.