Photo Critique Proposal

[Curt Firestone]

This is a forum discussion site is created to discuss the proposal emailed to you as drafted by Bill Gardam.  It will be on the agenda of our Sept. 14 meeting.

 

In brief summary:  Bill is suggesting that the Forum section of the website be utilized as an area for "for serious critiquing of images that are specifically submitted for this kind of evaluation."

 

Curt

[Doug McMillin]

It sounds like a great idea. We should see how it flies, as they say.

_________

Here is what was sent out by e-mail, just for the record:

Proposal: Establish a ‘Photo Critique` section of the website.

Since the very beginning of the club the main page gallery has been an arena for a variety of functions. We joke, encourage our friends or new members with positive comments and socialize. We have learned to avoid negative or personal comments. All good stuff that should continue. A club has many functions however and it is easy to skip over the serious desire of members to improve the technical and aesthetic aspects of their photography. I suggest that it is time to establish a use of the ‘forum’ for serious critiquing of images that are specifically submitted for this kind of evaluation.

A ‘request for critique’ image can be examined more thoughtfully using our knowledge of cameras and composition. Comments may not always be totally positive but should be constructive. Our aim is to help the person submitting the image rather than to put them down, to share all our diverse areas of expertise and for all of us to think about what we are doing and become better photographers. This is a place for the use of technical terms and knowledge.

This use of the ‘forum’ section would not affect any other use. Peter posted a piece the other day about where does photography and art fit together and drew a lot of comment. A request would involve posting a photo and if possible some technical and background  information about camera settings and what the photographer was attempting to communicate.

[Tom James]

I am also in support of the idea. It is nice to hear positive feedback, as is usually the case with our current critique of submitted images, but constructive criticism would go a long way to helping us all to become better photographers. We may not always agree with the comments made, but at least we would see things a different, or several different, perspectives.

[Trudy Sloan]

Great Idea. Would we post the photo here?

[Curt Firestone]

As I understand Bill's idea:

The Photos area will be used for any and all photos and general comments would still be ok.

The Forum area would be used for posting photos where constuctive critique would be given

All discussions would occur on the blog section.

 

Is this correct, Bill?

[Ernie Westlund]

If we use one single forum thread for this purpose, with lots of photos posted, it will be quite messy. I suggest that instead we creat a group for the purpose. And anyone who wants to submit a photo for critique will open a new forum thread in that group.

 

So far, we have not really used the group function. So I have been thinking of disabling the groups. But this may be a purpose for which a group would work well. It should, of course, be open for all members.

[Patricia Page]

I like Ernie's idea of forming a group for this.  We will have the dilemma of "where shall we post this one?"  As a general comment, I thought that was what the original photo page was all about.

[Doug McMillin]

Further to what Pat says, how do we critique differently in the suggested forum/group, in what way different than on the main page? Tougher and rougher? In a more intellectual way? The same way, but saving 'long-winded' discussions for the new forum/group, so as to keep the main page comments brief?

[Arjuna George (AJ)]

I am all for more critique and an opportunity to learn and share.  I am interested in this concept, it may get more exposure to remarks that can improve us.  Thanks, good idea.  AJ

[Avril Kirby]

I'm all for it, and the group idea seems to be a good one, considering we're not using the groups for anything else.  Will we still limit ourselves to one per day, and choose whether we want real critique or otherwise? Seems to me with the size of our membership and the number of images that get posted daily, that might be a good idea.  I have the feeling that it will be up to the more experienced photographers to do the serious critiques. I know that I, for one,  don't have the knowledge to help with the technical end of things.  Feels a bit daunting, but I think it will be good for all of us.

[Ernie Westlund]

I want to make clear that a group is only a way to gather forum discussions concerning a special topic (in this case advanced critique) in one place, and not mixing them up with discussions on other topics. It is like creating a special little box, with its own forum, just for (in this case) advanced critique. An advantage may be that only members have access to the groups (I know some members does not like the Forum to be public).

 

The members who want critique does not upload their pictures to the main page. Instead, they go to the group, open a new forum discussion, and then upload the pictures in the forum posting. This will not affect the right to upload a photo the same day on the main page.

 

Those members who are not interested in following the critique discussions simply don't go to the critique group. That way, they don't have to bother with the stuff, and they don't have their main page messed up with new discussions concerning critique.

[Chris Lihou]

I think it an excellent idea. Constructive technical critique can help us become better photographers.  It will be great if those with the skills in the club are willing to offer this service. Additionally, I think constructive artistic critique offers another point of view that might in turn open up creative possibilities the photographer had not seen/imagined. Such critique need not be the preserve of those who are technically skilled.

[Elehna de Sousa]

As I will not be at tomorrow's meeting, I would like to offer my input here regarding Bill's proposal.

YES! Some serious peer critiquing is something that I have hungered for in this club. Mostly on the technical side of photography, as that's where my learning curve is the steepest. In terms of artistic input, I believe that much of that is subjective but yes, it's also interesting to get feedback from others and to be able to see from another perspective. 

So, yes, yes and yes again! I'm all for it. ( in case it's not clear).