Is it impossible to get valuable critique on such a forum?

Ok I think the OP asked a good question and basically i agree withthe original point. In general C&C means I'm excited about my new camera. Here is a picture of <blank> please say something nice about it

i have seen good C&C here recently but not a huge amount. I'm an occasional visitor and I'm as guilty as anyone else. I haven't offered C&C here, but I felt it would be unwelcome

Now for a history lesson

Years ago there was more activety on this forum and alot more photos. Here is the thread i started after my first holiday with my D70s in 2007. The same old story, new camera excitement

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/1968334

I think I got quality feed back and that thread started a journey for me. I think I've come along way. You can look at my Flickr site and judge for yourself. C&C welcome, no really.....

Technically that thread broke DPREVIEW rules as it was not really about the camera.

Some time after that Morris who commented on that thread was band for starting threads with nice pictures in. As I understand it Morris still is the bigest poster on Dpreview ever so I think that was big deal. He commented every photo thread on this forum.

As  a result of Morris's treatment this Forum was set up on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon_d90_d40_users_group_/

Lots of the regulars moved over. Its still going. We have published three Blurb books. Loads of meets have happened and if you ask you will get C&C.

Jkond's still post here and he is still good at giving real feed back. But I'd say now Flickr is a better place for feedback

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/