Time for Retirement.

19andrew47 said:

19andrew47 wrote:

Have been away for a day, so no chance to respond sooner. The number of responses to image posts may mean something, or nothing. Hard to tell. If you post a great image you will likely get some responses, but even that is not a guarantee. I didn't start responding to image posts here until I saw a post from another member of this forum lamenting the fact that no one had responded to a thread he had created to post an image. The image was in fact a nice one, but no one had commented. After seeing his comment, the only comment to his thread at that point, I felt compelled to post a comment and from that .... As stated by others, many more people look than comment.

I don't participate in the challenges. There are usually many very fine images in them. I shoot images of things I like hoping to get an interesting result. If it appeals to others, great, if not, I still like it and that is why I took the image. When you enter a competition you need to accept that others may not share your sense of enthusiasm for what appeals to you.

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19andrew47 said:

I took photography 'classes' several times very many years ago along with reading books on the subject. I am not sure I learned anything I didn't already know in the classes, but these were almost 'club like' in that there was critiquing and viewing of images involved and I found that part interesting and while I didn't think I was learning anything, I probably learned more than I thought.

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19andrew47 said:

I mostly don't provide suggestions to people unless they ask for it. Many others follow the same pattern. Photography is very personal and what appeals to one person does nothing for another.

Thane, you have to make the decision you think is best for you. If you look at the images others post here that gather positive feedback it gives insight into what others find appealing and that can be useful in providing directions to pursue. I continue to benefit from viewing the images posted by others here in this forum as well as the other forums I visit and participate in.

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19andrew47 said:

Best regards,

Andrew

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BarryRS said:

BarryRS wrote:

Let me add my voice to those urging you not to get discouraged. I'm also one of those who, regrettably, rarely participate by way comments and I suspect that, like many others, I don't feel I have developed the capacity to analyse what I like or don't like about a photo well enough to give a constructive critique.

My contribution to the forum is now pretty much confined to the fortnightly Oly challenges. I know it can be a bit disheartening sometimes when you've entered something which receives nice comments and in the end just gets a consolation Honourable Mention. It has happened to me lots of times! In that case, lacking any other input, I try to be as self critical as I can. I know we're only a tiny bunch who contribute to the Oly challenges but I really believe that, in contrast to the DPR challenges, since they force you to go out and take photos within a restricted period of time and often put you outside of your comfort zone, they can help you improve what you produce. I think that many of the present contributors to these challenges and those who for various reasons no longer participate would concede this point.

I am also not in the market for new gear and don't have the know-how to contribute to the gear posts, and since we lost Bill Turner, whose posts I would always eagerly look out for, I don't spend so much time with the forum. Fortunately there are still a few, like Bill, who have something worthwhile to say so I haven't given up on it yet.

Hope you'll stick around for a while!

Cheers

Barry

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Zindanfel said:

Zindanfel wrote:

Zindanfel said:

OlyChamp wrote:

Time to convince me otherwise? I have been a part of this forum for nearly two years and generally contributed through:

Images in Bootstrap Scapes, Monochrome, C&C and Weekly DSLR

Images in my own threads

and

Competitions.

Lately (past few months) I have found very few (2 or less mostly less) answering any posts I make where images are involved and that's proving hard to swallow.

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Image posts. I think the best way to encourage meaningful responses is to request C&C in the title, which I have noticed that you do. The response rate may be better for posts that cite specific points on which comment is desired. I think that often you also do this. These can help kick-start potential responders' thinking. When images are posted without C&C requests, I think that often people pass by or at most post a quick and "safe" attaboy so as to avoid needlessly wounding egos.

Also, rather than group reply to all responders after days go by, individual replies to commenters can help keep your post bumped up for better visibility. (This also strokes the commenters' egos.)

Zindanfel said:

On top of that I have had 1 image make top five in competitions and it's got me to thinking I am wasting my time shooting images for others to see and is giving me serious doubts I am cut out for this art.

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Challenges. My take on these is that they are social exercises. I enter a few just as community events and to be a credible voter and group participant. Imo, winning/placing is not especially meaningful, partly because the samples and the numbers of voters are small. Actually I'm pleased with middling-to-low finishes for my own entries because in a way that confirms to me that I pursue my own vision.

Zindanfel said:

I know the buzz here is on new gear around the corner, which doesn't concern me as I will never buy new gear so I don't enter into those debates. My focus is on the photographic image, mine and others, and accordingly that has driven my desire. That drive is waning.

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Gear. Some of the gear talk is interesting and educational, although breathless anticipation of "new" is often heavy in the air.

Zindanfel said:

Hopefully this thread will rekindle my desire but I have a very good feeling it won't make me change my mind.

Thane

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You've been a good influence and a good neighbor here. Images from your fresh eye are always welcome stops on my forum visits.

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highyoyo said:

highyoyo wrote:

I think by their nature the threads that have a specific gear type in the name tend to be more gear oriented. But this is not the only place to post on DPR.

Go to the threads focused on a specific type of photography, e.g. Portraits, Landscape, etc. and you will find a LOT of discussion. You will also very likely find a lot of familiar names there that used to post here.

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highyoyo said:

What I suggest is that next time you want to post a photo, post it in both places - in this forum and in the related theme forum. You will probably be pleasantly surprised and likely to get more meaningful "content" based comments as well.

Threads here seem to invariably turn to gear discussions and I think because of that some may not feel free to post as freely on just the merits of the photo.

I come here and mFT forum for gear discussions and the theme related forums for photo discussion.

But regardless of what you decide, you're the only one your photos have to please.

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dave gaines said:

dave gaines wrote:

Aloha Jan,

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dave gaines said:

If it's a fair Challenge vote, the names should not show under the photos nor in the edit mode. They should be hidden until after the voting.

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dave gaines said:

I do see lots of photos that place well which do not meet the Challenge theme. People seem to post anything and garner votes enough to win. It leads me to think the vote is biased and partially based on a voter's perception of the photog'.

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dave gaines said:

I haven't seen a good way to raise this point before. If I ask the question during the Challenge, after people have posted photos, it affects the whole Challenge. Rather than spoil anything, I just don't participate.

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dave gaines said:

I got a lot out of the Challenges we had on Oly Talk forum when they were running. It was always a learning experience and taught me to look for various methods, attributes and compositional tools in my photography.

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dave gaines said:

--
Dave

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OlyChamp said:

OlyChamp wrote:

I realised this morning that I was burnt out. Not health-wise, not photographic-wise, but work-wise. I have just completed a month of work where I had only one two day period off and I'm supposed to have four of them. So today I phoned in sick (sick and tired) and am giving myself a chance to do things for me today (hence posting in C&C and commenting) and getting things done around the house that have been in procrastination stage for so long. And I am starting to feel refreshed and renewed energy and vigour. Such a simple thing really.

Thank you all for posting your responses, thoughts and suggestions. I didn't get to answer you all separately but know your comments were taken well and helped to make my decision today.

On a separate note I did read the headline banner for this site and it does state :

" to discuss Olympus E series digital SLR cameras and lenses"

and does in no way state that images are allowed. So all the Gear Posters, keep posting and thanks for letting us Image Photographers time and space on your forum .

Thane

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John Byrne said:

John Byrne wrote:

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Roger Engelken said:

Roger Engelken wrote:

Roger Engelken said:

OlyChamp wrote:

I realised this morning that I was burnt out. Not health-wise, not photographic-wise, but work-wise. I have just completed a month of work where I had only one two day period off and I'm supposed to have four of them. So today I phoned in sick (sick and tired) and am giving myself a chance to do things for me today (hence posting in C&C and commenting) and getting things done around the house that have been in procrastination stage for so long. And I am starting to feel refreshed and renewed energy and vigour. Such a simple thing really.

Thank you all for posting your responses, thoughts and suggestions. I didn't get to answer you all separately but know your comments were taken well and helped to make my decision today.

On a separate note I did read the headline banner for this site and it does state :

" to discuss Olympus E series digital SLR cameras and lenses"

and does in no way state that images are allowed. So all the Gear Posters, keep posting and thanks for letting us Image Photographers time and space on your forum .

Thane

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daddyo said:

daddyo wrote:

You've been a pretty sane staple on this forum for some time, and your input has helped and blessed many here -- including me.

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daddyo said:

Sometimes we just need a change of routine to jump start us again -- it's the way we are wired.

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daddyo said:

One suggestion regarding an alternate site to check out, is BetterPhoto.com. While it is to a great extent geared toward on-line photography courses, it also offers inexpensive galleries and a free monthly photo contest with civil feedback from members regarding images you enter. It is definitely not a gear-driven site like DPR, it is all about creating better images.

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daddyo said:

Regardless, I hope to see you continuing to post on this site as you feel led -- and that definitely includes posting your images!

God Bless,

Greg

www.imagismphotos.com

www.mccroskery.zenfolio.com

www.pbase.com/daddyo

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John Byrne said:

John Byrne wrote:

Thane,

Good to hear you are feeling more positive about life in general.

I haven't chimed in here before this because I wanted to consider some of the things you have had to say and to read the various responses from others here as well.

It is definitely OK for anybody to post their photos here and for any reason they see fit to do so.

One of the major factors about receiving comment and critique on what you post in this forum is to have the capacity to categorise the level of expertise of the person offering that critique. For instance, Col Baxter made the point about the quality of photographs adjudged as winners in some of the challenges, photos with blown hi lights, oof, off topic etc etc (I've seen quite a few too), so I wouldn't be placing too much faith in the photographic expertise of those who voted these as winners. Best to simply ignore, turn the page and seek professional opinion.

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John Byrne said:

There have been many occasions I have suggested that you read books from professionals and those who are generally regarded as expert in their field. With digital photography I find it imperative that anyone of us has to understand the basis of exposure and its direct relationship between ISO, F.Stops and Shutter Speed. Without an undersatnding of this imperative relationship, results will always be 'iffy' at best. One such book is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure, inexpensive and easy to follow.

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John Byrne said:

In making my point, take the game of Golf, without expert and professional tutorledge, the rank and file golfer continues simply practicing their mistakes. This applies across the board and very much so in our chosen craft of photography. reading and joining a camera club will provide you with a much better outcome for your photography than relying on the opinions of unqualifed photogs putting in thier 10 cents worth, which do more to confuse than educate.

Stick with it, its not the end of the world, although I stress you won't learn much when respondents to pictures posted here don't wish to offend, don't have professional expertise and offer comments that are 'touchy feely' rather than agressive positive critique.Well meant of course but off the mark also, IMHO.

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John Byrne said:

Cheers,

John.

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dave gaines said:

dave gaines wrote:

Aloha Jan,

I haven't counted the votes or Challenge wins to see if there is a trend. And of course, we can't see who votes for what, which is probably a good thing. I haven't experienced bias in voting that I know of. But we all know who's photo it is when we see it and we all have the tendency to remember what that person's style and previous photos look like. That has to flavor how we see their images. If it's a fair Challenge vote, the names should not show under the photos nor in the edit mode. They should be hidden until after the voting.

I do see lots of photos that place well which do not meet the Challenge theme. People seem to post anything and garner votes enough to win. It leads me to think the vote is biased and partially based on a voter's perception of the photog'.

I haven't seen a good way to raise this point before. If I ask the question during the Challenge, after people have posted photos, it affects the whole Challenge. Rather than spoil anything, I just don't participate.

I got a lot out of the Challenges we had on Oly Talk forum when they were running. It was always a learning experience and taught me to look for various methods, attributes and compositional tools in my photography.

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