Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gailie on October 27, 2011 at 8:03am

Freda, 

 

These are wonderful suggestions and I will certainly give a look at that site and see if there is anything that we can do to change.  We are limited to what changes we can make as to the functionality of the site, however, there is something we can do to assist our members in learning the settings, etc.  

 

As for the constructive comments, I truly believe that this is done within the groups and not so much on an individual's page.  I will discuss with the other moderators to see what we can do to encourage more constructive comments from our other members. 

 

Thank you so much for your feedback.  It will be given serious consideration.

 

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Permalink Reply by CameraClicker on October 27, 2011 at 7:38pm

www.500px.com has some nice photos.  I see some of them have camera settings, others do not.  Photos here frequently have the same information but it is hidden.  JPEG files contain space for EXIF data, which may or may not be present depending on how the photo was processed and saved.  Sometimes knowing the camera settings can be useful, for instance if you are trying to figure out why a photo contains blur.  Other times knowing the camera settings is not helpful at all.  I can demonstrate this for you if you wish by showing you two versions of the same photo with the same camera data but 8 stops of difference in exposure, one very dark and the other very bright.  If you see a photo and want to know about how it was taken, it would be better to ask since then you might get information about lights, reflectors, ambient light and processing.

If you want constructive criticism, you can post photos on one of the groups that does that and those who frequent the group will probably try to provide helpful opinions, or you can request criticism in your own gallery but then you are dependent on the traffic to your gallery.

 

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Permalink Reply by Joe Fernandez on October 31, 2011 at 4:28am

Hiya Freda,

 

The layout of 500px is interesting for sure but really no differ if you post it into a forum or group if everyone really would like to share their photo technics, criticism, comments so on.  The problem is getting the feedback, some do like giving feedback and some just don't and most lurks and just could be shy too.  

 

If you see a solution that might be of value to PI, suggest it.. I'm quite happy to invest in the future on a system that will work for PI and get off Ning for sure.  We almost did as I bought another system but it's just not what I would like to put everyone thru if it's going to be another Facebook lookalike so on or useful to the photographers, if you know what I mean.  Some people get use to one system and hope to have same on another, it's really hard to cater for everyone in a way.  But don't be afraid to suggest away.. I'm always on the lookout for a system that will work with everyone. :)

 

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Permalink Reply by Hanish Narang on October 31, 2011 at 3:46am

Photo contest for this Group is very good idea for the Photoartists. These types of activities will remain there, so that another artist can take interest in our group. Following activities can be also part of it:

1. Tutorial for beginers
2. Photo of the Day

3. Sharing experience for some typical shots

etc.

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Permalink Reply by Gailie on October 31, 2011 at 4:57am

Thank you very much Hanish.  I am in the process of gathering the suggestions that have been posted and putting them in a single email for all of the moderators so that they can discuss each one and will update everyone on the status of their suggestions once it has been discussed with the mods.  We really appreciate your input.  

 

Gailie

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Permalink Reply by Gailie on October 31, 2011 at 5:04am

Fred, 

I will try to address each suggestion/complaint as I can.  

 

The light font on white background, I will have to defer to Joe on that one, but, I assure you I will let him know your thoughts, however, I know he does monitor this conversation, so I'm sure he has seen it already. 

 

As for your friends, if you click on the friends photo album you can select "follow" and you will be notified every time each person posts a picture via the email address you have set up.  Let me know if you need any help with locating the "follow" button and I will be happy to assist you. 

 

As for the photos on the front page, everyone on this site, who posts a photo, has a photo featured.  I, personally, like the fact that Joe doesn't simply feature only great photo's, everyone likes to see their photos featured, it makes them feel good about themselves, and not be discouraged.  In fact, it encourages them to get out there and make themselves do better work.  I know it does for me, and I'm just a simple southern girl who loves photography.  

 

We would like to be known as the site that gives every photographer a chance to show their work and hopefully, if there is a "bad" photograph, then, some of the "better" photographers will give the appropriately stated suggestions to the photographer and assist them in being better or getting the better shot.  Plus, photography is subjective and left up to the interpretation of the viewer as to whether it is good or bad.  What might be a good shot for me, may be a terrible shot for someone else more "knowledgeable."  If I were a beginning photographer and was a member of a site, which I was on another site, I would be terribly discouraged if nothing I ever did was noticed and nobody was assisting me with making it better. 

 

Thank you so very much for your thoughts and I promise that we will, not only acknowledge, but, discuss your suggestions/thoughts. 

 

Gailie

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Permalink Reply by Joe Fernandez on October 31, 2011 at 7:08am

LOL nice input Fred. :)

 

You are definitely right about the colours, it's the theme colours actually and you right about ning.  Forums are pretty dead, not a lot of action there at all. Unless someone contribute and someone reacts to it.. loads of lurkers and minority of posters, but you find that every where unfortunately. 

 

Featured photos is not about the best of the best as Gailie addressed.  It's an encouragement.  Imagine yours or others having their photos featured, though the photo might not be perfect to some, the directions could be, the composition could be..almost there, yet close, the light could be.. so on.. it's a pat on the back saying keep going, keep on it.  Just once, imagine how that feels?  Not a lot of people get that and for a beginner or amateur etc etc even the pro's.. imagine how they feel.

Since running PI as a group elsewhere, even some workshops and till now, I've seen loads of photos from quite a few members and how much they have improved, discouragement doesn't work for any one really.  That's how the feature works.. check google on PI and see how much encouragement it has on some people.  

 

Actually on PS, which I get loads of msg saying they are so sick of not even a chance to have their photo featured even from some fantastic shots I've seen.. don't get me wrong, not an attack or protect the site.. just something I've noticed ;)  It's unique in that way.. not everyone born to be perfect..they learn from encouragement.. and PI is also for those who want a home for their profile to stay put in.  And really to me, if it helps just one person and only takes one then I'm happy that it help.. it's not a multi million business with dependable source of income don't forget.. lol  Flickr makes billions, I make zilch..and they have 100's of employees.. I have me, myself and I and few mods.. lol  I wouldn't worry about a mate who say this or that, if it helps you that's great and really appreciate your feedback :) 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Tony Guy on November 1, 2011 at 4:15am

How do we make the site better? By giving better, more constructive feedback to contributors not words like “nice” and “lovely” These words are not bad words but are used so that people are not offended by what could be seen as negative feedback.

I suggest an arbitrary method of commenting (as well as descriptive comments).

The reply box could have headings pre programmed in the box that the reviewer just adds a number into. For example and not limited to:

Overall picture rating: [  ]

Colour: [  ]

Composition: [  ]

Meeting the challenge: (if it’s a challenge group) [  ]

Reviewers just add a number say 1 to 5 in the box dependant on how good they think the picture is in respect of the heading.. As many or as few headings can be used as needed.

Even if only one heading, say “Overall picture rating”, were used getting feedback on a scale of 1 to 5 would be better than “Nice” or “Lovely”. Descriptive comments could still be made after the tic boxes. It would take away the negative element that people are so reticent to use in fear of upsetting someone. It also helps when trying to come with comments that have a meaning but don’t upset anybody as you will understand if you have ever set a challenge on the site.

You still have to get people to contribute and comment in the first place though.

My view from photo club experience is that there is no such thing as negative feedback. If someone says your picture is not good because you should have used a tripod or been more accurate on focus etc, it is all very positive and valid and you learn from it. Unfortunately everybody is frightened of upsetting someone by saying what they mean. Nobody should be saying anything nasty but we perhaps need to encourage thicker skins.

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Permalink Reply by Gailie on November 2, 2011 at 4:15am

Tony, 

Thank you for that feedback Tony.  I do agree that we do not have enough "critical" comments.  I have received a few lately and am grateful for them because not only did that tell me what they thought could make my photo better, but, how to make the adjustments to make it better and I cannot wait until I am able to put that advise into use.  

 

I do not know if Joe has that kind of control over the elements, I will have to differ to him on that, but, my experience with that is, people just rank and leave no reason why they gave the photo a low rating which only serves to discourage.  I totally get what your saying about the "thick skin" thing, I really do, it's just that if I am an amateur, just getting started, first, I wouldn't have the experience to give constructive criticism to others and if I only received low rankings, then, I probably, after a while, would give up as I would feel that nothing I did was ever "good enough" to receive a higher ranking.  This is the reason for the constructive criticism groups.  

 

I think you hit the issue right on the head....getting more people involved in the criticism groups.  I have several things running amok in my mind and, for me at least, I have to let the thoughts get together so that I can process them into something usable and understandable to the outside world. :) 

 

It is people like you and the other posters who are willing to comment, here even, that help us begin to make the difference.  Thank you so much, and please, feel free to stop by my gallery and critique away!  I'm always willing to learn more and more and because of my personal love for photography and what it has meant to me in my life and how it has changed my life for the better, I can accept that critique.  

 

Remember folks...no matter what we do...it ALWAYS starts with us...we cannot wait for someone else to do things...if we want to truly see change..we must first assess ourselves and start there.  I promise to do a better job at helping and assisting and if I have to sit with a book in my lap, I will do a better job, at the very least, directing people where to get that much needed assistance with bettering themselves.  In doing that, I will only better myself.  

 

Brenda "Gailie" Milligan

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Permalink Reply by Tony Guy on November 2, 2011 at 12:04pm

What an "on the money reply" Gailie. I take your point about newbies and would not like to scare anybody off.

I still believe from my own experience that critisism in a positive way can only help.

The comment on people just ranking and not commenting is very valid and I do not know off hand how that can be addressed. I do believe that the folks that are really interested will make the effort but from club experience its the same few all the time. Having said that a ranking is better than nothing.

My first attempt at putting my thoughts down went to over a page long. I decided that was far too long winded and I probably over did the shortening process to the point that I sounded very opinionated. This was not the intention but I do feel quite strongly that we need to get away from the banal and get into our facinating subject of photagraphy.

There is so much to learn for everybody and from everybody whatever their level of expertise.For my part I do not count myself as expert at all, not yet, but I am working on it!!!! When I look at the stuff from others I realise just how far I have to go.

 

Regards Tony

 

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Permalink Reply by Joe Fernandez on November 4, 2011 at 1:55pm

Love the idea there Tony, a bugger to implement and only take a moment to be destroyed. 

 

To make more sense is that I could spend hours and hours researching and add the feature to this current solution.  Which I did in the past but the problem is Ning, they will just stuff it up in a moment with their silly good for the customer attitude without any warning.  Has happened so many times that I given up the idea of attempting to recode behind the scene as it never stayed permanently. 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Tony Guy on November 4, 2011 at 4:56pm

Know what you mean Joe. Thanks for the reply and I completely understand.

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