Contest or Critique

[northbeach]

I wonder if anyone else thinks the contest is leaning towards not so much about posting your best but posting what you think works and hope someone will help you make better so you can repost.

My sense is that an increasing number of posters upload their work, get a critique, change the photo and then put it up again. It is no longer their original entry.

Many of the commentators have very good observations to offer. But more and more I see people "fixing" the photographs off line and then offering them up to the posters with chapter and verse on how to do it themselves. Even giving the address so that we can all see it and even if the poster still likes the orginal we have been influenced by someone else's idea of what's better. If we like it we may be prejudiced against the original.


I think perhaps the contest should be that you put it up, get feedback, then leave it as it is and take your chances. The playing field is not level now, since this off line advice is not available to everyone. Nor is online advice either, many photos get no comments.

Learn from it and make your next entry better is me feelilng about this.

Perhaps we need an advice forum and a separate contest forum.

[RTaylor]

Sheila, I havent been here since I posted the other day but just caught this from the front page.

What you are seeing isnt new. Its been happening since day one when I came here in Oct 2003 and I think at that time the site was around 6 months in the making.

This is what makes this site unique, its a learning process for many who come here. It was actually the first site I had ever posted pictures for actual critque and I won POTW on my first post. It was what gave me the incentive to become even better.

I think there are at least 6 photographers who still post from time to time from 2003. Each one of us has seen each other grow in our photography abilities.
So I think critiquing and having the photographer repost is a good thing. If it aint broke, dont fix it is one of my motto's

There is the option for people to post just for critque but a photos seem to not get as much attention because its doesnt come up for all to view on the front contest page.

Happy Thanksgiving

[northbeach]

Happy Thanksgiving, Ruth. Beautiful morning here

I understand your point of view that if it's not broken don't fix it. We differ in trhat I think it is broken.

Status quo is not necessarily a good or healthy thing.

Good to get your voice on this. Thanks.

[Matt_C]

I see what you are saying Sheila but I think I prefer it as it is. I've learnt a lot in the past from members giving advice on changes and showing what can be achieved and the techniques they used. For me It's all about learning and watching a photo progress from something, not as good as it could be, to maybe everything it could be. It's what this site is all about for me.

All I would say is that when someone changes their photo that they include a comment or change the description to indicate it's an updated version. Then members can choose if they want to rescore or not.

I realise not everyone benefits from the same advice but they do benefit if they read about changes and processes used on other pictures. I've learnt much more in the past from reading comments and suggestions made on other peoples pictures rather than my own.

It maybe a little unfair at times but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If this were a contest with prizes then I think maybe I would have to rethink my opinion.

Just my thought on the subject

Matt

[northbeach]

Thanks, Matt. I too have learnt more from comments on other images than I have on comments on my own...there are a lot of very good and generous photographers out there. I guess I just wish winning hadn't become so important - which is how it seems to have become.

and now I'm off to eat Thanksgiving
Turkey and to give thanks that I can see to be part of this forum .

Sheila

[Matt_C]

Now your making my mouth water.

Happy Thanksgiving Sheila

Matt

[Tony Ward]

I agree that lately the Photo Contest has swallowed the purpose and activities of the Photo Critique are with disasterous results to both. The Critique area is virtually dead. While, with the repeated reentry of edited work, the Contst has become "entry by committee." It's not healthy for the site and people's reactions scare me for its future.

Tony

[northbeach]

"Entry by committee" - how well put, Tony.

Too bad. I'm on the lookout for fresher pastures.

[Tony Ward]

If you find the proverbial "green grass" on the other side of that fence let me know. I've been looking but no luck so far.

Tony

[TNEmily]

I might be catching this thread a little lit, and I've been gone from the site for a while (busy, busy) - but wanted to say - I don't think I have EVER made changes and re-posted within the same week. I think there should be a separate forum (like, oh, I don't know, the critique section?) for that. The contest should be what YOU think is your best, or most interesting, for that week. Take it or leave it.

And plus, if you change a photo based on one comment or two, there may also be members that like the original (I have had that happen before). It's art and there are different tastes out there. Let the photo run for a week, then if you want to make changes based on ALL comments received, do so and then enter it the next week.

Just my thoughts on the matter. Sorry I've been out lately. Hope to post a photo or two and comment on everyone's work next week!

[northbeach]

Hi, Emily,

Nice to see you backi.

There is such a forum here. And a good one. It's the Photo Critique Forum and for just what the name implies. You see some of the same work but a lot of other work too and much of it very good and not tending to be so repetitive as the contest.

Take a look at it sometime.

Sheila

[northbeach]

Emily, I see I misunderstood...you clearly do know about the crirtque forum.

I'm a bit dense this morning. Some other sites have a place to make a note in the critiique (not a contest) where you can indicate you are willing to have your photograph altered by another person to illustrate their points.

Sheila