Why Alaskan Has Left UHH
Oct 25, 2013 14:11:34 #
If you go to Alaskan's profile, you will see that he has left UHH. I took the liberty of emailing him at the email he provides on his profile and asked him why he decided to leave.
I don't agree with everything he says, I love some of his work, but I am not impressed with everything he does. I will miss his honest feedback, and I think it is too bad for UHH that he has decided to leave.
He wrote me a long email, explaining why he left, I will pull a couple of things out of it that I think are important to all of us.
His biggest reason for leaving is this.
Now I do not agree with everything Alaskan has said here, but I do sympathize with him in this.
I feel that people are afraid to do honest critiquing. I often feel I get a "nice photo" Nightski, when the poster is actually thinking something else. I would like to hear the something else. I may decide it's something I can use, or I may not agree, but I will consider it and contemplate it. I think critique should be specific. It is also nice to receive a suggestion with a critcism, but not necessary.
I am afraid to give my honest opinion when viewing photos. I know there will be people that get mad at me. So now, if I think the photo is not praise worthy, I just skip over it. What a shame. It could be a learning opportunity for everyone.
I hope I never, no matter how long I do this, get to the point where I think I am so good that I cannot learn anything. I bet every once in a while, a photographer that has been doing this for 50 years, learns something from a novice. Just by accident. The novice in his ignorance of how something is supposed to be done, just might happen upon something that can be done in a non traditional way, and come up with something pretty cool.
I truly hope UHH can work towards a climate that is friendly to criticism. It's the only way we are going to get better people. If we can't accept critcism, then maybe Ivan is right. Maybe the majority of people that come here, have no interest in getting better. They are just interested in socializing with their photos. And you know what? That is fine with me. You people are valuable too. But I think that there are people here who are keenly interested in honing their skills.
Here is my proposition. If you want criticism. If you want to know what others really think of your work, do this.
Post on this thread today, saying that is what you are here for.
I will make a list of all the names, send a pm to admin, and ask them if we can have a special symbol by our names indicating that we are here to receive criticism, so that we can improve.
I don't agree with everything he says, I love some of his work, but I am not impressed with everything he does. I will miss his honest feedback, and I think it is too bad for UHH that he has decided to leave.
He wrote me a long email, explaining why he left, I will pull a couple of things out of it that I think are important to all of us.
His biggest reason for leaving is this.
Alaskan wrote:
The overall quality of the posted photos is even lower than before,the "terminal praisers" are going stronger then ever
Alaskan wrote:
I understand the UH is a photoforum for amateurs but I would expect them wanting to develop into better photographers but most of the hogs do not want to or care to get better.They post lousy photos,harvest their undeserved praise and that is pretty much it.The realtively few good photos are immediately burried under piles of crap.
Now I do not agree with everything Alaskan has said here, but I do sympathize with him in this.
I feel that people are afraid to do honest critiquing. I often feel I get a "nice photo" Nightski, when the poster is actually thinking something else. I would like to hear the something else. I may decide it's something I can use, or I may not agree, but I will consider it and contemplate it. I think critique should be specific. It is also nice to receive a suggestion with a critcism, but not necessary.
I am afraid to give my honest opinion when viewing photos. I know there will be people that get mad at me. So now, if I think the photo is not praise worthy, I just skip over it. What a shame. It could be a learning opportunity for everyone.
I hope I never, no matter how long I do this, get to the point where I think I am so good that I cannot learn anything. I bet every once in a while, a photographer that has been doing this for 50 years, learns something from a novice. Just by accident. The novice in his ignorance of how something is supposed to be done, just might happen upon something that can be done in a non traditional way, and come up with something pretty cool.
I truly hope UHH can work towards a climate that is friendly to criticism. It's the only way we are going to get better people. If we can't accept critcism, then maybe Ivan is right. Maybe the majority of people that come here, have no interest in getting better. They are just interested in socializing with their photos. And you know what? That is fine with me. You people are valuable too. But I think that there are people here who are keenly interested in honing their skills.
Here is my proposition. If you want criticism. If you want to know what others really think of your work, do this.
Post on this thread today, saying that is what you are here for.
I will make a list of all the names, send a pm to admin, and ask them if we can have a special symbol by our names indicating that we are here to receive criticism, so that we can improve.
Oct 25, 2013 14:15:03 #
I have to agree that "great shot", "nice set" etc are pointless comments he is right there
Oct 25, 2013 14:15:11 #
Oct 25, 2013 14:16:39 #
Oct 25, 2013 14:22:21 #
Ivan "Alaskan" has left his email on his profile page. If the spirit moves you, it might be nice to email him letting him know you agree with him.
Oct 25, 2013 14:22:53 #
Nightski wrote:
br br I feel that people are afraid to do honest... (show quote)
I think that kind of already exists. If you post in Analysis you are asking for honest feedback. If you post in Gallery at least most are asking for chimping.
I always welcome feedback but sometimes post in Gallery.
I have received some great feedback...especially on helping me to choose what to submit to the State Fair this year. UHH helped me get a blue ribbon!
You could add to your tag line (below), "Please provide honest feedback on how to improve my picture posts!" Or something like that.
This guy won the blue ribbon...
Oct 25, 2013 14:25:09 #
Always open to constructive criticism and guidance, please add me to your list.
Oct 25, 2013 14:26:48 #
Oh, so THAT's what dandelions are good for! In what state did you earn the Blue Ribbon?
I apologize for going off-topic, but couldn't resist ......
I apologize for going off-topic, but couldn't resist ......
Oct 25, 2013 14:28:30 #
Bob Yankle wrote:
Oh, so THAT's what dandelions are good for! In what state did you earn the Blue Ribbon?
I apologize for going off-topic, but couldn't resist ......
I apologize for going off-topic, but couldn't resist ......
It was the Western Idaho State fair. The competition was awesome and this was my first time entering so I was very pleasantly surprised.
This one got an honorable mention. Two out of three ain't bad for a newbie.
Oct 25, 2013 14:30:03 #
MtnMan wrote:
I think that kind of already exists. If you post i... (show quote)
I truly love this guy, Mountain Man. It's what I call a "Money" pic.
1.) I have posted in Photo Analysis many times. Everybody comes and says a bunch of nice stuff anyway. Admin moves me to photo gallery. I have had a different experience with that than you.
2.) Sometimes I post a photo that I think is great, but from the lukewarm responses I get, I feel that the poster may not like my photo as much as me. I would like to know what the poster is thinking, even if I don't ask for critique. I want a "critique me no matter what" symbol.
Oct 25, 2013 14:31:18 #
MtnMan wrote:
It was the Western Idaho State fair. The competition was awesome and this was my first time entering so I was very pleasantly surprised.
Okay, so you're a big bunch of awesome, Mountain Man...that's not what this thread is about. :roll:
Oct 25, 2013 14:34:32 #
Oct 25, 2013 14:34:47 #
Feedback CAN be a great thing. But, when it's "No, this doesn't work" or "I don't like HDR" or some such, it only amounts to criticism. It doesn't help anybody. I think people should accept the site for what it is. If one's photo quality has gotten so good that it has outgrown the usefulness of UHH, then move on. All I see here lately is and more and more "Big fish, Small pond" syndrome. Just my two cents.
Oct 25, 2013 14:35:15 #
AMEN! Add me to your list.
I agree with there being so many "so-so" photos with tons of praise. People will never get better and progress in their photography. Instead of helping them with some constructive critism, I don't respond at all because I'm not sure they want to know where they could improve. I've seen someone post a lousy picture and get praise and the next day they post twice as many lousy photos.
In our camera club, we always try to be nice. We never criticize a photo, instead, we suggest that the maker could have done something differently, ie, overposed - would suggest that lowering the exposure would have helped with all the hotspots.
I get a lot out of this forum - the Main Photography Discussion and especially the True Macro Forum where I've gotten tons of suggestions on how to improve and thank them all for it.
I agree with there being so many "so-so" photos with tons of praise. People will never get better and progress in their photography. Instead of helping them with some constructive critism, I don't respond at all because I'm not sure they want to know where they could improve. I've seen someone post a lousy picture and get praise and the next day they post twice as many lousy photos.
In our camera club, we always try to be nice. We never criticize a photo, instead, we suggest that the maker could have done something differently, ie, overposed - would suggest that lowering the exposure would have helped with all the hotspots.
I get a lot out of this forum - the Main Photography Discussion and especially the True Macro Forum where I've gotten tons of suggestions on how to improve and thank them all for it.
Oct 25, 2013 14:36:34 #
Nightski wrote:
If you go to Alaskan's profile, you will see that ... (show quote)
I, for one, welcome constructive criticism. That's what I post photos for.
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