Rick, your topic is well meaning, not a rant at all. However, you're starting with the wrong assumption.

Photo Gallery is primarily a social sharing site. The majority of UHH users are over 70 years old.
Those who wish to "improve" (the meaning will be different for everyone) will ask for help.

Regarding where you can post photos, there are dozens of under-utilized volunteer-managed sections. Anyone unfamiliar should go to "all sections" at the bottom of this page. Subscribe to those of interest, and participate!

I frequent Landscape section and Black and White. And I always encourage feedback I also co-manage Digital Artistry, where we are open to constructive suggestions and opinions.

A note about Photo Analysis. The guidelines, written by Admin, are very specific as to that section's purpose. Folks who want to post there should read that pinned doc first. Otherwise, Admin will just move them to Gallery.

Folks - I raised this subject a few years back and thought I’d give it an encore. UHH has 2 sections for members to post pics - Photo Gallery and Photo Analysis and posting constructive criticism in the first is frowned upon. I think this rule does a disservice to photographers looking to up their game.

I often look at posts in the Gallery and too often see, sorry for the blunt language, just awful photos. I’m not talking about subjective matters. I’m talking about pics that are out of focus, poorly exposed, with wildly tilted horizons (not done intentionally for artistic purposes), badly post processed or overprocessed, poorly composed with telephone poles growing out of heads, etc. or any number of other technical (NOT subjective) flaws.

And most times, well meaning members post, “Great set”, or “Nicely done” or other “ attaboys” in an attempt to not hurt another member’s feelings. I see this as counterproductive and reinforcing bad technique by poster. I ask how is a member to develop better photography skills if, I again apologize upfront, technically terrible pics are displayed and followed by lots of gushing platitudes?

Last time I mentioned this, I was slapped down by numerous members who argue that unless a poster requests constructive criticism, nothing negative should be said. Ok - I’ll buy the “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing” idea, but gushing over bad stuff does harm to the poster too. If the pics are bad, say nothing. Stop reinforcing bad work.

Just a suggestion to those posting to the Gallery in the future - think about soliciting criticisms so you can improve your work. Sure you will get many nasty, snarky and often incorrect replies from a certain subsection of members, but you will also get many great suggestions for improvement offered in a polite, constructive manner. I’ve been a photographer for 55 yrs and I welcome all well meaning and civil critiques. We are never too old to learn a new trick.

Anxious to see the replies to this rant.

I find your first comment extremely condescending, as a well over 70 year old, I am constantly practicing to improve my photography, as are the majority of our club members. Even our expert photographers say they want constructive critiques. We attend training sessions, workshops field trips and request constructive feedback all with the intention of improving our photography. We have noticed it is the younger members who don't like being told anything negative.

It us helpful when there are backstories with the images. Along with settings and sometimes tips.

I do tend to pass by the images that really need work when they appear, and also tend to follow those photographers whose work I like.

Iechyd da

Ann

I find your first comment extremely condescending, as a well over 70 year old, I am constantly practicing to improve my photography, as are the majority of our club members. Even our expert photographers say they want constructive critiques. We attend training sessions, workshops field trips and request constructive feedback all with the intention of improving our photography. We have noticed it is the younger members who don't like being told anything negative.

It us helpful when there are backstories with the images. Along with settings and sometimes tips.

I do tend to pass by the images that really need work when they appear, and also tend to follow those photographers whose work I like.

Iechyd da

Ann

Apparently you never read the rules for the Photo Gallery.

Photo Gallery Section

This section is for posting pictures you took. If you want to ask others to comment on your choice of subjects, composition, settings, show off your pictures to others, or ask for general critique, then please do so in the Photo Gallery section.


In other words, if someone wants your opinion about their photo they should ask for it.

You can add a line to your signature that says "Comments Welcome"

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