You have an interesting way of interpreting others' comments I'm beginning to sense that you are holding onto some bitterness that many of your own Gallery postings received little attention.

Folks new to UHH will discover that if your topic doesn't make it into the emailed daily digest, it will likely be unseen. Gallery receives 30 to 100 new topics every day, but the digest contains only 30. The ones that make it in are partly those that had a lot of activity the day posted, and partly random. Also, there is more than one "issue" of a digest due to the worldwide membership and posting times.

To receive a lot of comments on the day posted, you need a little luck and a lot of buddies. The Buddy List is not just to "like mine, and I'll like yours." It is one way for folks to follow specific talent, styles or subjects of personal interest - a way to narrow down the 100 to a more manageable number

Critiques, if presented properly, explicitly, without prejudice and constructively are one of the most important and effective aspects of teaching and learning photography and improving one's quality of work. There are, however, many cavities that must be observed and unfortunately enough, many of these are not observed and practiced on forums and social media. As a result of this lack of methodology and form, many online critiques are ineffective, counterproductive and discouraging.

There are responsibilities that should be considered both by the submitter and the critic. The first step in the process may seem too basic but oftentimes the obvious escapes us, that is, for the submitter to seek out critics that know what they are talking about and looking at, whose work and opinions they respect, and is capable of offering sound advice. This takes work, research, and resourcefulness on your part but it pays off in the long run.

Sometimes, when I read requests for critiques I begin to believe that some photographers are masochists. They oftentimes preface there request explaining that they have "thick skins" and request that their images should be "ripped apart" rather than asking a specific question or simply asking for a professional or professional-like opinion. When you do that, especially on open forums or social media, you are going to attract the photography "sadists" that will only be too pleased to accommodate you "ripping apart" requirement and will deliver a nasty, and usually inane review of your images, sometimes accompanied by personal attacks! You may also find well-meaning responses that are patiently technically and aesthetically incorrect. You may fie the odd helpful and decent constructive critique. This, of course, creates more confusion in that you have to try to discern t which critiques are valid and which ones are not and you are likely to go for the kindest ones as opposed to the technically correct ones that may seem too harsh.

The is an old expression that says that "if you can't take a punch, you shouldn't enter the ring"! So...pleas remember that even the most sincere and kindest critique may contain negative information which you must learn to take in stride and use to your advantage.

The critic has important responsibilities as well. When I wrote "without prejudice" I meant that as a critic, you should be able to technically and aesthetically analyze an image without injecting your personal taste in subject matter or style. You may not like to display a photograh of an elephant in your living room but you should be able to adjudicate on such an image on its technical and aesthetical merits. You may not like to do baby pictures, birds, street photograhy, abstracts, special effects, or landscapes but you can still be able to analyze them and if you can not fairly judge any particular subject or style, or if it not within your area of expertise, you should graciously decline the request.

Rules and tools: Many photographers still insist that there are no "rules" that should be applied to art and tend to disparage such rules and guidelines that are utilized by professional photographers associations and some photo/camera clubs criteria for scoring and critique images. Granted, it is difficult to "judge" creativity, artistry and the maker's philosophical messages, however, there needs to be some standardization, guidelines, and certain definable criteria in that, especially online, we are not individually mentoring each submitter. We need to be able to assess each image thoroughly and reasonably quickly and supply the submitter with useful information, remedial action for what we consider elements that require improvement, and most importantly encouragement to improve or keeping up the good work. A critique needn't be NEGATIVE, in part or entirely. Good points and praise for an outstanding image is certainly in order. A harsh, mean spirited, critique is unnecessary and discouraging and a dishonestly positive critique on a mediocre or poorly crafted image is just as much as a disservice to the submitter. A badly crafted image of a cute child, a majestic animal or an impressive sunset does not make for a superior photograh.

Some of the criteria to consider is as follows: Viewer impact and storytelling content, composition, lighting or use of existing light, technical excellence in exposure, range, key, rendition of detail, sharp and selective focus, perspective, color harmony, and balance, craftsmanship, workmanship, and presentation in finishing, and more. Each headings many sub-heading which can be analyzed if time, space and formation accommodate these extensions.

There is no doubt that participating in seeking and offering critiques online, on this forum, can be beneficial to all concerned bit again there are caveats. You have to understand that this is not a personal consulting organization or school, service by bonafide teachers and experts. There is the excellent, the good, the bad and the ugly. The submitter needs to be resourceful, discerning, proactive. consistent and persistent. My advice is not to become too preoccupied with forum rules as to where to post images- you will find out soon enough if you don't waste your time with this obsessing and just hit your keyboard and mouse and search out all the specialized sections, start posting images and find your niche. If you are up for it, why not try your hand at offer critiques, at lease, according to the criteria I have outlined as a start. You too may find your niche.

I have been teaching and training photographers for a long time- mostly for my own studio business and some during the period where I was earning my credentials and was required to offer classes and seminars. Encouragement is one of the best teaching tools. I avoid the terms like "photography boot camp" and "crash course"! I experienced real "boot camp" and it has its purpose but it involves breaking down and building up the potential solder's ego and confidence in a certain way in short order. We ain't going off to war, YET, around here, although there are times when you might think so! Learning photography is a process that comes in increments and layers- it takes time and patience. A crash course will result in a CRASH!

Critique with care, honesty and kindness. It works but y'all have to put in the work!

What is the point in criticizing Photo Gallery? The casual hobbyists, those who find joy in their photography and are not motivated to "get better" (per someone else's idea of good, better, best) have a right to participate in a section where they can be inspired or share their enthusiasm and support of others in a friendly setting. I was extremely active there for my first two years of UHH membership, both in posting photos and enjoying others. I've made many friends with whom I still share messages or images or stories.

I guess I can understand the dismay of some talented new users who come here expecting everyone to take notice and appreciate them. But I have dabbled on four other forums and I always spent a lot of time reading other topics prior to posting my own comments or photos - in order to get a sense of how people conducted themselves, as well as to learn whether I will fit in. I hope you do follow up on creating teaching topics like Sharpshooter did back in 2015 and 2016, and For Your Consideration with its ambitious four-part series on light in 2018. It takes a lot more effort to attempt positive actions than to complain

I pointed out to you back in 2017 (your complaint topic about over-sharpening here) that if someone is content with their own style, there is no valid reason - in a social sharing site - to attempt criticism.

What would be greatly appreciated by many on UHH (there are lurkers looking to learn but reluctant to post) is if those with exceptional talent and experience such as yourself would create teaching topics. I provided a few examples from the past in this posting.

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Watching television lately I've noticed that a lot of "photographers" in programs and movies shoot on camera flash with the flash elevated about 45 degrees, the way you would bounce flash off of a ceiling. My question is have any of you ever shot this way outdoors and does it work?

I'm curious because I would think that the light would go up at 45 degrees, but wouldn't come down because there is nothing to bounce off of. The other explanation I can think of is that a "kiss of light" would go forward (toward the subject) and make a difference in the photo. The times I shoot an external, on camera flash I reduce the flash to about 1/4 power and make sure that the subject is away from any background that would catch the shadow. Other times I will use a white foam bouncer that I made; the foam bouncer wraps around 3 sides of the flash and the top of the foam faces forward toward the subject (like a Rogue Flash Bouncer, but cheaper).

The other explanation I can think of is that the flashes popping would interfere with the cameras filming the program or movie (like you see all the flashes going off at the Super Bowl).

As a note. When outdoors shooting people, I normally use off camera flash with shoot through umbrellas.

I took this picture in color with my Sony A6000:
Horizontal Resolution: 300 dpi
Vertical Resolution: 300 dpi
Image Created: 2017:09:12 11:55:15
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec
F-Number: f/11.0
Exposure Program: Normal Program
ISO Speed Rating: 100
Lens Aperture: f/11.0
Brightness: 10.3 EV
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Metering Mode: Pattern
Light Source: Unknown
Flash: No Flash, Compulsory
Focal Length: 16.00 mm
Image Width: 5364
Image Height:2617
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
White Balance: Auto
I converted to B&W in Lightroom and did some light and dark balancing on the conversion to B&W