[Rob Barron]

This is just a thought and I don't mind in the slightest if it gets shot down in flames but i just wonder if it might be useable/useful.

How about if we had the chance (in our details that appear with our name when we post) to give ourselves a grade of 1-5 whatevers (numbers, letters, not stars!) which effectively self-grade our own knowledge and experience. This would be to help people when giving feedback and things as they would have an idea if they are talking to someone who has stated '1' meaning 'I am new to photography and would appreciate it if you'd keep your comments simple for me to understand' or someone who has stated a '5' which would mean 'I have a lot of experience and am comfortable with all photography terminology and am happy for you to rip into my pictures as much as you like!' or somewhere else in between.

I am never sure without checking and going off to read a profile or whatever whether a person is a newbie and needs some gentle encouragement or is someone with loads of experience and a thick skin and can take whatever you might say so to speak.

Just a thought and this is very 'bare bones' so might be worth embellishing if you think it's worth it

if not, happy Christmas anyway

Cheers,
Rob

[GainfulShrimp]

Dunno about this. It would be good in principle but if someone didn't bother to follow the instructions properly or rated themselves as thick-skinned by mistake... I could see it as causing more problems that it solves.

My view is that it's not necessary so long as we're all polite and friendly. Even if you really don't like a photo, there's usually a way of saying that without offending anyone. Most newbies will say something like "first pic for C&C" or "please be gentle" in the post so I'm not sure it's necessary to have a separate rating scheme?

Just my 2p, of course.

[_MB_]

I don't know - I would hate to feel like my comments had to be on rails dictated by the grade of the person. If a photo's great and they rate themselves 1, you'd maybe see lots of patronising "didn't you do well?" type stuff which isn't great.

Similarly if a photo is poor, you're going to feel reluctant to be critical to a 1 and probably be excessively critical to a 5!

I dunno I see what you're saying but not sure this is the way to do it. A years experience box inside camera gear like they used to have for reviewers on pcphotoreview.com might be an alternative?

[Dabhand16]

I can see where you are coming from Rob, but I'm with the others here. I salute you for taking the trouble to do a bit of research on the photographer before you post a comment, and if you had a reference point it would be a little quicker for you, but I think the conventions in use, just like when you meet people face to face, apply just as well here.

Before you get to know someone you are usually more restrained/polite/bland, and when you know them better you can be more honest/critical/pointed. If someone introduced themselves as a five-star photographic hero, I'm sure the initial comments on their first post would still follow the conventions and not rip them to shreds (if that was appropriate).

I think GS has nailed it when he said "My view is that it's not necessary so long as we're all polite and friendly. Even if you really don't like a photo, there's usually a way of saying that without offending anyone". I think this can be applied to all members at every level of experience.

This is only my own personal view and not a Crew response.

[silkstone]

The reasoning behind the idea is good, but I agree with the others that it could be unreliable in practice.

Anyway you'd need negative grades for Nikon users.

[orangepeel]

I think the issues would greatly reduce if posters stuck to a formal method of doing a critique. If it's a series of questions/answers then it's less likely that peeps would get defensive about a bad critique.

This would also be more useful for the person receiving the critique as well as the person giving the critique as it forces them to think of the individual aspects.

This is the sort of formal layout I mean: -

1. TECHNICAL QUALITY

Editors, judges and evaluators all agree: a successful photographic image must have good technical quality to start with.
FOCUS: Is the image sharp? If not, is it intentionally soft and successful?
CLEANLINESS: Is it free of scratches, dust spots, stains, lens flare, etc?
EXPOSURE: Is it too light, too dark or just right?
LIGHTING: Is the lighting too contrasty, too flat or just right?
COLOURS: Does it have neutral colours or a strange colour cast?

2. COMPOSITION

Affected by the camera viewpoint and focal length of the lens. It can raise an image from a technical success to an artistic success!
BALANCE: Is the image aligned correctly or is it crooked?
LOGIC: Is the arrangement of the visual elements effective?
PURPOSE: Is there a strong centre of interest, pattern or design?
CLARITY: Is it simple, yet complete and without distracting elements?

3. EMOTIONAL APPEAL

The vital element for a truly great image, making it unique and memorable.
DYNAMIC: Does it grab and keep your attention? Does it have the "wow" factor?
PROVOCATIVE: Does it excite your imagination, or create a strong emotion in you?
CREATIVE: Does it show a familiar subject in a new, unusual and yet effective way?
UNUSUAL: Does it show a very unusual subject in an effective way?

I realise not all images can fit into that fixed layout however it should be easy enough to write "n/a"

The real problem in implementing this sort of thing would be getting people to actually conform to the layout.


*orangepeel shrugs

[Angela]

Rob, the Crew have discussed this and, pretty much for the reasons others have given, we don't think this is a workable idea....but thank you for the suggestion!

[Wannabe]

Originally Posted by silkstone

The reasoning behind the idea is good, but I agree with the others that it could be unreliable in practice.

Anyway you'd need negative grades for Nikon users.

HEY NOW!!! ROTFL!!!

I'm a 1.. but I just got a brand, spanking new, NIKON!!

I'm a newbie... but I don't take offense easily.. especially when it's not meant to offend. I know if someone doesn't like my pic, or tells me I should have done this, this, and that instead of what I did, it's from experience, and them trying to help me improve...

I think it's great that everyone likes to go 'gentle' on the newbies.. and think you're sweet for thinking of this system!

[brian wright22]

I must say that I like it the way its is, why, because its simple. No offense Rob you have given me plenty of help in the past and many thanks for that . I do prefer that comments for a photo or thread are great but if someone thinks that the shot could be improved by say changing the angle ,levels or anything else for that matter then they have taken the time to do me a favour. A personal message can soon clear up any technical misunderstandings if I don't understand the jargon.

Thanks Orangepeel for your explanation of the elements of a good photo. "Emotional Appeal" was one of the categories at my last local photo competion. I won the category but I didn't know why at the time !!.

Regards Brian

[orangepeel]

Originally Posted by brian wright22

Thanks Orangepeel for your explanation of the elements of a good photo.

Not my explanation. Lifted from another site which I can't link to here. I think they in turn lifted it from a magazine.

[brian wright22]

Originally Posted by orangepeel

Not my explanation. Lifted from another site which I can't link to here. I think they in turn lifted it from a magazine.

Well its got a lot of "Appeal" then!
Brian

[fionaB]

yep i like the idea of having guidelines for hte critique, it would make it so much easier for folks who dont have the confidence to critique a shot if they had that infront of them


anyway whilst i like the idea Rob i do agree with the others and reckon it would be kinda unworkable if thats the right word

Fi

[Rob Barron]

Thanks all, it was interesting seeing your feedback and frankly I pretty much agree with you all having thought about them all. It was just an idea but probably isn't practical in reality.

Had to laugh at Silky's comment about Nikon users though

Cheers,
Rob