Does photo.net really help to improve?

<p>I spend a lot of time looking pictures in photo.net I enjoy it a lot a I find here inspiration, ideas and when I read the post in the forum I learn a lot. But sometimes you see a picture that you like a lot and you would like to know the lens, the iso, the camera and so on to learn a bit more. Now, almost no one publish the details of the photo. I found that flickr let you see the exif data. Perhaps photo.net should do the same. What is your opinion?</p>

<p>If you click on the thumbnail to bring up the gallery shot, then scroll down, you'll see some data below the image. Scroll further down and click on the "Details" tab for more data...</p>

<p>All depends on what you take out of it. My technical prowess has increased which eventually pays off in less missed shots, understanding of why a photo turned out poorly, etc. If exif data is missing, you could always privately message the person and ask if they could provide it. </p>

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<p>I found that flickr let you see the exif data. Perhaps photo.net should do the same</p>

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<p>This is a user thing, not a photo.net thing. If you look at one of my photos there is exif data, and I didn't extract it and enter it. Photo.net did. If people use re-sizing tools that remove that data, or scan film and don't add that data, it won't be there. Nothing photo.net can do about data if it isn't there.</p>

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<h1>Does photo.net really help improve?"</h1>

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<p>In so many ways if you know how to learn. Discussion forums, equipment reviews, a whole learning tab, a photo selection to review artistically and technically for many of them. You don't need EXIF data to learn, you need it to do what someone else did. Sure F-stop may be nice to know, but if you don't know his distance to subject and the subjects distance to the background, it can only tell you so much anyway. You can always experiment on your own to work that out too.</p>

<p>I agree. It's the discussions and the examples that are the thing -- and of course the enormous benefit of having one's questions answered.</p>

<p>I believe PN has helped me improve my shots. I am slowly getting better. For me P.N. has become invaluable<br>

The only thing I see that would help more, is post processing info. Tho I would imagine that others, like me, don't remember exactly what steps in what order the processing was done on any particular photo . It still gives me ideas and goals to achieve. With goals comes improvement.<br>

Almost all my photo's have have the EXIF files attached under the detail tab. I am just learning the PP part so most have nothing but a crop done to them.<br>

Others opinions on my shots help also as I implement them into the next round of shooting.</p>

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<p>The only thing I see that would help more, is post processing info. Tho I would imagine that others, like me, don't remember exactly what steps in what order the processing was done on any particular photo</p>

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<p>Patrick - Since I started looking more to PP over the past months, I have found the Wedding & Social forum to be one great place to check out. There is a weekly photo critique thread by Nadine Ohara which often has posters tweaking photos and showing interesting photoshop results, plus most will list some of the steps taken. Worth checking out wish there where more like it.</p>

<p>P Net has many great sources for people who are open minded and wish to learn.<br>

James </p>

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<p>I found that flickr let you see the exif data. Perhaps photo.net should do the same. What is your opinion?</p>

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<p>If the EXIF data was left in the image, it will appear on photo.net. If it was removed when saving, then it will not appear.</p>

<p>Absolutely it has helped me to improve. I could not put a monetary value on the wealth of knowledge I have learned from the geniuses here. Almost any question I have ever had will have already been answered and I have found it in the search. Anything else, I can ask and someone will know the answer. I have more respect for this photo site than any other I have visited.</p>

<p>Besides that, looking at other people's photography is an eye opener, just to see the different visions of different photographers... what they see and how they use the camera to capture it is truly amazing. Yes, I has helped me improve and I never ever even look at the exif data. I don't really want to re-create someone else's photography. I just want to be inspired by it.</p>

<p>I'm with Christine. This is a tremendous resource. My only wish is that the film forums had more participation, but I guess that's just a sign of the times.</p>

<p>The posted photos and any discussions that do occur have been enormously helpful to me over the past few years. I have been able to learn things more quickly, and have been able to attempt to get a "look" based on the descriptions of the process that are included by some; and have actually asked a couple of photographers how they did a particular shot and have been answered in every case.</p>

<p>I have actually never been involved in any group or activity that helped me grow as a photographer in the same way that photo.net does.</p>

<p>As a minor aside, one of the most useful techniques I know to find something on photo.net is to do a search on a topic before posting a question. Insert the term, "+site:photo.net" when doing Google searches for information, and this will force Google to restrict its search to photo.net.</p>

<p>Tom M</p>

<p>Mr. Guaimare....<br>

I notice you're a subscribing member, thank you. Subscribing members contribute, along with the ads, to the financial ability of this site. With more contributors, the site can rely less on ads and/or provide more features, bandwidth, etc. </p>

<p>First to your broad question, the answer is a definite "yes," providing the site visitor does his part. As in photography, like all things, knowledge and experience, along with the desire to excel, usually makes a person better at whatever it is they would like to do or attempt to do. Photonet contains technical information, examples, some would say inspiration, and best of all, the ability to interact with other interested parties, many of whom will have a knowledge base they will gladly share with you, if asked. Many others will be asking questions that you would like to know the answer to. Some of those questions you might not have thought of and maybe even, from time to time, think, "why didn't I ask that question? The answer to that would help me become a better photographer." </p>

<p>More specific, you've already received answers above to things like how to find out the parameters of a posted picture. Not all pictures are going to have this information. Some people didn't know the answer as the picture was taken, others didn't think of including it in the information area, or chose not to. Some just don't remember. </p>

<p>Photonet is a wealth of information beyond what I stated above. It is up to the site visitor to glean the information, understand it (perhaps including a request for clarification, which will generally be answered), and putting the knowledge gain to use. Photonet does not control the whole process, in other words, it takes some input from the site visitor. Several of the members have been kind enough to place original "how to" or "how it was done" articles of some length on the site. Originally, when Philip Greenspun started the site, he did most of the writing (and he is a great writer). The articles may be 10-15 years old, but they're still as true today as the day that they were written. </p>

<p>You've joined a group where many of the members are quite generous in sharing their thoughts and expertise. For those things you do not already find on here, you have only to ask and you will probably get the most appropriate response. </p>

<p>I see you've already made several hundred posts yourself. Most of us here hope for your continued participation and remain ready <em>y a su servicio</em>. </p>

<p>A. T. Burke</p>

<p>James<br>

Thanks for the heads up. I have never visited the wedding and social forum as I don't shoot those type photo's I will definitely visit now.<br>

I am trying to learn elements 9. I go thru so many forward and undo to get where I want to end up I usually lose track of what I did and undid to get to a certain point. Maybe I need elements for dummies instead of the more comprehensive book I have. I have learned more here than from any book</p>

<p>If the photographer would want to elaborate on how he/she took the pictures that would be helpful in the learning process. Knowing the camera setting for the photo does no good to the learner. Any setting is right for certain condition, and if you don't know the condition the photo was taken the setting data is of no use.</p>

<p>Carlos posted:</p>

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<p>Does photo.net really help to improve?</p>

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<p>In more ways than I had ever imagined (thanks, Josh!). What convinced me to join photo.net was because it was the only place I Googled that had the answer to a perplexing Nikon-specific issue: How to assemble a Nikon DK-17M 1.2x eyepiece + DK-19 rubber eyecup so that the eyecup doesn't fall off every five seconds. This essential pearl of wisdom can be found here: http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00WKYe.</p>

<p>Basically, I find just talking about photography helps generate new ideas. Also, by authoring my own gear-related posts for newcomers helps me research and vet my own photo equipment choices in the process. Several members in particular helped me significantly with a vexing HyperSync topic. In fact, I wish to personally re-thank every contributor to this thread on high-speed sync using PocketWizard TT1/TT5s: http://www.photo.net/photography-lighting-equipment-techniques-forum/00YrJV.</p>

<p>Photo.net, turned out to be far more than just its vast database of informative content, spirited opinion, and inspiring creative work--it's helped me in countless ways to improve my own photography. Thank you, photo.net!</p>

<p>You can get as much out of PN as you are willing to put in. It is like any peer group. If you participate, you benefit. If you do less, expect less. While I have been critical of the site from time to time, it is the only site I know that brings together the diversity of views, levels of ability and broad range of discussion. </p>