tom_appel

Relatively happy with my Nikkor 24-200 VR, though sharpness issues keep me from fully endorsing it.

And Josh, (((HUGS))) Silly me!

Oh yeah, now Micki's anonymous.

 

Completely incognito...

Wayne,

Thanks, no, I am not a student, nor am I likely to become one, at least not at this level. I am full-time employed in another field, and have a family, so a school like those discussed here is out of the question. I am looking to learn, and have been looking for something beyond the photo-store clinics. I live in Chicago and have been looking--very casually--for something I can do weekends of evenings. I have been shooting enough that I have again gotten comfortable with my camera, but I have by no means mastered the digital fundamentals. Your stuff is impressive, by the way. Best of luck plying my hobby as your trade. Looks like a great life.

Then you understand completely how I feel when a professional photographer insults an amateur's work. No one likes bullies.

So wait, is George Rosa a clown pimp or not? This is hard to follow.

And really, I don't want to know what's cool about my shots, I want to know how to make them better. I, like many of you, know what I want to do with a shot, but lack the technical prowess to make it happen. Anyone who isn't willing to point out what they think will make a shot work better is, uh, a wuss. Anyone who doesn't want to hear what's wrong with their stuff is here for the wrong reasons. Party at Bowbrick's place, bring Doritos.

Frankly, I think one of the biggest problems on this site is the "circle of friends" members that leave virtually worthless comments and high ratings for each other. "Great job, keep shooting" is about the most critical comment some people leave. Why is this an issue? It makes the rating system useless. Another issue, and I am guilty of this, is a reluctance of members to leave a rating after leaving a fairly honest criticism of a piece. Seems to me, the best way to get some commentary is to post you shots "critique only". The ratings are pretty arbitrary. My composite numbers are much higher than any number of better PN members right now, and the only good reason for that is that my work is less controversial. So...screw it. Shoot what you can, hope for some decent feedback, and if all this is really too upsetting to you, consider an additional hobby. It's just fun, right? (And if anyone of you is a "Wow, that's so clever! 6/6" person, I will personally leave a turd in your mailbox.)

I know I am late to this conversation, but I have to agree, at least a little, with the original poster. Recently saw a lousy photograph, and the caption beneath was advice on how to shoot similar shots to rack up your bill--why this is funny to me is that the poster was new to PN, and her bio described her as a photography novice. So, in the few months she was posting, she became a PROFESSIONAL photographer, with advice for other professionals. She had also become quite bold in critiqing the work of other, far better photographers.

I am SO sick of wrinkly old people from foreign lands. "Ooh, I see he has seen the world, 6/6. even though its blurry and over exposed."

Damn people, it's just a rating. It's the text that counts. Check out the people who actually bother to write something. If you like what they've shot, take their advice to heart. This isn't a ratings contest.