mvisionphotography

Stamoulis you actually made SO MUCH sense!

 

Grand masters! OMG OMG that is exactly how I felt when I posted pictures in the weddings area. I posted no different than other people and I got slammed and I was so drawn back by that. I was almost laughing because of the quality that others had yet I was getting way lower scores (ha).

 

You are right I do post process some things and do things in my own style yet some I don't touch but use the camera as a tool (and others don't even recognize that and think it is post processed).

 

HA

 

BUT Tim is right it does make you feel like you almost don't want to be here BUT you do have to almost feel like you are better than some of them who THINK they know everything and stay true to who you are. I have learned that.

 

Yep, I have learned to remember maybe I'm not POPULAR (or my name has pissed some off or they don't WANT my picture to be popular etc...)

 

I have seen people get low ratings just for the sake of others not wanting a picture to BEAT them here on PN. OMG have I seen wars over the last three years.

 

I guess what hurts is somehow somewhere something in me thinks there are a few 3/3(ers) out to get me. OMG I am being paranoid. Maybe I'm smelling the ink on my computer. HA HA HA

 

All this post processing is going to my head. Thank god I'm not really in a Dark Room.

 

It's not that I want to be LIKED I just want my work to be considered for real one way or the other.

 

I absolutely LOVE what you said Stamoulis. I might quote you on my front page. :)

 

You are wonderful and I think I will print it out and now I understand it all much better. Ahhh, to now go work on my 100 other pictures AND Football pictures (so I can make money) and make do some mopping. YEP I still do yucky housework.

 

You guys are so sweet. ~ OH and Tiffany, This "IS a great place to LEARN. HOW? You ask LOTS of questions and comment, comment, comment comment and LOOK around alot. THEN they come and make comments AND critique and you listen and take note. ~ micki

Curtis it also is ok to ASK for a critique.

 

I have no problem asking for a critique sometimes from certain people.

 

Mentors that I have made here on PN.

 

Alot of times I actually e-mail people pictures that I don't post pictures on the internet that I want help with.

You guys are all dead on correct.

 

It is not the fact that I have received the ratings at all.

 

I have been used to getting them from the start of being here on PN. The fact is should I be getting them now MORE that I have improved. I am now actually making pretty good money and would like to know why (in my opinion) that some people are just putting these ratings on my pictures sometimes out of disrespect of "ME".

 

I'm not out there giving ratings to others as I learned along time ago that it doesn't get you anywhere. Comments and critiques work. I was accused of being a "mate rater" and giving ratings for the sake of rates to get ratings and so I don't do that back and forth thing and I guess I just wonder if now I just get these blanked ratings because of my NAME and not my picture. That is what I was talking about that whenever I post ANY picture I get these quick ratings.

 

So I get frustrated.

 

It makes me NOT want to even be on here at all. I don't get any respect for how far I have come with my photography or my abilities in my craft as a post processor. This is all I do now and I have started a business. My life revolves around it and I want to grow so getting these QUICK 3's make me go this is ridiculous when other places I have won competitions with the same picture.

 

Understand?

 

I feel like the "click" of PN has still been a hard one to break into in certain area's and I guess portraits is one of them.

 

I don't have time to go and rate/talk/critique/and of course rate rate rate a whole bunch of people so that they can come and rate my picture (which I frankly don't care about) so I'll stick with my early rates I guess.

 

I just wish that PN would figure out the rating system to keep it more "honest" and somehow easier to comply with.

I am just learning that (besides the landscapes and street photo's) it is really a tit for tat rating system. I guess I never really realized it till now.

 

I looked through the ratings and went WOW how in the world did that picture get 10 ratings in less than a half an hour when OH looks like they all just rate each other. HA

 

YEP you guys are all pretty much right.

 

I am really thrilled with my work and how it has progressed over the last few years. I am very thrilled with the work that I have done over the last few months and just wanted to share it on here.

 

Brett, Silly thing is I NEVER got these numbers when I used to upload several years ago (back when I was a novice) HA

 

Ed, I shoot now MORE THAN EVER (still shoot for me) but I honestly just don't have time to post and did today as I wanted some feedback and I really feel like when you get a (quick) 3/3 or 3/4 it affects the rest of your ratings. Not that I think they are above 5 pictures but I think they are better than I used to do a year ago. AND I believe they are better than some of the 6/6's that are out there. This isn't about me getting 3's as much as what happens if you have one or two people that just give "YOU" a three because of who you are? :( (sigh)

 

David, I love the good feedback and yes because of the people and friends I have made here on PN I have become who I am today. Or rather the photographer I am. :)

 

Gerald, HA HA HA HA (don't tempt me) HA HA HA HA ~ my mom would of course not think it was as funny :)

 

Fred, you are one of my best critiques and friends. I listen to you (most). I don't think that was a sentence but it was what I meant to say. I posted six different photo's on purpose to see which one would be a wow and not a blah. YEP, you know me. I was taken back on how many icky photo's I didn't like on the rate recent critique. Maybe I haven't found many 1 in a 1000 lately either. And btw NO I will not do nudes either ~ LOL

 

Harry, yep ego gets hurt. HA So what do I do? Post a sunset. HA

 

Works every time. Makes me feel much better. :)

 

Thanks everyone. ~ micki

I have been away from critiques for awhile. I have actually just been away because I have been fairly busy and

because I thought I needed a break from the way PN has been kind of well depressing.

 

So I thought well I'll give it a try today since I just shot a cute couple yesterday. I uploaded the pictures

and gave it a go and right off the bat got my "normal" yucky ratings. I thought "oh no" I'm being judged

harshly and then I laughed.

 

I went to look at all the other pictures in the category and I was almost shocked.

 

(sigh)

 

It looks like someone has pretty much gone across the board and done the same thing to several really good

pictures :(

 

Now my question is this. Should I honestly just upload my pictures "without" asking for ratings and just ask for

critiques?

 

Are people really uploading some of those pictures in the portrait and fashion critique area all the time?

 

The main reason I upload pictures is to get better and get feedback.

 

So feedback is what I am asking for.

 

Thanks so much for the communication here.

 

Lots of good work out there and I would love to be able to see it myself but I felt lost in a sea of (sigh) blah

myself. :(

 

Thanks ~ micki

I am looking at two programs right now (plugins) for my CS3 the Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 Complete Edition and the

onONE PhotoTools Professional.

 

Problem is I really don't know which is better.

 

I downloaded the Nik Color Efex Demo and really liked it. I have downloaded the onONE and can't really get the

DEMO to work really well (or rather SEE what it does with CS3 because of its watermark).

 

I am willing to even look at another program if there is something else out there.

 

I want something that is worthwhile and easy to use with CS3.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you ~ micki

It's working now.

 

It wasn't working for about two hours.

 

It was really weird.

 

It didn't work on my New Page and then in No Words (I decided to try there to see too).

 

Now it works just fine.

 

All is good :)

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It just flashes me right back to the photo.net home page. My picture is the right size and everything. It isn't

my first time doing this as I have done this many times. I have taken off all my "ad blocker stuff" and tried in

both explorer and firefox.

 

My picture is totally the right size.

 

Is there something going on right now that is preventing this from going on?

 

Just curious.

 

I was trying to upload the picture on a comment in my gallery.

ok Eric I spent less than ten minutes looking at your portfolio and I found two pictures that I absolutely LOVED. I identified with them and I loved your WHOLE portfolio.

 

You have it set up really nice and I think you don't have too many pictures for what you have. You have them seperated out into different places that you have been which is good.

 

If you had 150 pictures in one folder I would never look.

 

Since I have lived in Hawaii I looked there and skipped (honestly) over the Mexico stuff a bit faster to go down to the other stuff.

 

I did like to look at your captions and then was frustrated that your captions were not on your bee shot and other stuff (probably before they had captions).

 

I LIKE captions as it tells me something about the picture. You can put your pointer on the picture and know something about the picture.

 

For me as long as a portfolio has a good separation of folders I'm fine with a few more pictures.

 

I do, however, know of people with dial up that can not access LARGE portfolio's.

 

People with over 1000 pictures and stuff.

 

I would also love to see people have "new work" folders.

I agree with Benjamin

 

I don't do the PICK NIKON or CANON or anything for that matter.

 

BUT I will say this. I LOVE having ALL THREE AND the D40X can put that LONG LENS the 70-200 2/8 on it and BAM take just as good a pictures on it as the D300. Seriously! My husband took Hockey pictures with it and a D40X. :)

 

 

I say get yourself a REBEL with a 50mm or a D40X and that is all you need for low light PERIOD!

 

BUT go and play with it and see which one you like. It is an investment in your LENSES. Just remember if you get a D40x you HAVE to get a SIGMA 30mm because you don't have auto focus. But I like the 30mm better anyway.

 

Truth is I LOVE the D40 and the D60 is also brand new and pretty cheap.

 

Also the 18-200mm is REALLY wonderful as a do anything lens and we use it for everything. When you can afford anything get a lens like it.

 

:)

oops forgot the link :)

 

<BR><BR>

 

http://www.photo.net/photo/6830227

I love playing with my bokeh ;)

HA HA HA

 

that is so funny!

 

This is FLORIDA of the USA. Redneck country (panhandle next to Alabama). They WANT you to take pictures of their kids. It is funny!

 

HA

 

Oh, and just so you know there was some kind of explosion the other day and some lady looked at me and she said "do you think we are at war"? and I of course said. YEP! The BRITISH are COMING!

 

I think she believed me.

 

That's this area of Florida/Alabama for you! :) Here it is the discretion to determine of the officer if you are drunk also. .03 percent drunk period. That means literally one drink and you are drunk.

 

That means after 12pm about half the people around here are considered probably drunk.

Ton, what you said is very well thought out. Use your strengths in your comments and critiques. Since I am an artist in emotion and my schooling was in Behavioral Science and I understand certain aspects of people and the study of people I was drawn to the emotion of pictures. I found myself drawn to not only commenting on pictures for color/clarity and well "if" it was decent (sometimes honestly you just don't say anything). I commented on emotion. If someone were to ask "does this picture work" I would answer NO. I would tell them why. I was honest. If the emotion of the picture didn't hit me and I had spent time with that person on other pictures that I felt GREAT emotion with then I would have to be honest. Of course I would let them know why.

 

I also like what Ton said about the tell them what WORKS on a picture and help get them towards a "fixing solution". My picture of "EYES" is a great example. Someone told me the ears are orange. OMG they are! I need to fix them NOW. YES! HA HA HA

 

I didn't even realize it till someone mentioned it because I was so blinded by my ignorance and looking at other things. We need to be thumped over the head sometimes by other people.

 

If we don't ask for constructive critiques then we don't get anywhere. NOW if someone would have said the picture is crap but did not say why that would have made me sad. Instead he said something sweet then told me the ears looked orange. Understand?

 

Go with what your strengths are. You have some. You pick out emotion. Go find it or pictures you identify with. ~ micki

Scott, my suggestion is JUMP!

 

My story is simple. I wanted to get better so I jumped in and I commented and asked and I jumped. I put four pictures every day up and I commented on probably 30 to 40 pictures a day and asked questions. I did like Bob said by using my strengths in publishing and art I went towards what I knew and commented and critiqued that way. You have to go with that. It is almost like taking PHOTOGRAPHY 101.

 

That is how I treated it.

 

I started over two years ago and grew like a weed.

 

Ended up buying three five camera's in the mix of all of this (two point and shoot three SLR). Now I have a business. All because I jumped.

 

If it were not for people like BOB I would not be talking to you right now (or talking for my husband) lol ~ micki

Ok sorry guys ~ THAT was me up there. For some reason I was in my hubby's account. I don't want you all to think I am my hubby and that he is now making smiley faces. :) ~ thanks. OMG he will kill me for writing with that grammar and smiley faces. HA HA HA!

I have to agree with Anne.

<BR><BR>

Simple will get you a much better result and by doing that getting you a Cannon Rebel or a nikon D80 (D40 if it

is more in your budget).

<BR><BR>

Then get yourself a faster lens. 50mm I do LOTS of low light stuff and it is what is my "thing" or favorite way

of presenting my "art" of photography. I like following the motion of light.

<BR><BR>

Here's the thing. When you are at a concert or working with band members that go in and out of that light you

need and have to have that FAST lens. When you don't have that light but are walking around with them it is also

great for just using for capturing them being them without flash.

<BR><BR>

Now Sigma makes a 30mm lens that's a bit wider (I now use it more than the 50mm). It also works on the D40x

which the 50mm doesn't.

<BR><BR>

Now as for concerts you this is what a 50mm does:

 

<BR><BR>

<a href="

http://www.mvisionphotography.com/Fergi/449177 " >our concert pics</a> (done with 800 ISO) 50mm D80 so as not

to hurt camera :)

 

<BR><BR>

Simple as point and shooting with a fast lens.

 

If you don't have this capability then your going to have to work with your ISO and practice practice practice

with that camera.

ha ha ha

 

oh I blame all my friends for everything!

 

I don't care where they are from! HA HA HA

 

Oh South Park. Yep, not allowed in our house "wink wink".

OMG guys ~ get a room :)

 

he he

 

cat fight~ lol

 

I sat here and LMAO!

 

I have no clue what you guys are talking about but I didn't know till now that George Bush Was king of the World. I think you are mistaken, Are we talking about George Herbert Walker Bush?

 

he he

 

I love you guys so much! ~ HUGS!

 

(bottlenecks in Canada, lost memories of "me in Spain WHOO HOOO" it's a bloody revolution)

Lex, HA HA HA HA ::) great one :)

 

he he

 

ok, I will not complain of ratings ever again Fred

 

Case closed!

HA HA HA HA

 

:)

Fred, you are absolutely right.

 

I got tired of the testosterone. Male ego's big as the moon they are shooting. (sigh)

 

I'm just a girl who wants to get better and not get shoved crap in my face. Can you imagine how a novice/new learner/hobby photographer or someone that is just starting out trying to make a living who is trying to grow gets slammed by the "I know more than you know" people feel? Well they just don't do anything. They don't talk (afraid too).

 

I got tired of talking in the philosophy threads because one or two people would come in and say your wrong and your mother dresses you funny. Seriously, they would name call. The old your not good enough to be here because you are not "worthy" attitude.

Benjamin ~ I care about ratings when you post four pictures and off the bat all four of them get 3's or 4's.

 

THEN I start to think hmmm AM I really that bad?

 

Now again I think I have actually gotten better (as I said). I also wonder if some people just get 3 happy out there sometimes (which is fine). I don't care actually BUT my concern is that I wasn't getting anything BUT that. I mean there stood a picture with a 3 on it for three days. Once it has that on it seems like nobody wants to touch it. It is just weird. Maybe "I" am the one that has pissed people off and nobody wants to mess with me (HA HA HA) :)

 

And you are right nobody understand originality and you are also right my friends keep telling me SO WHAT keep posting it. blah ~ I'm doing the normal stuff and the stuff that is "original and my vision" so maybe I get through to someone. Thanks for making me see clear. I need that. I forget sometimes! :)

 

 

Deb, I agree most of the time you just link them back to the DID YOU SEE THAT link. :) I always search the forum first before asking a question. :)

 

Daniel, I met the best group of people here on PN. I mean my mentors and my friends for LIFE. And no they were not "mate raters" ha ha ~ They were a group of people that wanted to critique each other and do a theme a week (you would have to see my warrior folder). I grew because of them and we all talk daily. Most of them don't even rate me/each other. We just talk about pictures. Most of us almost talk daily almost TOO much and we don't even get our stuff done. Because of this group I have built a business and I am doing what I am doing now. I have learned the craft! If you want to know who they are go look at my website and you can see who they are by going to my website and seeing about us. There are links to them.

 

You are right THIS is the place to FIND people to help you with your craft. Help you get better.

 

I'm willing to listen to folks who are willing to tell me how to make a picture better with a critique. But one who points fingers or one who says things like "YOU are a BAD photographer" or "You don't know what you are doing" or "The person in the photo is...fat" etc... We have to remember that there are ways to say things that don't have to be so harsh. I spend alot of time actually suggesting/critiquing ways to make a picture better but I would NEVER say something that would make a "client" or a person in the picture looking at the picture upset. We forget that other people look at these pictures sometimes. Like the WHOLE WORLD. Well for those of us in a business when we get things that say "YOU are a BAD PHOTOGRAPHER" I have to delete that picture (didn't help me at all). I have no choice if someone who is what I would call a decent photographer but nothing to go WHOOO HOOOO at calls me something BAD I feel like they are only just a finger pointer and high and mighty so I delete the picture since I can't delete the comment. I have clients who see the picture. Not to mention when the picture was LOVED by the client and it was an ART piece to boot. Understand?

 

Critique is good but over the top finger pointing high and mighty slamming other peoples work is bad :(

 

 

 

:) ~ micki

Well then I have just gotten better at taken pictures but my my ratings have gotten worse (ha ha ha)

 

No seriously I don't see the numbers on our pictures like we used to or maybe I should try a sunset and see what happens.

 

It's just weird but your right. I looked back and I think it is the sunsets and in the winter that get the higher ratings.

 

But I sure would like to kick my 3/3 quick rater :)

 

Of course that is always that same song and dance...

 

or broken record as they say.

 

HA

Nolan so true really.

 

Did you leave PN for awhile?

 

Are you NEW to PN again?

 

Just curious.