lex_photo

I'd say go ahead experiment and see what happens. I'm just starting to figure some of this stuff out myself, but I'm also

finding that "breaking the rules" can lead to either horrible failures or great interesting wonderful new ideas and new paths to

try. Hope this helps. - Lex

I like the idea of anonymous critiques. I hope that it would give people the confidence to tell me what they don't (or do) like

about my photos. I understand that some may miss use this and say nasty things, but I'm willing to take the chance in

hopes of getting more critiques, and more honest opinions.

Would it be easy or help to make it so that you could put your photo in the rating queue and the critique queue separately,

i.e. only rate, or only critique, or check for both?

Sounds great to me, hope everything goes well with the implementation. - Lex

Ton, I agree that critiques are the best source of information on this site. I was referring more to what Josh had said. If the

number of photos I can send to the critique form is based on how many photos I rate (not critique) then I'm going to spend

my time rating so I can get more photos into the critique form. I'm not trying to compete, just trying to get my photos out

there and get advice on how to improve.

I know that I don't spend as much time rating as I do giving critiques and if I could only get more photos in the critique

forum by rating other photos, that is what I would spend my time doing. I know that it is easier to look at ratings then

critiques, but putting this emphasis on how often you rate, and what rates you receive (i.e. getting into the top photos) is in

my opinion why so many people get frustrated. You get seen more on the site if you get more ratings (that's just a fact), but

then when people complain about either not receiving ratings or getting 3/3s, they are told that they shouldn't let the ratings

bother them. It seems to be a catch 22, and I'm not sure what is the best way out. If this much emphasis is going to be

placed on the rating system, it seems that this is going to just fuel more frustration over not receiving critiques, views, and

help on photos. I don't have a solution to suggest yet, just thought I'd state my 2 cents. - Lex

I agree that Yosemite is an amazingly beautiful place, as is the coast of california, but I have to suggest Arches national

park in Utah and the Rockies (CO portion). Also there is always the Santa Fe and Los Alamos area that has it's own

beauty. There are too many great places, I'm sure where ever you end up it will be beautiful. - Lex

Thanks for all the comments, I guess I don't see how this is going to help, if anything I feel that this will do the opposite for

those of us who already do critique quite frequently but (as in my case) can't afford to become a member at the moment

(were member's critique request also reduced?). I know though that the moderators have everyones best interest at heart

and are truly trying to make this the best site for everyones needs, and I really do hope that this helps. Thanks again for

the comments - Lex

Thanks for the info... It's sad, but I hope this helps. I'd love a clone of myself to help get everything I would like to get done

in a day... Where is this station!. Thanks again for the quick reply - Lex

Hi,

I just noticed that the number of critique requests allowed for non subscribers has been greatly decreased. I was just wondering what the

reasoning

is for this. Thanks for the info.

Lex

Keep the photos coming, we all get better with practice. It was hard at first for me as well, but I think I have grown a lot by

listening to the comments that I have received. Also with the ratings, take them as is and use them to help you look at

your work in a new light. I've found that I tend to have emotional attachments to my photos which stop me from at first

seeing them the way they really look. I hope this helps.

Hi, I know that at the top you have stated that you fixed the details tab on the individual photo view, but I still can't use any

of the tabs. Maybe it will take a while to work, but just thought I'd let you know. Thanks for all of your hard work. - Lex

I don't know if Huntington Gardens would let you take photos, but it's beautiful there. If you like Mount Wilson, Table

Mountain is a bit farther inland and I think just as if not prettier. From Mount Wilson you can look down at LA which is kinda

cool. I see Charles has pretty much made all of my suggestions. Caltech is beautiful if you are in the Pasadena area. I

hope this helps - Lex

I like it, but I just use it to post photo so that my family and friends can see them. I think it's very easy to use and has a

nice look to it. Hope this helps - Lex

I must say that since the icons have appeared I have seen a huge increase in the number of ratings and critiques that my

photos have gotten. I've also seen a large increase in the number of helpful comments instead of the like your work, kind.

I've also seen a lot more comments on other photographers photos. Maybe I've found my way into a group of people, but I

doubt that. I think that there is an increase for us beginners, but maybe more of a spreading of the same number of

critiques over more photos. Who knows... - Lex

I haven't heard anything about the Australian government holding any copy rights, granted I'm in a different state, but there

is a lady in the Flicker group which seems to know a lot about the photographers rights in AU and I bet if she doesn't

already know she would know where to go to find out. I hope this helps. - Lex

I'm in Newcastle (North of Sydney) , but on flicker there is a very active group called the hunter valley group. They would

probably have some great discussions and ideas, and probably a few photos from the area. I hope this helps. - Lex

Just wanted to say thanks to the photo.net team. The rolls of film or batteries seem to have help stimulate more critiques. Since I joined I

have never gotten so many critiques on my photos and the number of ratings has gone up as well. Just thought I'd let you know that I've

seen a difference.

Lex

I normally take my camera with me every where. When I find I'm no longer inspired, I take a week or two off. I find that I

start seeing photos all around, but the forced time off seems to be what makes me realize what is there. I have also tried

some other peoples suggestions of going out with an intent of trying to shoot everything I see in a new light, I found this

doesn't work for me. Then there is the work on technique instead of artistry. Normally I get bored doing this, but every once

in awhile I find that I start getting distracted from the exercise and start taking just odd photos. I hope this helps - Lex

I agree that Bandelier Nat'l Monument is a wonderful place to stop, I spent about 3 hours there and I wish I could have

spent the day. I'd also say that taking I believe it's highway 7 from Estes Park to Nederland in CO there is a little church

off the side of the road that is Beautiful (there are photos in my portfolio) and both Estes and Ned. are wonderful as well,

very small mountain town. The Blue Bells up by Snowmass and Aspen are great and there is Jazz (I believe but music

for sure) every Friday in Snowmass. Arches of course is Beautiful and many have gotten some amazing photos from

there. Just south of Boulder there is Eldorado Canyon which you could easily spend a day walking around and

photographing climbers, mountain views, and a nice "river".

Although I love the Rockies, and the SW is nice as well, I think some of my fondest memories have come from Glacier

National Park. My family went there when I was a kid and I remember that there was some great stuff just on the

Canadian border there. Lots and lots of wildlife (a goat tried to eat my brothers camera) and Beautiful Mountains. Also in

Idaho there are some great hot springs that might not be too photogenic, but the surrounding area is and the hot springs

do feel really good. The craters of the moon Nat'l Mon. is, I think, fun.

If you come down through Idaho and then cut across the top of Utah into Wyoming, there are some wonderful colors as

you come upon the mountains again. I don't remember what that area was called, but it was great.

I hope this helps, there is so much along that route, I'd say don't stick too much to a schedule and stop when the mood

strikes.

Oh and if you are looking for something historical there is the K-T boundary layer in Raton Basin in Colorado.

lex

Make a design with pencils, pens, markers, crayons what ever and take a photo of

that. You could use some construction paper to make a stop motion video, or just use

the crayons. I hope this helps - Lex

I use blog spot as well and I'm pretty sure that you can have more then four photos at

a time. In fact my latest post has 6 photos http://lexphoto.blogspot.com/2008/06/last-

night-of-conference.html If you want each step as a separate entry, you can change

the number of entries you see on the front page by going to your layout tab and

clicking on the edit button in the blog post section. the top option is to set the number

of posts seen on the main page. I hope this helps. - Lex

Here is the picture in a jpeg. It's a lot easier then what you are making it sound. I think

Josh and the guys here have made this site easy to use and nice to look at. Sorry

you've had a rough go, but if you stay I'm sure you'll see the sense in the layout

eventually. - Lex<div></div>