Hi every one I am new to this old forum malarky, so I have been reading all your comments and looking at the images posted here. are we only here to pat each other on the back? surly you all can't like every picture you see? I have not commented on images i don't understand or don't like, but, do you all think we should say if we don't like a image or is keeping stum a better aproach? ok Punkclown help! what is a trippy thing? and why are you making one? and just one last thing if you post pictures here do they go on your pages?

Can you perhaps explain this all a bit more ?

Welcome to the Forum. Always nice to have a new participant. I can only offer my opinion; I'm sure others will add to or refute it. The "Gallery" tends to be a place for praise, though helpful suggestions from those who have shared their work and gained respect are generally welcome. The "Forum" is a learning place, where those of different training and points of view can learn from each other. The Photography forum here tends to be quite eclectic; with people coming from other artistic backgrounds. Some of these are covered in other Renderosity areas. We generally are fairly conservative with harsh criticism, as folks here approach the subject matter with many different viewpoints. Once we have learned, usually over a fairly long period of sharing how each other is progressing, the critiques can become quite in depth. Or we can come right out and say, "That Sucks," if we already have mutual respect. For some more information on useful critiquing, see Alpha's recent tutorial in the learning center. [Link above.] Generally questions here, either about some posted work, or about photographic technique, are handled in depth, by very knowledgable experts. The Management is always looking for new ways to enhance the "tutorial" aspect of this Forum, so any suggestions are welcome. There are other forums on the web for photography, and other medias within Renderosity, that are much harsher in their critiques. This can be a good thing, and everyone is welcome to participate elsewhere as well as here. We appreciate having useful links to other information brought to our attention. Recently some undercurrents have been raised about this becoming a "closed society" with everyone just patting each other on the back. IMO the very different styles represented by the members refutes this claim. I know in many cases I will congratulate someone here on an image I personnally do not "like," because I see the image as being "good" within the style the artist is trying to develope for him/her self. PC's trippy thing is a reference to this month's Challenge, making a "Triptych." I'll refer you to the Contest page under "Highlights" at the right to get an explanation of this. There is a different Challenge every month, which usually leads to some new thinking and viewpoints. Pictures posted in the Forum do not automatically go to the Gallery or the Users' pages. That is because Forum postings are often works in progress, with requests for helpful suggestions. There is nothing wrong with posting both places. The Forum threads are archived (permanently?) so are searchable and available for future use. Again, this is just my opinion. I'm sure others will have something more to say. Again, welcome.

many times dude, people will merely pat eachother on the back. Sometimes, especially in the galleries, it seems to be a way of saying "Yours rawks now go look at my gallery." Most of the time, I try to say something constructive, however, sometimes I don't know what to say, but I'll really like an image, so I'll say "Dude, this kicks ass, show us summore" and whatnot. It varies. And like alpha said about Punkclown's image, he was posting something he might enter for this month's Challenge, which the theme of the month is triptych. anyways, take care.

That's a good question, mysnapz. It's hard to tell whether
a person just wants to share an image or whether they want
in-depth critique (like as if I would be able to provide
such a critique if asked!). You walk a thin line, though,
when offering critiques, because you risk pushing your
own creative ideas on someone else's project. Since I'm
the type that believes that everyone's creative personality
is unique (or should be), I'm very hesitant to jump in
with suggestions for changes, etc.

It becomes much easier when someone has more or less
specific questions about how to achieve an effect (and
I have an answer for that question).

Usually though, I just stay silent unless I really like
something, which might make me look like a back patter.

IMO, there is nothing wrong with backpatting, as long as it is SINCERE. I would like to think that people here in the forum post images because they'd like to share experiences through their images, or like to ask for helpful comments for improvement, and not because they (or we, myself included) are just fishing for compliments. For me, this forum is a learning and teaching community. (And the people who hang out here are pretty kewl, too, if you get to know them... hehehe) Opinions are most welcome here. But for everyone's benefit, they should be constructive (or we must at least have a valid basis for saying so). (*

SINCERE Yes, for instance, I looooooooooove aaaaall your work, Star! ;)

Jovan is a babe. -waits patiently for Star's return comment about my butt, tho is expecting the worst-

Guys, your pics makes me cry every time I step here!!!!111 .n ps. Jovan is THE babe.

Hi mysnapz, good to see you here! The dudes above have answered your questions so well, I need say no more...but ~ "I have not commented on images i don't understand or don't like" ~ does this mean you didn't like or didn't understand (or, gasp! - both) my trippytich thing, seeing as you haven't commented on it? lol, you really don't have to answer that!
:-)>

Hi, Snapz - as said above, this is something that has been said before, but when you actually look through the comments, even though most of us say something good about a picture, we also usually offer something of our own preference to make it better. It says something of the standard of the work we post in the forum - we respect each other and get on well, so I would never think of posting a pic in here that I myself don't think is good either. We won't get anywhere posting our crap pictures, because we know ourselves we can do better then. When the Parisian artists got together last century, meeting in the cafe's and bars etc. do you think they slagged each others work off or criticised it? I think if we knew the truth you'd probably find they commented in a very similar fashion to ourselves. (",)

WOW! What a response. Bigg Jeff takes large intake of breath and starts typing. I think I have the idea, You can criticise as long as you explain why and you can pat on the back to your hearts content, I look forward to adding my comments to the forum and I will certainly be explaining if I dont like or understand a picture. As for the ones I like, large SLAPS! On the back all round. Got the Punk clown trippy thing, monthly competition thats sounds like it might be fun, will have to go check that out. Bigg Jeff CLICKS the competition link and hes off >>>>>>>>>>>>