What has happened?

Going back to the original point, I think David was bemoaning a lack of activity in general, and of the more polarised debates and discussions that we've seen here over the last couple of years. Its not just about the type of or amount of photo critique. I think we may have to wait for further developments from Pentax to kick-start more debate about technologies and equipment features - for example, will the aa filter continue on future DSLRs even further down the range?

Regarding critique, a comment was made way way above about getting out what you put in, and I think thats key to it. Some of us tend to follow each other around a bit, maybe because we remember a pointed comment from someone or know enough about them to know a point will become an actual 'talking point'.

I worry that many don't post because they worry about getting some caustic brush-off ... perhaps they'll be told there's no inspiration or point to the image, its just a snapshot, or I might say the sky is covered in noise or there's a halo around something. Well, all I can say is ... don't worry about any of that! If its said that's a positive thing - in most cases there will be a suggested solution, certainly on the technical points, some idea about processing or software that could help.

I note some poeple saying they don't post much because there's nothing worth sharing ... well, there's some very stiff quality control going on then. I say better to take a range of shots in a location, try out a few different angles, try out some different versions in processing, and throw them up! Better to show what you are doing, even if improvements are needed ... then we all get to see more of whats happening with Pentax cameras and can learn from seeing the weaker images and ideas for doing better. I've had threads where the shots get a total pasting, but at the same time plenty of thanks from people saying it has been so useful and thanks for doing it.

What Nigel said. Well put.

Nobody has disputed for a moment what the emphasis should be on.

So succinct yes; erudite, no.

See other post: link.

I think my comments might be justified!

Regards
David

Me, Personally, I 100% agree with everything that Nigel has stated above and I will try to post more photos for the benefit of my hobby! which this now is.

I will also continue to use and own Pentax camera equipment but also continue to use and own other branded camera equipment.

I do truly love visiting this site and do so on a regular basis, but I do also feel that the forum, topics posted, some members and Mod's views that are expressed on either a posted topic for all to see or via a PM, are of a draconian nature or a master and servant approach if you like.

We are now all living in the 21st century, a wonderful time for technology and innovation, but it is also the time of the demise of the suppressed thoughts and wishes of the common man, freedom of speech is a privilege that our forefathers have earned for us and should be treated with great respect but this is a door that swings both ways,

Yes we have the right to say what we thing, Yes others may disagree on what we have spoken, and Yes you as a free individual have the right to express your own thoughts on that individuals opinions, that's what makes us human in this the 21st century.

What I do not like to see, in which this has taken place on the classifieds section in this last couple of days is assumptions, rudeness and a total lack of self control in members comments in this alone should be stamped out, not just this forum but everywhere in our social interaction between our fellow persons.

Most of us on here are just faceless names apart from a lucky few, but one can never ever make assumption, ever, and then on that individuals assumption then air that view, That is not what freedom of speech is about. This is when the Mods have there place on this site, not when some poor member states the wording from another brand of camera,

Yes I am too aware that this is a Pentax forum but I also like to think of it in a strange way, of a sort of extended family and as all families there is sometimes a fight and a slammed door or two, but at the end of the day it is still your family, the Pentax family if you like.

Anyway, my views have now been aired as I have stayed on the sidelines for long enough during this threat, due to the fear of being issued yet another final warning, but I will leave you with this final thought.

“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790);
Politician, Writer, Scientist

I was visiting Ephotozine when a thought occured to me (a rare event, I know). Pentax User is a very tight-knit community compared to, say Ephotozine. There are really very few active members, partly because the brand is one of the least used and appreciated these days (except by those chosen few). There's nothing wrong with this but the sheer lack of numbers must have an effect.

The quality of photography on Ephotozine is, in my opinion, much higher, not because the members can use full-frame cameras, but because there are so many of them. Of course, there's lots of dross but the best is very good indeed.

Interestingly, I prefer the thumbnails on PU Gallery because they show the whole frame whereas on Ephotozine, for some reason, only the central square portion is shown, so if the main subject is off to one side (as it "should" be in some shots), then it looks awful and not worth clicking on.

Interesting thread.

Personally I avoid most of the forum because of a single member who I find highly irritating and with whom I cannot be bothered arguing.

So why don't they do it then?

Some do Adrian, but many don't. I can't understand why some avoid putting any images on the Gallery and / or never look at the Gallery. Some bemoan the lack of quality on the Gallery, as I did in the opening to this post, but at least I do try and contribute some images, whilst being conscious not to overload it. Surely, if we are to improve the overall quality, the best photographers on here need to start posting a few of their best images?

I have no illusions about my photographic skill and artistic ability, I know I am not one of the best, but I strive to improve and I feel it's important to put my images forward for comment, both on the Gallery and on the Forum. Perhaps I need to move on somewhere else, but I do like the site and at the moment I just don't have enough spare time to really think about my photography and push it to the next level. On that basis, I stick around.

Regards
David

I've got one of those, too...

I'm not at all sure that improving the quality of the images posted here should be a particular objective. Certainly if people are being helped by the critique they receive, their images will improve, but of course if others, especially beginners, start posting, the average quality won't necessarily change at all.

If I want to see marvellous images, there are any number of places I can go to see them - there's no special advantage of them being here, and I don't care what camera they were taken with unless it informs my own photography.

What I want from a forum is interesting discussion from members of an online community, and the opportunity to give and receive help where possible.

On which note, I've come to the decision to get a K-3. It hasn't been an easy process, since I've been considering switching brands. In the end I decided that it would be too expensive, and too much of a jump to the unknown to justify starting from scratch, and I can't afford two systems.

However, the sad fact is that the prohibition on discussions of the pros and cons of other brands meant that this forum was no help to me at all in coming to the decision.

I don't think you'll regret the K-3 Chris, it's a fine camera.

You mention above:

[quote:3496ace15f="ChrisA]
What I want from a forum is interesting discussion from members of an online community, and the opportunity to give and receive help where possible.[/quote]That's fine, but there's also a Gallery on this site, not just a Forum and my original post was aimed at both of them. A lot of us do like to see images posted, be they on the Forum or in the Gallery and this being a site about photography and photographic equipment it would seem appropriate to have quality images posted and healthy comments / criticism on the same.

Regards
David

Are you not assuming that lots of people on here have a K3 and other brands to make the comparison

Yes I'm not disagreeing with this at all, or saying that I don't like to look at the images posted.

On the rare occasions I see a really marvellous shot, though, there's not much I can do other than applaud (which I'm very happy to do - credit where it's due and all that).

It's the shots that aren't good that I tend to learn the most from, but when the mediocre gets lauded as great, I just lose interest.

I think that if someone wants critique, they should post the image with accompanying critique of their own picture. ("I was trying to achieve X, however I'm not sure it worked because of Y and Z... what do you guys think?").

That way at least, you could be sure that they actually wanted intelligent critique, were prepared to engage in thoughtful debate about it, and weren't secretly just hoping for praise (which I often suspect is the case, even with mediocre images).

And before anyone looks at my gallery, you won't find much. You don't have to be a chicken to know that an egg's bad, and I already know that most of my pictures aren't worth posting

Well possibly.

However, I know for a fact that some people do have other brands as well as Pentax, and would be able to discuss their relative merits and demerits here if the moderation policy was different. Some of that might have been helpful.

And I also know for a fact that quite a lot of people have gone to other brands, and would also have been able to offer opinions had they been permitted to.

And they might not all have left, either.