Can we all stop using the terms 'elitist' or 'unfriendly' or 'unhelpful' etc.
I think absolutely everyone would agree that this site is none of the above and never should be.
There's nothing elitist (in the bad sense) about having something to aspire to in the form of a 'Portfolio' of excellent photography, and it would be such a great place to visit.

Oh and BTW guys, this thread will 'go to bed' when no one has anything to say, nobody is forcing you to keep reading.

Te he, this is fun, I'm loving this thread!
It's particularly funny watching people completely missing the point
Ken, I love your shots and I am really annoyed that when I lived in Northumbria I had no money for film processing I would post comments more often in the gallery if I thought they would be read, or answered.

I think our Dutch friends are closest to a solution... and me of course! with my new 'Portfolio' then you can do what you like with your pesky Photo Upload area.

TTK, I couldn't be less concerned by this. If you like status quo and I don't, I can leave any time I choose. I choose to stay, to enjoy the good and bad and have an opinion on how to improve it.

Oh please! We all know the difference between a bad picture and what just doesn't light our candle. Some photos are simply bad and if the photographer really wants to improve he will want genuine honest advice and also somewhere where he/she can be assured of seeing (irrefutably) good examples of our craft.

Wow! excellent
I guess it was naive of me to think I could just post this and run!
So briefly:
I'm really pleased that it has been a hot topic and that I'm not alone.

I am happy for people to use only the gallery section and not the forum. My point is we need TWO Galleries. One of which should just be called 'Photo Upload' (this would be the current gallery)

The current gallery is not a great place for c&c because it doesn't notify you of comments and your photo can't be kept current like the forum.

I have no problem with poor photography - we all have to start somewhere and I am as active as anyone with helpful (and honest) comments.

I just want somewhere really classy with top-notch images, and I think a new 'Gallery' or 'Portfolio' should be that place. If it takes you a year to get an image worthy of inclusion then fine, you will be all the more proud when it happens and if you listen to all the comments and not just the back slapping then you will get there all the quicker.

The current gallery does facilitate posting, so that's good, but if c&c is important, it should be run like a forum.

I didn't want anyone to remove their images - it is currently the only way to build your own portfolio, I just want somewhere else for the good shots. Really tho', if your own portfolio is diluted by mediocre test shots then you are doing yourself a disservice.

Rob, let's not get personal - I was happy for people to comment on my image way back, as no image is perfect. Believe me, you'll know when I'm having a rant, this is just an opinion

The Pentax Gallery is a lovely place to visit but it is slow and doesn't include manipulated images etc. Our new 'PU Portfolio' could be even better!

Oh yes...most importantly Ivor Dewdneys - still here !

I'm feeling boisterous.
Should the gallery be renamed to:
"Area for lame photos and monotonous, sycophantic comments" ?
It would be really nice to be able to go to the gallery for inspiration but it seems to be a place for relentless back-slapping or just somewhere easy to post test images... what's wrong with the photo critique area?
Can we have another gallery now please? and maybe call this one "keepers"

Seriously tho' we have enough talent here to have a truly exceptional portfolio, vetted in some way, but please - no voting, otherwise it will turn into a clique

Amin, take a picture of something else!
No amount of thirds tweaking will help these

I think most of the sunset shots would benefit from being in a letterbox format and increasing the contrast.

Nice one Martin, Well done.
Is it an HDR image? or a tone-mapped raw or something? The sky has more tone in it than I would expect for an essentially dark scene.

don't forget when focussing that a lot can happen in that small time between half pressing (focussing) and fully releasing the shutter, especially with children. They're like little birds - never stop moving.
So you may have been focussed perfectly but took too long to finish the process and take the shot. Happens all the time, especially if you are being gentle to avoid shake.
That last shot is lovely.

Mike, I'm not normally given to sycophancy, but even when you balls it up it still looks good :
I'm starting to not like you very much...

It's great fun shooting the moon isn't it? I know it's been done a million times before, but it such a buzz pulling off a good shot with limited equipment
The shake seems to be sideways - just a slight double image rather than just being soft.
The halo on the bottom left and top is caused by the sharpening I think. You could perhaps try going over that with the history brush to lessen the effect.
The tripod should be ok as long as you have a remote or use the 2 second-mirror up facility (or both preferably). If that doesn't work, try catching the moon earlier (when it's lower) and use a bean bag instead of a tripod.