|
|
Post by Romy Ocon on Jan 7, 2008 3:45:16 GMT
Hi gang, The world-famous bird imager Artie Morris just opened a new bird photography site, and the site's staff are among the top birdshooters that I admire. Registration is free and if you wish to have some of your bird/nature photos critiqued by the world's top pros (in a very constructive and friendly way), I encourage you to visit the site and perhaps register. Even if you don't post images for critique, just reading the comments on the posted photos will fast track your learning curve in our genre. Here's the site (I just enlisted as a non-paying contributor, paid membership has additional privileges): birdphotographers.net/Romy |
|
|
|
Post by Eric Patdu on Jan 7, 2008 4:06:30 GMT
Read about the new site on on the bird forums too. It says membership is free up to April 1, 2008 and after that you would have to pay an annual fee of $20. Haven't visited the site yet but the press release seems to very interesting not to mention the recommendation of the Master.
Here is the press release I've read:
|
|
|
|
Post by Romy Ocon on Jan 7, 2008 4:56:38 GMT
The latest development, if I understand it right, is they have decided to keep the membership free even beyond April 1.  Romy Read about the new site on on the bird forums too. It says membership is free up to April 1, 2008 and after that you would have to pay an annual fee of $20. Haven't visited the site yet but the press release seems to very interesting not to mention the recommendation of the Master. Here is the press release I've read: |
|
|
|
Post by Eric Patdu on Jan 7, 2008 5:05:54 GMT
The latest development, if I understand it right, is they have decided to keep the membership free even beyond April 1. Romy  |
|
|
|
Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 7, 2008 22:17:52 GMT
Looks like a great site. I enrolled.
I think it's a good idea to cultivate the same atmosphere in our forum: Honest critiques done gently.
I sometimes post photos to, admittedly show off. We all need to feel good sometimes to reassure ourselves we're doing things right so giving and getting praises is a good thing in the forum.
I mostly post to share so others can take shots of the same bird again.
But I do post also to get critiqued and found that the critiques I got from this forum is very helpful. I found out, for example, that my monitor was not calibrated (caused by my son's friends spending a weekend at home and decided the monitor's wrong for their networked games). Or Tina found out that her colorspace was producing washed out tones. Or that my coucal's blurred, hence I need to learn mirror lockup...
Learning is a great thing in this forum. And one way to learn is to post photos to get suggestions. But I do know that some people may not react well to criticism. So I think people who want them should explicitly ask for them. I know I will from now on. Or, perhaps, a separate thread/forum for shots wanting to get critiqued?
|
|
|
|
Post by Romy Ocon on Jan 7, 2008 23:47:03 GMT
Hi Ding, I joined that site, as well as the equally great nature photography site www.naturescapes.net , to get a feel of how the top pros approach the aesthetics of nature photography. I'd say I've learned a lot from both sites, not only from direct comments on my photos, but also from reading critiques of other photographers' work. I'm now trying to improve my macro and landscape stuff, so these are the photos I'm posting first at the new site. Here's a very excellent critique on my Candaba Sunset shot by Robert Amoruso. IMHO, Robert was able to make his point without ruffling the ego of the photographer. I tried his suggestions and the image indeed came out much stronger. ;D www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1239More critiques on a macro shot I posted: www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1146Critiquing is not an easy task, as it's an exercise in trying to point out how to make the image stronger and at the same time avoiding hurting the ego of the photographer. When not done very well, critiques can be a source of animosities among shooters (I've seen this happen in critique forums), as many of us have different intrepretation of what makes an aesthetically pleasing image. Coming out with a Critique Section is a good idea IMHO.... let's wait for feedback from others. If there's enough demand, we'll put it up. Romy Looks like a great site. I enrolled. I think it's a good idea to cultivate the same atmosphere in our forum: Honest critiques done gently. I sometimes post photos to, admittedly show off. We all need to feel good sometimes to reassure ourselves we're doing things right so giving and getting praises is a good thing in the forum. I mostly post to share so others can take shots of the same bird again. But I do post also to get critiqued and found that the critiques I got from this forum is very helpful. I found out, for example, that my monitor was not calibrated (caused by my son's friends spending a weekend at home and decided the monitor's wrong for their networked games). Or Tina found out that her colorspace was producing washed out tones. Or that my coucal's blurred, hence I need to learn mirror lockup... Learning is a great thing in this forum. And one way to learn is to post photos to get suggestions. But I do know that some people may not react well to criticism. So I think people who want them should explicitly ask for them. I know I will from now on. Or, perhaps, a separate thread/forum for shots wanting to get critiqued? |
|
|
|
Post by Ding Carpio on Jan 8, 2008 8:45:26 GMT
Wow. The site is down with a message that says their servers were overwhelmed so they're doing a sudden upgrade. Will check in again later.
|
|
|
|
Post by steve pryor on Jan 8, 2008 8:53:35 GMT
Here are a couple more photo-critiquing sites: freebies The first link is the better site (has quite a few names that I recognise and that know a lot about photography). The second - a little less professional - I am sure Romy will remember this one - Sunbird photo ripoff! www.naturescapes.net/www.treknature.com/EDIT: Sorry Romy! I had not seen that you had already mentioned Naturescapes. |
|
|
|
Post by steve pryor on Jan 8, 2008 9:07:27 GMT
Yes,
Ding has it right. Some people just can not accept criticism. Their loss! I even see this when people send me bird photos - rather than accept the correct ID's, they will argue that their obviously wrong identifications are correct, and that I don't know what I am talking about...
We must all be open to criticism, and to listening to others with more experience. Does anyone want to take a guess on how many times that I have completely blown a bird ID? The answer is legion - not anymore but everybody has to learn.
So, yes an apposite Forum with the express intent of critiquing photos on request, is a good idea.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Kaufman on Jan 9, 2008 4:36:05 GMT
I used to be a member of naturephotographers.net (membership fee = $39 a year!) until 2006. The critiques there are quite harsh sometimes. There's also www.fredmiranda.com/ (there's also a fee here) I'll give birdphotgaphers.net a try Thanks, Romy, for the info. Also, I agree with Steve that having our critique forum would be a good idea. I definitely could use some for my photos. |
|
|
|
Post by steve pryor on Jan 9, 2008 11:26:17 GMT
Just a note having nothing to do with this site or with bird photography.
Bob, I see you reside in Pasadena. I grew up in Inglewood, and graduated from UCD. So, we are both Californians!
|
|
