I seem to remember something called 'Sturgeon's Law' which goes something like
'95%  of everything is 'scrap' '. (from a sci-fi novel).

Constructive criticism is the best way to discuss negative aspects of a persons work,there's no point in slagging off someone's efforts if you don't have a better approach to offer,at the end  of the day,this is art and is a highly subjective area,full of different opinions and ideas.Tread carefully,there are fragile egos out there!

kidney:

Constructive criticism is the best way to discuss negative aspects of a persons work,there's no point in slagging off someone's efforts if you don't have a better approach to offer,at the end  of the day,this is art and is a highly subjective area,full of different opinions and ideas.Tread carefully,there are fragile egos out there!

Couldn't agree more Kidney, and everyone has to start somewhere. However is a Forum such as this the place to cut your photographic teeth? It seems to be accepted that someone somewhere on the Forum will have the answer to your own particular need, and when it comes to the areas of equipment, computer operation and various techniques e.g. HDR, there usually is. However this assumes that the person asking the question has the most basic photographic know-how, when in fact it's patently obvious they haven't. It's all very well wanting to achieve a special technique if you don't know how to compose an image in the first place!

It's a bee in my bonnet that I keep stirring up within the threads, that if you are just starting out in photography you should join a club. There you will find all the help you need. I've never visited a club that doesn't run a beginners' group, and when you ask someone a question there is a member who is only too keen to help on a one-to-one basis.

Like the various threads on this Forum you will find different areas of photography within the club, portrait, landscape  etc.

As helpful as the members here are, they can't work miracles from a distance.

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FACES,STREET,PROTEST & CANDID
A BLOG
My Flickr

ABERS:

kidney:

Constructive criticism is the best way to discuss negative aspects of a persons work,there's no point in slagging off someone's efforts if you don't have a better approach to offer,at the end  of the day,this is art and is a highly subjective area,full of different opinions and ideas.Tread carefully,there are fragile egos out there!

Couldn't agree more Kidney, and everyone has to start somewhere. However is a Forum such as this the place to cut your photographic teeth? It seems to be accepted that someone somewhere on the Forum will have the answer to your own particular need, and when it comes to the areas of equipment, computer operation and various techniques e.g. HDR, there usually is. However this assumes that the person asking the question has the most basic photographic know-how, when in fact it's patently obvious they haven't. It's all very well wanting to achieve a special technique if you don't know how to compose an image in the first place!

It's a bee in my bonnet that I keep stirring up within the threads, that if you are just starting out in photography you should join a club. There you will find all the help you need. I've never visited a club that doesn't run a beginners' group, and when you ask someone a question there is a member who is only too keen to help on a one-to-one basis.

Like the various threads on this Forum you will find different areas of photography within the club, portrait, landscape  etc.

As helpful as the members here are, they can't work miracles from a distance.

Abers, I respect your opinion but unfortunately for me the cost of joining my local club was just out of the question and quite frankly put me off - living where I do I can imagine them just looking down their noses at a newbie especially cos I'm female - yes it is that old fashioned round here!

I have tried to help myself to the best of my ability - reading books and magazines - taking part in lessons that members here have kindly recommended.  This last few months have been a huge learning curve and I know I have so much more to learn, so comments and criticisms are really helpful - how can you improve if people don't tell you something is bad in the first place, you just carry on thinking things are OK.

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Cheers
Moon

Camera = Fuji FinePix S6500fd - currently playing with Cannon EOS 300D on loan
Moonlustie's Gallery

moonlustie:

Abers, I respect your opinion but unfortunately for me the cost of joining my local club was just out of the question and quite frankly put me off - living where I do I can imagine them just looking down their noses at a newbie especially cos I'm female - yes it is that old fashioned round here!

I have tried to help myself to the best of my ability - reading books and magazines - taking part in lessons that members here have kindly recommended.  This last few months have been a huge learning curve and I know I have so much more to learn, so comments and criticisms are really helpful - how can you improve if people don't tell you something is bad in the first place, you just carry on thinking things are OK.

Your nearest camera club I would assume is Guildford PS, a well respected and active club. The membership is just £50 a year, less than £1 a week, less than you will spend on 13 issues of DCM annually at the newsagents!  I have no idea of your age but if you are under 18 membership is only £15 p.a.

Strange to note that the committee has several female members.

How do you think camera clubs exist? By attracting "newbies", so what makes you think you will be looked down on?

P.S. I might add that although I live just 10 miles up the A3 from Guildford, I'm nothing to do with the club.

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FACES,STREET,PROTEST & CANDID
A BLOG
My Flickr

Abers

I'm sure it is.  Well maybe I'll have to save a pound a week and try it next year .... a lot of money to pay if you don't end up liking it.  I'm fortunate enough to get my photography mags second hand.

Maybe I'll brave it next year ... sorry you'll have to suffer me a bit longer

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Cheers
Moon

Camera = Fuji FinePix S6500fd - currently playing with Cannon EOS 300D on loan
Moonlustie's Gallery

 I understand this very well, as I was a community artist, working with young people. However it is still the case that I cannot view all the work posted by all photographers, never mind criticise it. Is not the case that the pictures that you do comment upon provoke you, in some way, into posting a response. Is it not the case that no comment is equally damning.
It is said that Picasso in his early cubist period had an audience of at most a dozen patrons. I still want my 15 minutes. And now I shall retire to my 'Freshly Made Bed' and look fondly at my 'The Last Resort' poster.

Dave Venables

Ah, the "Good Old Days"

Have a read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7532601.stm

There are one or two bits there that may be usefully written into today's llegislation that could help the crime figures.

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FACES,STREET,PROTEST & CANDID
A BLOG
My Flickr

I hate ageism.  I hate the old who think the young don't know anything, and I hate the young who think those past 40 should be in a wheelchair with nurses wiping dribble from their chin every two minutes.  I hate the young who think the digital age is their age, and I hate the old who think that unless you have experienced film your not a photographer.  I hate the young who think they are the brightest things since the electric light bulb, and I hate the old who think they can't learn anything new.  Life is about living in your space and enjoying every minute of it.  Every one has a contribution to make regardless of how big or small it might be.  Ageism sucks, as does sexism and all the other ism's you can think of.  If you want a good moan, why wait until the considered "right age" to have one.  Do it now and get rid of the tension.

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What's up Keith - didn't sleep too well? Swallow one of your blue pills followed by a nice cup of tea and you'll feel a lot better. Nice link Alan - back then one had not only to 'earn' your pension but also be 'deserved' of it. However, that went hand in hand with almost everything at that time - a concept not easily understood nowadays.

Alan Ingham:

What's up Keith - didn't sleep too well? Swallow one of your blue pills followed by a nice cup of tea and you'll feel a lot better.

Nope, slept well, mate.  I always sleep well - not as wicked as those who don't, you see....  As for the little blue pills, they do a marvelous job of keeping me alert and on the ball, so no bugger can pull the wool over my eyes even though they may try.  Onwards and upwards.

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KeithT:

I hate ageism.  I hate the old who think the young don't know anything, and I hate the young who think those past 40 should be in a wheelchair with nurses wiping dribble from their chin every two minutes.  I hate the young who think the digital age is their age, and I hate the old who think that unless you have experienced film your not a photographer.  I hate the young who think they are the brightest things since the electric light bulb, and I hate the old who think they can't learn anything new.  Life is about living in your space and enjoying every minute of it.  Every one has a contribution to make regardless of how big or small it might be.  Ageism sucks, as does sexism and all the other ism's you can think of.  If you want a good moan, why wait until the considered "right age" to have one.  Do it now and get rid of the tension.

I hate everyone. Much easier, no prejudices, no stereotyping no hypocrisy, just plain old cussedness.

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what we have here...is a failure to communicate

Mygallery

flckr

Now here's a perfect facial expression for this thread...everyone else looked so happy!

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a few mediocre pics

what a wonderful thread, i say if you can remember board rubbers and pieces of chalk flying past your ear for laughing in RE, you are certainly old enough to be a grumpy old git

 

one thing that really gets up my nose is when you are in zavvi ( whatever that is supposed to mean, possibly peruvian for ' no, we dont have what you want because it's not in the top 40') is the look you get when you have the temerity to ask if they stock the lp or 7" single of something, i can feel my hair receding as the whippersnapper behind the counter looks at you like you have just parked your penny-farthing outside

 

grump grump grump

I gave up going into the local HMV - the music was so loud I could'nt make myself understood

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a few mediocre pics