Good job photography isn’t a passion, otherwise your critique might have hurt.
Thought the theme was favourite, not who can take the best photo with amazing skills.
Thanks I won’t be back
Don't mind the critique so much as the obvious sarcasm.
Not sure of the point of responding, but in my view, and that of my partner, there was a sense of sarcasm/elitism with 'I appreciate you used the best camera you had with you'. The title of the weekly post, is challenge, not competition, and nowhere does it explicitly state you have to show off your photography skills, but more the interpretation of a theme. That's cool, this sub isn't for me, so let's not pretend.
@Madonepro I am so sorry that I hurt you with my comments. It was truly not my intent. I assume this must have been your first foray into our group; we cross over between this one and the Photo of the Day (POTD) thread.
I guess you are correct in that it is not explicitly stated that you are supposed to show off your photography skills. However, the thread is placed in the subforum of Digital Photography and is referred to as "challenge," "competition," and "contest" interchangeably. Rules state "At the end of the week, The Judge will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible," and that other members of MR are not to like or comment on photos until the judging is done.
As I mentioned in another post within this thread, I can give very hard/strong/good CC. CC is short for constructive criticism. There is an art to giving CC, and the purpose is most definitely NOT to tear apart an image or to make the photographer feel bad. The comment that I gave you was constructive: not only did I tell you something that you could improve, I also told you *how* to improve it. I also said some nice things about your photo. Whether or not you want to further develop your photography skills is completely up to you. 🙂 I was pressed for time yesterday, and reviewing 17 photos. It's possible that in my haste you misread my tone. But I definitely did not say your photo is awful, which I think is what you heard. 🙁
wow that looks like a great place for a bike ride! I appreciate that you used the best camera you had with you. 🙂 Compositionally I would have loved if the horizon didn't compete with the crossbar of the bike. Next time try to get higher or lower so the bike is all in the water area or all (mostly) in the sky area.
I am also not trying to be snarky or sarcastic in this response. Tone is so hard to read through a screen, and I often make liberal use of emojis to convey my tone. I honestly meant that it was awesome that you used the camera you had with you. We have some really great photographers who frequent our forums who use their phones as cameras exclusively with no other gear. I LOVE that they can do this! My brain does not work well with a phone camera. I just don't have that vision. Actually I will go places and be sad that I don't have my camera with me and it just doesn't occur to me to use my iPhone. I would love to learn iphoneography better! So for anyone to use their phone while out on a bike ride and take a photo (of their favorite thing no less!) I think is really great. 🙂
Because I don't recognize your name from the regular POTD thread, and because you stated you had used your phone, AND because part of judging is to often leave a bit of helpful information, I gave you a quick tip on composition. After all, for those of us who regularly participate, we often like to have an outside opinion as to how to improve. We do NOT leave feedback like that in the POTD thread. But, I was trying to live up to my name of Judge of the Week. We all know that it is often hard to really control your settings when using a phone camera, but the one thing we do have complete control over is composition. And, although it seemingly caught you unaware, this thread is actually a competition of photography skills. And I am so sorry that you didn't realize that when you entered. I can see how as a new participant the theme of "favorite" might have thrown you. We have a new theme
every week, and it is always the intent to show your best photographic interpretation of the theme.
I know that receiving unsolicited CC can be heart-breaking. It has happened to me, and probably to everyone on this thread. I could go a lot more in depth for any one of these photos. I am a good photographer and I know (some of) what makes a nice vs good vs excellent photo. But as you said, photography is not your passion, and I am truly sorry that you and your partner felt I was unkind about your photo. Those of us who participate in the photography forum do tend to be passionate, but we also are very welcoming to new people and people of all skill levels.
I do sincerely hope that you will come over to the POTD, post some photos, get to know us. We are a very friendly bunch and will cheer you on no matter how passionate you are about photography. I would love to see more photos from your bike rides. 🙂 It looks like a lovely location, and I imagine with you see a lot of great sights if biking is your favorite mode of transportation. My husband and 13 YO son did a 22 mile ride yesterday while I was typing my comments. My husband and his buddies will go 30-50 miles at times and my son is just getting into riding, so they go on shorter trips as he learns and builds up stamina.
I hope we can get to know you better on the POTD thread and that perhaps once you become more familiar with us you will participate in the contest threads again down the road. They are great way to help one think outside the box and perhaps push us outside our comfort zone. And if not, I do hope you will at least realize that my intentions were always good with my comments.
I wish you well. 💕