And we still don't know if Alfredo's contest is blind or not. I have three I'm dithering over and would like a "help me choose" thread.

But yeah, blind submissions does prevent that.

And blind submissions came about because of voting not being anonymous.

Submissions have been affected by the lack of anonymity. Fewer people wanting to submit. I can live with the votes showing the names though I prefer people being more comfortable about entering.

I have narrowed my selection down to a dozen. Less really, since several are more or less the same photo with some slight variations.

I've a mix of new stuff and archived. I'm leaning toward wanting to use only the new though. Decisions, decisions.

I want to have a decent black and white photo because you love black and white so much.

(There! I've placed all the blame on you and can now remove myself from any responsibility for my entry)

What a relief!

Just joking, of course.

I'll post a "can't decide" thread then.

Self-curation is an important part of the photographic process.

That said critique is also important which is why I wouldn't mind seeing the occasional critique post.

Well, I got critique. Very helpful in the learning process.

Two separate issues. When I submit photos to a curator or for a grant or a contest I'm way past the critique point, I've made a lot of conscious decisions about the work already.

I tend to have work critiqued in the early stages of a project.

I think maybe because most people in the group are amateurs like me, some of us benefit from hearing what we could have done better, what we've done right, etc. in a safe forum.

the others.

That's my guess. And that's all it is, a guess.

Photography isn't a contact sport. If someone wants a critic they should ask for it.

I have a question. When people did a "help me choose" were the critics addressing which was the best photo or which was the best photo for the contest?

Inquiring minds.

I didn't take any critique personal. I learned from it.

I used the tips I got. It really helped me.

I went from just taking a picture to learning to take a photo. If that makes sense.

I'm still learning.

I was just missing the threads. No biggie, really.

If it's important to you then it is a biggie. I'm sorry that something you enjoyed from the past hasn't resurfaced here.

Photography is changing. Has changed. Greatly.

I have a camera 'like' the one alfredo uses. I'm constantly amazed on the quality of the images I get just using a no-frills auto setting, and you can see from his photos that when you actually work with the camera it can do great things. I guess my point is that all the mystery of a camera and what it can do isn't important to many people. Just set it on auto-everything and click away.

Then factor in that the face of what is a camera has changed. The smart phone camera dominates the number of images flooding the intertubes every day.

There is a group of photos here at the moment that have some serious white balance issues. If the person asked for feedback I might have mentioned it to them, but they didn't.

I have many things I could throw in the pot to ask. Perhaps when I have more time.

I have a great deal of respect for alfredo's knowledge and ability.

I was looking over photos I shot for April and I just couldn't decide if they were decent enough or not. Got me to thinking about the 'help me choose' threads. Sometimes I look at my own stuff so long that it begins to run together. I was sick of of my own photos, so couldn't really be a good judge.

I'm still mystified by my camera. lol (Though that isn't what you meant)

I've seen some decent photos from a camera phone but I prefer a camera that isn't trying to text me.

Thanks, again.