Thanks, all. Oscar, I am interested in that Afrika deal! Peter, if I could find those women, I wouldn't need consoling
Eric and Stefan, you both converge on a point that I think is important and has been touched upon in another thread regarding the existential utility of LuLa. Perhaps the 21st century analog of art shows is social media; while contests can be OK, a show allows connection to everyday people, artists and not, alike. And of course, shows address Peter's point re cold hard cash. I, too, am flattered if a few of my friends would hang one of my images in their home; I'd give it away.
But I think Stefan makes a great point re "talking about photography" and this is why I subscribe to LuLa, the future of which I hope is secure. A lot of the "User Critiques" are simply +1 or, more often, silence. That's fine, but silence is ambiguous and I think part of it stems from a reluctance to offer suggestions. Criticism was what brought me to LuLa and at first I drew a bunch when I posted a few "great" images!
I had several generous contributions from Slobodan and Brandt and teaching from Russ, and Rob, and others on aesthetics and creativity and why bother. Some of which I agree with, some of which I don't, but all greatly appreciated. For example, cropping an image can greatly improve it, depending on the subject. I understand the desire to get it right "in camera" but I often press the shutter knowing I am going to crop or change the AR; maybe it's a "film" thing. Most importantly, however, I gained a glimmer of what it is to see my images through others' eyes.
I think there is something lacking from a post of a single image (or even 4) along with the request for criticism. I often post for C&C an image I am pondering or experimenting with. In other words, it may not represent my "best" work. The "Landscape Showcase" thread seems to be more suited to presenting a polished image; but some of those guys are accomplished pros! What is lacking with this single frame (or few frames) type of approach is that it lacks feedback on a body of work, a legitimate need that I started a discussion about with a fellow with the moniker "Redwood Guy" a few years ago here. He was soon run off, I guess for his unconventional views or perhaps it was his communications style; I never had a problem.
Once, I attended an Adobe workshop in Las Vegas and was offered the opportunity for a portfolio critique. At $25, I felt it was well worth it and so I put together a group of my "best" shots, mostly landscapes, and nervously awaited my "exam." Meanwhile, I attended sessions and was particularly taken by one on PP in color for B/W by Vincent Versace, a Nikon Ambassador. Needless to say, I was impressed, thinking, "God, I wish I could shoot like that!" Well guess who my criticizer was to be, Vinnie, as they called him! Oh f**k, I thought, not "Vinnie!" In my career, I had stood in front of some of the most scientifically critical audiences one can imagine, and learned to thrive. But in front of Vinnie, I was shaking like a leaf; I felt like I'd gone on stage to give a lecture totally naked. Well, at least I remembered my iPad.
Versace went through each image silently, all of them, as I, in excruciating nervousness looked on. I couldn't read his body language, which didn't help. And then he began to teach me about each one. It wasn't "I like this" or "I don't like that." He did say there was a couple that he was particularly taken with and made no suggestions (high praise!), but each of the others, he made a point that would improve the image or I should say rendering from his point of view. It was as if he was making the image his own and asking himself, "How can I make this better?" And actually, it was fairly simple: An enhancement here, a correction there, too bright (paint over it with a color from the image), lighten the subject and darken the surrounding to really emphasize the subject. I learned an enormous amount in that half hour about aesthetics and how to
see an image, all of which I remember to this day. Yes, some of it was technical, but it was oriented to the aesthetic of the subject, which he never questioned. No, he did not recommend any cropping!
When I went on 500px, I wanted to post such a portfolio that I had carefully curated as my best. As if Versace might see it. Like an art show, where patrons might pick out one or two or none as being of interest. Connection. Image as language. Perhaps this is what is meant by "story." You're right Stefan, photographers are complicated, artists in their own right, and worth being around, in relationship. Even though Rob C might say, "There's nothing new under the sun!"
This is what I have found at LuLa, but we don't have a mechanism for portfolio commentary or whatever you want to call it. In the User Critiques, sometimes we offer what we might believe is an improvement for the OP, take it or leave it, which can downward spiral into a critique of critique. Maybe that's useful, maybe it's not. Eric sort of alluded to this, but I think gave it more credit.
PS The title to this thread was meant to be serious/funny satire. Hope that was clear.