Why I Love Cambridge in Colour

[ClaudioG]

As someone who had absolutely no knowledge of photography i must say my best lesson was been told to join this site by someone who for some reason or other is not on this site anymore.
I can absolutely for certain tell anyone if they are a beginner to start here .

My reason is that. 1st: Images are of a higher standard ( NB which importantly starts you at a great standard, forcing you to get images, that are better than average)
2nd ( everyone will let you know exactly what settings to use, and what equipment they used ,if asked (i found this to be essential)

I would recommend this site to anyone,

I was lucky enuff to find this site at the start of my learning , i have always believed that if you want to learn something then you must start at a high level. This is natural. If the bar is set high..and thats where you start learning from, then you can only get better. ( if it is a passion of course)

My only critique is , us pple on CiC should seriously look at an option of displaying what settings, camera and lens we use in all images before even posting, no exceptions( it takes 10 secs to write the settings, no fancy programs) it really will help beginners , it did for me,, i sent PLENTY private messages asking about what settings we're used. ALL photo mags display settings and equipment used..we shouldnt be able to post an image without this info. I'm at fault here to so plse dont nag.

I'd personally like to thank everyone for there own amazing images...you inspire, teach, and set high standards in a professional but fair manner.

Remember CiC members, the better our images are, the better others can be..is that a bad thing? As i said before, its your images that inspire me to push myself.

Btw , been away a while..although winter not as bad in South Africa as probably the rest of the world (sorry suckers), it still keeps the bugs away so will have more soon.

[terrib]

OK. I wasn't going to respond to this thread, not because I don't love CinC, but because I'm just not much of a Rah, Rah type. But after starting a thread earlier today, I just felt inspired to do so. (Or maybe it's the 2nd or 3rd glass of wine )

I love CinC because it keeps me grounded. It reminds me that I have so much more to learn and it helps me to do just that. I've been doing this long enough that I'm in the place that many of you are or have passed through where everyone I know is telling me how wonderful my photography is. People get quite adamant that I should be selling my work when I'm very much an amateur with so much farther to go before I should. In trying to explain why to a friend the other day after she said "but you know so much!", I responded, "No, I just know more than you." What I like about CinC is that there are so many of you that know more than me and are willing to share that knowledge freely. And there are many of you who know about what I do that freely share your perspectives which reminds me to examine things in a different way. And there are those who are newer at this than me, that I might be able to help, but who still bring a fresh perspective and remind me to keep the joy that I started with.

I can get my ego stroked in lots of other places. But, I have come to respect this place so much that just deciding to post something here makes me evaluate and question my work and my purpose more than anywhere else. You guys have taught and continue to teach me so much, but at this point I believe it's this critical self-evalutation that makes the difference. As many before me have said - the environment here is for the most part friendly and constructive and I've yet to find that anywhere else.

So Rah, Rah and cheers to this forum and a big thanks to the moderators who keep it going!

[Mike Buckley]

I can get my ego stroked in lots of other places.

Terri's comment reminds me of the most important reason I come here, which I failed to include in my earlier post. The policy that all photos are subject to critique provides an unbelievably vast learning opportunity, unlike the websites that have a policy that critique should be offered only when it is requested.

[HaseebM]

What I really like about this site is the stuff is serious, no fooling around while at the same time, discussions are strict yet informal. If I learn something from a website then that website is for me and this is one of them.

[Donald]

I think all of the above has been most appropriate. But I've been waiting for the post that says it's because of Donald's stunningly good looks (see Avatar alongside), outstanding intelligence, and charming personality!

[Mark von Kanel]

But my mum bought me up not to tell fibbs, even BIG WHITE ONES

[csa mt]

Terri's comment reminds me of the most important reason I come here, which I failed to include in my earlier post. The policy that all photos are subject to critique provides an unbelievably vast learning opportunity, unlike the websites that have a policy that critique should be offered only when it is requested.

Mike, +1! I'm very bad at forgetting to ask for C&C when I post an image; and am always so thankful when members do offer suggestions, etc., to improve my images! If I was on a site that had such a policy, I would never get any critique, because of forgetting to ask for it!

[csa mt]

I think all of the above has been most appropriate. But I've been waiting for the post that says it's because of Donald's stunningly good looks (see Avatar alongside), outstanding intelligence, and charming personality!

[Donald]

Note to fellow Mods - Watch this one!!

[csa mt]

LOL! Donald, at least you post your face; if I did, the entire site would crash!

[Rita]

When I first purchased my camera a year ago the salesman recommended this site to me. One of my first posts was a pic of a chickadee, I thought it was pretty good at the time but in hind site....yuck! One of the comments I received on that post was "bin the image". For a second I was crushed but then quickly realized that this is what I was looking for, a group of people that were willing to give honest feedback. This site is better than any classroom and I have learned so much here. I have a long way to go but being on here I know I will get to the place I am aiming for. The sense of community is wonderful and if I am too busy to log on here I don't feel that my day is complete.

P.S. And Donald's looks help too. Does that get me brownie points???

[Donald]

P.S. And Donald's looks help too. Does that get me brownie points???

Every time. You now have privileged status.

[Brownbear]

Thank you to Haseeb, Mike, Donald, Rita, Bobo, Terri, Claudio and Carol for sharing! The one thing that I think we could all use a little more of is celebrating, recognizing and appreciating everyone who makes this forum as special as it is. I wish there were some way (more than just a like/helpful button) to recognize the members who go above and beyond to help others progress in their photography.

On that note thank you Sean for all the wonderful tutorials. I don't know who you are but your tutorials are excellent, easy to comprehend and they have made a huge difference to my knowledge of photography. Thank you!

Terri.... Thank you for sharing. Admittedly I can be a wee bit "Rah-Rah" at times. And I truly appreciate that you took the time to share despite my choice of words.

Donald...

I started this thread in a rush, about 5 minutes before I departed. I meant to post it in the General Photography thread. Would it be possible to move it there? And perhaps change the word "Love" in my original title to appreciate or like, or any word that is a little less "Rah Rah" than "love." I'm thinking that the replies should be higher.

PS Handsome, and very debonair!


PPS Thank you to all for sharing! (Too many names to type) Truly appreciated!

[HaseebM]

and we should all thank Christina for coming out with this thread, a refresh from the usual one's.

[NorthernFocus]

I'm a simple minded guy and I simply enjoy visiting CIC. I've participated in several photography forums over the years and they tend to either be dominated by a select few overbearing personalities or simply a place for folks to falsy fawn over one anothers' work. Here there seems to be a good balance and a feeling of sincerity from most posters. By the very nature of photography we take photos to be shared with others. It is always interesting to here honest feedback from others who may see things completely differently than myself. Though I may not verbalize it, every one of those comments influence what I see through the viewfinder or on the editing screen thereafter. I think the international participation helps greatly in that regard.

I agree with prior comments regarding the value of offering honest, respectful critique/suggestions to others. If one does so thoughtfully it helps the critic as well as the person who posted the image. And I'm guilty of not being diligent in numbering images and providing EXIF data. Will try(yet again) to take my time and do that better in future.

Donald, if it helps, when I read your posts my mind hears the words in the voice of Sean Connery. My minds eye would likely go there as well but you've posted your own mug there for all to see so... well I'll leave it at that.

[Brownbear]

Dan,

Thank you for taking the time to share. You are one of the special members from whom I've learned so much. Simple minded guy? I think you're a technical wizard. And your images are truly an inspiration.

[NorthernFocus]

Technical knowledge in no way precludes simple mindedness. Recall there are people who are incapable of carrying on the basic functions in society who are mathematical whizzes.

I've enjoyed watching you grow as a photographer over the past year or so, Chritina. Hopefully our exchanges have been more helpful to you than otherwise.

Now get busy posting some photos from your recent vacation...