Posted by Buck Ward on February 8, 2011 at 10:14 PM
I'm setting up a portrait studio and trying to learn about lighting, posing, etc. I've been looking for non-nature critique sites. I've found a few general photography critique sites, but after a few weeks of participation I find that the quality of the photography and the critiquing is mostly mediocre, the blind leading the blind. There also seems to be a fair amount of sniping and bickering. I really had hoped to find a site with the high quality of photography that is so characteristic of NPN and with the collegial interaction among the users to which we've become accustomed here. Is there any such place?
Are there any websites out there, comparable to NPN, but in genres other than nature photography?
Posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 9, 2011 at 12:09 AM
No. People who engage in nature photography tend to be more laid back and nicer than those that delve in other fields = less bickering and sniping.
Buck, you did not list the sites you've tried, so I would only mention this as a possibility. I know a couple NPNer's that have used it in the past. Betterphoto.com
Posted by Craig Myers on February 9, 2011 at 1:21 AM
I can attest to BetterPhoto.com as a place for civil behavior. I've been a member there for three years and it has been a good experience. You will always get positive feedback, but not the same type of constructive feedback that members offer on this site. BP members focus on the positives, but tend not to offer the candid and constructive opinions about an image's shortcomings or deficiencies that I value so much at NPN. On the other hand, the course instructors are very good about helping you to improve, but you pay for their advice. BP costs about $50 / year for a basic membership which gives you an online portfolio and access to all their photo posting pages and their monthly contests that cover about 10 categories of photography. It's worth a look.
Posted by Kent Staubus on February 9, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Probably the most active forum is Strobist. I've been on there a few years now. I'm not a very good fit as I shoot night portraits of trains, not daytime portraits of people, LOL. However, there is a ton of info and a number of pro portrait shooters. Flame wars can erupt at any time.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/
Kent in SD
Posted by Nancy de Flon on February 9, 2011 at 9:03 AM
I can back up 100% what Craig says about BetterPhoto.com. But I'd advise against shelling out $49 a month for their Masterpiece Membership. Not because of bickering or nastiness (never, ever!) but because you have to be discerning about which critiques to take seriously. Well, you can try MM for a month or two to see what you think; there's no obligation to join for a certain amount of time.
Posted by Buck Ward on February 9, 2011 at 6:40 PM
As far as I've been able to tell so far, you must be correct, Kah Kit.
Thanks Paul, Craig and Nancy. I hadn't come across BetterPhoto.com. I'll check it out
Kent - I I have been to the Strobist, though I haven't frequented it. I bought my first studio lighting kit from the vendor associated with the Strobist, based on the Stobist's recommendations. It was a start, and I have since built on that.
I have found some tutorials that have been quite helpful here and there. The site that I spent some time on for the last couple of months is PhotoSIG, but it really just doesn't compare to what we have here at NPN. Wouldn't it be great if there were a people photo site with the same format and wonderfulness of NPN? Anybody?
Posted by Kent Staubus on February 9, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Buck--
I'm very "heavy" into flash, but I just don't shoot people very often. I like big, greasy things running out in the snow on a frigid night. It's exciting!
Three Nikon SB-28, CyberSyncs, Nikon 17-55mm f2.8. Believe it or not I was able to get exposure of ISO 800 & f5.6 on this large of an area with just three SB-28.
We don't follow any web sites featuring portrait/studio work, but we avidly read Rangefinder the members magazine (yeah, real paper!) from Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and the one from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). They're loaded with articles on lighting and posing, as well as gear reviews and business management. The annual conferences for both organizations also feature several days of classes by leading pros in the field, as well as trade shows with all the major manufacturers and service providers, small workshops and occasional deals on gear.
I've never even signed onto them, but if I recall both sites feature forums that I have to guess include photo posting and reviews. I haven't signed on due to the massive front pages on the sites and our slow dialup connection. I don't know if you can navigate either site as a non-member, but it would be worth a look to see what you can discover. I know PPA has online courses too, and as a competitor I'd guess WPPI does as well.
Discussion
8 repliesAre there any websites out there, comparable to NPN, but in genres other than nature photography?
BetterPhoto.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/
Kent in SD
Thanks Paul, Craig and Nancy. I hadn't come across BetterPhoto.com. I'll check it out
Kent - I I have been to the Strobist, though I haven't frequented it. I bought my first studio lighting kit from the vendor associated with the Strobist, based on the Stobist's recommendations. It was a start, and I have since built on that.
I have found some tutorials that have been quite helpful here and there. The site that I spent some time on for the last couple of months is PhotoSIG, but it really just doesn't compare to what we have here at NPN. Wouldn't it be great if there were a people photo site with the same format and wonderfulness of NPN? Anybody?
I'm very "heavy" into flash, but I just don't shoot people very often. I like big, greasy things running out in the snow on a frigid night. It's exciting!
Three Nikon SB-28, CyberSyncs, Nikon 17-55mm f2.8. Believe it or not I was able to get exposure of ISO 800 & f5.6 on this large of an area with just three SB-28.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s5/duckgrabber/NightCrossingS.jpg
Kent in SD
We don't follow any web sites featuring portrait/studio work, but we avidly read Rangefinder the members magazine (yeah, real paper!) from Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) and the one from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). They're loaded with articles on lighting and posing, as well as gear reviews and business management. The annual conferences for both organizations also feature several days of classes by leading pros in the field, as well as trade shows with all the major manufacturers and service providers, small workshops and occasional deals on gear.
I've never even signed onto them, but if I recall both sites feature forums that I have to guess include photo posting and reviews. I haven't signed on due to the massive front pages on the sites and our slow dialup connection. I don't know if you can navigate either site as a non-member, but it would be worth a look to see what you can discover. I know PPA has online courses too, and as a competitor I'd guess WPPI does as well.