Jackie @truechicknz posted a thread today about wanting to receive more critique so that she can learn ( http://365project.org/discuss/critique/22597/how-am-i-to-get-more-critiques) more.
Directly under her post (in the Discuss/Critique list) is a thread on the same subject where loads of people said they would like to join a group that would swap critique - myself included. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think that group critique thing really worked out long term?
Anyway, 365 is a brilliant community as we all know, but one thing that does tend to be missing I think is healthy critique. This subject has often been discussed and yet I rarely see real critique anywhere.
I was wondering if anyone would be interested in us setting up a kind of mentoring system. A bit like the "get pushed" challenge we could collect a list of people who would like to be mentored by someone with more experience than themselves and pair them up with a willing mentor.
I am no expert, but I do have some experience and knowledge that I would be happy to try and share on a mentoring basis. In my case, I only post once a week within a group this year ( @se7en , Mondays), I would be happy to mentor one person, once a week - I'd go through some of their shots and offer some constructive criticism and hopefully some tips that might help that person.
Other mentors might be happy to mentor more than one person at a time and offer critique and tips more than once a week?
It seems to me this question of "how can I get more critique" will never actually turn into something concrete and positive unless we do something organised.
So what do you think? Anyone out there who would like to become a mentor? If yes - what level of commitment i.e. to one person or several at one time? on a daily or weekly basis?
And who would like to be mentored?
I don't think it would be helpful to have people say they want to be a mentor and be mentored at the same time.
If there are enough replies to this from both possible mentors and people who would like to be mentored (does that make them mentorees? ;.)) then I'll set up a pairing list (this would be random pairing) and then it would be up to each pair to get on with it and make of it what they will.
For all of you that are not so keen on critique (I noticed a few comments in this vein on Jackie's thread mentioned above) - no worries, only those who want to need to join in.
This is a great idea actually. The random pairing can be a bit problematic though, the needs of the mentoree vs. what the mentor can offer may not be in line. And they may be total strangers to each other (which can be a good thing too...) ...
Maybe a mentoree-wannabe could just ask someone he/she follows to be his/her mentor ?
@janim Great to hear your feedback Jani. I did also think that the random pairing might be a bit problematic but wanted to keep the organisation side down to a minimum to be honest. But yes, we could get the list together of mentors and wannabe-mentorees and each could contact each other direct. Also a possibility.
So will you be a Mentor? From some of the (otherwise seldom seen) critique that I have read from you in the past I think you would make an excellent mentor! So what do you think? Will you give it a go?
When I first joined, not quite a year ago, I was expecting and prepared for constructive criticism so I would love to have a mentor make suggestions for improvement.
Deleted my previous response as thought a bit more about it. More than happy to help and would suggest that pair people by brand if possible. As I have only used canon wouldn't have a clue about Nikon. Just a thought dont want to make it to complicated but useful to members who need help.
Anything I can share at any time is there for the asking at any time by anyone. If you would like to do it privately by email, by all means as well. hymus@optonline.net.
My photo club has a mentor initiative. It's a bit in a lull right now, but what we did was ask people willing to be mentors to submit a list of what they felt comfortable mentoring (composition, exposure, light, camera mechanics, night photography, portraits, DSLR basics, Photoshop/Elements/Lightroom, etc.). Once we had that master list we made it available to the club, and potential mentorees (mentorites?) could directly contact the person they saw was offering expertise on what they needed to know. Mentors were free to contact other mentors, as well, for guidance. It worked well when we activated it, we need to remind the club it's available, but perhaps there's a way to do that on here?
I would be interested. am no expert and can definitely do with some critique and equally happy to help and provide constructive criticism to people who have less experience. I can help with technicalities to a certain level as well as editing again to a certain extent as well as potential creative angle and receive similar critique to better my shots and push me further
I'd be glad to be mentor or mentee! Let me know how I can help. I think similar camera is important only if the mentoring is technical. Not if it is about composition. And I do think what we can mentor matters. For instance, I know nothing about equipment other than what Nikon stuff i use. And I don't use photoshop. I'd like mentoring on that. But I could be a naive mentor on composition or Nikon users who are beginners.
I would be more than willing to be a mentor.
I'm using primarily a Nikon D700, and also a micro four thirds camera.
Also a pretty big fan of Topaz plugins, so if anyone needs help on that...
Hi I am willing to be a mentor, I worked with Canon. But sometimes I also love to see my own photos to be mentored, but I could do that on a my own initiative by a mentor, so no problem with that.
Great initiative. I would love to have a mentor if there are enough volunteers to go round. Do you think it would help people commit if the suggestion was time-limited, e.g please volunteer to be a "mentor for a month"? Obviously if the relationship got going it wouldn't need to stop but may be mentors and mentees would be more relaxed to sign up if they had an escape clause. Might also help with the random pairing thing. Thank you so much for trying to create a solution to this problem.
This is a brilliant idea - I know my Canon and I'm getting to know my lensbaby and it's various optics - would be happy to mentor and be mentored. Use the Nik Software and others for editing.
This sounds like a wonderful idea, I'd certainly be interesting in having a mentor, while I'm in this more for fun and less editing (don't get me wrong, I have fun editing) but due to my job I don't feel like sitting at my home computer during the week for long.
@dianeburns Have you tried finding the manual online? I found mine that way, but then again manuals always the best learning material.
This is a fabulous idea! I am not as tech savvy with systems and software..but I would be glad to offer help to any budding macro photogs out there!
I also appreciate,and know I can go to savy folks like @taffy and @frankhymus ( and sooo many others) with setting and software questions.
Proper mentoring is hard to do from a distance, I'll be happy to offer advice and/or critique in specific cases, either in the photography end or with Photoshop. I shoot with Nikon, but the brand shouldn't matter if it can be adjusted manually.
Sounds awesome! Like @kmrtn6 and @roseolivia I'd love to be mentored by someone more advanced than me and also would enjoy mentoring beginners.
I'm also happy to help organising the pairing if it starts to get complicated (I know you wanted to keep it simple!) Maybe by topic like @sjoblues and @taffy suggest or work out some kind of level system so people can work out what level they think they might be at and pair people that way? Will require a bit of nutting out I think :)
You're probably getting overwhelmed by now with responses but I too would love to be on both sides of this. I was ready for critique when I started 365 and have only had a few bits though they've all been incredibly helpful. I try and make some comments on others sometimes but got quite a sniffy response from someone the other day so it isn't always welcome! We're all so supportive but sometimes the "push" is missing with our lovely members. I'm a Canon 7D user, fairly advanced amateur and willing to support another starter but would love to be mentored by someone more advanced too. I do see some of my followers in the comments here though so wonder if we should just go ahead and contact some directly?
@angelar Thanks Angela - I know exactly what you mean - I have had some negative response to well intended critique. I have also been asked for critique, given it and then seen that the people commenting after me on that photo have taken offence that I critiqued on that person's post - even though it was asked for!
No, please don't go ahead and contact anyone re mentoring yet - I will review this thread tonight, take on all the input and then put a list together of all the wiling mentors and suggestions on how to proceed. It would be nice to have a frame of organisation around it - otherwise it is likely just to get lost in the sand. Hope that is OK with you.
Thanks all for your feedback to this. I will take on all your input and then outline and post an organisation structure this evening. Perhaps some more responses will come in today in the meantime.
This is a great idea. I'm really short on time at the moment but if you go down the road of a bank of people with certain areas of knowledge/expertise I'd love to join from both sides (being mentored and being a mentor)
I would like a mentor as well. Don't know if I know enough to actually mentor someone (unless they are total beginners). Know nothing about different cameras.
I have obviously replied above but thought last night about highlighting areas of interest on both sides. For example, apart from basic composition I would be the wrong person to speak to if you are into landscape and architecture but a bit better with people, kids, certain macro and basic conceptual but I guess it may start being complicated!!
Wonderful idea, Linda! I've dropped down to once or twice a week posting on 365 since the summer is here. But more than willing to give feedback/critique when I can, if needed.
It might be good to have some established categories where people need help (or mentors can offer help) and have people sign up under those areas. Examples: Basic composition/technique, technical matters (software and camera help), landscape/nature, macro, portraits, architecture, etc. etc.
Fabulous idea,Linda!I would love to be mentored!There are many talented and advanced photographers here,whose healthy critique on my shots I'd love to hear!Count me in!
@happysnap Hey Linda, I'd be more than happy to help mentor some of the newer photographers, and I'd love the option to be mentored (or at the very least critiqued) as well!
@barneyone Hello Rita, are you still looking for a mentor? My primary camera is a Nikon D700, so I might help you with a D3200 too. if you're interested just let me know and I'll be happy to help!
This is just what I dislike about the discussion threads :(. I missed this one completely! Not your fault, but depending on time of post and how often I'm on, I miss so much....so sad how far I've drifted. I'd be happy to mentor or work with someone who has interests in LR, lenses (wide, macro, 50mm, zoom). I also work on bird photos, abstracts, architectural, and nature. I have made it a point this year to only give critique mostly or answer or ask questions. That's the key for me...asking questions! Best way to get feedback is to ask folks specifically what you want to know. "Critique Welcome" is too broad.
@darylo I know what you mean Daryl, it is hard to keep up with everything. I will come back at the beginning of July (on a new thread) to ask everyone that 'signed up' for the mentoring system how they are getting on and if there is a real demand for this whole thing to be set up in a more organised and consistant way. So how about I tag you on that and then we take it from there. In the meantime I will add you to the list of mentors here: http://365project.org/discuss/critique/22614/mentoring-system-part-ii
This is an awesome idea and a big help for people which are starting up and want to learn more. I would love a mentor as I’m in the learning process. I’m using Canon 600D. Any help would be more than appreciated :-)
@zanet Hi Zanet, you can find a list of mentors here: http://365project.org/discuss/critique/22614/mentoring-system-part-ii
Go ahead and look through some of their projects and then contact one of them directly on their project with a request for them to mentor you. If that one can't, for whatever reason, move on to the next one. I hope this helps. We will be reviewing the mentoring system next month and I will tag you in on the thread.
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Maybe a mentoree-wannabe could just ask someone he/she follows to be his/her mentor ?
So will you be a Mentor? From some of the (otherwise seldom seen) critique that I have read from you in the past I think you would make an excellent mentor! So what do you think? Will you give it a go?
I'm using primarily a Nikon D700, and also a micro four thirds camera.
Also a pretty big fan of Topaz plugins, so if anyone needs help on that...
How are we going to go about setting people up?
@dianeburns Have you tried finding the manual online? I found mine that way, but then again manuals always the best learning material.
I also appreciate,and know I can go to savy folks like @taffy and @frankhymus ( and sooo many others) with setting and software questions.
thanks for the great suggestion.
I'm also happy to help organising the pairing if it starts to get complicated (I know you wanted to keep it simple!) Maybe by topic like @sjoblues and @taffy suggest or work out some kind of level system so people can work out what level they think they might be at and pair people that way? Will require a bit of nutting out I think :)
No, please don't go ahead and contact anyone re mentoring yet - I will review this thread tonight, take on all the input and then put a list together of all the wiling mentors and suggestions on how to proceed. It would be nice to have a frame of organisation around it - otherwise it is likely just to get lost in the sand. Hope that is OK with you.
Thanks all for your feedback to this. I will take on all your input and then outline and post an organisation structure this evening. Perhaps some more responses will come in today in the meantime.
It might be good to have some established categories where people need help (or mentors can offer help) and have people sign up under those areas. Examples: Basic composition/technique, technical matters (software and camera help), landscape/nature, macro, portraits, architecture, etc. etc.
@sioux @swilde @rachelwithey @mei_photography @la_photographic @roseolivia @angelar @kass @padlock
@my_photofun
Thank you all very much for your interest, feedback and offers of help! Great stuff!
You will find the follow on info here re setup: http://365project.org/discuss/critique/22614/mentoring-system-part-ii
You can find all the info here: http://365project.org/discuss/critique/22614/mentoring-system-part-ii
AND LEAVE ANY COMMENTS YOU MIGHT HAVE THERE RATHER THAN HERE.
THANKS!
Go ahead and look through some of their projects and then contact one of them directly on their project with a request for them to mentor you. If that one can't, for whatever reason, move on to the next one. I hope this helps. We will be reviewing the mentoring system next month and I will tag you in on the thread.
Awesome :-) Thank you very much :-)
help does someone want to mentor me