The person that is deleting the photos out of the Main Gallery should also take the time to contact the members who's picture he is deleting and give them feedback to why it is being deleted. This would be just as helpful and maybe more helpful then any feed back given to members with photos in New Images.

I realize that the Art Councel is an idea in testing. I also see the the Permanante Gallerie has been renamed the Main Gallery. I'm sure that name change was done for a reason. But that doesn't relieve the person doing the deleting of the responsibility of sending an email of explanation.

The reason that I use this site is to submit my photography so like minded amateur/professional photographers can give me feed back on technic. I take that feedback to heart and learn. These same people are recommending and voting on whether a particular picture is good enough to go into the Main Gallery. When a picture just disappears with out any explanation, and I can only speak for myself, I feel a little foolish and my time spent here is a bit of a waste.

I've had 5 pictures advanced to the main gallery. 2 of them were deleted. I only found that out after checking each photo to see if it was still there.

I had emailed Pierre, a member on the Consul, after the 1st one was deleted to find out why it was deleted. I just wanted to know so that I could understand and improve. I had to send a second email and push to get the feedback I was looking for. His response was very helpful. I understand and support the decision.

The second picture disappeared just today. I always believed that its color was off and it really wasn't Main Gallery material. But no one has contacted me. It just disappeared, again.

If the practice of deleting pictures continues without any regard to the persons feeling I will have no choice but to refuse to participate in the Art Council. At this point the Art Council and it's participates have little or no value.

I'm not mad just disappointed. This is a great website with much potential to be helpful to all of it's members in so many ways. It sparks growth through the feedback given. The present practice is only bringing it down and in my opinion taking away from it's credibility.

Thanks for taking the time to read my email.

Hi Philip,

My very short answer, for now, is to take a deep breath. And...exhale. The perm/archive/delete business can be a bit frustrating, and not always understandable by some.

If no one else comes around within a reasonable time, I'll try to offer more of an in-depth explanation, as a fellow member, attempting to help.

Mr. Third-eye

None of what you mentioned is the problem. It's the person doing the deleting not taking the time to explain his actions is the problem.

In reality I see a lot of potential in my photography but I'm new and I have a lot to learn. I'm also 58 and I'm going to spend my valuable time at the places that helps me the most. I understand that some of the much better photographers see the flaws that I don't. For this site to be of value to me I need that feedback. In what way does it help me if someone deletes one of my photographs and doesn't tell me why? At that point I'm not getting anything out of my experience.

Your deep breath comment is inflammatory. I've been doing that. I've read the other messages of discontent with what is going on and I've taken many deep breaths. I've seen my own images deleted and taken many deep breaths.

To many deep breaths and a person will hyper-ventilate.

I wasn't being inflammatory. If anything, I was trying to say you shouldn't get yourself upset. I value my time, you value your time, etc so I get that. But I guarantee you'll get far more answers if you don't shoot down the people who reach out to you, even if it's not in the manner you see fit.

Well, good luck. Hope you get the answer(s) you seek.

Good point!!!!

I took a deep breath, again. Okay, your not inflammatory. I only said that because I felt a bit inflamed and put-off after I read your email. I do believe though that you're just trying to be helpful.

I didn't mean to shoot anyone down and I apologize if you felt that I had. I'm am a little upset, disappointed and frustrated. Since you're not the person/people that make the rules I will not take take my frustrations out on you. I've always appreciated your comments and hope to again in the future.

By the way upset is not a bad thing. It's the step right before action.

I will just set back here and wait for that person that might have the answers.

Hi Philip;

These are just the thoughts of a fellow member. I do not claim any authority.

The best way to get the answer you wish is ask those who know as you did before. The people doing the work of making this site run are just a few volunteers. Too many pictures to judge, not enough time. Thus the effort to involve others via the "art council" and the lack of automatic feed back to any of us on the decisions made. The name "Permanent" for the Main galleries was a misnomer from the beginning. Nothing was ever really permanent. It is just a showcase of the best we have to offer.

I have to agree with you, real critique is priceless and far too hard to come by.

These points are discussed on other forums.
Just a recall:
1. The CAC is actually in testing (see Caedes comment)
2. The mods are complaining because a lot of images are actually moved into the perms (main). This is due to a lack of criticism by the members. The 'main' must be reserved to very high quality.
3. Our job is to manage different parts of the site, included the galleries and the images within.
4. The most active mods are working at least one or two hours a day on the site for this management. We can't comment any decision...

Philipp: I looked at your gallery. I see one image that I moved back (Dolly Sods Wilderness #3).
My critic:
- The image is overexposed and the white areas in the fall are burned. I think this is due to the use of automatic settings on your cam. When you feel a good photo, you should take it two or three times with different settings, so you could upload the best one. The use of RAW format is a great help for a post processing for this kind of work, but if you find the best settings when taking the photo, you don't need a post processing.
Here is an example with better settings. Please, look at the two images side by side and you'll see what I mean.
- Like many of your uploads, I see a big vignetting. You can reduce it with some softwares.
What do you think?

Thanks for taking the time to respond and critic my photography.

Just so I am clear, I am not disappointed that any of my pictures were deleted out of the Main Gallery, I'm just disappointed that I don't know what to change so that I can improve enough to not have pictures deleted in the future.

This is GREAT feedback. I understand that my camera work needs much improvement and your feedback is most helpful.

I also understand you are all very busy. I shorter version of this type of feedback or at least touch on some of the points you covered sent to the person each time a photo is deleted, I believe, should be the policy.

How are we to improve without it.

The other that was moved back was "White Stork". Here is your comment after I pressed for it.

I received your email, Philip.
'Elegant' is certainly the good word to comment this image.
About the composition, I want to be a little more critic: I think you should avoid the dark area with the trunk at right, and then put the stork at 1/3 from right. At this time, we would have seen the nice blue waterfall at left.

I benefited greatly from your feedback then. I did redo the picture and resubmit it. "White Stork - Redo". I touched on as many points as I was able to.

Thanks again, it's your type of feedback is why I am here.

I'll try to comment on more image in the future... :-)