Is there anyone on this site who has received simple praise (in the absence of any type of correction however expressed) on a posting and found encouragement through this specific praise to post again?

For those who may have been encouraged and then posted again, do you think the quality of your images has improved in time with exposure to ideas and examples postings from others?

Yes Rob, I would definately say that the postitive comments and praise are what got me from an amateur to where I am now. I am definately not saying that I am a trained professional photographer, but with kindness and encouragemnt, and training I think that I can say that because of the family here in Caedes and the positive encouragement that I have received this year, that my work doesn't even compare to what I started with.
So everyone, keep up with the encouragement, but please do be supportive! But also as you get to know the artists in here, remember to lift them up with suggestions as well. Even if that means tell them how you do things so that they can learn from you. Those who want to grow, will grow by leaps and bounds.
Tks to my dear friend Darryl/Mayne and my dearest friend here Liz/jem184, my work has grown considerably!
Visit my gallery and see the changes evolve with the images that have not been removed.
Smiles,
JuneBug

Absolutely Rob, Simple praise might not be as valuable as constructive criticism but it’s much better than no comments. A simple “Well done” might not give me much to think about but its encouragement enough to keep me trying.

There is much to learn from the work of other artists and much inspiration to gain by analysing their work. Without the encouragement of the Caedes members and the example through their work I could not have progressed as far as I have even if I still have a long way to go.

yes.

Absolutely. I'll go the "personal experience" route. When I first came across caedes, I wasn't sure I'd post anything at all. The images were so amazing and I was at a creative standstill - I wasn't painting and my photo's were for the memory files and not with an artists eye...I took a chance and posted a photo of a painting and received positive feedback (as well as suggestions). Many comments were really simple, but the fact that someone took the time to say something nice was great encouragement.

It's been just over a month and my camera now rests in my purse available at any given moment and I am currently working on two paintings. I know that this is a direct result from the encouragement that I have received.

Plus, this site is an incredible resource of knowledge. All you have to do is ask and there are so many people that are more than willing to guide, suggest ideas/methods, provide simplified tutorials - I wish I had more hours available to dedicate to photography. I am still in the novice stage, but with all of the encouragment, I know that future images have great potential.

Getting any comments can be a challenge. I've been inactive for a while and then posted 3 or 4 images within a week or so and got little feedback or votes.

When subscriptions come through and i see someone has commented on an image of mine I am thrilled (and flattered). Having said that, if I go into the page itself and find nothing other than 'Cool image!' posted, my heart sinks a little bit. I'm thinking 'Ok...and...?' I like it when people say 'nice image, I like the choice of colours and the composition' or whatever. It makes me think I've touched them in some way. I certainly don't mind if people put constructive criticism - it can give a whole different perspective to something.

every now and them I feel tempted to put "nice image"
I think the reason for that is:
Sometimes I come across an image that is pretty good, nothing in particular about it that I could expand on, but overall I just like the image. If I like it enough I dont want to move on to the next image without letting that author know that his image stood out to me as I was browsing caedes. So I want to leave I nice image behind just to let him/her know.
BUT, then I look at it again and my critical side kicks in and I leave more than just the nice image behind 9/10 times. Either way I can understand why the simple comments are left. its just to kinna say "I was here, and I liked what I saw"

Think about if your gallery instead of being online was a physical notebook of images. You take that notebook and show it to a friend. They flip through your images and whenever something hits them they say "oh that one is cool" or "thats a good one" and even tho simple, it makes you feel good. On the images they really love I'm sure they will say even more, and on the ones they really dislike I'm sure they will express that in some way as well. The ones that dont hit them as overaly negative or positive they will just probably pass by.
The same effect happens here while people are browsing caedes, it just doesnt seem that way because instead of going through a notebook of just your images, they are going through alot of peoples images, therefore you take every comment or lack of commentary on your image more personally.

Good morning Rob

Before I even read anyone elses response, I'll add my own. Then I can't be influenced <grinning>

Am finding that genuine simple praise acts as an encouragement. Constructive praise, that is. And yes, every upload I make, I learn something from the comments. A "you did xxxx right" tells me what skill I need to keep, to further develop, allows me to look at the image and try to see what the person means, and helps me to develop my own critical skills.

This applies to what I read on other peoples images as well. "Good composition"; OK, what is good, what can I learn, what can I apply. "Good lighting"; OK, what is there about this lighting that is good that I can apply. And so it goes.

There are two ways of viewing praise - as gratification to the ego (in which case nothing is learned) or as a means of seeing what was done right and learning how to repeat that. I believe that most of the artists here are in the later category, based on my experience on Caedes.

Have only been a member on Caedes for about three or four weeks, but when I look at the images that am taking now when I go on my photographic expeditions, and compare to those taken before then, am seeing a slow improvement, thanks to the comments and praise that are left on my images, and studying the work of the other artists who contribute here and the comments and praise on their images.

It is easy to be daunted by the high quality of the work of the artists who contribute here, and often all that is needed is needed is some encouragement to bring the creative capacity out in the person. The praise can act as this encouragement. To get an encouraging comment from someone who consistently produces good work is an encouragement to continue uploading your own images and to continue to make efforts to improve your own work.

Enjoy your day

Romane

As someone who knows nothing about photography, I rarely have any technical advice or suggestions to offer. I just let the artist know that their work stimulated me somehow. Not all artists want or need that kind of feedback -- most of the master painters didn't care what others thought of their work! But for those artists who find some satisfaction in moving their audience (internally), I like to let them know when they've achieved it.. inside me, anyway. :-)

I see no problems with that. Well, perhaps if you said almost the exact same thing on almost everything you see. ^_^ (But that is not what you say, right?)

Right! lol Those that don't find my comment valuable will just ignore it, anyway, and that is ok with me. That happens in life, generally!

lol! ^_^ I didn't think so...

Well, I guess you are right. Things here are much like life in general, for better of worse. :) And fore sure, people will always choose in some way what they listen to and what they don't listen to. no problems there either I'd say.

Cheers,

Klas

I have to say, as a newer member, that the comments I have received have encouraged me tremendously! I want to thank every person who has taken the time to say something about my uploads. The comments have ranged from simple "nice job" to some very helpful advice. ALL of these keep me encouraged to continue to learn and try some more. It is very fun to start to discover some creativeness in me that I did not know existed. It should be very rewarding to see the difference in a year from now... So,,,,please keep those comments coming. They mean a whole lot more to me than you could know. I used to be a medical assistant, firefighter, EMT, paraglider, hiker, mother, and wife. It was a very busy, active, and happy life. Due to an accident with my neck and the progression of fibromyalgia, I no longer have any of that old life, other than I'm still a mother. This was extremely difficult to accept and I went through a long period of severe depression. I have now discovered that since I can no longer work, I can take the time I didn't use to have to discover more about myself. Indeed, this is very exciting and stimulating, being able to try new things that I never had time to do before. I am actually greatful for the turn of events in my life now, I am much more at peace and happy. I'm sure that there are other people on here with similar circumstances. My point is, your comments and helpful advice are helping me to make a new life that is really fullfilling. I may never be a famous artist or anything, but it's the journey and the learning that is the fun part. Thank you all and I hope that I will learn enough to be able to encourage and help other new people on this site as well some day. You are all GREAT!!! I have read quite a few of the discussions on here and I would like to make one small suggestion myself. Remember what this website's main purpose is. I believe it is to share art forms with other people that also enjoy the same kinds of art. It is a great way to make new friends and to be able to see what other people create. It is a great way to see parts of the world that we may otherwise would not get to see, and we get to see it through a wide variety of other people's eyes. How fun is that? Thank you to those of you that do not look down on us "newbies" but treat us just like the more experienced. I'm greatful that I happened across this site. Ok....enough mushy blah blah blah.
Heidi

I think Heidi’s post states the spirit of Caedes quite well. We are a bunch of amateurs and a few professionals helping each other to improve their art and enrich their lives. It’s sad to read of your health problems Heidi. On the other hand it’s wonderful to hear about the new life and self-awakening you are experiencing now.

Off course it is!! Encouragement is a better tool to raise the Tone level on people and also make them more open for constructive criticism..Dont make other people "Wrong", that only make them more stubbering and more conservative about anything u say.

Yes!!! Absolutely yes!!! If I had not received the praise when I first started I probably would have given up.. It is words of praise and encouragement thet make me want to strive harder to do better..