When I look at the full size version of the photo it looks like the sort of shots I get from the Bigma, in focus but very soft. I don't know how better to explain it, other than these shots once sharpened look perfectly fine - maybe not saleable or gallery standards, but certainly much better than they were.

Sorry if I've caused offence, which I pretty obviously have, I was just trying to offer some helpful advice, which I personally think still stands. I will post the picture I edited if Bazza says I may, other than that, I think we'll just have to leave this one be.

Perhaps I should stop offering advice on shots, as obviously, by many, it's not what is wanted, which is a shame.

xx

Zoundz, you have been very kind and offered helpful advice on how to improve the picture.
The picture obviously isn't technically great, but Bazza must like it to have posted it so your advice will be useful to him.
Don't stop offering advice because the forum needs posters like you.

Thanks LM I know this is a small forum that doesn't 'do' criticism very well at the moment, or advice/tips/hints - only a bit of ego stroking. I try not to criticise too much as it'll break people's spirits... but I do try to offer helpful advice and tips if I can - and I don't like not seeing eye to eye with other members - I have nothing but vast respect for MD's ability and knowledge, but sometimes we just have to agree to differ - and I really didn't mean to offend.

xx

Laura, I really don't think you have offended anyone hun (don't think you could if you tried), MD was just asking you what you meant. I think the whole forum needs to chill, everybody seems to be worrying about offending someone else, what have you all been drinking over there lately? Do I have to hop on a plane, and bang all of your heads together?

Having said that, I do think it's too soft, and instead of going to the eye, my eyes keep drifting about, and the parrot at the bottom of the frame doesn't help. Very pretty bird, though. What is it, a Blue and Gold Macaw?

This is exactly the reason why I very rarely post comments on here anymore. Zoundz...the comment above is just pathetic.
For a start, how the heck do you come to the "obvious" conclusion that I was offended??? It wasn't even my image!
If anything does offend me, it's comments like that!
And to then go off on some guilt trip about not posting advice anymore because it's " obviously " not wanted, is again...pathetic, and perhaps Little Me shouldn't be so quick to " stroke your ego ."

I do agree with you on your comment above though, and your previous comments prove that not only are you correct, but that you yourself fall flat into this category.

Do you actually know who's thread this is?
Bazza is the first person to "tell it like it is", and he takes great pleasure in reminding us of that fact, so I'm sure he himself can take a tiny bit of criticism without you feeling that you should no longer post comments or advice, even if someone like me has a different opinion.

And all this because I asked you to explain why the shot wasn't out of focus!

I still enjoy coming to this forum every day and looking at everyone's images, but it's absurd comments like these that stop me from commenting on more people's threads.

MD

Chill out guys!

I don't know about anyone else but to me it came across as Z saying the shot was a bit soft but not too out of focus - i.e nothing a bit of sharpening wouldn't help greatly with. Might not end up being perfect - but an improvement. That seems reasonable to me.

I also don't see anything wrong with people giving helpful hints instead of all out critiques - because you know what, as much as people say they can 'take them' we've seen 'friction' far too often when that happens - so it's only natural people will be a bit more cautious.

Finally, the only thing I find absurd is people saying/deciding not to comment based on other people's comments. I just never got that! Why on earth would you allow someone else to dictate whether you comment or not. So long as you're courteous (especially to the OP) and posting within our rules you shouldn't let it bother you too much.

Exactly my thoughts Azz. You've summed up exactly what I meant with the softness thing, and why I try always to offer advice or nice comments rather than critique.

It's all by the by, the reason I said what I did in private, about not posting, is because several times now I've been basically told to shut up, and that I upset people with my comments to every thread, and that's fine - I personally don't see why, but evidently, several people do think this is the case, when in reality, I have just tried to help! I am under the distinct impression these days, that all anyone much really wants is 'Wow! What a great shot!!!' - which is a shame. Not everyone is like this, I hasten to add.

Anyway, I need a lengthy break from the forum I think... I am extremely hurt by the above post, and yes, fine, by saying that I'm obviously just guilt tripping, but I don't care, because it's not it's most definitely heart felt. I need time to collect my thoughts a bit before and if I come back. I don't believe in 'flouncing' and that's not what this is at all. This is still a great forum, with great admin, and many great members, just one or two people - and at the moment, I'm a bit too fragile to put up with it - so until then, most of you know where to find me, and I will log on to read and reply to Personal Messages, I just won't be posting much or at all for the forseeable.

xx

Can you tell me what I said that was so wrong? What did I do or say for her to claim that I was "obviously offended"? Moonstone was absolutely right.

There is indeed nothing wrong with people giving hints and tips...is that not the point of the forum???
The truth is though, that not everyone is going to offer the same hints and tips, just like everyone has a different eye when looking at an image, but that doesn't mean you spit the dummy out if someone else doesn't agree with your advice. Surely it's up to the individual who has asked for that advice, to then see what advice best suits their own style of photography. It isn't a competition. We're here to help each other...or so I thought!

You really don't find it absurd that Zoundz claims in one of her posts above, that this forum is " a small forum that doesn't do criticism very well at the moment, or advice/tips/hints - only a bit of ego stroking, "
immediately after she has over-reacted to my question about her advice, and then claims she's never going to post advice again because it's obviously not wanted, only to have her ego "stroked" by another member.
That to me is absurd. It's also very ironic.

And like I said earlier, this is exactly the reason why I very rarely post anymore...not because I'm afraid to offend anyone...that's not my goal. I rarely post these days because it's not worth the hassle that's just been clearly illustrated in this thread. I comment on the threads where I think that I can not only offer my honest advice and opinions, but that the person asking for it is big enough, and grown-up enough to take it. I choose my threads very carefully before commenting.
And my initial comments were for Bazza...not Zoundz. She has turned this into some personal attack on her, which again is absurd.

Well for a start, you can exclude me from the list of people you mention, because I've never ever told you to shut up...and in fact it was me asking you to elaborate more that caused this over reaction in the first place.
I don't like the fact that you've used previous encounters with others within the context of this thread, as it is completely irrelevant.

Which part caused you to feel extremely hurt?
What did I say that was so wrong?
Like I mentioned to Azz earlier...you painted a bleak picture of this forum and some of it's members, and then acted exactly the same way as the people you were criticizing.

This is unbelievable!
I mean...are you really serious with this stuff?

Zoundz...you and I have always got on fine on this forum, and I honestly can't remember a single incident where we've seriously disagreed on something.
I'm kinda bewildered as to what's happened here.
If issues with other members are getting you down, then that's between you and them, but I'm afraid you really did choose the wrong person to be the fall guy here, because I simply won't allow you to blame me for your decision to take a break from the forum, because if anyone goes back over this thread again, they'll see that I neither said anything wrong, offensive or hurtful, and I certainly never told anyone to shut up.

MD