Well, no it isn't.
It's the same, BUT very different....
The Critique forum's purpose in general is for people to post an image and get critique on it.
Or to not post an image, but look at other people's image and post critique on it.
It is fragmented and unilateral.
Our endeavour (new here but with a history of 15 years on DPR) is unique in that it is a reciprocal and weekly, scheduled, peer-to-peer adventure with a sense of community and gathering. From that approach, more than just critique on individual images can follow. Take for instance in this week's thread, the way Mike Fewster drew parallels and identified differences between my image and Linda's, resulting in some quite unique insights that pleased Linda greatly.
It is the reciprocity that is the key element here :
if you participate with an image, you will receive C&C, and you are also expected to give C&C, honestly and constructively.
Not just a pat on the back or a blunt dismissal, but some kind of motivated response to the image.
Or more academically (and a bit pretentious) It is a dialectic and peripatetic approach to C&C.
(Much like the old greek philisophical school of Socrates: enlightenment through exchange of ideas and discussion, and asking questions.)
That makes it sound more high-brow than it actually is.
I've tried to explain this before in an exchange with Camperjim in one of our very first edition here on DPRevived.
Look here :
dprevived.com/t/wednesday-cc-no-theme-thread-781-revived-002-on-2023-04-12/1771/#post-14169
For your convenience, I'll copy/paste a few of the main bits :
It is our personal experience (of over 15 years) that a thread with images from multiple members who each also comment on a few images, is a very useful expericence that can result in great discussions. Working that way, can result in a sense of community that can surpass the individual C&C.
AND
Much light can come from a comparison of images by multiple posters in the same thread. Although the thread was always "non theme", it did happen that (by coincidence or by choice) different members posted images of comparable subjects, or in comparable styles. That allowed for really focused C&C, zooming in on creative choices, differences etc.
Furthermore, the back and forth on specific suggestions for image improvement, were a constant source of inspiration (I was talking about DPR here).
AND
(about the "need" for this weekly C&C when finally there is a dedicated C&C forum - that was lacking on DPR,
and the question whether a weekly thread clouds the issue):
DPR forums did not have a good dedicated forum for C&C.
And I am glad we have got one here.
And by all means : I hope many people use it and will be happy with it.
But that does not form an obstacle to creating, within that space, a weekly gathering with a slightly different purpose.
Please go and check out some of our history on DPR for yourself.
You might walk away amazed at the depth that a community-driven C&C gathering may produce.
I hope that this answer helps.
