What's your favorite retouching Forum

[zogdart]

I'm looking for new forum or web site for photo retouching.
The more professional the better.
It's not that I don't enjoy retouchpro, but I would like to browse trough more info.

Any suggestion?

[Insensitive.]

I would too....

[pixelzombie]

i know dan margulis makes contributions to one of the photography forums but i think he's too busy with his teaching and writing these days...

[DannyRaphael]

The retouching forum at dpreview.com is fairly active, but the % of novices is high compared to those with more advanced skills. Not much emphasis on in-depth how to, but frequent links to tutorials elsewhere.

Although participants tend to be mostly amateurs and casual shooters and there are a lot of "photo-art" C&C-type threads, it's still a good info source.

------------------

zog, insensitive: What needs/interests are "not being fulfilled here" at RP that you hope to find elsewhere?

Maybe I can help.

[FlairDevil]

I have to believe they are just like any of us.....sponges for information....always looking for MORE! =-D

[Philipp Paulus]

*Bookmark*

[Insensitive.]

I found one that was actually just created today. Its not directed at retouching, but at are completely. Barely has members though. But maybe we could all help it build and mature? Im sure that those people are very amateur so they would probably worship us. lol!


www.SignatureArtz.com

[dataflow]

and the site is?

[Insensitive.]

www.signatureartz.com

[prizo]

Originally Posted by DannyRaphael

The retouching forum at dpreview.com is fairly active, but the % of novices is high compared to those with more advanced skills.

Whoa.... the dpreview Retouching forum has some of the worst crap I have seen. It is 99.99999% super-noobs, all of whom seem to have terrible taste.

This forum is the best one I've found so far.

[Pari Retouch]

My favorite retouching forum is Digital Art and Retouching section of Modelmayhem, very professional forum.

[artofretouching]

Well, there is always mine. (shameless plug) But seriously, good stuff on there. I was just tired of the poorly created you tube garbage, so I created my own content. I figured others could benefit from it.

Http://www.TheArtofRetouching.com

[DJSoulglo]

Originally Posted by artofretouching

Well, there is always mine. (shameless plug) But seriously, good stuff on there. I was just tired of the poorly created you tube garbage, so I created my own content. I figured others could benefit from it.

Http://www.TheArtofRetouching.com

More of a website, than a forum though..... shameless plug indeed.

[artofretouching]

"I'm looking for new forum or web site for photo retouching."

I was answering the original question.

[jenodalo]

Originally Posted by Pari Retouch

My favorite retouching forum is Digital Art and Retouching section of Modelmayhem, very professional forum.

same here +100

[Chain]

Modelmayhem is problematic to join though – it's like writing a damn job application or something :P

I tried to register once but got denied. And they do not give any reason so I didn't bother to redo the application. I'll contribute here instead
That said, there are a bunch of really clever people there and the strict rules do keep most noobs out.

[Pari Retouch]

Originally Posted by Chain

Modelmayhem is problematic to join though – it's like writing a damn job application or something :P

I tried to register once but got denied. And they do not give any reason so I didn't bother to redo the application. I'll contribute here instead
That said, there are a bunch of really clever people there and the strict rules do keep most noobs out.

ModelMayhem is professional site that's why maybe they denied but joining there really worth it, you will be find best of the best professionals there

Even I was on approval queue for over a month while joining the mayhem :P

[Chain]

Being a "professional" site is not a reason in itself to deny an application.

My technical Photoshop skills and retouching abilities are plenty good enough to join, so if that was the reason why they denied it I would have preferred to know so I could have made a better application. If they just needed more examples of retouched high-end fashion model pictures, I could have found/done some... The application/denial process felt quite rude :P
Anyway, it was too cumbersome to do the application more than once, and you can still read most of it without member access.

[PhiladelphiaPro]

Model Mayhem touted itself as the answer to OneModelPlace years and years ago. Now they have become OneModelPlace with their "overseer" mentality.

[julianmarsalis]

Originally Posted by Chain

Being a "professional" site is not a reason in itself to deny an application.

My technical Photoshop skills and retouching abilities are plenty good enough to join, so if that was the reason why they denied it I would have preferred to know so I could have made a better application. If they just needed more examples of retouched high-end fashion model pictures, I could have found/done some... The application/denial process felt quite rude :P
Anyway, it was too cumbersome to do the application more than once, and you can still read most of it without member access.

No question you should be a member I am curious why the rejection your far superior in skill than many on MM....

[nebulaoperator]

I am same noob just like you. Get some photos to retouch( you can get them even here with right to use for you portfolio) I think it is 4 you need. Then wait for week or so like me and Bingo Did you submited any photos when you applied?

Originally Posted by Chain

Being a "professional" site is not a reason in itself to deny an application.

My technical Photoshop skills and retouching abilities are plenty good enough to join, so if that was the reason why they denied it I would have preferred to know so I could have made a better application. If they just needed more examples of retouched high-end fashion model pictures, I could have found/done some... The application/denial process felt quite rude :P
Anyway, it was too cumbersome to do the application more than once, and you can still read most of it without member access.

[Chain]

A few, but guess not enough. I don't rememer what i sumbitted. Did know anyone would be that strict with a damn internet forum access :P

[nebulaoperator]

Make it four. You should get in there too. Good luck.
To benefit to this topic I would mention two sites: retouchpro and modelmayhem at the moment.

[Tareq]

Funny, i know about that MM long long time ago, and just before yesterday i submitted my application with about 9 photos, so i hope they can accept it, i am under Photographer group, not retoucher or MU artist or so, but i also don't like the rejection to keep that website so professional, i saw members with bad or normal pics, and i don't know how those were accepted then.

[Pari Retouch]

Sometimes it might not be just because of images we submit but we also have to write about our location and about me stuff, sometimes if we don't submit it they don't accept our application.

[RobertAsh]

Originally Posted by Chain

A few, but guess not enough. I don't remember what i sumbitted. Did know anyone would be that strict with a damn internet forum access :P

Agreed. I got rejected too, and haven't bothered re-applying, either. I think I know why they rejected my photos but I seldom photograph models anyway so it's no big deal for me. For MM not to provide even a one-liner as to why they reject someone and to tell people to go figure it out themselves is quite a poor showing on their part, I have to agree with you on that point wholeheartedly.

Originally Posted by Pari Retouch

Sometimes it might not be just because of images we submit but we also have to write about our location and about me stuff, sometimes if we don't submit it they don't accept our application.

That's good insight, thanks. But it's still very poor of them to require all of that from people yet not show even the most basic professionalism (not to mention courtesy) when not accepting someone.

[Doug Nelson]

Well, in MM's defense, their registration policies are not in place for their retouching forum, which is actually a relatively tiny subforum in a (very) much larger site. Their policies are in place to protect models from the inevitable scary people that I'm sure are hammering on their doors trying to get in. It would be like if someone criticized my site policies because they were interested in the Events subforum here.

Interesting trivia: MM is owned by the same corporation that owns the company that writes the forum software we use here. They're also one of the 1000 most viewed sites in the entire world, possibly because they'd never allow threads such as this one to exist.

[RobertAsh]

Originally Posted by Doug Nelson

Interesting trivia: MM is owned by the same corporation that owns the company that writes the forum software we use here. They're also one of the 1000 most viewed sites in the entire world, possibly because they'd never allow threads such as this one to exist.

What? You mean allow people to actually criticize Model Mayhem right there on that forum? No way, that would be too much like....like....democracy

There is no defense for how MM treats people who want to register. Just telling them "no" with no feedback saying in their rejection note "you have to figure out why" and then at the same time allowing:

• people to register who sometimes aren't as good as some people they reject
• "not safe for work" (and that's being kind at times) images to be viewed freely
• members of theirs to lever pretty caustic criticism of other members' posts at times
• ....and I doubt MM would screen in that CIA-like manner of theirs a non-member who wanted to hire a model there....

...does absolutely nothing to protect models from anyone. All that does is treat attempted registrants - most of whom are good, competent people - in an unprofessional and brazenly indifferent manner.

That's the way companies act when they feel they have no competition and have the world by the short and curlies. It's nothing more noble than that from what I can see.

Model Mayhem has become the Facebook of models, photographers and make-up artists. They're the gorilla in that industry and they're taking full, arrogant advantage of that in their application process. If another site were to displace them as the industry gorillas then Model Mayhem would either change their approach or be forced to fold like every other company has that treated people in that manner then lost their leadership position.

[RobertAsh]

...and for the record, RetouchPro is my favorite retouching forum. This place is the bomb But thanks to all here for the pointers to Model Mayhem's retouching forum, it's great too.

[Tareq]

GOOD NEWS: My application has been approved in MM, it didn't took them long time, I applied for first time on 19 June 2011, so it is less than 5 days, WOW, i appreciate that.

I would like to thank all people here to help me out, i submitted one photo that has been retouched here, even it wasn't the best photo but i hope it helped, i don't have many models photos anyway, and some people another site/forum told me to submit whatever i am sure it may accepted, and i chased my best as i can of models pics, and what encouraged me is to see another members with just normal or below average photos, and i am happy for that, now i have to work hard to have more models photos, and hope i will use all my high end equipment with my growing skill for the best results i can get, and here is the best place i can ask for retouch as i really need retouchers to work with.

Thank you very much again.