Photographs
  • The underlying theme of TrekNature is learning more about the world of nature through photography. Please keep this goal in mind when you post photos. If you can’t articulate how the photo helps others learn about the world of nature, then it probably doesn’t belong on TrekNature. There are a number of other useful websites where you can post photos that do not meet the goals of TrekNature.
  • Certain types of photos are generally not permitted on TrekNature. These include the following:
    • Photographs of domestic animals. Photos of wildlife in captivity (game parks, zoos) are allowed, but it is strongly recommend that these shots should show little or no trace of the enclosures or cages keeping these animals inside.
    • Photographs of garden plants or other cultivated plants.
  • Identical photos (unmodified or not) may not be re-posted except through the 'Post to Workshop' or 'Re-Post' mode. (Deleting the original image in order to re-post is also not acceptable. Instead, open a Discussion for the photo to request feedback.)
  • Members may post one photo per 24 hour period.
Critiques and Ratings
  • Most people join TrekNature to try to improve their photography. To that end, TrekNature maintains a critique and rating system. You may critique and rate other members' photos, and other members may critique and rate your photos. The critiques are generally considered to be the most useful aspect of this site. New members are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the critiquing process.
  • Critiques are to be used for any critical or praiseworthy comments about the critiqued photo. Very general critiques i.e. Nice shot, Great, I like it a lot! or similar comments are not particularly helpful, and therefore, are discouraged. Instead, critiques should include specific reasons as to why a photo is either good or needs improvement.
  • Members are encouraged to give constructive criticism and feedback for how photos can be improved.
  • You may rate any critique on TrekNature by clicking on the useful or neutral dots next to a critique. Likewise, other members may rate your critiques. Your critique usefulness rating is calculated by adding the number of useful critiques. When your usefulness rating is 10 or higher, you will see silver star next to your name; when that number reaches 50, you will see a gold star next to your name.
  • TrekNature also provides a rating system whereby you can award points to photos and members may award points to your photos. You award the points by clicking on the smiley's. A big smiley is worth two points, a little smiley is worth one point, and the non-smiling face is worth zero points.
  • Note that you can give a critique to a photo without awarding it any points by clicking on NR (No Rating). Some members choose to give critiques without awarding points. The choice is yours.
  • You may award 20 smileys per day; however, you may write as many critiques as you like.
  • While there is no requirement that you do so, members are encouraged to provide roughly as many critiques as they receive. One way of accomplishing this is to look at the posts of those members who have provided feedback to you and consider returning the favor.
  • As a general proposition, you will find that the more you comment on others' works, the more feedback you will get on your own work.
  • Some members find the point system distracting, therefore display of points and ratings may be turned off within one's member profile.
Descriptive Notes
  • Members are strongly encouraged to post descriptive notes with their photos. Notes help provide other members with information about your shot and help them to tailor their critiques to your specific needs. Shots without notes tend to receive less feedback than shots with descriptive notes.
  • Notes may be written in any language.
  • The note may include the following types of information:
    • A description of the subject of the photo and how you think the photo helps other members learn about the world of nature;
    • Technical aspects relating to the taking of the shot and any post-processing you might have done;
    • The conditions under which the shot was taken;
    • Your goal when you took the shot;
    • Any request for particular feedback that you’d like to have.
Workshops
  • If you enable the allow workshop option when posting a photo, other members will be able to copy your photo, make changes to it, and post the changed image. (Your original post will not be changed.) Workshops are a great way to see how another member might improve your photo.
  • Likewise, you may do workshops on any photo where the allow workshop feature is enabled. Each member is limited to two workshop posts per 24 hour period.
  • You may rate the workshops that others have done as useful, and others may rate your workshops. If ten of your workshops are rated as useful, you will see a silver box next to your name; if 50 of your workshops are rated as useful, you will see a gold box next to your name.
  • Doing workshops on other members' photos is a great way to practice your post-processing skills and is generally appreciated by other members.