I want to introduce something we’ve been building for a while: the Critique Workspace.
The goal is simple. Give you a better place to write thoughtful, useful critiques while keeping the photograph, the photographer’s request, and their notes close at hand.
I created a walkthrough showing how the Critique Workspace works, including the new visual tools, multi-image support, quoting, previewing, and processing examples.
You’ll now see a Start a Critique button below the original post and again near the bottom of the topic.
The regular Reply button is still available and works exactly as it always has, especially for quick comments, follow-up conversations, or replies to other members. The Critique Workspace is simply the better place to give feedback on the photograph itself.
A Better Place to Write
Even if you never touch the visual tools, the workspace offers a much improved writing experience:
- The full image remains visible beside your critique.
- The photographer’s requested critique style and feedback focus are easy to see.
- Their notes, questions, and technical details are available with one click.
- Optional questions can help when you need ideas or a different way into the image.
- Quotes, links, and formatting appear cleanly as you write.
- You can preview the complete critique before posting.
The workspace opens from the bottom like the regular composer. You can resize it to see more of the conversation behind it, or expand it when you need more room. It works well on mobile too, so you can write a full critique from your phone.
Optional Visual Notes
The biggest new capability is the option to add visual notes directly to the photographer’s image. Everyone viewing the topic can see these notes, so they become part of the shared conversation around the image.
These tools can help when words alone are not quite enough:
- Notes place numbered markers on specific parts of the image.
- Crop suggests a different framing without changing the original.
- Eye Path shows how your attention moves through the composition.
- Area highlights a region you want to discuss.
- Arrow points toward a detail or direction.
- Relationship connects two parts of the image.
- Rotate and Flip explore alternative orientations.
They are never required, and they are not meant to replace thoughtful writing or turn every critique into a markup exercise. They are simply another way to communicate clearly when you are referring to a particular area, movement, crop, or relationship within the photograph.
For posts with multiple images, each photograph can have its own annotations and visual-note commentary while your overall critique remains separate.
Processing Examples
When the photographer has allowed it, you can download the original image, create an edited example in Lightroom, Photoshop, or another application, and upload it as part of your critique. This is meant for situations where showing a possible processing direction is more useful than describing it in words. Photographers who prefer not to receive edited examples can turn this permission off when submitting an image.
Give It a Try
I encourage everyone to give the workspace a try, even if you begin with a completely traditional written critique. Having the image and photographer’s context visible while you write is valuable on its own. Then, when a visual note could make your meaning clearer, try one of the tools and see how it fits into your process.
If you run into any bugs, just reply to this topic and I’ll take a look.
This has been a significant project, shaped by a great deal of thoughtful beta feedback from the community. I’m very excited to see how it helps us continue strengthening the constructive, specific, and generous critiques that make NPN so valuable.