I'll be honest, I'm very amateur in terms of photography and I take very amateur shots, but now and then I get one that I like. Since I have had my 40D (not even a week yet) I've been shooting in RAW and I love the possibilities it opens up in post-edit. 95% of the time I will edit my shots in PS since that's what I do to achieve something that I like. I tried HDR, but I didn't like the results I had gotten (I couldn't do it), but there are some shots I adore, like the thread starter's portfolio. I believe everything is due to balance, and part of the fact obviously is that I'm not good enough to get a perfect image straight from the camera. That kind of statement can cause a long, overdrawn and controversial debate so please don't dwell on it.
I upload photos to Flickr and add them to groups and like it when I receive views and comments. Wrong? It's just part of the fun of it all. Taking pictures, getting them on the computer in full resolution and seeing what's wrong/right with them and edit accordingly, and then sharing over the internet. It's a nicely staged hobby that takes time and effort that results in feeling very satisfied. I won't take that feeling away from anyone, since that's what it's all about.
Now and then I'll get a shot or two I have really liked and I'll put them in one of the critique threads on this forum. I get handy advice, praise from others I rate very highly, and some just plain just stop'n'drop quickies. For me, it's the same deal on Flickr, except this is less of an anonymous place.
I think the big deal with over-processing, problems with Flickr/internet photo sharing and less abled photographers receiving credit is exactly the latter - less abled photographers receiving credit. Personally, I think it's good to praise work if you like it. If you don't, you're not obliged. If someone receives more attention than you for a photo you don't like and you consider yourself somewhat of a professional, then what should it matter? Until those images you don't like but other people do for what you sense are the wrong reasons start to sell those photos and change your income, then let people be. It's just a hobby for some, not a career, and not everyone is concerned about perfection and technicality. That's the horror and beauty about art.
At lot of this praise for a "non-photographer's" photo is laregly due to the general population not having expertise knowledge in the field of photography. The general population that gives praise to someone's work generally doesn't have expertise knowledge of it, that's why they like it and you don't, right? Take music - most people listen to Radio 1 instead of Classic FM. Take fiction - most people watch TV instead of reading a book. If you really don't like people being praised for something you think isn't worthy of praise, I suggest two things - ignore it and take solace in the fact that you know what deserves credit and what doesn't (i.e. know that you are better then both the creator and the praiser), or, get down off your high horse.
If people enjoy something, let them enjoy it. In the end, I'm sure everyone of us here smiles a little when they see someone else with a camera, regardless of their work. Remember that.
