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DPChallenge Forums >> Tutorials >> Commenting For Beginners (A Non-Analytical Approach)
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01/23/2008 07:25:48 PM · #1
Post your comments, questions, and reviews for...

'Commenting For Beginners (A Non-Analytical Approach)'
by posthumous

View this tutorial here.
01/23/2008 07:31:28 PM · #2
Bravo. Hopefully one or two people will read it. Now we need a tutorial to be read by everyone on the site entitled: how to understand and react to comments. ;-)
01/23/2008 07:37:04 PM · #3
Nicely done. This one should be a sticky. If I may be so bold, I might offer an eighth suggestion: 8. Be Positive Where You Can. It is often easier to look at an image and to point out what is wrong, than to recognize what is right. If you don't like the fact that the focus is soft or the colors over-saturated by all means say so. But if you like the composition or find the subject interesting, say that too.
01/23/2008 07:40:12 PM · #4
Outstanding job dude. IMO, one of the best ways to learn about photography (and art in general) is to comment, critique, "think out loud" as you say. Excellent tutorial!
01/23/2008 07:44:01 PM · #5
Great job on this tutorial!
01/23/2008 07:50:32 PM · #6
Originally posted by EstimatedEyes:

Nicely done. This one should be a sticky. If I may be so bold, I might offer an eighth suggestion: 8. Be Positive Where You Can. It is often easier to look at an image and to point out what is wrong, than to recognize what is right. If you don't like the fact that the focus is soft or the colors over-saturated by all means say so. But if you like the composition or find the subject interesting, say that too.


If a photographer HAS done something wrong, that means he/she doesn't know what works and what doesn't in that particular photo. It is just as helpful to point out what DOES work for you the viewer as what DOESN'T.
01/23/2008 07:55:30 PM · #7
Don, thanks for taking the time to write this. It's a privilege to read tips on commenting from one of the site's more prolific, insightful and entertaining comment authors.

~Terry
01/23/2008 07:58:25 PM · #8
Well done!
01/23/2008 08:00:26 PM · #9
I love the thoughts in the tutorial. Great job, especially about the honesty and the first impressions.

I gave the tutorial a "10", but it wouldn't register. So, I gave it a "3" , but then I had to make a comment explaining why;)

Message edited by author 2008-01-23 20:01:24.
01/23/2008 08:01:44 PM · #10
Excellent insights and well put! And as an English teacher once told me when questioned about an appropriate essay length: It's like a skirt - long enough to cover the subject, and short enough to make it interesting. =)
01/23/2008 08:33:58 PM · #11
Originally posted by emorgan49:

If a photographer HAS done something wrong...


Wrong is subjective. Wrong in your world may be right in a paying clients eyes (this I know to be fact in many comments I have received).

I think staying away from "wrong" and "right" judgments and comments by simply relaying what a photo makes you feel and why you think it does is a better, non-inflammatory way to approach it.

Don continues to be a great force here on this site. I appreciate his continued input and clear and creative way of seeing.
01/23/2008 08:44:09 PM · #12
Thanks for taking the time to share your insights, Don. Should be required reading for all on the site.
01/23/2008 08:49:25 PM · #13
Need to give you an "Attaboy" award for that!
01/23/2008 10:11:27 PM · #14
Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

Don, thanks for taking the time to write this. It's a privilege to read tips on commenting from one of the site's more prolific, insightful and entertaining comment authors.

~Terry


Thank you. That means a lot to me.

But I am NOT giving up my sunglasses or my cigars.
01/23/2008 11:23:07 PM · #15
i suggest you give up the cigars asap ;-)
01/23/2008 11:23:28 PM · #16
Insightful stuff. Everyone wishing to make honest, straightforward comments should read this and take its practice to heart; great instructions for avoiding pat comments regarding thirds and hot spots and the like. And "Your impressions may never have occurred to [the photographer]" are wise words.
01/24/2008 12:02:08 AM · #17
Well, being relatively new here, I really have to say, I appreciate that whole tutorial!!

Sometimes I just don't know what to say as far as technical aspects go, and I just think, man, I could just post what I like about it, but then it feels like maybe it's not that helpful/important. LOL...but yk, I have recieved SUCH great feedback, not necessarily comments on my pictures, but just in the forums, people that have found me on flickr through here, etc. and I realize, *I* like to hear just 'hey, great shot' LOL...so I make a GOAL right now ;) to use the guidelines to make more comments, and just let them grow as my knowledge grows on the technicalities ;)

(oh, but I also like to be told how to improve my shots, as well, so I don't mean I ONLY like to hear 'hey great shot' LOLOL) I would love constructive (kind) feedback ;)
01/24/2008 10:11:03 AM · #18
Look at the comments on this modest 2002 photo. They actually made comments in those days!
01/24/2008 10:15:25 AM · #19
Very good tutorial, Don. I, too, tried to give it at least a 7, with the chance to bump it up later, but it only took the 3. Sorry 'bout that.
01/24/2008 10:18:57 AM · #20
Isn't that awesome. We need to figure out how to get back to that approach!
Originally posted by pineapple:

Look at the comments on this modest 2002 photo. They actually made comments in those days!
01/24/2008 11:14:10 AM · #21
How many people judging our photos have the technical expertise to tell us what we can do better? Maybe a change in the voting system would help people, 1 to 10 with no structure is a very broad and undefined system, especially since very few leave a comment (much less a useful one). there should categorizes like, Focus, composition, creativity, lighting and how publishable it is. It would take that long to fill in four or five dots and it would make the voter look at a picture and think about it longer. Another thing I thought was if you can't vote on your own photo(rightfully so) why should we be able to vote on others in the same challenge? How objective can we be with our own photo in the back of our minds?
01/24/2008 11:22:21 AM · #22
Don, that tutorial should be required reading for all newbies.
01/24/2008 11:27:06 AM · #23
Great tut, I like it a lot and would create great comments if applied consistently. I would like to add one little rule that I try to live by myself:

8) Reread your comment and imagine you would recieve this comment. How would you like it?

Made me rewrite a comment a couple of times, and I went wrong a couple of times when I ignored it.
01/24/2008 11:31:28 AM · #24
Originally posted by mark_u_U:

Great tut, I like it a lot and would create great comments if applied consistently. I would like to add one little rule that I try to live by myself:

8) Reread your comment and imagine you would recieve this comment. How would you like it?

Made me rewrite a comment a couple of times, and I went wrong a couple of times when I ignored it.


Excellent suggestion!
01/24/2008 11:41:41 AM · #25
Originally posted by mark_u_U:

Great tut, I like it a lot and would create great comments if applied consistently. I would like to add one little rule that I try to live by myself:

8) Reread your comment and imagine you would recieve this comment. How would you like it?

Made me rewrite a comment a couple of times, and I went wrong a couple of times when I ignored it.

I would suggest change 'like it' to 'react to it'.
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