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06/11/2005 01:38:24 AM · #1 |
when I joined this site, I learned as more about photography from constructive (spelled negative) comments than I did from positive gushy comments. Because peoples feelings have been hurt from photographers responding with negative PM's this has changed slowly but surely. It's come to the point where I haven't recieved but a handfull of negative comments in my last twenty or so challenges. This is very frustrating to me. I don't believe I've become all I can as a photographer and without the negative to balance out the positive I don't believe I can become all that I can.
This has reached a peak with my current challenge entry. I was more proud of this shot than the last 6 or 7 that I've entered. It's sitting at 5.22 right now and I don't understand why... I've recieved 10 comments on the shot and all of them are very nice and tell me how awesome they think the shot is. But no negative comments to tell me why the score is where it is... So I beg of you. Go through my portfolio please. Find a shot or two that you have problems with and tell me why! Don't be afraid of telling it like it is. If you are outright rude, I'll let you know, NICELY!
Hopefully this exercise will help to make giving constructive (spelled, oh you know how I spell it) easier for people and make this site even more helpful to newer people that want to know why their shots don't score as highly as they think they should!
Message edited by author 2005-06-11 01:40:37.
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06/11/2005 01:44:00 AM · #2 |
me too!
and Ron, I'm currently browsing your portfolio for bad shots (not finding many) to leave rud...I mean...constructive comments ;)
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06/11/2005 01:45:14 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Zoomdak:
me too!
and Ron, I'm currently browsing your portfolio for bad shots (not finding many) to leave rud...I mean...constructive comments ;) |
Then find one ya like and let me know what could make it better...
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06/11/2005 01:48:00 AM · #4 |
Left you a comment on this image
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06/11/2005 01:51:29 AM · #5 |
same here - more comments PLEASE !!
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06/11/2005 01:51:30 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
Left you a comment on this image
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Thank you. Totally valid comment. I understand what you mean having a little more experience than some newer people. Maybe you could give a little more detail in your critique, like the flowers don't have the detail that you would like to see...
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06/11/2005 01:52:23 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by ShutterPug:
same here - more comments PLEASE !! |
Don't ask in this thread unless you are ready for negatives. This is a plea for comments about what isn't right about an image...
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06/11/2005 01:55:53 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by TooCool:
Don't ask in this thread unless you are ready for negatives. This is a plea for comments about what isn't right about an image... |
Send some negatives my way, much better way to learn how to do things better.
Ron, I left comments on all four snow scene shots.
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06/11/2005 01:56:38 AM · #9 |
BTW I feel the same way. In some ways I feel like I'm blacklisted on this site. From posting and watching it drop off the page without a reply to feeling like a thread killer. I only average 9 comments per challenge averaging just a bit of 5 and cannot sale a print even when donating all proceeds to MS. When I do post a picture I receive very little comments, if any. Less than an hour ago I deleted 11Mb of portfolio pictures because of the lack of comments. I seem to stuck in the middle like a middle child, I'm there but not as noticeable. Maybe it's my open and honest opinions and views, I don't know. But I do feel that way a lot.
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06/11/2005 02:00:26 AM · #10 |
Zoom and Shannon, you ROCK! Good work. Now go out and do this in challenges!
SDW You appear to be in that vague area that I'm trying to help out with this exercise! You have a lot of shots in that area in the middle of the scoring curve that need the most help. You can't fix it if people don't tell you what is wrong!
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06/11/2005 02:01:35 AM · #11 |
| I left you some comments whether they are constructive or not is up to you lol. If anyone gets tired of critiquing (badly mispelled) TooCool's images (I know I had a hard time finding anything negative to say) please feel free to come my way, I'm sure you could find enough negative things to keep you busy all night long! LOL |
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06/11/2005 02:01:49 AM · #12 |
Well, it's just that not alot of people comment. I know that I, for one, don't comment/vote on enough challenges. I'm at about 300 behind comments recieved, so I obviously don't comment as much as I should. But I plan on catching up/and exceeding that number this summer whilst I have some free time. I think I might put a blurb in my bio about giving negative comments, and then politely hand them out left and right.
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06/11/2005 02:05:33 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by TooCool:
Zoom and Shannon, you ROCK! Good work. Now go out and do this in challenges!
SDW You appear to be in that vague area that I'm trying to help out with this exercise! You have a lot of shots in that area in the middle of the scoring curve that need the most help. You can't fix it if people don't tell you what is wrong! |
I think you are exactly right. When I do shoot a above average picture I'm not told what made it good and when I shoot an average shot I'm not told what would make it above average. So I feel I left to guessing what made one better than the other and what could I have done to this one to make it pop.... I know we have to learn on our own but constructive commenting [good or bad] is the best way for me to go out the door with a new approach at photography.
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06/11/2005 02:22:29 AM · #14 |
left a comment on 
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06/11/2005 02:29:32 AM · #15 |
| Likewise. I'd love comments negative or otherwise. I want to hear what others think of my work. I know what I think of it, other input is fantastic. |
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06/11/2005 02:30:26 AM · #16 |
TooCool - I am looking for the negative - but constructive comments. I don't need warm fuzzies, or "nice shot" comments. I will never learn what is in need of improvement other wise.
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06/11/2005 02:33:49 AM · #17 |
Nico, a touch harsh, but I asked for it. You included helpful links which is definately a plus!
All, just remember that if you do this during a challenge, you may get negative pm's from photographers. These comments will not make you lose your loved ones, your house, your car, your job, etc. You will not suddenly take ill when you recieve these pm's. These pm's come from people that are not truly prepared to improve themselves or their artform and thus are not truly DPC'ers...
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06/11/2005 02:36:48 AM · #18 |
I welcome any comments on what is remaining in my portfolio. I need help!
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06/11/2005 02:44:56 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
I welcome any comments on what is remaining in my portfolio. I need help! |
To you and to all who participate in my little exercise: I had a really crappy day. Worked 10 hours and had a... uhm... discussion with my wife that left me feeling really down in the dumps. I promise to retaliate, I mean comment on some of your shots over the next couple of days. Don't worry, I won't pull any punches!
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06/11/2005 02:46:50 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by TooCool:
Originally posted by SDW65:
I welcome any comments on what is remaining in my portfolio. I need help! |
To you and to all who participate in my little exercise: I had a really crappy day. Worked 10 hours and had a... uhm... discussion with my wife that left me feeling really down in the dumps. I promise to retaliate, I mean comment on some of your shots over the next couple of days. Don't worry, I won't pull any punches! |
Thanks for taking the time to try to help us out... hope your day gets better.
Scott W.
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06/11/2005 12:24:35 PM · #21 |
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06/11/2005 12:48:30 PM · #22 |
I've commented on the flower pic and the b&w snow scene. I noticed in your portfolio the difference between folder six and four...I am guessing these would have been the scoring they got?? If so, just take a look at the different levels, the topic, composition and overall result certainly highlights the meaning of a snapshot and a photograph. I don't like to be too critical, it is the way I think we all work. We often submit a shot that really doesn't make the grade, just to compete in a challenge. But I wish I had at least two photos that reached the standard of yours.
Steve |
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06/11/2005 12:54:32 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by Formerlee:
I've commented on the flower pic and the b&w snow scene. I noticed in your portfolio the difference between folder six and four...I am guessing these would have been the scoring they got?? If so, just take a look at the different levels, the topic, composition and overall result certainly highlights the meaning of a snapshot and a photograph. I don't like to be too critical, it is the way I think we all work. We often submit a shot that really doesn't make the grade, just to compete in a challenge. But I wish I had at least two photos that reached the standard of yours.
Steve |
Thank you for the compliment and for taking part in my exercise! :-)
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06/11/2005 01:46:09 PM · #24 |
This thread has me thinking -- so I would call it a success, hope it has been for you as well.
What I've been thinking as I read it and the comments left on your images is that negative comments are only useful if there is something wrong with the image. It may seem obvious that if you didn't win there must have been something wrong with the image, but I don't think that is necessarily the case.
A negative comment is useful (and welcome) on an image with something wrong because it allows the photographer to not make that mistake again. However, just because there is nothing wrong with the image does not mean that there is anything right with the image either -- consistantly producing images of this quality puts the photographer in the dreaded middle zone of the 5's. The negative comments can't help the photographer remove mistakes that aren't there, so how can they help to push the photographer above the middle ground.
I have had some further thoughts following the epiphany I found interesting, so I'll share (caution, potential to ramble ahead :p ). The middle ground is a comfortable place when reached; after all, there are no more mistakes. But this can lead to a tendency to not want to do what could possible lead to more mistakes. I'm starting to think that it is this resistance to making more mistakes that keeps a person in the comfortable middle ground, just as much as not knowing what to do next. Call it being in a 'rut/funk/box' or anything else, but it does tend to trap a person into doing what they know is right instead of trying improve and risk making mistakes again and sinking lower.
The only think I can offer from this is to not concentrate only on removing the negatives, it can only take you so far (to where you are) -- instead may a suggest looking over the images you have that have made it a cut above the rest and try to find what is in them that made that makes them stand out.
Negativity can only show you what to not do -- it can't show you what to do instead.
My 2¢
David
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06/11/2005 01:52:02 PM · #25 |
| Left a few comments here and there. As others have said, it is tough to find areas of improvement in many of your shots. |
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