feeling a little beat up - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/30/2005 06:23:13 PM · #1

wow, well I had some time today so I thought I would go through and vote on some pictures. Now I don't want this to turn into a rant or finger pointing, and please don't start whineing but I just got a pm from someone who just plastered me for a comment I left on their photo. I'm not going to name names and if this person feels the need to make their name public I am asking them now not to simply because I don't want to start a war here. Has anyone else had the same experence though? I wrote them back saying I'm sorry if I upset them, but what else is there to do? should I not be critical and only leave positve comments and leave people wondering why their photographs got voted so low? I think that would go against the whole pupose of this website. Please dpcer's, know that if ONE photo gets a bad review or gets a hard comment it's not an attack on you, it's simply trying to show you what we as voters feel went wrong in that piticular frame and how to fix it. We are simply trying to help...good grief

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

08/30/2005 06:26:16 PM · #2

Nobody ever likes a photograph, no matter how good or bad, as much as the one who took it. Forget it. Kill them with kindness and comment on some stuff in their portfolio positively. There are other threads around that explore the same subject. Comment responses like that are in the minotiry.

Message edited by author 2005-08-30 19:35:56.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM

08/30/2005 06:26:31 PM · #3

ya got options, dude...

1) put a bag over your head
2) put a note at the top of your bio requesting not to be pm'd
3) don't sweat it. people want comments, but they only want the ones they want to hear. so what. i say comment away honestly and tactfully, and don't worry about those who get twisted over it. it's their problem, not yours.

keep on truckin!

Prism

Pentax K-30

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

08/30/2005 06:28:08 PM · #4

You could always set the switch so that your name remains hidden during voting. That way people have a cooling off period before they respond to a negative comment.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

08/30/2005 06:30:10 PM · #5

thanks guys, I knew that yet again my dpc family would pull through

PollyBean

Canon EOS-5D

08/30/2005 06:32:08 PM · #6

Like good ole Mrs Poppins says " a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down"....

In other words when you leave a comment that points out a negative aspect of your opinion on someones pic, it helps to say what you like about the shot also and/or suggest ways to improve their technique in the future. (I find different peoples' def of what they like about a photo v interesting, since people often like different aspects, and give you new ways to look at photos.) This way your comments should be received more favourably and be useful to all who read them. That said some peeps can't take any comment other that positive. I love all comments. :D

Hope this helps.

Message edited by author 2005-08-30 18:34:44.

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8 L

08/30/2005 06:33:13 PM · #7

sometimes even the comments that are trying to be very helpful, and critiquing are not liked. Often the person will later realize that there are faults in their photo. It's hard, but ignoring very mad sounding messages is sometimes best.

Marc923

08/30/2005 06:54:03 PM · #8

I think if you're going to submit your work here, you need to develop a thick skin. Not everyone is going to like it. Look at "The Bass Player" for instance. Three people gave it a 1. Continue to give feedback. Don't be mean about it, but honest.

GinaRothfels

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

08/30/2005 07:15:17 PM · #9

Originally posted by Alienyst:

Nobody ever likes a photograph, no matter how good or bad, as the one who took it.

This is not entirely true. Sometimes people like my photos more than I like them. It's just a fact of life that opinions differ and no one is ever going to please everybody. And sometimes the hardest thing of all is to judge your own photos.

Caine

Nikon Coolpix 3700

09/04/2005 02:09:38 PM · #10

Well I just went to your profile gijoe to browse the comments you've made, and I can't really see any problem in your style of critique. It seems firm but fair, and although I've only sampled a small number of the comments there's no rude or inappropriate coments so far.

Personally the comments that bother me the most are those that don't say why, you know? It doesn't bother me in the slightest if someone tells me they wouldn't want to wipe their backside with my pic, just as long as I get a reason WHY it's so bad, and what could have been done to improve it.

Don't stress it gijoe! It's their problem not yours.

barndog

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

09/04/2005 02:33:11 PM · #11

Please do not stop giving critical comments. From the comments I have gotten in the challenges I have:

1. Gotten thicker skin
2. Had a chance to see the pic from other points of view (truthful)
3. Made real improvements by trying to do exactly what was suggested

If you do not want criticism, don't ask for it by posting in the challenges.

I want Constructive criticism of what I feel is spectacular work. Then I can see that it is really only average and work to make it better.

mesmeraj

09/04/2005 02:44:11 PM · #12

i know the feeling GI Joe

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM

09/04/2005 02:53:14 PM · #13

I got six PMs from some raving fool once because I commented on his composition and lack of sharp focus. Don't do the bag thing and don't take that crap to heart. When a person puts an image in such a forum they have to learn to take criticism.

Message edited by author 2005-09-04 14:53:43.

Brent_Ward

Canon EOS-5D

09/04/2005 03:53:08 PM · #14

Originally posted by nsbca7:

VERY MUCH AGREE! Art school open critiques teach you this very quickly at an early age. If you don't want your photo trashed, then don't show it to anyone but your mother...

benhur

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

09/04/2005 03:58:43 PM · #15

I've had some real critiques left on some of my pics but I like them, or should i say I NEED them, i am quite new to photography so any I get I try to use them as what they are creative criticism.
Sure sometimes I don't like them but what the hell I need to improve.

petrakka

09/04/2005 04:06:20 PM · #16

putting an image up in any public forum is putting it up so that every single person in the world can yell at you telling you how much it sucks.
if you cant deal with that then keep your photos under your bed.

also you have every right to tell a person that their photo sucks, accompanied by why it sucks.

no photo you ever take is gonna be one that everyone likes.

i think pm'ing someone for clarification if they had some kind of confusion about your image is ok, but getting upset about a genuine critique..cmon. get off the site then.

if you're not here to learn what are you here for? If you're here to show everyone how great your photos are you better pick a community where the people can't talk back to you.

Nobody

Pentax K-S2

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Pentax

09/04/2005 04:14:19 PM · #17

I got one of those on the D&L challenge. Actually, I think it was the result of a comment, because it was just an insult someone sent that didn't reference anything.

dewed

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

09/04/2005 04:33:10 PM · #18

There is a flip side too. I almost withdrew my entry from the D&L challenge several times. I just knew I would get skewered and fried. Not for technical problems, but the subject was very powerful, emotive, and could have been viewed as being a bit on the dark side. Instead, I've received 42 comments, 1 negative, 2 or 3 so-so, and the balance very positive. It even made 4 peoples "favorite" list.

Sure, there are some jerks out there. Over all, though, I think DPCer's are a straight up group of people and I take ALL comments seriously, but never personally.

09/04/2005 04:43:01 PM · #19

Man, you guys just rock. I understand that art school thing, but you have to understand it's their job to tear you apart. I love this dp family, the support I got as an up and commer and now as a student is great. I'm hoping to start posting some more shots mabey that will help with the critique problem. I think people may discredit me b/c of my lack of good shots in my port/challenge entries and my age. it's great knowing that 99% of people respect me here.

thanks so much, don't forget to check out my brand spakin new photo of the day blog, my name is jivecatdreamer but I only have had it for one day so it's not all that great just yet. You wait though, I'm going to be great one day

09/04/2005 04:52:44 PM · #20

Originally posted by gi_joe05:

...don't forget to check out my brand spakin new photo of the day blog...

...I'm going to be great one day

I'll bet you are, but your link doesn't work.

09/04/2005 04:54:06 PM · #21

Originally posted by nsbca7:

Originally posted by gi_joe05:

...don't forget to check out my brand spakin new photo of the day blog...

...I'm going to be great one day

I'll bet you are, but your link doesn't work.

lol how ironic! it should work now....
thats just funny right there

09/04/2005 05:00:22 PM · #22

Yeah, so is there a way to find an individual user on that site or do you have to go through them all?