Comment requests - DPChallenge Forums

09/20/2005 11:48:49 AM · #1

As I recently entered my first challenge, I noticed that there was a box that could be checked to request a comment from the Critique Club. I would imagine that most people check this box. I noticed a thread recently where in one week, there were over three hundred new requests.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately in the context of how to encourage more comments and more USEFUL comments for more "humble" pictures. I was saddened by getting only 6 comments, 2 of which were what I would call "mildly helpful". Admittedly, there really isn't much to say about that particular picture, but I'm not the only one.

I have since noticed that many people, particularly first time submitters and consistent low scorers who are steadily working to improve have mentioned that they feel the same way I do when entering their best effort for the week and finding that people didn't like it, but couldn't be bothered to say why. People instead find more time to say hi to slippy (no offense Strikeslip) and praise pictures taken by people who are obviously well in command of their skills. Some of these (note JMSetzler's recent thread) apparently feel that comments should be limited to impressions and reactions rather than technical advice. Others have put very emotionally sensitive pictures up and have been hurt when unpleasant comments have been posted.

I would like to propose that there be three boxes added to the Critique Club box that might actually alleviate a few common complaints to commenting.

All comments are welcome, but:
[ ] The photographer is particularly interested in hearing comments about your reactions and feelings.
[ ] The photographer is particularly interested in hearing comments with technical specifics.
[ ] The photographer is willing to accept strongly worded and direct criticism of the photo.

If no boxes were checked, just leave it at:
All comments are welcome.

The purpose of the last one should be obvious, but it's absence may give pause to strong commenters long enough for them to perhaps soften their words with a modicum of tact. Further, its presence may both provide a level of shielding from well-meaning, but direct commenters and cause people to prepare themselves mentally beforehand if they are submitting something that they might be unhappy if they got really harsh criticism on.

There would be no box for "no comments please". Those that submit a photo to a contest, but don't want to hear what people have to say about it ought to keep their photos to themselves. They ought to realize that they should just be happy that they like their own photos.

For what it's worth, I would probably make the first two mutually exclusive, but there really is no need. The checked boxes could appear as fine print just above the comment box for those viewing and voting on the pictures during and after the challenge.

If it were up to me, I would then make it an option to request a critique club comment only AFTER the challenge was over. The photographer could make a decision whether there were enough comments to be satisfied from general commenters to merit a request for this sort of assistance. Additionally, it is likely that adding an extra step would reduce the load on the CC simply due to people only requesting help when they really wanted as opposed to what I myself was guilty of - merely out of casual desire on my first submission.

One would hope that the added encouragement to get more meaningful comments from voters would reduce the need for people to specifically request comments.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

09/20/2005 01:07:50 PM · #2

Shameless Self BUMP

oOWonderBreadOo

Canon EOS-5D

09/20/2005 01:15:37 PM · #3

I don't recall who but someone had in their biography

If you feel the need to criticize my photos at least have the decency to be vague.

(Or something along those lines!) Thought it was funny anywho... :0)

saracat

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/20/2005 01:27:46 PM · #4

This sounds like a good idea to me.

aronya1

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

09/20/2005 01:35:18 PM · #5

I'll second your suggestion, eschelar. I don't vote often, in large part because I have received bitter PMs from photographers who didn't like my opinion of their shots. When I do vote, I try hard to leave substantive comments, particularly when I don't like the image. At the same time, I try to be careful in how I word things, but sometimes it's hard to do when you are trying to wade thru 400 pics.

The PMs I referenced didn't bother to point out where I was wrong in my opinion of their shots, or explain what they were going for, etc. Instead, they just lashed out at me for being "wrong" (my votes were right in line with the majority of voters). Not only that, but the most recent one was a personal shot at me: "thanks...you don't do anything for me either". And that was after I gave a reasoned, rational opinion of the shot.

At least if your checkboxes were available, those of us who do try to comment would have some sense of the photog's skin's thickness, and could choose not to comment on images that don't impress.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/20/2005 01:45:51 PM · #6

Aronya1:

It is specifically in response to seeing people with this type of experience that I have formulated this idea.

Recently, there was a comment in another thread by someone who was not bitter, but was unimpressed when someone took the time to write an in-depth comment of their photo, but used language and mentioned specifics that were far beneath that person's ability.

This person was naturally quite confident with their ability and cared little to hear about such paltry simplicities. With a check-box system like this, that situation could have been avoided.

Even experienced photographers sometimes post shots with their backup cameras and snapshots that they liked but know have little technical merit. They know the technical details, so could denote that they were mostly interested in reactions and feelings.

elee3009

Nikon D200

09/20/2005 01:59:41 PM · #7

Just wanted to say I agree with you Eschelar. And also to let you know that I think you express yourself in a very thoughtful and tactful manner. You seem like you make the effort to choose your words very carefully and I always appreciate people who take the time to do so, especially in such a hurried, virtual and electronic world we live in (I'm in the communications profession. So I couldn't help noticing and apologize if I deviated from the topic of discussion here):-)

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

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

09/20/2005 02:10:35 PM · #8

Originally posted by eschelar:

Recently, there was a comment in another thread by someone who was not bitter, but was unimpressed when someone took the time to write an in-depth comment of their photo, but used language and mentioned specifics that were far beneath that person's ability.

If you are referring to my comment in "the other thread" you have entirely misconstrued what I was saying and mischaracterized my intent. You have probably aslo overexaggerated my level of ability. If you are not referring to my comment, I would invite you to so state.

09/20/2005 02:51:06 PM · #9

Originally posted by kadi:

I wish the commenter who left this comment on one of my photos had considered that I intended the effect and know perfectly well how to operate my camera--there was more to the comment that made it useful, but it begins, "I think a little more DOF would have helped here. You could have switched your camera to Aperature Priority and increased your DOF by stopping down the aperature to a smaller size (larger number)."

Sounds like you were not bitter or resentful (you confirmed this in other statements), but you were unimpressed that the commenter made statements that indicated that they did not understand that you "know perfectly well how to operate [your] camera."

The comment on your photograph was helpful in other regards, but it was the language and wording of the specifics in the original comment that were inappropriate to your level of ability.

I have said nothing about the ACTUAL level of your ability. You commented that you were a "less than new member" of DPC. You said that you "know perfectly well how to operate [your] camera". That is your opinion and I am not attempting to confirm or deny it.

My point is not to start an argument. My point is that the details YOU wanted from comments were not the details that the commenter THOUGHT you wanted from comments.

I posted this thread as an idea for a partial solution to that type of disparity.

I am not attempting to portray you in a particular light. I am trying to show that different types of users of this site are interested in different types of comments.

I was trying not to name names KaDi, just in CASE someone took offense. Further, your comment was the only one I had seen today. Looking in the forum archives will reveal MANY others who have similar comments and experiences to your own.

Have I misconstrued your meaning? Have I overexaggerated your abilities? Have I mischaracterized your intent?

Can we just leave it at that and move on to trying to find ways to make this website more hospitable to all of its members?

Edit: Fixed some punctuation and capitalization as well as a word substitution in a quote.

Message edited by author 2005-09-20 14:55:41.