Just a thought about.... - DPChallenge Forums

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

07/28/2003 10:15:25 AM · #1

Commenting on submissions. There is always a lot of forum activity on this subject and its importance to the photographer. There are those that comment on a lot of the pictures and those that only comment on high/low pictures and I commend them for their effort and proven interest in making the site as helpful as it can be.

What if this happened when a picture was opened for comments and voting:
All of the comments that had already been posted came up with it. This would let the less experienced person see what others saw in the photo and maybe dissuade a low vote if the observer didn't understand it. The voter could also throw in his/her 2 cents worth if he/she disagreed with what had already been said. This peek might encourage more comments.

Maybe this could be set up as a toggle like (see comments), (keep comments hidden), that could be turned on or off as you wanted. This would give the voter the option to say "I wonder what the rest of the people think" and check it out.

As I put this down, I kept thinking of pros and cons to the idea and maybe it would just open up a can of worms, but then again it might also open up a constructive discussion prior the final vote being tallied. What could that hurt?

Dick

Alpine99

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

07/28/2003 10:26:23 AM · #2

I think you'd end up with more comments but most of them would say 'me too' so the photographer would have to wade through more to get exactly the same.. imho

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG for Canon

07/28/2003 10:29:21 AM · #3

Originally posted by Alpine99:

I think you'd end up with more comments but most of them would say 'me too' so the photographer would have to wade through more to get exactly the same.. imho

I was more in hopes that they would say "me too, but......."

robsmith

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

07/28/2003 10:32:24 AM · #4

The major problem I see is that 'less experienced' (or in fact any) commentator may not wish to disagree with the majority. This may lead to scores being skewed higher or lower and to the first comment being used as the benchmark, e.g. 'Good use of soft focus' would lead to more positive comments than 'The main subject does not appeaar to be in focus'.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/28/2003 10:35:19 AM · #5

My most serious issue with this would be the potential for the comments to influence the voting.

-Terry

Imagineer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

07/28/2003 10:36:33 AM · #6

Jmsetzler is going to blow a fuse when he sees two rerun Comments threads running at the same time! ;)

07/28/2003 10:42:30 AM · #7

Originally posted by robsmith:

Skewed votes is the can of worms I spoke about, but the focus comment might also cause the voter to take a closer look and then make a more refined decision.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

07/28/2003 10:48:22 AM · #8

Originally posted by ClubJuggle:

My most serious issue with this would be the potential for the comments to influence the voting.

-Terry

What would that really hurt. It might point out something to someone that would have otherwise missed it. Like focus, grain, you know. And then again a voter might have a picture with no comments come up and might be compelled to make a constructive remark. As it stands now we don't know if it has any comments or not.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

07/28/2003 10:54:25 AM · #9

Autool...

Do you think that seeing comments on current challenge entries that have already been posted would possibly sway the vote?

I wonder... If i'm looking at a photo and browsing the comments that it already has... Would I be 'enlightened' to something that I did not see myself? Would I be allowing someone else's opinion or view to influence my own? I think it would... What do u think?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

07/28/2003 11:01:37 AM · #10

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

John,

I'm not saying that it wouldn't sway my opinion. I'm saying that it might not be a bad thing. I do know that after the challenge is over that sometimes there are things brought to my attention that were important, and that I probably voted wrong, because I was too ignorant to see it the first time. Have you ever had this happen to you?

If a voter were "enlightened", I don't see that as a bad thing at all.

a voter would still have the option to form their own opinion.

Dick

Message edited by author 2003-07-28 11:03:25.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

07/28/2003 11:14:06 AM · #11

First and foremost, no vote is wrong regardless of what is discovered after the votes are counted.

If something is pointed out, either through seeing all the comments from the challenge or through additional comments made after the challenge is over then take note and try and look at images in upcoming challenges in a different way. I for one have had opinions contrary to the majority on several images and in some cases slammed for it. If all comments will be visable then I believe we will get less insight rather than more since people will likely not want to go against the majority.

As in all cases, just my opinion.

A book that may be of interest is 'Photography and the Art of Seeing' by Freeman Patterson.