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03/07/2008 02:32:06 AM · #1 |
Sooo.. out of 124 votes in the Silverware challenge, I have one comment? Its not like I have a 7, or an 8 or some high number... I have a 5. Theres obviously something wrong with my image, I just want to know what it is! I guess the thing I have to say is... if you're gonna vote people down, at least tell them why! I expect to see more turnout with this new keyboard voting thingy, lets get with the program!!!
anybody? |
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03/07/2008 02:52:25 AM · #2 |
I think people tend to comment on the pictures they vote high and the ones they vote low more than the ones in the middle ... often (IMHO) because it's easier to say what was good or bad about those pictures, where the pictures that they think are ok shots, nothing special but nothing really bad are quite hard to comment on.
Also, I think lots of people (myself included) will vote on a challenge maybe leaving a couple of comments and then go back to leave comments later when there is time.
A Couple of people have mentioned this before and I think it is a good point, maybe people should sometimes focus on the "ok" pictures to comment on sometimes |
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03/07/2008 03:27:54 AM · #3 |
Richie, most of us would like more comments on our photos - either to help us improve, or just as a vanity to say that someone has noticed your work. But there are all sorts of reasons why people don't comment - fear of unpleasant retaliatory response from the photographer, not wanting to hurt someone's feelings, lack of time, etc. If you want some genuine feedback on an image, once the voting is over post it in a new thread stating that you would like feedback - I can guarantee you will get it.
As an aside, I note that you have cast 242 votes yet only made 45 comments; given that your average vote is just 3.9 this means that you must have given quite a few lower scores where you have failed to leave a comment. Just food for thought. |
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03/07/2008 03:48:59 AM · #4 |
| Sara, I agree with you completely and feel ashamed for posting such a silly, silly thread. I guess the anticipation just got to me. Thanks for your candid response - I did notice though, not to be antagonistic at all, that you've voted right around 41,000 times and averaged about 5% with comments. I would take a guess and say that this is not uncommon among veteran voters, and new ones at that. I am under the impression that this site is about a constructive return from fellow photographers. The fear of negative feedback from the photographer shouldn't keep someone from commenting. I was only expressing my interest in receiving that criticism. And as far as my voting, I might be part of the issue too - but its an interesting topic. |
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03/07/2008 04:24:55 AM · #5 |
| most people seem to vote on the good or the bad, not the average. Don't feel bad you aren't getting the comments and in 6 months you'll look back at that pic and realise how it could have done better anyways. |
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03/07/2008 05:12:06 AM · #6 |
| Richie, it certainly isn't a silly thread - it is an important issue that we should all bear in mind when voting. It is a topic that raises its head repeatedly, and there was a recent thread that went in to some detail. For myself, I have spates of commenting and these are largely linked to time and inclination - sometimes I am i the right mindset, sometimes not! I did have a period, following receipt of a couple of unpleasant PMs, of hardly commenting at all, but I came to realise that i should just put them behind me. |
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03/07/2008 05:28:02 AM · #7 |
| i think maybe ppl dont want to upset anyone. i must admit i got upset when i enterd my first challenges not enough votes no comments but hey.there are sooooo many fantastic pictures its hard to vote and comment on them all.i just go look at all the tutorials that ppl have spent doing as there brill.and just keep trying and learn from them. i must admit i havent commented on all that i have seen but i feel funny coz im not a expert photographer,im just a novice so who am i to judge(but im learning) ;) |
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03/07/2008 06:03:43 AM · #8 |
I only speak for myself, but i only comment on the pics that I love, I hate, or the ones where I can see something that would make a clear difference. I never leave comments that say "pretty cool" or "nice work" without mentioning something else because they're just pointless.
There are a lot of shots that aren't great but i can't figure out why, they're just average. These are the ones I don't comment on because what can i say that's helpful- "nothing special", "didn't do a thing for me" etc. All comments but they won't help you any. I sometimes feel that with comments people are looking for a quick fix to a problem by hoping someone will come along and go "set your levels to this amount, burn this area on midtones @ 5%, set your saturation to -20% and change the blending mode to color" as a sort of painting by numbers kinda thing. I've sometimes done this if someone asks, but that's not what comments should be about.
And please don't be offended, i'm not aiming this at anyone, i'm just saying that taht's the impression I have when people make these threads complaining about low comments/low scores/not enough comments etc etc. |
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03/07/2008 06:13:41 AM · #9 |
I don't like leaving constructive criticisms during the challenges, since I don't really know if the photographer will take it for what it's worth, or will get angry that I didn't think their shot was ribbon-worthy and PM me about how wrong I was.
Sometimes just posting in a thread and asking for some constructive feedback on a shot can be helpful. I saw another post you'd written last night and went into your portfolio and left a comment, and I see that SaraR has done the same. |
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03/07/2008 06:15:08 AM · #10 |
People who don't comment shouldn't complain about people who don't comment. :-)
Seriously, though, if you have a 5.something and no comments, it's probably a shot that's average in most respects, an OK shot with a few technical issues, or just plain all around boring and not particularly interesting. I speak from many, many challenges worth of experience. I'll leave comments on 20-30% of the entries in a lot of challenges I vote, and get 1 or 2 comments on my entry. With a 5.something. And I'll realize that yet again I've entered something with little "wow", little mass appeal, boring composition, and just plain "eh". You'd think I'd learn by now, wouldn't you? :-) |
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03/07/2008 07:52:37 AM · #11 |
My suspicion is that the larger part of the low voters who don't leave comments explaining are also not frequenting these forums and so are totally unaware. I have been trying to also figure how photos that mostly get good votes still get slammmed with some 2's and 3's. I think some people like myself are trying to vote based on the quality of the image, with personal appeal as a much lesser influence. I think some people are voting based strictly on whether they personally like it. That is their prerogative, I just wish they would explain.
It is truly the hardest to leave a constructive comment on a 5. Sometimes I find myself apologizing for not being able to identify anything in particular.
My approach has been "vote less, comment more". I just vote my 20% or so, but I attempt to leave a comment on all those. I get slowed down by large challenges like freestudies and find at the beginning of the month I don't vote a couple of challenges. I have not gotten ans nasty PM's yet, but I have gotten a few positive e-mails thanking me for the comments.
Username: yospiff
Votes Cast: 3,535
# Comments:Made: 3,099
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03/07/2008 07:55:56 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Cidpilot:
Sooo.. out of 124 votes in the Silverware challenge, I have one comment? Its not like I have a 7, or an 8 or some high number... I have a 5. Theres obviously something wrong with my image, I just want to know what it is! I guess the thing I have to say is... if you're gonna vote people down, at least tell them why! I expect to see more turnout with this new keyboard voting thingy, lets get with the program!!!
anybody? |
I didn't read all the posts after yours simply because I don't have the time too but I would like to say that after the challenge is over you can select to have a member of the critique club comment on your picture. Doing this might give you some insight as to why your image score is where it is and/or why no one is commenting on it.
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03/07/2008 07:56:09 AM · #13 |
| Yospiff and Melethia are my current Kings and Queens of commenting - it makes my day when I get a comment from either of them; both leave comments that mean something to me. So thank you, both of you! |
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03/07/2008 08:07:57 AM · #14 |
emphasis added ...
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
... after the challenge is over you can select to have a member of the critique club comment on your picture. ... |
How does one go about doing that? :-) |
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03/07/2008 08:18:31 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
... after the challenge is over you can select to have a member of the critique club comment on your picture. ... |
How does one go about doing that? :-) [/quote]
Under your entry there is a checkbox that you are interested in an indepth critique of your entry.
Message edited by author 2008-03-07 08:18:47. |
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03/07/2008 08:24:24 AM · #16 |
| I think you have to check that box before the challenge ends to get it into the Critique Club comment queue. If you want, you can also post a thread asking for feedback after the challenge ends. I would suggest if you do so, that you include any information you feel pertinent - if you want help with technicals, include the shooting information. |
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03/07/2008 09:11:24 AM · #17 |
I'm don't understand someone complaining about low comments received when the same person has only ever made 45 comments. Kinda pot calling kettle black, eh?
Adding the obvious, good images tend to get good comments. Poor images often get many comments pointing out the errors. Middle of the road images, however rarely get many comments because there may not be anything great or horrible about the image, it just 'okay'.
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03/07/2008 09:22:51 AM · #18 |
Lead by example. If you expect something from people then you should hold yourself to the same standard, it comes across as very hipocritical otherwise. Hopefully you'll head your own word and get to commenting, you'll be surprised how much you learn leaving constructive comments on others photos. Take a look through  Melethia's profile and her comments, she is a shining example of whats good about this site! |
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03/07/2008 09:37:56 AM · #19 |
| Thanks, Trev - check is in the mail. :-) |
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03/07/2008 09:58:26 AM · #20 |
To be fair to him, he did say he was just over-anxious, and regrets the tone of his post (though for a Rant post it's pretty mild). He's fairly new. I think his second post here is even-tempered and the kind of thing we should appreciate. He doesn't seem particularly given to forum-storming.
Cidpilot, the best advice has already been given. Post your shot in the forums after the challenge ends and ask for honest critique. You'll definitely get it. I did that after my first challenge entry and heard exactly what I needed to hear. |
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03/07/2008 10:08:11 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by Louis:
To be fair to him, he did say he was just over-anxious, and regrets the tone of his post (though for a Rant post it's pretty mild). He's fairly new. I think his second post here is even-tempered and the kind of thing we should appreciate. He doesn't seem particularly given to forum-storming.
Cidpilot, the best advice has already been given. Post your shot in the forums after the challenge ends and ask for honest critique. You'll definitely get it. I did that after my first challenge entry and heard exactly what I needed to hear. |
I concur. but please don't be one of those people who just says "give me comments!". I'll more than happily offer any suggestions I can if you post the image. |
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03/07/2008 10:53:48 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
emphasis added ...
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
... after the challenge is over you can select to have a member of the critique club comment on your picture. ... |
How does one go about doing that? :-) |
HAHAH I'll catch up to you soon enough. ;) |
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03/07/2008 10:59:25 AM · #23 |
You actually learn more by commenting on other's photos than you do from the comments you receive on your own photos.
What commenting on other's images will help with is focus on what you like/dislike. You may then come with questions like 'how was that done?'.
Also, if you are expecting to get feedback on images, fill in the photographer details. A little insight into what you were trying to do (purpose for the photo) helps those trying to help you. Though this won't help with images currently in voting (photographer comments aren't visible) but will help afterwards if you post your image for more feedback. |
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