Free Study commenting challenge!

08/01/2011 10:07:36 PM · #1

I always enjoy voting Free Studies. You get to see what the photographer enjoyed shooting that month! We all like to enter them, and hopefully do well. And most of us enjoy a bit of feedback, too.

So here's the challenge. As you're voting in the Free Study (or viewing, if you can't or don't vote), comment on one that strikes your fancy. Then comment on the NEXT 9 pictures you get in the random selection! Don't skip any, be thoughtful but honest, and simply take an extra moment to see if you can see what the photographer saw. Repeat this four times, for a total of 40 comments. It's not that hard if you take them in 10-picture increments!

So, vote (or view)... find one that strikes your fancy - comment! Then comment on the next 9 in a row. Continue on, come across another shot that strikes your fancy - and repeat the process. The "9 in a row" bit kinda ensures an even spread of comments across the field, and may give you a chance to take a bit longer look at something that normally wouldn't catch your eye.

Anyone in?

bspurgeon

Fujifilm x100

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/01/2011 10:20:30 PM · #2

yep

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

08/01/2011 10:24:59 PM · #3

Originally posted by Melethia:

... be thoughtful but honest...

What should one do when the two considerations are in conflict?

Sometimes my reaction to things is much better simply left unsaid. But I'm not nearly as kind as the two of you are, perhaps this challenge should be restricted to the "Nice" DPC'ers... ;)

Message edited by author 2011-08-01 22:27:21.

bspurgeon

Fujifilm x100

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/01/2011 10:30:31 PM · #4

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by Melethia:
... be thoughtful but honest...

What should one do when the two considerations are in conflict?

What a beautiful model, why did you lay that stink on her?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/01/2011 10:38:37 PM · #5

Grog help.

08/01/2011 10:42:31 PM · #6

Originally posted by bspurgeon:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by Melethia:
... be thoughtful but honest...

What should one do when the two considerations are in conflict?

What a beautiful model, why did you lay that stink on her?

So what you're saying is... That was something I should have left unsaid? ;)

FWIW, I'm actually going through and writing a few books on a few entries all in a row, just for her. :) Probably saying some things I shouldn't... But.. *shrug*.. It's all meant in the very best of spirit and written to be as descriptive and helpful as possible.. (Hmmm, is that flame-mail I sense? *shrug* I've got thick leather for skin, I'm good..)....

So in effect, I've answered my own question... "What should one do when the two considerations are in conflict?" Elaborate, hopefully to the point that they don't really take it personally and understand what the heck I'm talking about... I hope...

Message edited by author 2011-08-01 23:04:06.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

08/02/2011 12:19:23 AM · #7

Good for you!! And "thoughtful" and "honest" are not mutually exclusive. "Thoughtful" means moving past the initial reaction and seeing what else you might find there (though initial reaction is a valid one!); "honest" means simply expressing what you found. Notice I didn't say "tactful" but that's always a good thing. :-)

Thanks to you and Grog (always fun to see what Grog comes up with) and Ben.

Any other takers?

tnun

Ricoh GR III

08/02/2011 12:54:33 AM · #8

Thinking 'bout it. This IS harvest season after all. I have a LOT of fresh fruit and vegetables to get through. Especially once I abandon my building.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

08/02/2011 08:57:23 AM · #9

You have rated 79 of 342 images (23%) in this challenge.
You have commented on 44 images (13%) in this challenge.
You have given an average score of 6.5316.

More today after work!

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/02/2011 09:08:51 AM · #10

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by bspurgeon:
What a beautiful model, why did you lay that stink on her?

So what you're saying is... That was something I should have left unsaid? ;)

actually, i could just as easily read ben's post as offering a possible comment in the "thoughtful but honest" model.

perception.

great idea

Melethia i'll start a chunk this morning.

Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

08/02/2011 10:28:15 AM · #11

Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by bspurgeon:
What a beautiful model, why did you lay that stink on her?

So what you're saying is... That was something I should have left unsaid? ;)

actually, i could just as easily read ben's post as offering a possible comment in the "thoughtful but honest" model.

perception.

great idea Melethia i'll start a chunk this morning.

And thank you for the comment Joe... :)

mgsmith53

Pentax K-R

08/02/2011 10:52:45 AM · #12

I'll do a batch later.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/02/2011 11:12:10 AM · #13

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by bspurgeon:
What a beautiful model, why did you lay that stink on her?

So what you're saying is... That was something I should have left unsaid? ;)

actually, i could just as easily read ben's post as offering a possible comment in the "thoughtful but honest" model.

perception.

great idea Melethia i'll start a chunk this morning.

And thank you for the comment Joe... :)

can't wait to see which one's yours, always fearful of being too critical.

UrfaK

Canon EOS-650/T4i Rebel

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/02/2011 01:04:30 PM · #14

I remembered why I shouldn't be making comments. I get so overly critical about both mood and technicals. I won't apologize about my preferences but I don't want to be the OCD one commenting on overblown highlights on a shot where they don't seem to be there for artistic value. Heck maybe they are there for artistic value and I'm misinterpreting it or something.

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

08/02/2011 01:07:01 PM · #15

Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by FourPointX:

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by bspurgeon:
What a beautiful model, why did you lay that stink on her?

So what you're saying is... That was something I should have left unsaid? ;)

actually, i could just as easily read ben's post as offering a possible comment in the "thoughtful but honest" model.

perception.

great idea Melethia i'll start a chunk this morning.

And thank you for the comment Joe... :)

can't wait to see which one's yours, always fearful of being too critical.

Nothing of the sort - you brought a big smile to my face. :)

bmartuch

Nikon D7200

08/02/2011 01:08:45 PM · #16

I'll see how many I can get.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR

08/02/2011 01:08:50 PM · #17

Originally posted by UrfaTheGreat:

What? I can't do this all on my own... Besides, that honest feedback is super important, especially from the more experienced photographers like yourself.. And, I'm a nitpicky bastard myself.

TheDruid

Nikon D3X

08/02/2011 01:14:05 PM · #18

You have rated 342 of 342 images (100%) in this challenge.
You have commented on 56 images (16%) in this challenge.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

08/02/2011 01:14:26 PM · #19

Originally posted by UrfaTheGreat:

This is the difficulty. We think nothing of leaving low votes, but a breakdown of our reasons seems the more severe? I would, if I commented more in the challenges, like to reread Don's desiderata beforehand. And ha!, the likelihood of interpreting 300 plus entries correctly anyway.....

You do not take boring pictures.

Jon_H

Canon EOS-7D

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR

08/02/2011 01:15:23 PM · #20

Ooh let's see how much hate mail you get! I will give it a go but there are a few sensitive souls on here who hate feedback even when done in a constructive manner.
I will start my batch this evening (gulp)

Message edited by author 2011-08-02 13:16:08.

MargaretNet

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

08/02/2011 01:23:14 PM · #21

Great initiative! Looking forward to comments. I will try to do the same later in the week. I have donned the bag again so the hate mail won't arrive till after the challenge ends! But I will try to do the following:
point out first what I like about the image and then make a suggestion for improvement (if I can think of something :)

Marc923

08/02/2011 01:23:59 PM · #22

I'll give it a go, as well.

TheDruid

Nikon D3X

08/02/2011 01:29:21 PM · #23

Originally posted by UrfaTheGreat:

lols, yup I stick to what would bring the shot into the expected norm for a style of shooting. Otherwise, if I get it and it met their goal not much I can say, but give a 10. If I did not get it, then worst that will happen is marking down for a couple of technical issues that would improve what they are trying to do in my eyes.

The only critical part I struggle with is seeing the same image from different angles or crops in more then one challenge. I even have trouble when it is in the same challenge and the same scene appears three times from different vantage points. I guess, also seeing an image in someones portfolio for a while, then it appears in a challenge.

Message edited by author 2011-08-02 13:30:54.