Two-for-one commenter's pledge - DPChallenge Forums

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

10/02/2004 11:47:58 AM · #1

Starting today, I pledge to comment on two photographs for every comment I receive (both challenge and non-challenge entries).

Anyone who wishes to join me in this pledge, please post your intentions here.

-Terry

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

10/02/2004 11:59:16 AM · #2

I don't know if I can keep that ratio but I try to make more comments than I receive. I have managed to do that so far as I don't receive too many comments and I have skipped a few challenges as well. It would be hard for people with a high average since they are likely to get comments all the time for challenge entries and portfolio images.
But if it's starting from today, I am up for it. :)
I somehow don't think I can go and make over 200 comments to have double the amount of comments made than the ones received.

Sonifo

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

10/02/2004 12:00:37 PM · #3

Awesome, Terry!

I have and will continue to comment on photos in the forums. :-)

ClubJuggle

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

10/02/2004 12:03:47 PM · #4

Originally posted by xion:

In my case I'm talking about going forward... I am not going to try to go back and "catch up" on past comments received.

-Terry

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

10/02/2004 12:04:54 PM · #5

Yep, starting from today - will try my best.

Maverick

Nikon D200

Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di for Nikon

10/02/2004 12:05:25 PM · #6

I'll commit to that, but since I don't enter many challenges, my ratio is already off = P

HBunch

HP PhotoSmart 315

10/02/2004 12:20:28 PM · #7

I've given almost 4x's more comments than I have received. But I think I'll go through and give some more comments tonight.

skief

Pentax *ist DS

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

10/02/2004 12:39:59 PM · #8

Well, considering that I've made 607 and received 133, I can sit back for a while...

Let me encourage you if you are going to make extra comments that you don't normally make, make them for the 4's and 5's who normally don't get any comments. I've been trying lately on my comments to really try to leave some meaningful comments on the 'average' photos. They normally at the end of a challenge have very little in the way of comments to help them improve. Even my photos that seem to score in the 4's or 5's, very few of the comments go beyond the 'good photo' type.

SDW

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/02/2004 12:40:31 PM · #9

I'm already at a 2:1 ratio. But your bring up a good challenge for voters. After making serveral comments you begin to notice things about a photograph that you would not of noticed before. When you comment, it helps the photographer and yourself.

mrsamsa

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

10/02/2004 12:47:39 PM · #10

i've recieved 53 and made 141

skylen

Nikon D200

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

10/02/2004 12:53:10 PM · #11

I'll be okay for a heckuva loooong time. Received 25 comments, given 481 comments. :)

Instead of a given:received comment ratio, I try to comment on about 25%-50% of the images in each challenge I vote in. I'd rather vote less and do a thorough job than just quickly vote on every challenge.

graphicfunk

Canon EOS-20D

10/02/2004 12:55:19 PM · #12

I am at a four to one ratio and i feel guilty because I do not think I give enough.

I can live without comments but many join this site to improve their skills and comments are all important and the fabric of DPC. I find that it is always better to give than to receive. But there is a big reward for those souls that give comments: your photography will certainly improve because you are forcing yourself to study an image. You begin to understand the use of ideas and technique.

I agree fully with Club here. Comments will not only improve your own work but will reward others with a feedback that is very important for their development. I am often surprised at some advanced members whose comments are absent on many challenges. Let us keep the spirit of the site alive and well. Those that are learning please give more and you will be rewarded. Those on their thrones please deign to help the aspiring members.

SDW

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/02/2004 01:05:46 PM · #13

Originally posted by graphicfunk:

COULD NOT OF BEEN SAID BETTER

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/02/2004 02:43:51 PM · #14

i'm working on it:

Comments:
Made: 721
Helpful: 529
Received: 151

unfortunately, it's not that hard for me to stay ahead. i haven't had an image awful enough or awesome enough to really garner that many comments...

edit: but i will say that i really, really appreciate the comments i've gotten on my non-challenge portfolio shots!!!

skip

Message edited by author 2004-10-02 14:45:06.

hsteg

Fujifilm X-T20

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

10/02/2004 02:46:24 PM · #15

im in.

cghubbell

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

10/02/2004 03:44:44 PM · #16

I'd say I've been in this game for a long time :)

# Comments:Made: 1068
# Helpful: 759
# Received: 126

I'm closer a 10 to 1 ratio at this point!

stupidcat

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

10/02/2004 03:49:06 PM · #17

I am doing pretty bad at commenting. I will commit to this.

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

10/02/2004 04:04:10 PM · #18

I'm just coming back from a fairly extended sabbatical so I haven't been around the site much. I just signed up and am waiting for paypal to clear... I was planning either doing fewer in depth comments or more short comments. I'm wondering which would be a better way to go... Any thoughts?

I like the 2:1 ratio idea, but won't commit to it for fear that my convoluted little mind might tell me NOT to comment until I have a comment... I'll likely do more if I just wing it...

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

10/02/2004 04:06:03 PM · #19

# Made: 1530
# Helpful: 1195
# Received: 772

I am going to try my best to keep it up... ;o)

dartompkins

Nikon D70s

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

10/02/2004 04:21:38 PM · #20

Doing my part:

Comments Given: 443
Comments Received: 75

Mambe

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

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

10/02/2004 04:56:12 PM · #21

Very good idea ! I don't know if my comments help but I'll try to do it better.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/02/2004 06:22:03 PM · #22

Originally posted by myqyl:

I was planning either doing fewer in depth comments or more short comments. I'm wondering which would be a better way to go... Any thoughts?

I think it depends on the situation. Comments are going to come in two basic flavors: 1) comments that say you want someone to know you bothered to look at their image, and that you might offer some tips for improvement, or 2) comments that are true critiques.

Comments to Show You Looked

Wow I don't mind getting these. To me, this says the image got the viewer's attention without drawing attention to any real flaws. I expect this probably accompanies anything from a 5-8 score.

Nice shot (or nice image or nice capture or ...) This say to me that the image was nice enough to get someone's attention, but didn't really rock 'em. This probably hits in the 5-6 range.

Nice, but... These come in a number of flavors (and I can appreciate all of them). The '...' might have some simple observations that I either knew to expect or take into consideration as a means to improve the image. Sometimes, the '...' will indicate that the viewer just didn't get it. Regardless, the comment means that the viewer did bother to look at the image for more than a blip. This comment probably goes with a score of 4-6.

would be even better... This is usually followed by some serious suggestions that could result in a stronger image. Sometimes, the image you submit is the best you could ever hope for in a given situation, and all you can do with the comment is file it away as something to remember the next time you are shooting. Sometimes, you can actually take the comments back to the image and directly apply them (especially if the comments are related to editing). Unless you have nothing left to learn, these comments can be the best you can get. Sometimes, they might only be a couple phrases, sometimes a couple paragraphs. Depending on the strength of the image, they may accompany scores ranging from 3-8.

tough love: nothing in your image interest me... or ok, something got in front of your camera While these are painful to get, they also mean that somebody cared enough about your image to say something. The key is not to take it personally, but to take a hard look at your image and ask "Why doesn't it excite people?" Sometimes, it's just a matter of rotating the camera or rotating the image. Sometimes, it's a matter of saying, "Yep, it does suck." When giving comments like these, you can either give 'em out straight up, or you may candy-coat it a little. The main thing, from a commenting standpoint, is to ask yourself, "Is my comment going to help this person become better?" or "Am I leaving this comment to make myself feel better?"

Critiques

These comments will go beyond the pithy, 2-word to 2-sentence comments. This is where you will actually spend a few minutes looking at an image, examining it for composition, technical details, lighting, etc. To make these comments usually takes a fair amount of time and effort. To receive them is an honor. I take it to mean an image actually registered with someone beyond making them smile.
These comments could go with images scoring from 3-9.

In General

Commenting is not easy, especially on challenges with 250+ entries. Even taking the time to say 'Nice shot' on every average image that you score a five takes time. However, one thing I do not recommend is pasting the exact same comment into every comment box. If you are going to go to that trouble, at least try to tailor the comment enough to indicate that you did look at the image (as opposed to simply pasting in a 'nice shot').

On the whole, I'd have to say I'm pleased with the commenting I've seen so far. As my challenge entries haven't garnered that many comments, I typically take that to mean I haven't really wowed the viewers; well, that's my problem. But, as you venture out to start commenting, I would encourage you to do it not just to comment, but to use it as an opportunity to look into other's images as a means of improving your own photography.

Just my 10 cents...

Skip

This said, I'm just about geared up to go tackle Konador's challenge!

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/02/2004 06:33:08 PM · #23

I am already 2:1. It's just the natural order :-)

Edited: But I will tell people it discourages me when they are not marked helpful. (Ok, if you really don't think they are... but I am sure many that are helpful are not being marked.)

Message edited by author 2004-10-02 18:34:18.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/02/2004 06:49:45 PM · #24

I've been a member of that club for some time now, however; I've slipped a little in the recent past. I'm almost back up to that ratio again (it's easy when you only get three comments in the last two challenges you've entered...)

ClubJuggle