Frustrated - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

10/20/2004 01:52:57 PM · #1

I know this has been mentioned multiple times already on many different challenges, but I've gotten over 100 votes on one challenge, up around 70 on another, and absolutely NO COMMENTS. Is it too much to ask to please say WHY you don't like something, instead of just voting against it?

Unfortunately, my photos are about on-par with the usual ratings I get...whatever, at this point, I'm not sure I care as there are pleanty of absolutely gifted artists on this site that've never received a ribbon...I just wish someone cared enough to say why they don't like something. If you did...maybe we could improve instead of staying mediocre (in your eyes).

-Stephanie

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/20/2004 01:54:44 PM · #2

It's a conspiracy to keep you mediocre, so that you will not rise up and begin collecting ribbons.

Artyste

Sony Ericsson W810i

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Pentax

10/20/2004 01:56:46 PM · #3

I posted 49 comments in the communications challenge.. and by that point, was pretty burnt out.

It's extremely difficult to comment on so many shots in so many challenges, so the few comments one *does* get, are usually like gold.

Just keep plugging away, and the comments will come.. mostly. Also, do a lot of your own commenting.. as it can help you improve just as much as recieving them can.

atsxus

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

10/20/2004 02:02:17 PM · #4

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

It's a conspiracy to keep you mediocre, so that you will not rise up and begin collecting ribbons.

I prefer to believe that I'm SOOOOO good, that people intentionally vote me lower so that THEY can ribbon. :)

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

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

10/20/2004 02:04:13 PM · #5

I only have one comment so far...

Photos that don't inspire people to comment usually don't get many comments. Photos that are blatantly bad or extremely good usually get a lot of comments.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/20/2004 02:07:28 PM · #6

You can kill two birds with one stone if you take shots designed to provoke comments (through humor, innovation, or unusual technique/lighting). As long as the shot is tasteful and meets the challenge, you'll almost certainly get more comments AND a higher score. Your Wacky Foods entry was on the right track, though I didn't have time to comment (I gave it an 8). ;-)

atsxus

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

10/20/2004 02:16:16 PM · #7

Originally posted by scalvert:

Thanks Scalvert. Glad you liked my "wacky foods" entry.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

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

10/20/2004 02:24:24 PM · #8

Originally posted by atsxus:

I agree it's frustrating to receive votes of 1, 2 or 3 without getting comments. On the whole though, you're getting an average of about 11 comments per challenge. The number of your comments is running about 5% of the number of votes. That's not bad actually if you think about it. I'm getting < 10 per challenge and about 4% by way of comparison. [I may start a separate thread about this.]

Keep shooting. As you get better you'll get more comments. And if you submit a stinker (we all have) you'll get more comments than you might want.

:)

Edit: Add my numbers.

Message edited by author 2004-10-20 14:29:06.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/20/2004 02:39:42 PM · #9

Originally posted by atsxus:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
It's a conspiracy to keep you mediocre, so that you will not rise up and begin collecting ribbons.

I prefer to believe that I'm SOOOOO good, that people intentionally vote me lower so that THEY can ribbon. :)

Well if you are that good, people heaping praise on you will only serve to swell your head.

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

10/20/2004 02:47:11 PM · #10

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I only have one comment so far...

Photos that don't inspire people to comment usually don't get many comments. Photos that are blatantly bad or extremely good usually get a lot of comments.

My first ever entry to a challenge "Communication" attracted eight comments, it finished in the middle of the field by the way. Not blatanly bad and not extremely good.

I'd like to think that it attracted a few comments because it made some people think and was at least a little different from the majority.

I've only voted in a couple of challenges, being a relativley new member, and I found it difficult to comment on the same type of shot over and over. So if your subject is at least a bit different it will get some comments IMO anyway.

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

10/20/2004 03:29:07 PM · #11

I feel the same way it bothers me also. I am in the nite shot challenge now and I think I have a great shot and I am not getting my comments and my score so far is not high as I'd like. Just alot of votes and no comments. Also why do so many people view your submissions and then do no vote.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/20/2004 03:38:21 PM · #12

Lots of people, including myself, view the entries multiple times. When I vote, I'll often go back and adjust the scores once or twice (resulting in more views for that same vote). I might show others at home or work a cool image durig the voting period, too. Bottom line: I could look at an image a dozen times, but only vote once (if at all), so that statistic is largely meaningless unless you're really grabbing some eyeballs. (ouch!)

10/20/2004 03:38:56 PM · #13

I haven't been able to decide on a strategy for voting and commenting. I don't think you should vote and not leave any comments at all but, I simply could not find the time or energy to comment on every single photo.

so do I vote on ALL and comment on some...

OR

vote on only some and comment on those???

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/20/2004 03:44:47 PM · #14

Blackdog- it makes no difference unless you're forcing yourself to be random. If you only comment on some, it'll tend to be the best and worst standouts in the group (as noted before by many people). If you only vote on some, you'll tend to pick the best and worst of the bunch and comment on all of those. Same result.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/20/2004 03:52:03 PM · #15

I think it could make a difference because, say I only vote and comment on the percentage to have my votes counted. I am shown a random selection by the web interface. Therefore I won't be voting on what I consider to be the best and the worst, it would just be a purely random selection, not having seen every entry.

However if I vote on every shot they are then sorted, grouped into 10's, 9's, 8's etc. Then I can comment on the ones I choose, the highest and the lowest.

But I can only say that is true if I've seen EVERY shot in the challenge.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/20/2004 03:53:55 PM · #16

A suggestion for those who want a "formula" -- how about commenting on 10% of the images in each of your score rankings.

As someone with a lot of middling scores, I find that those photos in about the 4.2 - 5.4 range get the fewest comments, yet clearly could benefit the most, as they obviously have widely recognized potential. Comments could help take those middling photos (well, future similar attempts) into the high-five and six range.

Commenting on scores of 2-3 may be less important, as those photos are more likely to have an obvious and serious "flaw," and photos getting 7-plus are probably getting more congratulatory notes than constructive criticism ... those kudos can (and do) as easily come after the voting is over.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/20/2004 04:17:16 PM · #17

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Totally and 100% agree with you here...

just-married

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/20/2004 04:17:58 PM · #18

Originally posted by GeneralE:

A suggestion for those who want a "formula" -- how about commenting on 10% of the images in each of your score rankings.

Interesting idea. I may just adopt this.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

10/20/2004 04:19:27 PM · #19

Originally posted by Blackdog:

I think it could make a difference because, say I only vote and comment on the percentage to have my votes counted.

I like this idea a lot...if I understand it correctly...

I think I'm going to try this:
Comment on the first 20% of the images so that I vote on a decent percentage of the photos and it's purely random...

Yes. Yes, indeed. I'm going to try this!

Message edited by author 2004-10-20 16:21:05.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

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

10/20/2004 04:35:14 PM · #20

Hi Stephanie,
Your frustrations have been felt by all of us at one time or another during a challenge and after. I think there are several things that happen. 1) Some people only comment on low scores and high scores. 2) Some people have been punished because of their comments, which has caused them to reframe from commenting. 3) If you are scoring in the average range [4 to 6] you are less likely to receive a comment.
I wish people would comment more on the average photograph because these people seem to have a good idea of what to do but just need that little bump to help the improve. But the truth of the matter is people just donâ��t have the time to comment on all photographs. I am guilty of this myself but I am going to strive to comment on 20% of the entries, low votes, high votes, and average votes included.

But lets donâ��t forget the people that comment consistently. Thank you all

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

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

10/20/2004 05:07:47 PM · #21

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

I think I'm going to try this: Comment on the first 20% of the images so that I vote on a decent percentage of the photos and it's purely random...

I have been forcing myself to comment on all 10, 9, 8, and 7 photos. And I have also forced myself to comment on all 1, 2 and 3 photos. And then I comment on the ones in between that interest me in some way. But I do like the idea of commenting on the 1st 20%. I'm going to do it, too!

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

10/20/2004 05:19:14 PM · #22

I felt guilty, so I commented on my lowest dozen. Hope my thoughts help. Van

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

10/20/2004 05:38:12 PM · #23

I comment on very few images. While I, occasionally, express an opinion as to how, I feel, a photo could be improved upon, I hardly consider this the reason and purpose of them. Instead, I write them because I might feel compelled to articulate how a photograph moves me, what, IMO, works, why it works and how it measures up compared to either an ideal or another specimen of the same or similar genre.

I also feel that my comments address not always the photographer but a population of viewers. It is my hope and ambition to ignite or wake something in someone viewing the photo, that will of use to him and, sometimes, help make the best pictures popular.

I believe that commentators and critics alike should follow their inclination and temperament in order to be most useful.