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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Losing my nerve on comments . . .
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Showing posts 26 - 43 of 43, (reverse)
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 05/10/2004 08:51:03 PM · #26
Originally posted by zeuszen:
To write a good critique takes time, energy and care... (huge snip)


Zeuszen, you said it best. Hope many people read your quote in full just below this reply.
 05/10/2004 11:16:28 PM · #27
Keep on making your comments so long as they are not a personal attack.
When I see a score take a plunge with a comment:
iH8 studio shots
only irritates and wonder what kind of bad day he/she had.
05/10/2004 11:38:42 PM · #28
Well I finally made it through all the entries. There were about two percent I would have preferred not to have rated, but I could not find an easy way around rating each picture. I did comment on all the others. Hopefully, I only made a few life time enemies. Overall, I learned more studying all of your photos in order to comment on them than I can possibly imagine learning any other way. I certainly see my own photos with far more objectivity now. My ego went down a peg or so when I saw how lovely some photos can be.
 05/10/2004 11:47:25 PM · #29
Originally posted by mandyp:
When I entered a truly awful image in the last challenge (a last minute mistake that I won't do again!) the results were more mixed. The majority of people gave me really good constructive feedback (they didn't like the photo, but still helped me), but a couple were just plain mean and offered no useful feedback at all.


I noticed that you marked this comment "Out of focus, cannot see what the photo is trying to represent." as helpful, yet did NOT mark this comment "This isn't in focus at all." as helpful. They said the same thing. One may sound harsh to you, when in fact it really says the exact same thing. Sugar coating really dosn't change the meaning of the comment, does it?
I would have said that the image was "too soft" for my liking. That's probably over sugarcoated..with sprinkles on top. But still means "isn't in focus" "blurry" "out of focus" "buy some glasses" "insert rude comment here".

Thinking back to all the thousands (literally) of comments I've left, I think there are VERY few that I didn't have anything bad to say about. Does that make my crits bad? You be the judge, but I like them.
 05/11/2004 12:02:20 AM · #30
Originally posted by hbunch7187:
Originally posted by mandyp:
When I entered a truly awful image [snip]


I noticed that you marked this comment "Out of focus, cannot see what the photo is trying to represent." as helpful, yet did NOT mark this comment "This isn't in focus at all." as helpful. [snip]

Thinking back to all the thousands (literally) of comments I've left, I think there are VERY few that I didn't have anything bad to say about. Does that make my crits bad? You be the judge, but I like them.


You're absolutely right. I was mainly referring to the comment: "Come on, you must be joking". I guess it hit a nerve. (In contrast someone wrote "Brown ribbon here we come ..." which made me laugh.)

Thanks for picking that up. I'd much prefer to have negative comments than none at all.

I shouldn't complain, there are so few comments that I haven't found useful or constructive. I've only entered 3 challenges so far but I'm already feeling like I've learnt so much from this site and all of you.

I'm off to tick "useful" on that comment :P
05/11/2004 12:07:27 AM · #31
Originally posted by mandyp:


I'm off to tick "useful" on that comment :P


I just went and did the same thing. Looks like there were a few from older challenges that I had missed. (didn't always have the useful checkbox) Which reminds me... Did everyone who's been here a really long time go back and check comments from before we had the check boxes? Hmmmm? Would be nice for the people who wrote those comments to know that they were helpful. TerryGee, Journey, Autool, Jean, timj351, Gordon, Gracious, Did you get those old photos? ;) C'mon...hit um up with some usefuls. lol

Message edited by author 2004-05-11 00:15:02.
 05/11/2004 12:13:03 AM · #32
Originally posted by hbunch7187:
... Which reminds me... Did everyone who's been here a really long time go back and check comments from before we had the check boxes?

I usually only manage to do that when I have some other reason to go back to the photo page, and with the Insert Thumbnail button I haven't had to do that so often.

I haven't even checked yet, but with my score in an abyss and seven comments already, I bet I have a few doozies waiting.
 05/11/2004 01:09:58 AM · #33


Originally posted by taterbug:
Keep in mind Kylie, you did not just magically get a hold of these peoples private photos and force your evaluation on them. They willingly submitted them for all the world (at least the dpc world) to see and judge. If someone has been around enough to submit, they obviously must understand that that is the whole premise here. If they are not ready, expecting, and probably wanting feedback good and/or bad, they have no business getting involved. I have no doubt that the vast majority of people here are truly sincere about the desire to learn and improve, maybe having a little fun along the way, and welcome all comments. If someone gives you flak, they're probably the type that just go around looking for excuses to stir up a hornet's nest.
...or maybe I'm crazy and I just have really thick skin :D heeheehee


Yeah I am one of those, I feel dumb sometimes, my photos always get low scores, and lots of comments, but heck, I like to submit to challenges mostly for the satisfaction of I tried and participated. Its sorda of like school in away, I am learning something even if my photos never improve to the DPC eyes, hopefully I am getting a passing grade.
Shoot, give em to me even its bad, I can take it or I wouldnt be here.
05/11/2004 01:19:05 AM · #34
I'm a newbie here. I've tried to limit my comments to positive remarks but I've come to realize there is a problem with that.
I've got positive remarks for the pictures I like and praise for those who are doing well. BUT I tend not to comment on the low scores I dish out. That's not right... if I got a low score I would want to know more than ever why and how I can improve and take suggestions. You people have made me realize this can be done constructively without hurting feelings.
I'm just gonna have to be a little more honest about what I DON'T like in photos and quit being such a chicken. And...
I'm gonna jump in and enter pics in some of the challenges! Good Site.
 05/11/2004 01:39:15 AM · #35
as a relatively new member of the site (and very much at the beginning of a new learning curve) I'm still hesitant to make many comments as I'm very aware I only have the knowledge at present to say what it is I like or don't like, but not how it was achieved or how to improve it.

I became a member at this site because I want to learn......and the only way that is possible is by people commenting on what they like, don't like, and what would improve my work. That you all take the time to sit and look, vote and analyse the good and the not so good of all the photos in these challenges is just amazing.....please don't ever stop.

btw....this site is seriously addictive

sue
 05/11/2004 02:02:03 AM · #36
Originally posted by suemack:
as a relatively new member of the site (and very much at the beginning of a new learning curve) I'm still hesitant to make many comments as I'm very aware I only have the knowledge at present to say what it is I like or don't like, but not how it was achieved or how to improve it.


If you don't know what would improve a particular picture, you should still comment on it and just state what you like or don't like. This is still helpfull to the photographer, because most of the time they will be able to know the adjustments to make based on what you like or don't like. And if you don't know AND they don't know, it's still helpfull because they will figure it out eventually. But if you don't comment, they may never figure it out.

The only time you shouldn't comment is if there's an obvious mistake that you know 10 other commenter's have probably already mentioned, such as "It's out of focus" or "The pic is too small", etc.

I usually only comment on pics that I vote high on (7 to 10, with 10 very rare), or very low on (1 to 3 or 4, with 1 very rare).
05/11/2004 03:50:23 AM · #37
dont fret about sounding harsh.. be honest... just like Simon on American Idol.. he's the only judge willing to tell the truth... if you hold back and try to sugarcoat things, your only doing an injustice to the person your critiquing... tell it like it is..
 05/11/2004 09:29:33 AM · #38
I see most people talking about commenting for the purpose of helping the photographer whose photographs you are commenting on. I find that studying a photograph in order to rate it and to make a sincere comment, helps me profoundly. I am not at all as sure it helps the person to whom I offer the comment. I, on the other hand, am as deeply helped by those who offer comments, by studying what there is about my photo that could have led to that comment being made. What I am saying is that until I myself think something through, whether in giving or receiving a comment, and for me, this is best done in writing, I have not changed my point of view nor added a new technique to my photography vocabulary.
 05/11/2004 09:48:31 AM · #39
I've been critiquing photos online for almost three years now, and what I've found is that it's better if you don't phrase your negative comments in absolutes.

Don't say: "You should crop the left side 1 inch. There is no focal point."
Instead: "If you were to crop the left side by 1 inch, it would direct more attention to the focal point"

and make sure you are clearly indicating that this is your perception:

Don't Say: "This photo has no focal point"
Say: "I cannot find the focal point in this photo"

etc.

The words "might", "if you would", etc. can go a long way. Even the abbreviation, IMHO can be used to soften the tone that comes with absolute assertions that cause people to go on the defensive.
05/11/2004 10:26:48 AM · #40
Originally posted by nshapiro:
I've been critiquing photos online for almost three years now, and what I've found is that it's better if you don't phrase your negative comments in absolutes.

Don't say: "You should crop the left side 1 inch. There is no focal point."
Instead: "If you were to crop the left side by 1 inch, it would direct more attention to the focal point"

and make sure you are clearly indicating that this is your perception:

Don't Say: "This photo has no focal point"
Say: "I cannot find the focal point in this photo"

etc.

The words "might", "if you would", etc. can go a long way. Even the abbreviation, IMHO can be used to soften the tone that comes with absolute assertions that cause people to go on the defensive.


So very true. Thank you. This technique is extremely effective.
 05/11/2004 10:41:22 AM · #41
Anybody have some thoughts on how to deal with images that don't meet the challenge? I have a pretty good imagination and will even allow that some images can portray rust in the figurative sense, but there are a number that I can't see any way that they meet the rust challenge even in spirit. These images will probably get no more than a 3 from me, and then only if it is an otherwise fantastic shot. Because of these low scores, I feel sort of obligated to comment. I have been mentioning the "doesn't meet challenge" aspect but also trying to add constructive criticism to the comments besides that.

Does this encourage the "submitting photos of anything just to enter the challenge" kind of behavior?! It seems kind of like giving a spoiled kid what he wants.
 05/11/2004 11:42:22 AM · #42
Originally posted by sailracer_98:
Anybody have some thoughts on how to deal with images that don't meet the challenge? I have a pretty good imagination and will even allow that some images can portray rust in the figurative sense, but there are a number that I can't see any way that they meet the rust challenge even in spirit. These images will probably get no more than a 3 from me, and then only if it is an otherwise fantastic shot. Because of these low scores, I feel sort of obligated to comment. I have been mentioning the "doesn't meet challenge" aspect but also trying to add constructive criticism to the comments besides that.

Does this encourage the "submitting photos of anything just to enter the challenge" kind of behavior?! It seems kind of like giving a spoiled kid what he wants.


This issue has been addressed uncountable times in previous forums. There are strong views from two camps, which are so far removed from eachother that I doubt there will ever be a consensus. ;-)

I, personally, refrain from judging something I cannot truly know, while, apparently, there are some who feel that a lynch mob can be a thrill.
05/11/2004 11:53:06 AM · #43
Originally posted by nshapiro:
Don't Say: "This photo has no focal point"
Say: "I cannot find the focal point in this photo"


Or: I am asking myself, if the inclusion of a distinctive focal point would anchor the anchor the image more effectively without diminishing its unique manner and sway.


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