Defending submission while voting is in progress?

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/18/2007 09:01:33 AM · #1

Hi all,

In the few Challenges that I had participated in (as I am fairly a new member here), I have obsereved that a lot of the voters might misunderstand my submission. I came to realize this from their comments. Is there a way for members to defend or elaborate more on their sumbission while the voting is in progress?

I think that this will help the voters to evaluate the submission with better understanding of whats the general idea behind it.

Thanks,

Fadi

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

01/18/2007 09:02:58 AM · #2

Our voting is done annonomously, so no, you can't really defend or explain your image during voting.... but after voting has ended you can start a thread to discuss your image in detail.

alanfreed

Nikon D6

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

01/18/2007 09:10:34 AM · #3

You can, technically, send someone a private message after you receive a comment from them during the voting process. Some people have felt the need to try to respond to people to explain themselves after receiving a comment in hopes of getting that person to reconsider their vote.

Honestly, if a lot of people are missing the point of your shot, I strongly recommend that you just consider it to be a learning experience and move on. If a lot of people are missing the point, then you're honestly not making your point well enough (I know that's harsh, but that's reality!).

Most voters like things to be reasonably straight-forward. If it's a "Glass" Challenge, and you shot a picture of the beach because sand is used to make glass, well... you're gonna get voted down for it because you're not connecting with the voters. Just the way it is...

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/18/2007 09:46:03 AM · #4

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yes it seems that I'll go ahead with the Personal Message option.
The thing is, those who grasp the idea give a rating of atleast 6.

For example, the Pink Floyd challenge, I think a lot didn't get the idea, maybe its due to the fact that you need to know pink floyd's band inside-out and see most of their music videos, but then again its a Pink Floyd challenge, I'd expect who will vote to be knowledgable of the band :).

Thanks again for the feedback.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

01/18/2007 09:52:25 AM · #5

You might want to reconsider and take Alan's advice to consider it "learning" and not respond. Your response will rarely cause someone to re-vote.
Their opinions are set. Take the comments for what they are worth. Ask yourself "if I get multiple comments saying I didn't meet the challenge, then where did I fail in conveying my message?" This will bring greter value than defending the shot.

Delta_6

Canon EOS-7D

01/18/2007 09:52:51 AM · #6

Mate, I have often itched to explain my take on the challenge to voters who don't like my image. But I have resisted because I think only about 15% of people, if that, would actually revise their vote upwards, the rest would probably either do nothing or rate it lower because they might think you are just trying to get a higher vote.

What I have done is try to stick to a literal application to the challenge and gone for as much technical and artistic competence as I can.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

01/18/2007 10:00:47 AM · #7

I totally understand your Floyd Submission just nod if you can hear me. Nice score for your first challenge.

Your Pet Portrait shot got beat up because you didn't use a real animal. The voters are really fussy about that, I have had comments on a photo of my cat that suggested it was a stuffed animal and I am sure a few of them voted me down because of it, however he is a real animal in fact he is laying at my feet right now waiting for his food.

Before you enter a challenge read the description and then think about how many different ways the description can be read by others. The only thing that is guaranteed around here is that the challenge description will be read in every possible way and not read at all by some. The key is to discover how that majority of the people have read it. Hope that makes sense. Just keep entering challenges eventually you will get some idea of what the general population tastes are.

Originally posted by fkahhaleh:

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/18/2007 10:12:10 AM · #8

Originally posted by fkahhaleh:

Yes it seems that I'll go ahead with the Personal Message option.

I've heard some people say that if they get such a comment they will LOWER their vote. So you might convince some, but you'll surely tick others off.

I agree with what was already said. If your image isn't "connecting with the voters" then you should take it as a learning experience. Communication is a two-way street. You have to effectively communicate your message in order to be understood.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/18/2007 10:24:20 AM · #9

Bugzeye,

what you said is right on. I should learn to understand what the "general public" on this forum reacts with.

dwterry,

I can see what you mean. I think that its best to (as davyaldy said) to resist the itch of explaining the submission. But I might try it with a few members that I feel they liked the technical aspect of the picture, yet thought were a bit confused with the idea.

Again thanks to all for the replies.

bood

Canon EOS-5D

01/18/2007 10:25:26 AM · #10

I've heard some people say that if they get such a comment they will LOWER their vote. So you might convince some, but you'll surely tick others off.

If anyone sent me a note crying about being misunderstood then I'd definately LOWER their vote. Heed alanfreed's advice!

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

01/18/2007 10:38:04 AM · #11

Originally posted by fkahhaleh:

For example, the Pink Floyd challenge, I think a lot didn't get the idea, maybe its due to the fact that you need to know pink floyd's band inside-out and see most of their music videos, but then again its a Pink Floyd challenge, I'd expect who will vote to be knowledgable of the band :).

Can't see any comment on your entry that says "Didn't get the idea", to me it is clear, too. It's just not much more than an average photo - that's why it scored as it did (5.77 ain't bad, I know a lot of people dreaming of that score.

Your pet portrait shot can't be misunderstood, it just isn't a pet portrait.

So stop whining, shoot photos instead.

01/18/2007 11:15:19 AM · #12

bood,
You are forgeting that people from different backgrounds and different environments look at things in a different way. A doctor, artist and engineer for example will spot different things.
So don't take it personal if/when someone goes upon saying that.
(just today I look at a picture, gave it a 5, then I suddenly realized that I got it all wrong, I went back, read the tagline again, tried to relate that to the picture in a different way than my first attempt, and decided its well worth a 7)

eyewave,
the pet portrait is right on the spot, as I have expected, all the membres wanted to see a live pet, they didn't take it a step beyond.
Some people don't like real pets, some have alergies and can't have them.

Mainly I started this thread for the current "motion panning II" challenge.(Pet Portrait is yet another example)

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/18/2007 02:58:57 PM · #13

Originally posted by fkahhaleh:

all the membres wanted to see a live pet, they didn't take it a step beyond.

A pet in it's common meaning IS alive. Anything manmade can never be a pet - something that only looks similar is a toy. Period.

Originally posted by fkahhaleh:

Mainly I started this thread for the current "motion panning II" challenge.(Pet Portrait is yet another example)

Why not wait til the challenge is over, so we can all see the image in question and if it was understood by the voters?

Message edited by author 2007-01-18 14:59:34.

bood

Canon EOS-5D

01/18/2007 06:59:18 PM · #14

fkahhaleh,
You are forgetting that this is ONLY a game and it doesnt matter THAT much if one or two people interpret your picture differently. Everyone constructs meaning in different ways regardless of their day time occupation, that's part of the joy!
Enjoy yourself!
I still dont get your pet picture and I'm a professor in veterinary science!

Message edited by author 2007-01-18 19:05:30.

chimericvisions

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70 2.8L II

01/18/2007 07:34:20 PM · #15

Originally posted by eyewave:

Originally posted by fkahhaleh:
all the membres wanted to see a live pet, they didn't take it a step beyond.

A pet in it's common meaning IS alive. Anything manmade can never be a pet - something that only looks similar is a toy. Period.

Obviously you never had a pet rock.

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV