Comments on threads..

Glitter

Glitter

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Hi

Just wondering why people read a thread, look at the picture and not bother to add their thoughts or comments to the post?

Some of the threads in the photo critique and sharing have lots of views and very few comments...

I personally try to comment on as many of the photos I look at because I believe that sharing your thoughts is a way to help the photographer either improve or maintain their skills. :thumbs:

Maybe people dont have time or dont like sharing their thoughts? I just wondered :thinking:
 
Its the age-old problem thats plagued the place for ages.

One important thing to note is that "number of views" on a thread isn't actually representational of the number of people that have looked at a picture.

Some people will look at an image and find it hard to say anything positive about it and don't know how the original poster would interpret criticism.

I try to comment when I can - finding time to go through the threads is difficult for me these days and I don't venture far from the "recent threads" list on the front page.
 
Personally I am not sure, as an inexperienced 'tog, that I should criticise more experienced people.
 
Also bare in mind that on many forums there are 'lurkers' that don't register and just glean the knowledge they require, if I am honest I don't know if that can happen here as I came here after a recomendation from a chap I met and registered before looking around.
It happens on all the forums I use, I reckon if you get 10% views to post you are doing very well !
 
VJS Photography said:
I know nuffink about the techical stuff so tend not to add comment to many, sorry folks
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No need to apologise but you must know if you like the look of a photo? You dont need to know the technical stuff to say whether or not the shot floats your boat?

I hope i've not offended anyone by posting this - I just wonder sometimes what makes people tick.
 
if i see a shot that i dont like i see no point in saying '' don't like it'' as constructive critisism and sometimes i cant find anything for the shot to improve on to make it good. Maybe due to my inexperience i don't know ...
 
Also there is the possibility that a lot of new starts in amateur photography probably don't feel qualified to comment on another picture. It's something that I'm guilty off. I've started making an effort to comment on images no matter how stupid I might sound lol.
 
See this has been done before - people say "I don't have enough experience" or such.

You don't need experience to say what you like and don't like. If you like a picture, say so - if you don't then say so. If you can say what you do like and don't like about the picture and explain it then you'll find it easy to comment.
 
Matt Charlton said:
Its the age-old problem thats plagued the place for ages.

One important thing to note is that "number of views" on a thread isn't actually representational of the number of people that have looked at a picture.

Some people will look at an image and find it hard to say anything positive about it and don't know how the original poster would interpret criticism.

I try to comment when I can - finding time to go through the threads is difficult for me these days and I don't venture far from the "recent threads" list on the front page.
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Im the same. I sometimes look at if they are new And I try to see IF there an esy was of saying it can be ...or if you try this or that etc if not I`ll move on.
If I know the person thro contact via other threads and I`ll react accordingly, as I`ll usually know how they take CC.
BUT If I like a picture I`ll say so.....
And Finally if there is technical CC req. I dont know much about the technical issues I`ll move on :thumbs:
 
Slapo said:
I suppose it might be because the few posters have managed to express the majority of opinions.
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I often find that the comments I would make have already been said and as I cannot adequately add, improve or attempt to correct what has been said I will stay quiet and pass on by.

Others I am sure are happy to lurk and view but do not want to contribute, or have not yet found their voice. That is fine.

I would rather stay quiet than say "nice image" or " I don't like that" but don't explain why :shrug:

But finally the good thing about a forum is that it attracts so many different opinions and types of people that you always get a representative, if not fair, reaction. :thumbs:
 
For me it's a simple case of the desire to see as many images as possible is bigger than the time available to always leave a comment.

I do sometimes work my way through the unanswered post list just to try and balance the flying visits to other threads. I think that lots of us probably find it easier to move on without posting if someone else has already, more or less, made the comment we would have too.

I don't think people should be disheartened by not getting a mile of posts in response to a pic. The images we make should be for ourselves first and foremost. If we choose to share them and people look, then all the better. If you're looking for ways to possibly get closer to your vision of a shot, then even one post is enough to make the thread worthwhile if it gives you something new to think to think about or try.
 
I completely agree that people should not get disheartened.... beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of my shots I detest and my friends and family love and those I love others dislike.
 
I dont comment much because im still learning and im finding this forum very helpfull.
 
It may well be worth making a big point when people sign up here that all you need to be able to comment on a pic is a thought about it. :)
 
Well it's mainly because...........................ah sh**e, I've lost interest;)
 
I can't bring myself to say a picture is crap because I think it's crap.
Best to say nothing at all really!
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
I often find that the comments I would make have already been said and as I cannot adequately add, improve or attempt to correct what has been said I will stay quiet and pass on by.

:
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I agree, imo it seems a bit silly to do exactly what I've just done! :D

Also sometimes I don't comment for reasons of lack of time, but the thing I really struggle with is: I would comment if I knew why the poster had taken that particular image, eg to utilise a particular aspect of photography, to capture a special moment, unusual light, just a record eg 'hey look at this'. If someone is trying out a technique new to them I would comment differently from someone who's regularly posting that type of shot and is an expert in that area. If I don't know where they're at with that area, I'd just look and pass on, rather than risk offending or sounding patronising. I don't post pics very often - I don't feel right about posting anything a client is paying for and I don't get out often enough to do the fun stuff I'd like c&c on.
 
Not to discourage folk posting here, but one of the advantages of club membership is a regular feedback on pictures, usually in the form of competitions.

The judges who come to my current club http://www.blps.co.uk/ have always been polite, supportive and keen to encourage togs to progress - positive feedback.
A previous club I was with had far more robust judges - strong men were almost reduced to tears when their 'best' picture was rubbished.

You can always ignore the judge - it's only his opinion after all, although it's slightly more difficult if they are very experienced and have a string of distinctions after their name.

The feedback here seems more of a Vox Pop, its not always easy to know when the reviewer knows what they are talking about, although everyone knows what they like and what they don't.
 
My name is Mike and I look at threads

I comment when
- I am particularly impressed by what I see
- I feel I can add something
- I like the picture
- I aspire to achieve what I see before me

I don't comment when:
- I see a picture as boring (to me)
- Subjects that just aren't "my thing" (I don't go for this arty farty grunge stuff - there that should upset a few peeps! :naughty:)
- I'm out of time
- I need time to think and return (does that count as 2 views?)
- I think a picture is crap - unless I can indicate how it might be made less crap (all imho of course - my crap is your manure = fertilizer :thinking:)

well that's the case for the defence :coat:
 
And some of us, very frustratingly, have corporate firewalls that block a lot of linked sites such as photobucket! So we see an interesting post, open it up, but can't see the image.
I reply when I feel I can contribute something useful, positive or negative, when the subject is of interest to me (I do like the arty farty stuff!) and it has not been said before.
 
Mike raises some interesting points, which I agree with. I only comment on threads if I really like a picture, or if I can offer some helpful advice on how to improve a picture. I'm not that worried about upsetting people, as my suggestions are merely that, if someone wants to get upset over them, thats their lookout ;).

I won't comment on a picture that I don't like, or if I can't help... or indeed if what I was going to say has already been said :).

If I like a pic and I can't offer any help etc, I'll just say "nice pic" or something else like that :thumbs:
 
Sadly, being human and fallible, sometimes i just cant think of anything constructive to say / cant be arsed / am in a bad mood / am drunk / my point has been made already.

Where there are a number of 'views' but no replies i always try to make a constructive comment (if I notice the thread) but if a few have been left already i feel less obliged to comment.

Some threads I'll actively look for - those whose work i like and those that have been trying really hard to nail a technique and are seeking help.

There are some numpties that post to inflate their fragile egos only and are not interested in constructive criticism or comment - still working on the best way to deal with them :shrug:
 
mmcp42 said:
My name is Mike and I look at threads

I comment when
- I am particularly impressed by what I see
- I feel I can add something
- I like the picture
- I aspire to achieve what I see before me
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^^^ says it for me as well, my don't comment bits are
- I have not looked at that picture for whatever reason :D
- I don't see what the person taking the picture is trying to achieve
- the sort of picture is not what I am interested in (although I'd be unlikely to have looked at it in that case)
- I'm at work and the boss walks in, and I don't get back to it!
- I don't like the picture and in those cases I would not know how to make it better as I can't get my own right!!
 
Sometimes, I just like to look at the picture !

If 10 million people haved "viewed" my picture, but no one has commented, then I'm happy in the knowledge that I've shown my picture to 10 million people.
 
I often find myself repeating things that have already been said and sometime can't be bothered typing a post if it's just to repeat someone elses comments. I also had bad experiences when making negative comments on peoples images some people it seems just don't like criticism and I don't want to get into an I'm better than you type argument with some just because I said there picture was abit off.
 
I'm with mmcp42 as well. If I'm going to say I like or dislike a shot, I like to say why. I try to comment a few a day though, if helps me see what I can do with my own work.
 
would you want to see "well done" on every thread from a newbie like me?
 
This is a great and interesting thread to read - thanks to all that have replied.
 
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