Reciprocity ...

posiview

posiview

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Andy
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If this is the wrong section, please move.

I've just spend a few hours commenting on 52s and and I nip in most nights to comment on the 52s and other photographs. I have to say some of the 52s haven't received may comments, mine included.

I've also noticed that several members have been very active in leaving comments...:thumbs:

Now, if members photographs are crap and you have thoughts I'd say post your comments, good or bad.

If their take on the theme is lazy, tell them.
If the composition isn't very good, tell them.
If the lighting isn't very good, tell them.
If the post processing isn't very good tell them.

But tell them constructively...:help:

I suspect without feedback many of those that started my not finish.

I hope I don't come across as arsey or blowing my own trumpet, because that's definitely not my intention. I just feel this is a learning opportunity that we all need to contribute to.

Sermon over and thanks.
 
Andy, you hit the nail on the head, many *** are not used to giving feedback constructively i bet..(me included unless its to another driver, and that sort of non textual communication doesnt befit a forum).. i can see your point. if i am to improve then i need to hear the bad points as well as the good.
 
Good post Andy (not that I'm doing a 52) but the point is valid against all photo sharing threads :thumbs:

I must admit to not passing coment on others' as much as i did due to the fact that i felt it was never reciprocated :(
 
I've been trying to leave comments but still not confident enough to give proper critique as not very good myself:bang:
I know what I like & don't like but thats not much help to others & maybe I miss the point of what they were aiming for . I would certainly hate for someone to think I was just critising their shot .
I've not seen any yet that made me think they were "lazy" shots,knowing the amount of time spent coming up with idea's for mine I appreciate what others must go through .
Having said that I do agree with what you are saying which may sound like a contradiction :lol:

I will try harder though :thumbs:
 
I'm very new to this as well and I do find leaving comments very liberating :cuckoo:

I suspect most contributors respect feedback from season pros and amateurs alike providing it's left constructivley. Your opinions are your opinions, no matter if they are based on 2 week's experience or 30 years.

Cheers.
 
Thanks and glad it's not just me...:D

I know it's all been said before, well, let's hope members take a bit of what we said on board....
 
My advice is to have a go at doing critiques as much as you can.

I took part in last year's 52 until real life forced me to quit around week thirteen or so. I also belong to a couple of writing forums where we critique each other's stuff.

What I have found is that I learn as much by looking at other people's work and trying to to say why it is I like it or dislike it as I do by having my own work judged.

Technically there are rights and wrongs, of course, but as in all art all opinions are purely subjective and, soggydiverdan, as long as they are given constructively, they are all valid.

Thing is, even if something is technically wrong (eg under exposed, blown highlights, not set on the optimum third, blah-de-blah), if it works for the viewer, then it works.

Just try to say why. You can learn so much by comparing your views with those of other people.
 
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I am trying to do this, but unfortunatly when there is so many of them they are hard to go through them all, and especially when there isn't a link or hint as to where their current photo is!!

I'm going to try and dip in and out of others some more to leave feedback!
 
Shutter said:
I am trying to do this, but unfortunatly when there is so many of them they are hard to go through them all, and especially when there isn't a link or hint as to where their current photo is!!

I'm going to try and dip in and out of others some more to leave feedback!
Click to expand...

Hi, Kris, I tend to use this.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc...I5Qy01VU10a1E&hl=en_GB&authkey=CK7rjrAE#gid=0#

But I agree with what you're saying. I have seen some people have links on their initial thread to their subsequent theme posts. I haven't worked how to do this yet, though.

Cheers.
 
posiview said:
Hi, Kris, I tend to use this.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc...I5Qy01VU10a1E&hl=en_GB&authkey=CK7rjrAE#gid=0#

But I agree with what you're saying. I have seen some people have links on their initial thread to their subsequent theme posts. I haven't worked how to do this yet, though.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thats all well and good, but just to view the 52's I don't to keep on refering back and forth to different windows! :( Also, I have noticed one, if not more member use a different thread for each week!! It means when you come to look at the P,PC&T forum it is jam packed and hard to sift through, in my opinion!

If you have seen in mine (its fine if you haven't!! :)) then i have a link and a number to direct users. You can either click the link and the individual post will come up, or you can scroll through to the post number to find it.

If your unsure of how to do this:
On the top right of every reply there is a number. This is a hyperlink and links to the post that it is included in. This is the link I include in my original post. So, if I have a new photo I will post a reply in the original thread, copy the post location and number, and then edit my first post with the details.....

This is obviously how I think it is easiest to read, follow and navigate. Anyone else can do it how they like, of course! :D
 
I do try to leave commens where I feel I can constructively help. Being pretty much a newbie does mean I have inexperience at the practical side of photography as well as critiquing others in the right way which I know is something I need to overcome.

I'll definately be speaking my mind more often and trying to help where I can.
 
soggydiverdan said:
Personally I have a problem with being constructive and just being mean, so I tend to err on the side of saying nothing!
Click to expand...

Hmmm, sounds like a cop out to me. Not wanting to patronise you but, think about what you want to say and try and get it across as constructively as you can, if you get what I mean...

Constructive minus mean = helpful post.
 
I try and comment on the 52's if & when I have time. I am not really an overly active poster here and admit that I do not really expect cc on my shots, I chose to do the 52 to give me something to focus on as I am already doing a 365. It's good to know that once a week I actually have to put some thought into what I shoot, rather than shooting for the sake of getting a shot (not that I really do that as much as I did in my 1st years 365).

Oh and I try and use the spreadsheet so that I am not commenting on the same people week in week out (as there are so many of us). However, I notice that my name is still not on there. As we get further into the project, I will also add the page number (or post number) that the new shot is on to make it easier to find.
 
robp said:
What I have found is that I learn as much by looking at other people's work and trying to to say why it is I like it or dislike it as I do by having my own work judged.
Click to expand...

:agree: I've got almost as much out of these challenges by looking at other people's work as I have by doing my own thing.

I appreciate that it's difficult this year with so many threads, but it would be a real shame for people to drop out due to a lack of comments. At the moment I'm only managing to get to about 5 a day . . . so it'll be at least week 7 before I've been to every thread at least once :lol:
But if everybody could just visit one other thread a day it would give others some help and encouragement.

I'd encourage people to look down on pages 3 and 4 too. It tends to be that those threads which happen to be on the front page are the ones that get the comments and so stay on page 1 - some of the others never get a fair chance.
 
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I've been posting when I think I've got something to say other than a generic I like it or I don't like it. If I have nothing that will really contribute to the persons process I generally don't.

Also, I honestly don't have enough time to look through every one, but I've had a look through a few today as I actually realised I wasn't commenting much on other peoples work, and left some comments, for what my opinion is worth!

In a lot of cases (well, the majority!), I'm learning more by viewing images from others by trying to figure out how people have done things, so other than "I like it" in some cases I don't feel qualified enough to comment.

If I see a photo and think that I don't like it, but can't put my finger on why, I'd imagine that the person who took the image would prefer a lack of that sort of unhelpful comment, as it's not constructive, or conducive to progression.

Still, I agree that more people, myself included should comment. It's just finding the time to do it. During the week I have almost no time, and at the weekends it's pretty much the case I have an hour in the morning and a few in the afternoon, so it doesn't really leave me with a great deal of time to comment :( It's hard enough squeezing in the time to take/process my own!
 
SarahLee said:
:agree: I've got almost as much out of these challenges by looking at other people's work as I have by doing my own thing.

I appreciate that it's difficult this year with so many threads, but it would be a real shame for people to drop out due to a lack of comments. At the moment I'm only managing to get to about 5 a day . . . so it'll be at least week 7 before I've been to every thread at least once :lol:
But if everybody could just visit one other thread a day it would give others some help and encouragement.

I'd encourage people to look down on pages 3 and 4 too. It tends to be that those threads which happen to be on the front page are the ones that get the comments and so stay on page 1 - some of the others never get a fair chance.
Click to expand...

Don't see why people should drop out due to lack of comments....
I see the 52 as a personal challenge....nothing more, nothing less.

If people just want comments then perhaps they should just post their photos in the critique section separate from the 52.

just my opinion :)
 
posiview said:
If this is the wrong section, please move.
I've just spend a few hours commenting on 52s and and I nip in most nights to comment on the 52s and other photographs. I have to say some of the 52s haven't received may comments, mine included.
I've also noticed that several members have been very active in leaving comments...:thumbs:
Now, if members photographs are crap and you have thoughts I'd say post your comments, good or bad.
If their take on the theme is lazy, tell them.
If the composition isn't very good, tell them.
If the lighting isn't very good, tell them.
If the post processing isn't very good tell them.

But tell them constructively...:help:

I suspect without feedback many of those that started my not finish.

I hope I don't come across as arsey or blowing my own trumpet, because that's definitely not my intention. I just feel this is a learning opportunity that we all need to contribute to.

Sermon over and thanks.
Click to expand...

:plusone:to all that. I find it really encouraging to get feedback good or bad. Even a quick "nice pic" helps - although constructive crit is much better.
 
After reading the OP I promptly went off to find Posiview's work and left appropriate, very constructive critiques.

Did he reciprocate by seeking out some of my work? Of course not.

:bang:
 
ryanyboy said:
After reading the OP I promptly went off to find Posiview's work and left appropriate, very constructive critiques.

Did he reciprocate by seeking out some of my work? Of course not.

:bang:
Click to expand...

Ryan, I assure you, I will recprocate, over the last 3 or 4 days I've left significant numbers of comments and spent hours sifting through the offerings.

:thumbs:
 
kennysarmy said:
Don't see why people should drop out due to lack of comments....
I see the 52 as a personal challenge....nothing more, nothing less.

If people just want comments then perhaps they should just post their photos in the critique section separate from the 52.

just my opinion :)
Click to expand...

I guess it's a personal preference, Kenny, but I for one look forward to feedback and Sarah's Photo52 post does say

SarahLee said:
The only other thing I'll add is that you'll get as much out of this as you put in. Get involved, offer critique and encouragement to other 52ers and you'll find that you get the same in return.
Click to expand...

Cheers.
 
posiview said:
Ryan, I assure you, I will recprocate, over the last 3 or 4 days I've left significant numbers of comments and spent hours sifting through the offerings.

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Your choice :)

Great that you have the time.

Personally I don't get all hung up about leaving comments on someones photographs just because they commented on my work....

If I have something to add I will add it.
If the replies so far to a thread cover what I would have said anyway then I don't bother with a :plusone: etc etc

If anything is going to turn people off carrying on with their 52's it's because they are being made to feel inadequate by not "contributing" by posting critique on all the other threads.
 
posiview said:
If this is the wrong section, please move.

I've just spend a few hours commenting on 52s and and I nip in most nights to comment on the 52s and other photographs. I have to say some of the 52s haven't received may comments, mine included.

I've also noticed that several members have been very active in leaving comments...:thumbs:

Now, if members photographs are crap and you have thoughts I'd say post your comments, good or bad.

If their take on the theme is lazy, tell them.
If the composition isn't very good, tell them.
If the lighting isn't very good, tell them.
If the post processing isn't very good tell them.

But tell them constructively...:help:

I suspect without feedback many of those that started my not finish.

I hope I don't come across as arsey or blowing my own trumpet, because that's definitely not my intention. I just feel this is a learning opportunity that we all need to contribute to.

Sermon over and thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi Andy

Please clarify for me. Are you asking for comments on your images from other 52ers, or TP members in general?

Sam-D
 
Dan, I am sure everyone feels the same....

The point is whether people are being made to feel somehow inadequate or sub-standard because they either choose not to or have no time to post on the 52 threads....
 
kennysarmy said:
Don't see why people should drop out due to lack of comments....
I see the 52 as a personal challenge....nothing more, nothing less.

If people just want comments then perhaps they should just post their photos in the critique section separate from the 52.

just my opinion :)
Click to expand...

kennysarmy said:
Personally I don't get all hung up about leaving comments on someones photographs just because they commented on my work....

If I have something to add I will add it.
If the replies so far to a thread cover what I would have said anyway then I don't bother with a :plusone: etc etc

If anything is going to turn people off carrying on with their 52's it's because they are being made to feel inadequate by not "contributing" by posting critique on all the other threads.
Click to expand...

TBH I can see both sides of this.
A lot of people are doing this as a personal challenge in order to improve their photography - and as the name says it's a "personal challenge" nothing to do with anyone else.
However, from personal experience, I got the most out of this in previous years by taking on board comments from other people (yourself included ;)) and trying to put into practice what they'd suggested in the following weeks. It's very difficult to improve if nobody's there to tell you what you could do better.

I'm not talking about "You posted on my thread, so I must go and post in yours" . . . if there's nothing to add to what other people have said then it can be a pointless exercise. But I do find it quite sad to see some threads with no comments or very few meaningful comments, and I can see how week after week that could be disheartening for the poster.

I also know that it's not all about critique. Managing to commit to this for a whole year is quite a big undertaking, and it was the encouragement from others taking part and the sense of community that kept me going in the end stages of the last 2 years.

You're right, there is a balance to be had and people absolutely should NOT feel inadequate because they don't have time to visit 150 threads every week - not to mention participate in other parts of the forum!

However, I'd still encourage people to drop into other people's threads and leave a comment when they do have the time.
Of course it's their own choice and nobody should feel like it's compulsory, but there's a lot to be learnt from looking at how other people have shot to the same theme and from analysing their photograph and commenting on what you like and don't like.
Based on previous years, it also seems that those who get involved and participate the most have the best chance of making it through to the end . . . not just down to reciprocity, but through that sense of community that I mentioned above.

Enough rambling, I'll shut up now :D
 
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I find that I try to look at as many threads as I can, and I try to comment on those threads if I have anything to offer. I am just struggling to comment on everyones 52, there are so many - and I can't even keep up with the people commenting on mine. If I have missed you, I am sorry but will try and get to as many as I can.

Simon.
 
Remember also the shear amount of people doing the 52's this year!!!! If you don't geta comment on your thread within the hour it's already on page 2:eek:

I will say that I only usually post Crit on an image if I have something constructive to add.
 
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