If I have nothing nice to say, should I not reply?

*vievetrick* · 08-01-2008, 08:14 PM

So it is late and I was thinking

Some times I will respond to pictures in the Post Your Photos gallery and give what I think is my $.02 and sometimes it is not good. I understand that in the Photo Critique section you can blast away. But in the Post your Photos, I have responded with a comment (nothing specific or lately) that I did not like the photo and why and the person took offence. Nothing big and was cleared up. No idea why I thought of this tonight

Anyway, I guess the nice guy in me says, just because I don't like it doesn't mean I have to share it with the person. I am sure I have posted shots that folks don't like and would I be happy if they said "hey your pictures is stupid". Not that I would say that about someone work but I have seen more than a few that folks say "nice work, nice picture hadda hadda" Heck I do that to a lot of pictures. But sometime everyone is saying nice work and I am thinking

I don't get it. Maybe I should just go to sleep

.

What are your thoughts on responding to photos you don't like. Again, if I don't like something and I do respond I always try and give the reason why and what needs to be fixed. I am not talking about saying your picture is not nice. Constructive criticism.

*gokenin* · 08-01-2008, 09:08 PM

speaking as someone that has posted pictures and recieved no reponses I dont think you are wrong. I have guessed that people either didnt like my pics or they were so bad that they didnt want to hurt my feelings. I post pictures here to try and get feedback either good or bad so if you ever see me post comment away. The only comment I have to admit I am not fond of is of those are just snapshots.

stevebrot · 08-01-2008, 09:20 PM

I generally have withheld comment on pictures that have not appealed to me unless the poster specifically asked for advice, critiques, or comments.

The reason I have done this is that my general impression is that most of the members of this forum are pretty happy with the pictures that they are taking and that they post here. Most will concede that they are on a road of continuing improvement, but for the most part they are pleased to share their current level of attainment for the enjoyment of the other forum members.

So, if I see a job particularly well done, I usually try to give a big thumbs up. If I am familiar with the poster and am seeing growth and increased mastery, I give two thumbs up and a pat on the back.

The other area where I leave positive comments is when a person invests in new hardware (lens or camera) and the results show that the investment was a good one. How good to reinforce the rewards for a purchase well made.

Steve

(Being the nice guy for a change...)

little laker · 08-01-2008, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by vievetrick

So it is late and I was thinking Some times I will respond to pictures in the Post Your Photos gallery and give what I think is my $.02 and sometimes it is not good. I understand that in the Photo Critique section you can blast away. But in the Post your Photos, I have responded with a comment (nothing specific or lately) that I did not like the photo and why and the person took offence. Nothing big and was cleared up. No idea why I thought of this tonight Anyway, I guess the nice guy in me says, just because I don't like it doesn't mean I have to share it with the person. I am sure I have posted shots that folks don't like and would I be happy if they said "hey your pictures is stupid". Not that I would say that about someone work but I have seen more than a few that folks say "nice work, nice picture hadda hadda" Heck I do that to a lot of pictures. But sometime everyone is saying nice work and I am thinking I don't get it. Maybe I should just go to sleep .

What are your thoughts on responding to photos you don't like. Again, if I don't like something and I do respond I always try and give the reason why and what needs to be fixed. I am not talking about saying your picture is not nice. Constructive criticism.

Sorry Pat,
I'm tired, with a wedding to shoot tomorrow... so I don't feel up to reading your full post.

However I'd like to say what I've heard this is the best way to Critique anything, and I tend to agree with it.

First say what you like about the photo, weather it's the colour, composure, or even just the subject.

And then nicely tell them one or 2 things that you don't like about it, along with a tip or 2 on how to improve upon it.

Don't give the person too much negativity where you'll frustrate them, just one or 2 comments.

And probably more important.
If you see everyone else slamming the work, and you know they're getting frustrated think of something nice to say.
Most people learn more from compliments than insults.

Originally Posted by gokenin

speaking as someone that has posted pictures and recieved no reponses I dont think you are wrong. I have guessed that people either didnt like my pics or they were so bad that they didnt want to hurt my feelings. I post pictures here to try and get feedback either good or bad so if you ever see me post comment away. The only comment I have to admit I am not fond of is of those are just snapshots.

I don't get responses to all my pic's gokenin, and it isn't saying that they're bad.
It's just that no-one felt it was really worth a comment at the time.
And I know that your the same. You have some excellent work, and I don't think that I've ever seen a bad image from you
I know that I haven't comment on every one, in fact I believe that I rarely do.

I have been a little too busy the last couple of weeks to even look on-line much, but if you'd like to draw my attention to a post just use a catchy title.
Or send me a PM with a link to it.

Please take note that I'll rarely Critique anything, so if that's what your looking for I'm probably the wrong person to ask.

*J.Scott* · 08-05-2008, 11:49 AM

If the poster asks for C&C I may offer it if I have something constructive to suggest.
If they don't aks for C&C, I don't offer.
However, I may comment that I like a certain image and thank them for sharing their pictures.

Gooshin · 08-05-2008, 11:56 AM

i also agree with the notion that a bad response is better than no response.

there have been times i have posted photos and gotten nothing as a reply.

this means that either my work is so good that people are dumbstruck and cannot type anything

or that its simply uninteresting (to them)

i'm going to lean towards the latter one...

i think if you have the will power to comment negativly on a photo, all the power to you, especially if you can put that in the form of constructive criticism and explain your logic.

for obvious reasons saying "this sucks, go hang yourself" would be inappropriate, but i haven't seen any of that.

regardless however, anyone posting on a public forum should not take offence to public criticism even if it wasn't asked for. You dont walk in public wearing nothing but your underwear and expect for everyone to keep their mouth shut.

*rparmar* · 08-05-2008, 12:05 PM

I would like to see more critique here, so long as it's of the constructive kind. It helps to make us better photographers. But I don't always have the time to say more than a few words, and it isn't always clear if it'd be appreciated.

I find the opposite problem harder to deal with. Quite often I see praise of snapshots that anyone with any camera could do. I don't think that's too helpful. Or maybe others have lower standards.

In any case it tends to devalue all such correspondence. So when one of my shots gets a positive remark I have to wonder if the person replying isn't just being polite for the sake of it. Not to be too negative though... I am happy to get comments.

*Bramela* · 08-05-2008, 12:47 PM

I think you have put it very well,Pat. I think criticism is ok, provided it is constructive criticism. Shooters want to know how to improve, or to glean others thoughts on what thay would have done with the photo.
But definitely not criticism for criticism sake.
We have all started out somewhere, and all had some pretty bad shots, understanding of that goes a long way to grasping where that other person is at and encouraging them to keep working at it. (my 2c worth)
Well put Pat

*Syb* · 08-05-2008, 01:09 PM

I have posted pics and got more than once advice how to change them.

If someone says "Try this in B&W" it is not hard to tell something could be wrong with the color.

There is a chance that the colors feel sacred to me, then I will not feel like doing it.

But the people commenting might just as well be right! So I often use the comments as inspiration to improve the current or a future shot.

I am very glad to have free admission to all the talented, enthousiastic and constructive fellow-Pentaxians here!

jmdeegan · 08-05-2008, 01:21 PM

i think as long as it's not offensive (you suck, hope you weren't planning on a career in this field, etc etc), honesty is the best policy, I think.

I definetly would rather get my negatives shown to me so I can improve upon them, as opposed to hearing nothing. Though, if I hear nothing, I tend to think my images were so bland they ilicited no response at all.

*Ash* · 08-05-2008, 01:39 PM

True that - I've posted quite a few photos with only 1 or 2 responses not saying much - that in itself speaks volumes.

But if I'm posting pics online, it's to share with others and even ask for feedback to see how I'm going - if I'm not man enough to take the slings and arrows, then I shouldn't bother to post pics at all.

So negatives are fine, because that's where learning happens.

chirpy · 08-05-2008, 02:25 PM

I agree with little laker. Often the best way to critique someones photo, even if you don't like it, is to say what is good about the picture first. Then weigh that up with what you don't like about the picture. Remember, you're trying to help with person, not just put them down which will usually just discourage them from posting again.

While this way may be harder, i.e. you have to think more about what is good about the photo first, it is much more constructive. If you just hate it, or it's of a style that you don't like, and that is all you want to say, I wouldn't suggest commenting as it isn't really constructive.

*vievetrick* · 08-05-2008, 07:32 PM

Well sounds like I am on track with what most think kind of sort of. Thanks for your input.

*Lance B* · 08-05-2008, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by stevebrot

I generally have withheld comment on pictures that have not appealed to me unless the poster specifically asked for advice, critiques, or comments.

The reason I have done this is that my general impression is that most of the members of this forum are pretty happy with the pictures that they are taking and that they post here. Most will concede that they are on a road of continuing improvement, but for the most part they are pleased to share their current level of attainment for the enjoyment of the other forum members.

So, if I see a job particularly well done, I usually try to give a big thumbs up. If I am familiar with the poster and am seeing growth and increased mastery, I give two thumbs up and a pat on the back.

The other area where I leave positive comments is when a person invests in new hardware (lens or camera) and the results show that the investment was a good one. How good to reinforce the rewards for a purchase well made.

Steve

(Being the nice guy for a change...)

Exactly my stand point.

Unless the person asks me for a critique, I will avoid a comment unless I find it a nice photo. Even if it isn't a great photo, but is quite nice I will say it is nice as I may see what the photographer had in mind or there was an aspect that was executed nicely.

The thing is, as you have stated, most here are happy enough with their photos and are not interested in pleasing others so much as just posting photos for other's to see.

*Igilligan* · 08-05-2008, 10:35 PM

I am torn. I want to believe that critique will never hurt me... sticks and stones and all. And I do appreciate when someone says I like _______ but you could improve _______ . A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

But recently I looked back at some of my early posts in the other forum with a P&S or two.... There were many nice people saying how nice the photos looked. But to be honest they are so oversharpened that I can barely look at them. It is funny now looking back. Who knows when I began to get a bit better, but somehow I did. I thank the people who must have said "back off the sharpening after resize a bit and all the other constructive advice. But I must also thank the supportive folks who kept encouraging me to post more pics. It goes hand in hand.... We all need a bit of both I think.
I only hope that folks who have better skills and a better eye than I continue to help me see!

For a lot of us, we are in a vacuum. Our family/friends looks at our pics and ________. The only real chance for honest and helpful critique and tips come from our forum friends. I count on you all to push me.
And I hope in two years I look back on the shots I am posting today and can barely look at them, because of how much my shooting and PP skill have improved at that point in time. It is a journey....

But I am torn because often I do not comment on the negatives... For one I question if I am qualified when there are so many here more qualified. And I also try to weigh where the person is in their Journey. If they are new and I dont think they are ready to worry about some aspect that I am working on, then I might just give the positive spoonful of sugar. But I am going to get better at the critique part too.

But by all means REPLY... unless the shot really does not interst you in the least. That is a reply in itself. Not everyone cares to see my Rose thorn...