I am soooo frigging sick of seeing OOF and "I wish that the image was more " why did you enter this so OOF and related BS... also the "too dark" comments...
point 1... When the maker of an image CHOOSES to use DOF to focus attention on a part of the image ...the image is not OOF... the maker has made a creative decision... now you may not like the application of the technique but dont go saying that the image is oof. You can tell that an image is OOF when there is no point of "critical sharpness"
point 2 ... image too dark... calabrate your damn monitor...or get rid of that .86 dot pitch monitor before making such statements... Look at the bar at the bottom of each entry ... if you can not make out all of the boxes YOU have a calabration and or resolution problem.
I enjoy using different DOF and "breaking the rules" with lighting and composition (and so do my customers it seems) I have no problem in the world shooting a portrait at 200mm at f2.4 If there are no catchlights I MENT for there to be no catch lights (I rather like the effect at times) I understand that is not everyones taste... and that is cool
But please, please please don't knock an image (mine or anyone elses) because you dont fully understand the craft. If you dont like it ... that is okay (there is ONE Ansel work that I cant stand) but dont knock the maker for using a creative style that is different from your taste.
If it upsets you so much when people full of good intentions are trying to help, perhaps it would be best not to enter challenges.
If you put up a photo for critique in the forums, you can talk about all your wonderfully creative decisions, then we know what you were trying to achieve and why you made certain choices.
If we know the background of the photo and the photographer, we can take that into account.
In a challenge, we can only offer what we think might be helpful, we can not read your mind.
Posts like this one are a good part of the reason why we have so many other posts complaining about a lack of comments.
there is one image that I have in mind (not mine BTW) with the OOF comments... the maker chose a very shallow dof and it was evident what he was doing and it was tack on. ... several voters made the OOF comment...and it was just plain wrong. It was a UNEDUCATED COMMENT... That burns me more than "the picture sux and here is why"... to make a statement like "why would you enter such a out of focus image" shows that the commentor has not a clue.
And of course the image (which was pretty damn good IMHO) goes into the tank.
All of my comments are uneducated. That is why I am here - to try and learn. Commenting helps me to learn, but when I hear complaints about comments that aren't rude, it makes me think twice before commenting in challenges (since I don't know if I will accidentally make an uneducated comment on just your entry)
maybe I am not expressing myself well... ( that would be normal!)
I dont want to pull the image out ... ' It wouldn't be fair to the maker or the commenter...but I think that it is very different to say... "i dont like the application of DOF" as opposed to "why would you enter such a out of focus image"
I am not even talking about tone or rudeness I am talking about lack of understanding... there is a difference between OOF and DOF.
maybe I am not expressing myself well... ( that would be normal!)
I dont want to pull the image out ... ' It wouldn't be fair to the maker or the commenter...but I think that it is very different to say... "I dont like the application of DOF" as opposed to "why would you enter such a out of focus image"
I am not even talking about tone or rudeness I am talking about lack of understanding... there is a difference between OOF and DOF.
BTW there is a DIFFERENCE in making a comment of not understanding something and making a statement of "pure concrete fact"
Also puzzled If you posted a "why did you do this" comment I would be more than happy to answer... That is cool and good learning.
Given that the reason that most of us is here is education, maybe a better approach would be to either POLITELY contact the commenter (after the challenge is usually better) or post your own comments on the photo. Or start a thread with an amiable discussion about the difference between OOF and DOF and why DOF strengthens the photo or whatever the case is. People here are generally seeking to learn and will likely appreciate and respond better to a thread that doesn't include titles or posts about their various shortcomings and what they do and don't have a right to say.
Yes please, explain to me where my mistake was and I'll learn for next time. Yell at me for being stupid enough to make a mistake and I'll just go away and not even TRY again...
From this point forward, when you think an image may be out of focus, rather then comment "OOF" or "out of focus," simply type "I do not like your use of focus" or "I'd prefer to see more of the image in focus" or something else to that effect. This way you make it clear to the photographer that you are simply expressing your opinion and not telling them they did something wrong. That should clear up the confusion.
From this point forward, when you think an image may be out of focus, rather then comment "OOF" or "out of focus," simply type "I do not like your use of focus" or "I'd prefer to see more of the image in focus" or something else to that effect. This way you make it clear to the photographer that you are simply expressing your opinion and not telling them they did something wrong. That should clear up the confusion.
Ok but they are already communicating this to you so how is changing the wording in their comments effect anything? Just because they can't tell the difference between OOF vs DOF doesn't change the fact that they didn't like the look. Why else bring it up in a negative light if that wasn't the case? Besides, shouldn't it be the photographer and not the commenter that knows the difference between OOF and DOF?
The commenter is commenting on what they see. To view a photograph and any other artform for that matter you do not need an education in the artform to decide whether you like it or not.
Stating that something is OOF (intentional or not) is a way of saying that the image is not working. A comment that an image is OOF could be interpretted as the DOF is too shallow or the DOF is in the wrong place. The photographer may have to do some interpretation as well in relation to their image.
The hardest part of any artform is separating yourself from your artwork. Once you can do that to some degree you are more open to all types of praise/criticism.
An exercise to try is to critique your own image being as honest as you can.
It doesn't matter whether the shallow DOF or darkness, or the focus is done intentionally.
When someone commented that they dont like it, then that's too bad - they simply dont like it. I think it was nice of that voter to be honest about it rather than keep quite and keep you guessing about what went wrong with your scores.
From this point forward, when you think an image may be out of focus, rather then comment "OOF" or "out of focus," simply type "I do not like your use of focus" or "I'd prefer to see more of the image in focus" or something else to that effect. This way you make it clear to the photographer that you are simply expressing your opinion and not telling them they did something wrong. That should clear up the confusion.
Ok but they are already communicating this to you so how is changing the wording in their comments effect anything? Just because they can't tell the difference between OOF vs DOF doesn't change the fact that they didn't like the look. Why else bring it up in a negative light if that wasn't the case? Besides, shouldn't it be the photographer and not the commenter that knows the difference between OOF and DOF?
From this point forward, when you think an image may be out of focus, rather then comment "OOF" or "out of focus," simply type "I do not like your use of focus" or "I'd prefer to see more of the image in focus" or something else to that effect. This way you make it clear to the photographer that you are simply expressing your opinion and not telling them they did something wrong. That should clear up the confusion.
Ok but they are already communicating this to you so how is changing the wording in their comments effect anything? Just because they can't tell the difference between OOF vs DOF doesn't change the fact that they didn't like the look. Why else bring it up in a negative light if that wasn't the case? Besides, shouldn't it be the photographer and not the commenter that knows the difference between OOF and DOF?
It doesn't matter whether the shallow DOF or darkness, or the focus is done intentionally.
When someone commented that they dont like it, then that's too bad - they simply dont like it. I think it was nice of that voter to be honest about it rather than keep quite and keep you guessing about what went wrong with your scores.
To a point I agree... but if there is a comment made that is just wrong...what can you do???
It doesn't matter whether the shallow DOF or darkness, or the focus is done intentionally.
When someone commented that they dont like it, then that's too bad - they simply dont like it. I think it was nice of that voter to be honest about it rather than keep quite and keep you guessing about what went wrong with your scores.
To a point I agree... but if there is a comment made that is just wrong...what can you do???
well maybe you can try doing what I sometimes do, PM that commentor?
It doesn't matter whether the shallow DOF or darkness, or the focus is done intentionally.
When someone commented that they dont like it, then that's too bad - they simply dont like it. I think it was nice of that voter to be honest about it rather than keep quite and keep you guessing about what went wrong with your scores.
To a point I agree... but if there is a comment made that is just wrong...what can you do???
well maybe you can try doing what I sometimes do, PM that commentor?
I would LOVE to do that ...but some here consider that "confrontational" and durning voting I think that is considered a no-no.
And then when the maker does post after the challenge he/she is flamed with comments beating them down for being thin skinned ...etc...
If the comment is against the site TOS then you can report it. Other than that, nothing.
Really, the only time a comment is wrong is when it violates the TOS.
Otherwise, saying a comment is wrong is like saying someone's opinion is wrong.
Okay... then the comment is an inproper assessment of the condition presented.
If you have an image aand you get ... the image is way too red ... add blue...and you look at it and see no red bias whatsoever you think
1) the commentor is out to lunch
2) the commentor has a monitor problem
3) the commentor needs their eyes checked
4) see number 1
and then when that commentor scores your image a 1 based on that are you going to stand and say that that was their opinion and just move on
If your concern is that the comment is on your picture and that other people will come and see the "wrong" comment, you can always reply to the comment on the photo.
