I think it'd be nice if the photographers were able to post a comment about the photo that is submitted. For example, one can talk about how/why the photo was shot, etc. It'd be a nice touch, and I've seen it done on other contest sites.
I like the idea ... the photographer's own comments will give voters an insight into what they were trying to achieve and thus allow comments on the photo to be more constructively made.
You can also describe what sort of difficulties/limitations you may have come across in trying to capture the shot.
It could help in that you would be able to explain why the photo looks the way it does. My photo would greatly benefit with a little explanation about the size of the object, time of day, etc.
I vote for no comments in the voting booth. We should judge the pictures alone and bring only ourselves to judge the photos.
I do like the idea of allowing photographers to add comments to their photos, but I'd only want to show the comments AFTER the voting is over, then you can compare what you were thinking during the vote, with the photogapher's comments - now that would be very interesting. Plus it makes you re-analyze the photo after the fact, which can be entertaining and enlightening.
Once again, no comments in the voting booth, but let us see the photographer's comments after the voting is done.
I have to agree with mikeys_bistro; after all, taking a photo that can speak for itself is the challenge.
Comments after the voting is over, that's fine -- and a good thing! I'd be especially interested in tips, techniques, or inspirational guidelines attached to submitted pictures, but they shouldn't be able to affect the voting.
* This message has been edited by the author on 3/8/2002 12:57:05 PM.
The big concern here is that people aren't going to want to go back and leave comments later as much as they will on their initial viewing of the photograph. The fact that comments are not available to anyone but the photographer until the challenge is over makes it more than fair -- that is, comments do not affect anyone's voting.
We were thinking these would be more like notes that the photographer entered when they submitted the photo - giving a background on the picture, how it was made, etc. The notes would be part of the submission of the photo, similar to the aperture, shutter, location fields.
I really would love to make a reply to one of my comments. It really would be great to have a comeback to smart remarks but without an email address, I will have to wait until Sunday. For now though I want to go on the record to say that maybe it has been done by everyone who has a digital camera, but I never did it before!
I don't care for this idea because I think a photograph needs to be strong enough to stand without comment. Perhaps allowing the victors to comment on their winning photos once the contest is finished?
I also agree -- a photo may or may not have a title, but should be strong enough to stand based on just these two. All photographers are absolutely allowed to post reply-comments once the challenge is over!
So how about allowing the photographer to author a comment that goes with the image -- but don't show the comment until voting is over and the winners decided?
