I've been participating on this site for a few yrs. and have been in 281 challenges. I like to vote but I feel like I don't leave enough meaningful comments. So...I thought some of you people who leave comments that you feel are helpful could give me some pointers. Maybe I just don't have the words in me.
Hmmmm.... try stream of consciousness (which could be even more fun with the pain drugs!) What strikes you first about the shot? Is it something that strikes a chord with you somehow (even if you can't describe it) or is there something technically striking, either good or bad, that you notice right away? After a bit longer, is there anything else that begins to ask for your attention? Do you like the basics of the shot - the composition, the light? Is there something in the post processing that jumps out, either good or bad? Any recommendations for things to try the next time, or to try again with post processing or a different crop?
LOL, find something wrote in Latin on the internet, cut and past random sentences.:)
That's funny! I got a comment in the bubbles challenge in another language, first I had to figure out what language it was, then babelfish it. It was a lovely comment though!
It varies for me. If I leave a low or mediocre vote and I can pick out what the image lacks for me, or what might be able to improve it, then I will leave a fairly dry but explanatory comment. Such as my infamous comments about JPEG compression, which I leave enough of that I keep several versions of in a text file to copy and paste from. Sometimes I will copy the shot into my editor to do a quick adjustment and see if what I think really could help.
If it brings back a memory, then I just say that. I feel any shot that does that for me has succeeded on some level and I will often add pointage to an entry that otherwise may have just gotten a low to mediocre vote.
Then there are the silly ones. I used to wonder if people would take offense at the ridiculous comments, but I've gotten some positive feedback about them. Once in a while I will notice when reviewing entries post-challenge, that my silly comment is the only one not marked as helpful. I guess if one has a strict interpretation of "helpful", they really aren't.
I try to vote and comment in the challenges I enter. I do my best to find what it is about the image that strikes me, the impression that I get, and the way I feel about it as far as conveying something to me.
I avoid commenting about technical things for the most part because.....
A. I'm not that good at photography and editing that I feel like I have any businesss doing so.....
B. The last thing I want to do is talk about how something was done, and that I think it didn't work, only to find out later that it was an intentional technique.
It's happened to me so often that I know how it feels, and to be truthful, when I get a comment from someone saying, "This "X" thing you did wasn't the right thing." when I did it for a specific reason.
The other thing I hate is when I edit something, and don't go hog wild, but push something somewhat, only to have someone say something like, "I hate extreme HDR." when I didn't even use HDR.
All this is subjective based on the way I prefer comments. Tell me what you like, or don't like, tell me if it spoke to you in depth, or if it just went, "Meh.....".
Then there are the silly ones. I used to wonder if people would take offense at the ridiculous comments, but I've gotten some positive feedback about them. Once in a while I will notice when reviewing entries post-challenge, that my silly comment is the only one not marked as helpful. I guess if one has a strict interpretation of "helpful", they really aren't.
Dude.....I just got one of your silly ones on my Free Study.
My success rate is measured in how often I can get someone to spit their coffee up on their keyboards and monitor. I have achieved my goal. You'd better have marked it as helpful!
Observe how the photo makes you feel, then think of something else that makes you feel the same way. Compare the photograph to the something else. Then you will be authentic and the photographer will be confused. perfect!
If a photo resonates with me and brings something to the surface, I'll comment on that specifically as well, but I'll also look at things carefully and see what I think was done well and what I think could be improved. If I see something that I think would be better, I make sure to say it, whereas I don't always say everything I think is done well. I figure most comments are already positive and putting a minor note in to consider in the future is worth more than echoing other comments.
I do it like this to try and combine technicals with feel. Both are important; technicals are just easier to put into words.
Observe how the photo makes you feel, then think of something else that makes you feel the same way. Compare the photograph to the something else. Then you will be authentic and the photographer will be confused. perfect!
An effective approach. You've totally confused me a few times!
The most helpful comment I received was from andrewt, telling me how I could have improved the processing. So if I think something would improve someone's image -- I say it. I figure 98% of the time, they don't care, they disagree, they didn't want to do it in the first place (though they don't tell me that). But if even 1 or 2% of my comments end up being helpful, it's worth it. andrewt's comment allowed me to take a photograph that I really liked, one that was top 10 already, and make it even better. It's gotten accepted in my favorite home town art show, which is a very big deal. So I try to help improve things whenever I can, because I appreciate how much it helped me.
I try to vote and comment in the challenges I enter. I do my best to find what it is about the image that strikes me, the impression that I get, and the way I feel about it as far as conveying something to me.
I avoid commenting about technical things for the most part because.....
A. I'm not that good at photography and editing that I feel like I have any businesss doing so.....
B. The last thing I want to do is talk about how something was done, and that I think it didn't work, only to find out later that it was an intentional technique.
It's happened to me so often that I know how it feels, and to be truthful, when I get a comment from someone saying, "This "X" thing you did wasn't the right thing." when I did it for a specific reason.
I'm with you on both counts here. Especially since I'm so new here. But I find commenting is one of the things that is helping me learn. At least learn what I like. Mostly I comment on what strikes me first. I am making an effort to comment on anything that I score 4 or below, because it seems that is what most folks complain about....not getting an explanation for low scores. But it also seems; for me anyway; those are the hardest comments to give.
