General Forum observation

[stargal01]

Originally Posted by Wes

In a nutshell, many of us (myself included) have held back from posting pics because of all of the views, but very few comments. I can't speak for anyone else, but as far as I'm concerned every image that I post is up for critique. Every image that I post is out there because I put some of my own heart and soul into capturing that moment and I want to know what others think - both the good and the bad.

Bingo! That's exactly what I've been thinking lately. I haven't posted anything to show in about a month because I started getting very few comments and I didn't know if people just hated my stuff that much or what.

But I guess we're all having the same realization about not posting on others's threads either. I'll try to comment and post more often because I know how it feels to have views and no comments.

[HeatherLou]

I will add a few thoughts here. In the year I have been on TPF, I have seen this forum triple in number of members. Thats a lot of new folks posting, asking questions and such. To be honest, if I posted to every thread I looked at, I would never get anything done! I have noticed that if you are an active poster, you generally have more hits and more responses on your own threads. It also helps if you have built friendships on the forum, most of the posts on my threads are from people I have either met, or talk to in chat. So I think the more you post, the more will be posted to you! Just my observations anyway, take them for what they are worth, but I very much love the forum here and think its a fantastic place to learn.

[robert t]

All I can say is I am sorry I missed some of your images Dianna, I just went through about 40 pages on your flickr site and you have got some fantastic shots. I agree also with the thoughts, I don't post as many cause, in your mind if there is there are no c&c post on the image, you figure people are getting bored with what you are posting. I have been so impressed with some of the images I have seen on here, I also get a bit intimidated by them, thinking wow my stuff is no where near the quality of the other images also I wonder am I really qualified to C&C on some of these shots. The talent on this forum is some of the best I have seen.

[stargal01]

Originally Posted by robert t

also I wonder am I really qualified to C&C on some of these shots.

robert, thanks, you really are too kind.

i know the feeling (above). that's how i felt, and i still do each time i comment, but i realized that that's exactly what keeps me from ever commenting, so now i just say something if i have a thought to share. the original poster can take it or leave it, either way. sometimes, i just say 'ditto to the above comment, that's exactly what i was thinking.' maybe repetitive feedback is better than none? i don't know.
and i agree heather, i don't have the time to check everysingle thread. i mainly stick to about three threads and occasionally explore a few other ones. it's a miracle i even found this one.
i hope that we all leave this thread newly encouraged to post when we can and to not be intimidated by our 'lack' of knowledge or lack of words.

[brad]

Originally Posted by Wes

Why not? If one person posts a critique that says something like, "Nice shot, but the colors appear to be too saturated..." then that's fine and I'll listen to that comment, but I may also think to myself, "that's just one opinion". But if I hear it from several people then that opinion becomes more valid and it's more likely that I'll make a change. Make sense?

I wasn't talking about that.. but more about the situation where 2 or 3 people have already suggested adding a reflector here or moving the light there... I *usually* won't chime in with a "me too".

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by brad

I wasn't talking about that.. but more about the situation where 2 or 3 people have already suggested adding a reflector here or moving the light there... I *usually* won't chime in with a "me too".

me too. I was gonna write that to be a smart mouth, but its kinda true too. No reason to beat a dead horse.

I also don't make too many comments b/c most of the time I have to show people what Im talking about when it relates to comp or posing - which is what I would usually post about. It doesnt seem to translate well - gets stuck in holly-ese, I guess. Every once in a while I give it a go, and people are usually like, huh?!?!

So, to sum up -

me too AND i try.

[Jim]

Great thread! But it needs another reflector to the right.

[CaptainTom]

I hardly ever post here,(4628) so I'll break and in put my two cents.

I am an "old time" photographer who began with cameras that couldn't do anything automatic except read the light and move a needle around in the viewfinder.
The only mechanism for showing and getting reviews of your work was some sort of camera club, be it amateur or PPA. You submitted your prints, and usually got some critique, and if they liked it you got a ribbon. This was OK for the ego, but didn't help much to improve the craft. yadda yadda yadda.
Today, we can take a photo, and within minutes it can be put on the 'net and there can be dozens or hundreds of critiques. Granted, some of the critics don't have a clue, but many do, and it is wonderful to help improve your skills, and photographic "eye".

I don't comment on many photos I view here because previous posters have made similar points. I may say I agree with XXX. I may add a comment, or even say I love a shot. I too will add a short remark to bump a thread back to the top if I see it hasn't had any "air time".

If you don't check here every day, many threads get bumped off of the "new threads" page, and I don't go through each forum and check to see if there are posts that I missed (human form is an exception )

Shut up Tom, and go look at some more threads !!! OK

[Ahh!]

This is a great thread with many well thought out and researched contributions! Kudos to all! But at the risk of bring sand to a beach, I have had a mixed bag of feelings on posting C/C's as well as offering shots. The fun ones (PEEP SHOW) are a no brainer for me. I love to hack and it helps me to learn my equipment, PP, or attempt to tell a story.

I get intimidated by my (lack of) PP skills in the company of photographers with demonstrated accomplishment here in the forum. So when it comes to posting serious stuff, if the expectation is a PP finished work and not "in-camera-alone" I get all nervous. But I'll get over it. I came from slide film, and it is just me. I both loved and hated the dark room which is the ancient equivalent to today's PP. And I spent many hours in the dark learning, which is exactly where I am in PP today.

I have to tell you who have posted and those that are lurking, TPF has been a great experience for me and I have been rewarded by participating. What a client will hire me for, and what passes muster around here are not the same, and for that I am grateful. Contributors (and instructors) here have helped me raise the bar so I can attract more discriminating clients. And, yes, C/C's are always appreciated, be they glib, well thought out, or somewhere in between. Heck, I have a number of family members lurking still.

I think I am going to bump a thread or two now and see if I can draw out a lurker. Or get a C/C! Or make someone's day. Its Friday and there's still a little bit of kid left in me.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

I have noticed that if you are an active poster, you generally have more hits and more responses on your own threads.

Heather, I have almost 1,800 posts in less than a year. This hasn't held true for me. Just an observation.

[laawaaris]

sometimes i don't post comments because i feel a bit like i will offend someone if i say this or that

other times i don't post because i feel a bit like i am not very "qualified" to be critiquing a photo, esp when the photo is of someone is regarded highly on the forum as a good photographer - i only have shot myself for a very short period of time, and don't know if i have a place to give a proper comment

and i suppose - deep down inside - i feel like not commenting since my own posts (which are not too many) have sometimes been glossed over without any comment

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by Wes

Heather, I have almost 1,800 posts in less than a year. This hasn't held true for me. Just an observation.

Agreed Wes!

It is kind of nice to find that I'm not the only one in the boat.!!!

I don't often try to critique because, as strictly a hobby shooter, I don't feel qualified to tell someone else what is wrong, when I don't know what may be technically wrong with mine. I'll leave that to the Educated Pros!

When I post/Share, a picture, I do it totally in hope that someone here might enjoy seeing it. So I certainly don't mind getting the 'Nice Picture' comments. It makes me feel good! It makes me happy I put it up. No comments...make me wondered why I bothered.