Photo Ratings and Comments

[Terry C]

I look at the images in the gallery a lot. I've noticed that a lot of folks are more than willing to give an arbitrary rating to images in the gallery but not support the rating they give with comments (I've been guilty of it myself). I would think that if you rate an image very low you must have reasons for doing so. Not expressing what those reasons are does nothing to help the person that created that image improve (assuming your reasons are valid, reasonable, well defined, etc.). The same thing goes for those that rate images very high. There must be some reason why the image moves you to give it a high score. Expressing what you consider the positive and negative components of an image to be may just make you and the photographer more aware of how an image should be made and improve both your photography skills and the photographers skills in the process (not to mention your critiquing skills). Even a professional will welcome well thought out criticism. Just a thought...

[kenw]

it's a good thought and a common issues with image galleries everywhere. So many times you get the ubiquitous "Nice shot!", which, while nice enough, isn't really helpful to those of us who are looking for a learning opportunity.

It just really means that those of us who can remember to do so should give a bit more meat in a comment.

[scayf]

I feel kinda funny about "rating" someone's work...it's all subjective, the way I see it. What I like, someone else might dislike, and vice versa (like these HDR images). Some are good, some so-so, and some just ugh, way overdone. But that's just me.

Other than the obvious, I mean, like portraits with distracting backgrounds (like a tree limb coming out of someone's head) or under/over-exposure. Constructive criticism has its place. But as far as rating goes, I'll rate a landscape higher than I would a bridal portrait, because that's how my tastes run. And if someone intended for a shot to be made the way it was, and they're pleased, a low rating is meaningless. A high rating means someone else was pleased as well. I don't know...I just feel funny about it.

[Terry C]

My thread was aimed at those people who go through and give an arbitrary number to an image as a reference to its quality without an explanation as to why they did so. If you don't want to rate images then my suggestion does not apply to you. But remember, none of us are "experts" when it comes to rating any form of art nor are we completely objective. We all carry our preferences and prejudices with us when we view or hear or touch art but an honest evaluation can be beneficial to both the artist and the person experiencing the art. In all the art classes I've ever attended a class critique was always part of the process. None of the students involved was an "expert" and each viewed the art through their own subjective lenses.

[Jenny Z]

It may be that whatever that person was thinking has already been said, perhaps...

[Terry C]

Originally Posted by Jenny Z

It may be that whatever that person was thinking has already been said, perhaps...

There's no harm in agreeing with a previous comment. Doing so reinforces the previous statement.

[studiocygnet]

Hmmm, I didn't know we had a rating system. I guess I'd better go take a closer look.

[sldi]

I rate this thread a 5 out of 5.

[Corrie]

I don't know. There are a lot of REALLY beginner/snapshotty photo's. I would feel kinda bad putting 1 sad little star. It's easier to critique in a regular post because they are asking what to improve on instead of the Hot or Not type system lol.

[studiocygnet]

I'm still confused. I see where you can rate the whole thread, but not an individual photograph. People rate threads that they think are interesting and other folks might want to know about, but where are the photo ratings?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by studiocygnet

I'm still confused. I see where you can rate the whole thread, but not an individual photograph. People rate threads that they think are interesting and other folks might want to know about, but where are the photo ratings?

Go to an individual photo in a users gallery and select that photo.

Now click under the photo where it says "Post a Comment". You can rate it from 1-10 and not leave a comment or both.

[sandy_ruotolo]

When I rate a photo in the gallery, it usually has caputerd my interest. Being new myself, if no one comments, I would take it the photo was not that good. That's fine, but no one is offering suggestions on how to improve. I can look at my photo, and put it out there, maybe I feel a little let down when people give their feedback, but then I go back and look again as they're trying to help. Other wise I'm going to keep taking photographs that reflect my previous work. Nothing learned is nothing gained.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by sandy_ruotolo

When I rate a photo in the gallery, it usually has caputerd my interest. Being new myself, if no one comments, I would take it the photo was not that good. That's fine, but no one is offering suggestions on how to improve. I can look at my photo, and put it out there, maybe I feel a little let down when people give their feedback, but then I go back and look again as they're trying to help. Other wise I'm going to keep taking photographs that reflect my previous work. Nothing learned is nothing gained.

It also might be because no one has seen the photo. Never take anything personally if you don't get an immediate response.

You might try posting more in the general forum in the proper category and asking for comment. I'd say there are some forum users who don't know that there are galleries to go look at.

[studiocygnet]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Go to an individual photo in a users gallery

Thanks Stovall, I just didn't read the original post clearly. He said "gallery", not forum thread
Actually, I kinda forgot we had a gallery. I loaded some photos in there when I first started posting to TPF, and then forgot they were there. I find myself busy enough looking at photos in the thread posts, so I haven't been back to the gallery. I just went there because of this thread, and discovered I had photos in there. Who knew? Not me, I guess

[sandy_ruotolo]

Toverman, not I don't expect immediate responses. I also realized that withthe popularty of this fourm, it's easy to get overlooked. I don't take that personal basis either, but if happens on a regular basis, then I start to thing.But being new I didn't realize a lot of people post directly to the threads or forums. Lesson learned.