No comments on posted shots......good thing or a bad thing?

[JM Tran]

I'm rarely able to add anything constructive as I'm way too new to this myself, add to that the fact that there has been a bit of a trend lately to discourage too many people just saying "Nice Shot" (which is fair enough, as it is in the CC area, and "nice shot" isn't really CC), so with both those factors, and then the time of year where everyone is away, or busy with family, and you may not get too much CC at the moment. Even less if your shots are good enough that there's not much that people can add in the way of any useful CC.

I do like the idea of a "like" button now. That's a great idea. Because telling people that you like their shot is definitely constructive, as it tells them to a degree, that they're on the right track, or what they've done has worked, but dozens of "nice shot" posts makes it too hard to weed through to the useful stuff when you go back to look up the suggestions people made, or the settings they recommended. The "like" button solves both problems.

I agree with you, I find the Like button much more useful than the thank you button. As it has already been stated in this thread, sometimes I cant form enough words to write a small critique, sometimes it doesnt need to when you look at it and go wow, or urghhhhh.....!

So clicking like is/can be better than saying 'great shot'

and sometimes, earlier posters have said everything I would have said anyway so I felt no more need to comment or critique.

[Roosta]

I'm rarely able to add anything constructive as I'm way too new to this myself, add to that the fact that there has been a bit of a trend lately to discourage too many people just saying "Nice Shot" (which is fair enough, as it is in the CC area, and "nice shot" isn't really CC), so with both those factors, and then the time of year where everyone is away, or busy with family, and you may not get too much CC at the moment. Even less if your shots are good enough that there's not much that people can add in the way of any useful CC.

I do like the idea of a "like" button now. That's a great idea. Because telling people that you like their shot is definitely constructive, as it tells them to a degree, that they're on the right track, or what they've done has worked, but dozens of "nice shot" posts makes it too hard to weed through to the useful stuff when you go back to look up the suggestions people made, or the settings they recommended. The "like" button solves both problems.

I have to disagree with the "LIKE Button" If you take the time to view an image and feel stired in some way, why not tell them in a few simple words, rather than press the like button. It's just lazy/poor form IMO. Not a fan.

"CC" can also but not always be used as a medium to portray your feels on said image, not just good sky, poor lighting or what ever.

OP's can post what they believe to be a good image at their level of experience, or be looking to gain something from posting an image, if you get a bunch of 'LIKE Buttons" that would SH!T me to tears, it doesn't offer any feedback at all IMO. I'm a firm believer that this site has made me a better photographer from decent HONEST CC of my presented images. Not just to Nice Colour and the like, but maybe you could try this next time, or try these settings.

You don't have to be of a medium or above level of skill to offer what said image stirs inside you, that's part of the art.

But Ezookeil, if you like the "LIKE Button" you should continue to use it, we're all different.

P.S, Please don't let this site get like a Social Network.

I can see both gerry's and geoffsta's points on "Friendships" I do look for CC sometimes from a particular AP'er, but I normally ask for it in the story of my image. Lets face it, there are some pretty bloody good photographers on this site, and If I can gain something from him/her and they will openly contribute, that's got to be good, is it not?

[ricktas]

The mods and I have been discussing the new thanks and like buttons (our old system was no longer a supported add-on). The new one is very customisable, and there is some difference of opinion between us as to whether the like should stay, be renamed or go. Some like them, and others dislike them (hehe).

We might run a poll in a week or two with some alternative ideas we have, for wording of them, if members feel they are detracting from the site, in their present form.

[Ezookiel]

I only see the LIKE as an alternative to adding yet another "That's a really great shot" to a thread full of that already if you know what I mean.
My problem is a lack of confidence to critique a photo when the vast majority of the photos posted are shots I could only dream of getting, that I'm in no position to make much useful comment on. This means my only option is to say "Great Shot" but that is being discouraged on what I believe are reasonable grounds, so the "Like" gives me an alternative.
I must admit though, the movement away from "Great Shot" has actually made me have to stop and think a lot more about an image that I'd like to comment on. And that in turn has often made me look much more deeply at a person's image, and helped me see things I might not have actually seen to comment on. However, I'm not sure everyone will do that. Most will either make no comment because thinking more about the image takes either too much time or too much brain power, or because there is now a "Like" button that will make it unnecessary. I guess I'm still undecided about the button. I certainly don't see AP overtaking Facebook any time soon just with the inclusion of it

[reflect]

I honestly think that comments have as much to with viewers available time and interest in the subject as knowledge of the genre. Personally I am more likely to comment on a shot with people in it, mainly because they are so variable, even in the studio, and therefore to me, I wish to either comment on a photographers skill ( lighting, pose, interaction, etc) or offer some of my limited mistake based gained knowledge. Recently I have shot some seascapes and, I am sorry to those that love them, found a sort of sameness in them all, even with changing processing styles. Thats just me, no insult at all intended. However if I see a striking, out of the (dare I say it) ordinary landscape, seascape etc I will comment, just as I did when the Gold Coasts' resident seascape maestro, William posted a dramatic mono just this week. Dont take it personally if you dont get a high comment rate every time, and try to look around and comment on others contributions, and please join in to the discussion forums as well, the more the merrier, most of all remember how lucky we are to have this as our obsession. Just my opinion..lol

[Roosta]

The mods and I have been discussing the new thanks and like buttons (our old system was no longer a supported add-on). The new one is very customisable, and there is some difference of opinion between us as to whether the like should stay, be renamed or go. Some like them, and others dislike them (hehe).

We might run a poll in a week or two with some alternative ideas we have, for wording of them, if members feel they are detracting from the site, in their present form.

Good one Rick, will look out for it.

As always, Thanks.

[gerry]

I really don't believe that at all. Yes, you do get to create some really good online friendships. But the idea of only commenting on members that you know is a myth.
One thing I don't like is commenting on members images were that member rarely gives much CC. When someone that has been a member for ages, and has very few posts makes me wonder if they are "sharers" or just don't spend that much time on the site.

whilst i have no hard numbers, i do not think its a myth. I also think its a bit unfair to judge someone based on pure post count vs signup time. I think it would be wise check the quality of their posts rather than quantity. I know i would rather try for a smaller number of quality critiques/feedback over trying to cover everyones images.

Funny how a thread ABOUT critiquing gets 18 posts in 6 1/2 hours and even out of those who have posted to this thread, only 3 have posted a critique on another members photo, since this thread started. Me thinks we spend way to much time analysing the why's of things, instead of actually DOING! I am off to critique a photo or two.

[Roosta]

I'm rarely able to add anything constructive as I'm way too new to this myself, add to that the fact that there has been a bit of a trend lately to discourage too many people just saying "Nice Shot" (which is fair enough, as it is in the CC area, and "nice shot" isn't really CC), so with both those factors, and then the time of year where everyone is away, or busy with family, and you may not get too much CC at the moment. Even less if your shots are good enough that there's not much that people can add in the way of any useful CC.

I do like the idea of a "like" button now. That's a great idea. Because telling people that you like their shot is definitely constructive, as it tells them to a degree, that they're on the right track, or what they've done has worked, but dozens of "nice shot" posts makes it too hard to weed through to the useful stuff when you go back to look up the suggestions people made, or the settings they recommended. The "like" button solves both problems.

Under my good to see CC being used correctly thoughts, I came across this little bueaty from yourself (I've found out a bit about how you got this fantastic shot from the image EXIF data, but would you mind sharing if you used the Lee Big Stopper or any other filters you have mentioned in your signature, with the shot? Only asking as it might help me to be able to get shots like this. I'm assuming at 1/40 second that you used a tripod or other rest, or was it free hand?

Thanks in advance.)

So much better than the "LIKE Button"

Where's the CC as such? It's a bloody good question you pose to the OP, this is what helps us all, somebody else might be kicking back thinking "How do I get that" and by you asking the question and receiving the response, that person and yourself and good knows how many others can learn from the experience. Thanks what I'm talking about.. Love to see this in posts.

[Ezookiel]

Thanks (I couldn't resist clicking "Like this post" on your response though )
I've been reluctant to ask questions within someone's CC thread, as it's not really what CC is all about - in theory it should really only be constructive criticism about the image, not a 'how to' thread, but it's also rarely worth starting a whole thread just to ask how someone took a particular shot. So sometimes I risk stepping on a moderator's toes and ask questions within the CC thread itself. It sure has to beat "Nice Shot" for the 30th time in the same thread though surely?

[arthurking83]

Mr Roosta make a very pertinent point.

Even if you can't think of anything constructive to say about the image, there's no reason not to interrogate the OP on their methods and hence deconstruct the image.

In that post that Roosta is referring too, did any aspect of the image seem inappropriate to you?

[Kym]

Like is dead, it is now Thanks for CC but ONLY on the CC forums, also Thanks is now thanks for useful post

[Seabee]

Mr Roosta make a very pertinent point.

Even if you can't think of anything constructive to say about the image, there's no reason not to interrogate the OP on their methods and hence deconstruct the image.

In that post that Roosta is referring too, did any aspect of the image seem inappropriate to you?

Agreed.............I am more than willing to share any knowledge I have accquired, no matter how miniscule it may be!

[ricktas]

Thanks (I couldn't resist clicking "Like this post" on your response though )
I've been reluctant to ask questions within someone's CC thread, as it's not really what CC is all about - in theory it should really only be constructive criticism about the image, not a 'how to' thread, but it's also rarely worth starting a whole thread just to ask how someone took a particular shot. So sometimes I risk stepping on a moderator's toes and ask questions within the CC thread itself. It sure has to beat "Nice Shot" for the 30th time in the same thread though surely?

Not true. We will never stop members asking relevant questions in Critique threads. After all, AP exists to allow members to get critique and IMPROVE. How can we (any of us) improve, without asking relevant questions and getting informative answers. Ask whatever you want of the photographer, as long as it relates to photo/discussion and isn't completely off-topic, there is zero reason the mods or I would do anything about your post(s).