pxlshots.com Forum

Hello everyone,

I have been told my comments were sometimes offending or maybe not really relevant (especially because I'm kind of new to this site and haven't shown photographic skills a lot, I guess things'd be different if I was level 16). I'd just like to know what kind of comment is acceptable in the contests. When I see a noisy or oof shot, I can't help but point it out. I cannot write "Nice shot" on something which I think is not.

I am wondering - should I just stop commenting when I don't like the entry?

Regards,

Xavier

PS: For all those I could have shocked with one or many comments, please forgive me. I have been told the problems in my comments and will try to resolve that. Please understand that I never mean to offend when commenting.

Also, my first language is French, si I might not always be clear in my ideas... I'm sorry about that!

Servus, Xavier.


Sounds quite familiar to me Some people don't like to be criticized in public but instead of using private or no comments at all, they insist on just flattering comments. I decided to stop all 'technical' commenting but will be around in the forum is anybody wants to know something.

From your reputation points, I'd say some people like your comments and to me, they are (most often) spot on. You have a good eye and good judgement of issues, but still you should throw your comments wisely.


I think this isn't even necessary -- if a 'photographer' doesn't know his stuff is oof, telling won't help either. And noise is built to the hardware -- nothing one can do about. So neither reason will make me write a comment…

Indeed, lying is the worst way to comment imo. If I think a shot is nice, I vote accordingly and that's about it.


Likings should be secondary in any case. It's all about photographical merits, and if there aren't any, I don't even try to comment.

Maybe you try to find the best thing in every picture and comment on just that? Like: 'nice green meadow', 'wonderful straight pole', 'awesome blue sky' and such? Should also tell a lot, but reads quite flattering... My suggestion: don't comment at all. Use the forum, and enter great pictures. Eventually people will start asking you and that's the safe way to play this game…

Thanks for the tips Nofue.

Not everyone would have expensive or top of the line cameras either. For instance mine is an entry level Canon Powershot A580 with a limited editing programme. I have had a few comments about some of my photos being noisy and try as I might I can't seem to change that. Eventually I hope to upgrade but for now I can only try do my best with what I have.

I want to learn but to be honest I find some comments to be sarcastic and belittling rather than offering any constructive criticism or advice. For instance a recent comment on my jeans contest entry " phone camera?" was unneccessary and far from helpful. It's a shame there's not a "thumbs down" option. Even more purturbing is the person responsible for that comment ( amongst others) calling herself after my country's most loved iconic native bird when clearly she is an introduced species!

Whilst I'm more than happy to learn from those who have more experience I think some of the comments are more about ridicule and put downs than useful feedback.
I don't assume to comment regarding technical content of any entries as I don't feel qualified to do so. However if I like a photo or appreciate someone's creativity and effort I'll say so.

Sometimes I look at some of the photos entered by those who seem to criticise others the most and have to wonder as to me some of their entries don't exactly impress too much either.

I'm here to have fun, and enjoy and appreciate other's photography. If I can benefit from others knowledge and experience in a pleasant, friendly and constructive manner then so much the better.

I must admit saying an entry is noisy (simply that, I mean) is not quite useful. I'll watch myself next time.

Servus, Gabby.


Actually, it doesn't need a top of the line camera to take great pictures -- but it's a lot more difficult with low end gear. I haven't used any point and shoot gadget for years now, but eight years ago I lead a multi media project where we needed some pictures of rather small things urgently -- the presentation was scheduled for the next day and some key images were missing from the CD we've gotten.

Doing the job on film would have taken too long, so a colleague gave me a tiny chromed Canon Ixus which had pretty much no controls to setup the cam, let alone a flash trigger or such. I put together a 'pro' setup (three desk lamps, a white sheet of paper as a backdrop and two books to make for a safe "stand") and took those pics. We had our stuff ready in time and the client was more than happy -- he said our pics looked much more convincing than what he had gotten from a photostudio...

There's nothing which keeps you from taking great pictures as long as you have a camera. But you have to know it's shortcomings and there are pictures you simply can't take with rather basic cameras because of technical reasons (i.e. lacking efficient controls for aperture and shutter speed). In cases like this, it's better not to enter a contest at all -- showing bad pics and claiming "handy" or "p&s cam" almost never gets honored by the voters. To them, there is no excuse for technically challenged pictures as it's quite easy to not enter them.