Graeme - I am also constrained by time as I guess most of us are and that is a big factor in the length and quality of my comment.

I do tend to comment on photographers who comment on my images. There are a couple of exceptions of photographers who do not seem to leave comments (at least for me) whose work I really like. One of the factors I enjoy about photoblogging is the community developed and this can only be developed by some kind of interaction - so I do it.

I think the relationship between the viewer and the photograph is personal - we all assess quality according to our own criteria. Quality is subjective.

There exists a blogger known as a “comment whore” and they always have a following because a comment on a site deserves at least a visit in exchange. The more you comment the more comments you seem to receive.

If I leave a drive by comment its usually to let the blogger know that I drove by - I want them to know that I still visit even though I don’t have much to say. Sometimes I feel like a comment whore…..

I want people to visit, I want people to leave positive feedback but sometimes I feel the comment process is a waste of time because I have left very little advice to photographers that has helped them (who am I to comment) and I have received little advice that has helped me…..

I have however been motivated to continue my photography by positive feedback - I am in the process of trying to publish my photographs with a stock agency - I would not have done this if I had not started a photoblog and had not had my opinion confirmed that my photography is at least OK - I make images rather than take snapshots.

To say that I don’t care about comments at all would be a flat out lie.

Sure, I like to see that one of my photographs evokes a reaction, but for me, photoblogging is not about getting or giving comments. It a form of documentation. That, and being able to see the progress I’ve hopefully made. Comments from fellow bloggers often amuse me, some make me think, and a few force me to re-evaluate the photograph in particular.
But, like I said before, the recognition not what drives me. If there’s someone who chooses to comment, I’m all willing to listen to what they have to say. It’s interesting to see what other people think.

Other than that, I find it very hard to give comments with depth. There are a few reasons for that, the main reason being that English is not my first language.

Sometimes I find it difficult to translate all my thoughts properly.
I don’t have much knowledge about photography (sure I have read a few books on the subject matter), so discussing technical details seems to be a bit harder.

When giving a comment, I try to avoid reading other people’s thoughts, and follow my personal feeling and ask myself: “Does it ‘click’?”

And yes, I do realize that it’s a less objective approach. The ‘click’ counts more for me than perfect exposure or other technical details.

BK

Judy, you take pictures, you can see, you have an opinion - ergo you are ‘qualified’. It is surprising what encourages and helps me - yse it is often Rock with his wealth of technical knowledge and practical experience, but often it is a modest comment from somebody else that is less technical, but expressing their non technical view that provokes a thought in me.

SOrry you did not get the images you wanted of the UK - let me know if you intend to come again sometime.

Ian

Yet I am also grateful for suggestions on alternate ways of composing a shot. I wish I felt more qualified to give truly helpful suggestions. Years ago I went to England (a lifelong dream of mine) and took shot after shot of the beautiful countryside; I got home and had nothing but dull photos of distant hillsides against gray skies. I had caught none of the light or beauty. In contrast, I’ve just returned from a trip with a set of photos that captured Lake Michigan just the way I wanted to remember it — I can only credit this to both the positive encouragement and constructive suggestions on my blog and from my friends. I only wished you’d all been around before I went to England! Until I can get back there, I will have to rely on Ian to capture his lovely countryside instead.

I do sometimes visit a picture more than once, though that is the exception rather than the rule. I do quite often visit the picture tomorrow (if you see what I mean) when I am commnting on the next one. This gives me a chance to see the full array of feedback and see how the views of others compare to mine - I often learn a lot from this. This is useful because my routine is such that I am usually early on a particular set of blogs that publish just prior to my ‘tour’.

Kim - I am in your camp of pretty much ‘if I visit, I comment’. You are one of my most regular commenters.

Your example is an excellent one of somebody who has rapidly moved upward in the quality of their photography as I told you recently already. I suspect the blog has helped you some with the feedback and the discipline of taking picutres - this has certainly helped me.

I also agree - I never say this is wonderful if I do not think it is - though as I said in the article, what might be to me wonderful from one person would not be good enough from another.

THank you for the encouragement on the words - I am surprised how easily I am finding it to write something each day (only been going since 10 September though).

I am a complete beginner who four months ago didn’t have a clue what aperature meant. In a short time I feel I’ve learned so much and it is from photoblogs and books. When I post a picture it’s not so much because I think it’s outstanding but maybe I learned something new that I want to share with others who may stop by my blog to also learn.

I appreciate comments that are constructive because I learn and others who read the comments learn. It’s a great thing! And likely one may think of some of my shots as ordinary snapshots, well I likely know when that is the case… but I didn’t have anything better and/or I wanted to share something personal with people who I’ve come to know through this online community. So I don’t really need someone to tell me that. But if someone said if you cropped the photo in this way, it would be more flattering… which Rock has done and it made a difference. I love that kind of feedback.

As for saying “great shot” “beautiful” “wonderful” when you know it’s not a great shot, that is just too hard to do. I find something I do like about the photo, maybe pattern or contrast… and leave that in the comment.

As for your post about commenting, I really enjoyed reading it and am really enjoying your words blog. Thank you!

I seldom say that I don’t like an image and if I do it is with a photographer that I am very comfortable with.

I never read comments prior to formulating my thoughts about the image.

If somebody has not asked for critique or if I don’t think that a photograph has merit then I will not offer suggestions.

The more talented that I think a photographer is the more likely I am to harshly criticize his or her work.

The more potential that I believe a photographer has the more likely I am to offer constructive criticism.

I never offer criticism to a photographer that I have not seen other people criticizing. I guess I take this as a no critiquing wanted sign.

I love to work with new photographers. This is my favorite group of people to teach. Often once a photographer gains some experience and skill they lose some enthusiasm and wonder, so I don’t like teaching advanced courses near as well as beginning courses. So I take particular delight in offering suggestions to photographers who are just beginning to SEE.

The less time I have the more likely I am to leave a drive-by comment.

The more an image hits me emotionally the more likely I am to comment on this.

I often visit an image several times if I am uncertain about it or if I really enjoy it. I seldom comment on my second, third… visits.

I am far more likely to offer constructive criticism to a photographer if they have offered the same to me.

I do hope you join us nutters who are dooing this insane thing - I can tell already that I would enjoy the banter with you. Looks like there are a lot of similarities between us (bad luck!).

Jamie - never thought of the number of comments as being a factor in my own commenting - I guess I am disappointed that this would prevent you from commenting on my work. I will consider removing this count from the front page!

For me there is always a point in me expressing my own opinion regardless of how many others have already done so - I appreciate and read every one. Generally I formulate my response prior to reading other comments in an attempt to be my own person - sometimes I modify my view if somebody has raised a point I had missed.