I've been wondering this for awhile now. How would most people like their critiques to be replied to?
What I'm asking is, if I post an image and someone gives me some useful critique (or any critique for that matter) should I email them privately or should I post on the image page.
I wonder if people come back after posting a critique on an image. There is so much to look at on the site that backtracking becomes daunting after a day or two (or sometimes an hour).
I'd just like to encourage critiquing anyway I can, and frankly I also just want to be polite.
Whether it's the right thing to do or not, I've always responded directly into the thread rather than emailing. Some folks check back and some don't. My reasoning is that other viewers can learn not just from the critique, but also from your reaction to it. If I had to email rather than do that, I would probably provide fewer critiques simply as a convenience issue.
Posted by Nathan Buck on March 14, 2006 at 3:25 PM
Like Hank, I have always responded right in the thread. As he mentioned, some people will check back, others will not.
It seems that most people follow this logic. If I have asked VERY specific questions, sometimes I will get an email, but not usually.
Nathan
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 14, 2006 at 4:23 PM
Replying directly in the thread encourages dialog, which is a good thing - as long as it is not a challenge or tries to refute the critique.
If I ask something, I check back and if I reply to some comment, it`s usually within the thread. Sometimes I miss having the PM (personal message) feature since everyone doesn`t list their e-mail.
Posted by Bill Chambers on March 14, 2006 at 10:52 PM
Interesting question Alex.
I seldom reply to critiques unless it is to clarify a question or issue that someone has raised. It's certainly not that I'm ungrateful or unappreciative, for I genuinely appreciate each comment and critique. The conumdrum lies in when to do so. If you wait until the comments stop will anyone ever see your thank you reply, and if you start earlier in the process you end up having to write several thank you's to avoid 'snubbing' someone.
Speaking strictly for me, when I give a critique I do so not expecting a thank you. Perhaps I look at writing critiques somewhat differently than some. I don't look at writing critiques as some type of obligation or quid pro quo type of thing, I look at it from a selfish standpoint. I generally learn more from writing a critique than from receiving one. I can tear apart a image, examine it at length, figure out what I like and don't like, garner much useful information and ideas, and do this MUCH more objectively than I can with my own work. The way I look at it, if any thank you's need to be said, I should be the one thanking them for letting me critique their work.
I usually check back at least once after leaving a comment. It's not just to see whether anyone has replied to my comment (although that's always nice) but also to see whether any interesting conversation is going on in the thread.
As a commenter I really, really appreciate when the poster acknowledges the comments. I don't expect each individual comment to be replied to (that would be unreasonable) but I think at least one general "thanks everyone" is really important. It's not even so much the thanks that are important to me, it's that I want to know that the poster has a pulse and actually bothered to read the comments at all. I feel it's rude when people take the time to say things in the comments and the poster doesn't even indicate that they heard them.
Posted by Bob Steele on March 14, 2006 at 11:55 PM
I leave my thank you's for the comments I get on my images by working my tail off commenting on the work of others. It is a much more sincere way of showing my appreciation for their efforts. In all honesty, it matters not to me how many comments "I" get (though every one is sincerely appreciated), but how much effort is put in to commenting in general. I regularly comment on well over 90% of the images that hit avian - the ones I skip are most always from those who take only the time to post, and not to comment on other photographer's work.
I think I'll take a page from Bob by critiquing more images, from Bill by learning more from the images I critique, and from everyone else by thanking people in thread for their time and effort.
I always leave my comments in the forum rather than email them directly. As someone mentioned, it encourages dialog and allows others who may benefit from the thread to see all the comments.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 15, 2006 at 10:30 AM
I think I'll take a page from Bob by critiquing more images, from Bill by learning more from the images I critique, and from everyone else by thanking people in thread for their time and effort.
Alex, that sounds like a plan!
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 15, 2006 at 9:30 PM
I usually make an effort to reply when critique is given. I do so on the forums as opposed to in private in most situations. I do this to encourage dialog and share that dialog with others, in hopes we will all learn something or at least become aware of each others point of view.
Discussion
14 repliesI've been wondering this for awhile now. How would most people like their critiques to be replied to?
What I'm asking is, if I post an image and someone gives me some useful critique (or any critique for that matter) should I email them privately or should I post on the image page.
I wonder if people come back after posting a critique on an image. There is so much to look at on the site that backtracking becomes daunting after a day or two (or sometimes an hour).
I'd just like to encourage critiquing anyway I can, and frankly I also just want to be polite.
Thanks,
Alex
It seems that most people follow this logic. If I have asked VERY specific questions, sometimes I will get an email, but not usually.
Nathan
-PB
I seldom reply to critiques unless it is to clarify a question or issue that someone has raised. It's certainly not that I'm ungrateful or unappreciative, for I genuinely appreciate each comment and critique. The conumdrum lies in when to do so. If you wait until the comments stop will anyone ever see your thank you reply, and if you start earlier in the process you end up having to write several thank you's to avoid 'snubbing' someone.
Speaking strictly for me, when I give a critique I do so not expecting a thank you. Perhaps I look at writing critiques somewhat differently than some. I don't look at writing critiques as some type of obligation or quid pro quo type of thing, I look at it from a selfish standpoint. I generally learn more from writing a critique than from receiving one. I can tear apart a image, examine it at length, figure out what I like and don't like, garner much useful information and ideas, and do this MUCH more objectively than I can with my own work. The way I look at it, if any thank you's need to be said, I should be the one thanking them for letting me critique their work.
As a commenter I really, really appreciate when the poster acknowledges the comments. I don't expect each individual comment to be replied to (that would be unreasonable) but I think at least one general "thanks everyone" is really important. It's not even so much the thanks that are important to me, it's that I want to know that the poster has a pulse and actually bothered to read the comments at all. I feel it's rude when people take the time to say things in the comments and the poster doesn't even indicate that they heard them.
I think I'll take a page from Bob by critiquing more images, from Bill by learning more from the images I critique, and from everyone else by thanking people in thread for their time and effort.
Cheers,
Alex
Alex, that sounds like a plan!