Let's make comments

Again, this morning I looked at the ES&S gallery, and for the first 8 posting, the comment rate was only 2%. I'm sure we can all spare 5 minutes a day to comment on your 2 or 3 favorite postings. How can ideas be exchanged and we all become better photographers if apathy is king?

This seems to be a well beaten mule Greg that comes around a least 2-3 times a year. I agree, it doesn't take very long to make a short observation or two. Let's all jump in there folks!

Amen

I agree, BUT, keep in mind that ESS is the most popular for not just NPN members but for non-members as well. A lot of those hits are the drooling public - I used to be one of them.

Another thing is, I know in my case I was very reluctant to comment at first, but very eager to post images and get feedback. So I started way in the hole as far as the numbers go, I'm trying to comment more and more and make the numbers less skewed. It's a comfort level thing now for me.

Hear! Hear! And it's all galleries, not just ESS. Making comments and asking questions is the way to learn, and yes, Bill, we're beating a dead horse or mule or whatever, but we have to remember that NPN is a pool of rotating photographers with new people coming in as well as folks who have been around a while. As you've already implied, a reminder doesn't hurt.

And Luke, you too are right. Hopefully, the adoring and drooling public does visit; however, simply take a look at the ratio of comments to posted photos does tell us that some people are mostly posting and rarely commenting.
I agree, Let's jump into the fray, everybody It's the best way to learn and grow and develop.



Carol

O.K., I guess it's my turn to play "the dummy." What's "ES&S?"

O.K., I guess it's my turn to play "the dummy." What's "ES&S?"

Earth Sea and Sky

The participation rate seems to vary in different galleries. There are quite high comment rates in Flora, Avian and Fauna but low in ES&S and macro. Not sure about the other galleries. It would be an interesting social science project to look at the reasons for differences?

It's not the amount of comments you make, it's the quality of those comments that makes a difference.

Ronnie G.

I think both the number and the quality of comments make a difference. I know I appreciate the thoughtful comments that clearly relate to the specifics of the image the most. On the other had I think it is appropriate, especially on an image that has already received a large number of comments, to simply make a more generic comment such as "this is beautiful".

Even a quick generic comment lets the poster know that you looked at the image and reacted to it, which is better than no post at all.

Those posters that take the time to truly evaluate each image and make thoughtful comments are the stars of NPN. They are the reason to participate, and I believe all of us hold them in the highest esteem.

Peter's last paragraph takes my breath away because it is so true for me. And Bill Maile's comments are true for me, also. I'm still very far away from a comfort level that would allow me to say much more than that something is beautiful or that I like a respost better because.

I would not be able to work through these initial stages in my development if it were not for the posters to whom Peter refers, and the more I work through my initial development the sooner I'll hopefully have a comfort level that allows me to actually critique someone else's work rather than my own. But what I am receiving from you all I most definitely want to pay back and pay forward as soon as I can.