Posted by dan elster on February 2, 2011 at 7:47 PM
What is your biggest factor when deciding what photo to post? Do you always choose images that you think will rack up the most positive comments? Just curious.
Posted by Luke Ormand on February 2, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Dan - if I always chose photos that racked up positive comments I would post about once every two months! For me, I post mostly in avian (and dabble in other galleries depending on availability of appropriate subjects). I do most of my shooting on the weekend - so during the week I try and grab the best 2 or 3 shots from my weekend and post them. I like getting feedback on current stuff because I'm constantly learning and improving so to get comments on a photo I took a year ago doesn't do me as much good (though it's always helpful). Additionally, if I find something like a Wilson's Snipe it may be around for a week or two and I can get initial feedback on my first shots and use those critiques to improve my photos the next few times I am able to see the bird.
I'd say 75% of the time I know what kind of comments I'm going to get and how many. Sometimes I'm surprised (both for good and bad) but it's always a good process.
If I go through a slow patch where I havn't been finding things or been taking good photos I will go in the archives and pull stuff out - things that maybe I never processed just to keep up with my posting. Hope that helps.
Posted by Max Waugh on February 2, 2011 at 8:24 PM
I'll sometimes hold something back if there are a lot of related subjects being posted at the time (common in the wildlife gallery, since many of us have a slew of North American fauna shots). Otherwise, I don't really have any rhyme or reason to what I post. Being a relatively new member, I still have a lot in my archives to share and get feedback on.
The biggest factor for me is if I LIKE the photo and the processing outcome!
I experiment a lot, and am not after a lot of comments - only honest and useful one that make me think of alternatives, or confirm what I thought.
I often go back through my archives, as I learn new processing techniques, and update a photo. These, I may or may not post - but they usually do end up on my website, if I like them.
My 2 cents -
Sandy
Posted by Buck Ward on February 2, 2011 at 8:44 PM
Sometimes I post a picture I'm proud of, to show it off.
Once in a while I have a picture that meets the Weekly Challenge theme, (if I remember to check it out) so I post it there for fun.
But usually I post photos that I'm uncertain about. I see the flaws, but I hope folks will say that the good points outweigh the bad. Usually, though, folks point out shortcomings I had overlooked. If I get a positive response, I keep the picture, if not, out it goes.
Posted by Brian Gatlin on February 2, 2011 at 9:15 PM
Dan, I typically try to present either (a) what I see as my best photos or (b) photos I'm not quite sure about.
In the case of (a), I wouldn't say I'm doing it to rack up positive comments, because (as gratifying as that is to have your work enjoyed, and I do appreciate those comments), they aren't why I'm here. Instead, I'm looking to see if there is something I've missed or something that could be better. I'm here to be a better photographer. If someone sees a way that a photo that I think is awesome could be even better, that is a great learning experience.
In the case of (b), sometimes I have photos that I'm just not sure about, shots that I like a lot, or like certain aspects of, but want to see what others think (like Buck said). For example, one of my recent sandhill crane takeoff photos, I loved the bird's pose but felt that it was just too tight in the frame. I posted it to get input and most agreed--too tight. Didn't track quite fast enough there.
But I've got a whole lot of photos that just aren't very good. I don't post any of them (well, I hope not, occasionally a dud might slip through my filters when things have been dry). I already know they suck--don't need any input there.
That's my approach to things.
Posted by Ron Dudley on February 2, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Really good question Dan - made me think about how I choose. Must admit that I typically choose photos I like moderately or a lot, mostly to see if others like them too. After 4+ years of doing this I'm still not very confident in my skills at evaluating some aspects of image quality and the feedback I get is invaluable in that regard to tell me if I'm missing something, which I often do.
Perhaps 20% of the time though I'll choose an image to post that has obvious, even significant faults but also has what I think may be balancing strengths just to see where others think the scales balance out. Always an enlightening experience, and humbling at times.
As to your question about "racking up the most positive comments". I hope all I'm concerned with now is the quality of comments. But I do remember a time when I thought lots of comments was a larger goal than it should have been...
Posted by Kent Staubus on February 3, 2011 at 12:40 AM
My philosophy is generally to post the very best photos I have, say the best one of the month (I shoot daily.) That way, people will think I'm a better photographer than I really am.
Kent in SD
Posted by Barbara Graham on February 3, 2011 at 12:55 AM
For me there's no conflict between the best that I have and photos I need input on, because they're all the same at this point. To partially quote Ron, I'm "not very confident in my skills at evaluating some aspects of image quality and the feedback I get is invaluable in that regard to tell me if I'm missing something, which I often do," except that in my case I'm not very confident in my skills at evaluating any aspects of image quality. Usually when I think I know something it turns out not to be right. What saves me is that over time even though there are still things wrong with pretty much every single one of my images, some more than others, they are getting better overall, and that's due to the feedback.
Posted by John Tobias on February 3, 2011 at 11:46 AM
I post what I like and what I think others might like to see if it is something unique or special. Also, to get suggestions on improving. Sometimes that is a problem if I let my ego get in the way. As an example, one landscape I really liked and took umbrage at the comments, then took a second look at my photo and the comments. Re worked the image and came up with a much better photo!
Reading through all of the comments above, I'd agree with all the mentioned factors for choosing images to post. Thought provoking question. I appreciate everyone's comments, as it saved me a lot of typing!
I have a separate folder in my computer, where I keep images for competitions, magazines and website, normally I post from there, about once a week. Suggestions you get here from so many talented photographers, help you further improve your finished picture.
Jagdeep Rajput
Discussion
11 repliesI'd say 75% of the time I know what kind of comments I'm going to get and how many. Sometimes I'm surprised (both for good and bad) but it's always a good process.
If I go through a slow patch where I havn't been finding things or been taking good photos I will go in the archives and pull stuff out - things that maybe I never processed just to keep up with my posting. Hope that helps.
Max
I experiment a lot, and am not after a lot of comments - only honest and useful one that make me think of alternatives, or confirm what I thought.
I often go back through my archives, as I learn new processing techniques, and update a photo. These, I may or may not post - but they usually do end up on my website, if I like them.
My 2 cents -
Sandy
Once in a while I have a picture that meets the Weekly Challenge theme, (if I remember to check it out) so I post it there for fun.
But usually I post photos that I'm uncertain about. I see the flaws, but I hope folks will say that the good points outweigh the bad. Usually, though, folks point out shortcomings I had overlooked. If I get a positive response, I keep the picture, if not, out it goes.
In the case of (a), I wouldn't say I'm doing it to rack up positive comments, because (as gratifying as that is to have your work enjoyed, and I do appreciate those comments), they aren't why I'm here. Instead, I'm looking to see if there is something I've missed or something that could be better. I'm here to be a better photographer. If someone sees a way that a photo that I think is awesome could be even better, that is a great learning experience.
In the case of (b), sometimes I have photos that I'm just not sure about, shots that I like a lot, or like certain aspects of, but want to see what others think (like Buck said). For example, one of my recent sandhill crane takeoff photos, I loved the bird's pose but felt that it was just too tight in the frame. I posted it to get input and most agreed--too tight. Didn't track quite fast enough there.
But I've got a whole lot of photos that just aren't very good. I don't post any of them (well, I hope not, occasionally a dud might slip through my filters when things have been dry). I already know they suck--don't need any input there.
That's my approach to things.
Perhaps 20% of the time though I'll choose an image to post that has obvious, even significant faults but also has what I think may be balancing strengths just to see where others think the scales balance out. Always an enlightening experience, and humbling at times.
As to your question about "racking up the most positive comments". I hope all I'm concerned with now is the quality of comments. But I do remember a time when I thought lots of comments was a larger goal than it should have been...
Kent in SD
Jagdeep Rajput