I see more and more people not allowing comments under their uploaded pictures when they don’t have time (or are not in the mood…) themselves to comment the other postings !

I think it is a very bad habit :

• first it reinforce the “concept” of reciprocity : “Because you comment my picture, I’ll comment yours and vice-versa”…

• it makes RR looking more as a “private” gallery where only the owner is receiving comments/critics by E-mail…

• it is against the “rules of the game”…
  

What do you think ?

I think it is a personal choice of the members to apply whatever settings they desire to their gallery uploads. I personally like the choice to be able to comment or not on a photo, but if I can't, so be it. These galleries are our own to do with as we see fit within the Terms Of Service and the comments on/off has long been a choice for gallery owners. There are plenty of members who DO allow comments...I can't keep up as it is. I am not sure what "rules of the game" you are referring to. If so please provide me with a link or copy of them. ;']

I very much agree with you Michel.

My feeling on this is if you are going to make use of the facilities the community offers IE post images here then there is also an obligation to contribute to the community to make it work in the way that was intended IE  allow and give comments.

For various reasons I have not found myself able to contribute very much to the community recently. However when I do post an image I try my utmost to also go through the gallery reviewing and commenting upon others work. Note this is not the same as reciprocal buddy for buddy comments, I comment where it is justified and where I have something to say. I also comment very sporadically at other times, as and when I can. 

Not allowing comments feels to me as if something is being taken away from the community. It has a hint of elitism, perhaps not intentional, but to me it is there. Someone saying I will post my images but I don't value your comments, or wish to participate in this community. If, as appears to be the case, they are posted simply for an elite circle of friends to pass their comments on by e mail, then why not e mail the image to the friends directly?  

I'll finish by copying in the mission statement from above.

Our mission is to provide an open community where any and all persons interested in photography can share their experiences and knowledge, post their work for review and critique by their peers, and learn new techniques while developing the skills that allow each individual to realize their own unique artistic vision. We do not limit this forum to any one style or form of photography, and we strongly encourage people of all levels and interests to participate.

This mission statement is also at the top of the gallery web pages.

I allow comments... One of the reason (i think) people don't allow comments is like as you said - they are unable to comment on everyones images. There are people who PM others asking for comments (after commenting) which, i think, is very inappropriate.

I allow comments ...

I always close the notes for a submission with ... 

**Thank you very much for viewing.

I appreciate each and every comment that you offer
-~-
Progress depends on criticism and advice as well as praise.
**
For each comment I get, I try to visit that member's gallery ... often look at the entire gallery and leave comments as appropriate.  I have had members send a PM because they were surprised that anyone would view ... let alone ... comment on a 4 year old image. 

I question the motives of any member who blocks comments ... how can someone improve if he doesn't see any comments? 

It's too bad that the site encourages this by allowing these options at the time of the upload ....

**Allow viewers to make comments on this image?
___ Both critical and non-critical comments are welcomed.
___ Critical comments are preferred for the improvement of this image.
___ Non-critical comments are preferred.

Allow viewers to rate this image?
___ Yes/No

Allow viewers to vote for this image?
___ Yes/No
**
even so ... most of the comments I see here are of the 'pat on the back' variety. 

Here are 2 examples ... both from a long time ago ... at a time when I tried to look at each new upload each day ...

(1) I saw a CGI of a hooded swordswoman ... and noted some 'wardrobe failures' (the sword belt was not tight to the character's waist) ... and also made some other observations about the 'accessories' (or lack) the character was wearing. 

There were about 10 comments ahead of mine, but none of those comments noticed any of the negative elements that I saw.  The artists (merchants on this site) thanked me for the comments, and were pleased to get them.  Please view my submission, "Renaissance Accessories" for my additional comments on that image ... alas, the original submission "See No Evil" has been deleted. 

(2) Even earlier, I saw a CGI titled "Through The Arched Wall" ... lovely picture ... but as the archways lacked the voussoirs (voussoirs are the stones that line the arch and carry the weight of the wall above the archway),  I had a vivid image of the wall collapsing ... I stated that in my comments along with internet examples of proper arches ... however, the artist (and a friend of hers) were quite upset at my daring to comment with anything other than praise. 

Be that as it may, I still and will always give comments that are based on the reality of the image -- not just what the artist may wish to hear. 

--
Martin
p.s. Thanks for listening ... errrrr ... reading ...
 

I like reading comments just the same as viewing images (and news/blog articles).

On the other side of the coin are those members that DO allow comments or want feedback, but seldom do...some don't get anyat all. Where do you draw the line here?  Yes, this site gives members options to customize it the way they want.  Isn't that the idea?

Lets see...some members have RATINGS turned off for their images, WHY?...what if I want to give your image a good or bad rating?  You're denying me that right...how DARE you! Hey... Isn't that the same as disabling comments....hmmm?

Why stop there...lets discontinue the the ability  to filter adult content or violence...or no longer have the option to post images to the various galleries in general....lump everything together in one  called ART.

What would this place be like without giving you options?

Stop stressing over the small stuff!  You'll be better off in my book

Joe

[follow up ... additional information]

In my earlier message, I mentioned an image of "See No Evil" that had been uploaded to the galleries by the merchant ... but was no longer in the galleries. 

At that time the merchant was known as  As+Shanim, but they are now known as Aery_Soul ... and they still sell "See No evil" in their renderosity store. 

I wonder if they still have the image I commented?

--
Martin
p.s. If we are careful, nothing is ever lost forever. 

Quote - I see more and more people not allowing comments under their uploaded pictures when they don’t have time (or are not in the mood…) themselves to comment the other postings !

I think it is a very bad habit :

What do you think ?

What do I think?? I think it's SO ironic, I was just coming to the forum to (maybe) post about this very thing. There is a photo that is very cool in the first few pages. But not only does it have comments disabled, it also says NOTHING about the image itself. No info on where it was taken, when it was taken, Nothing... Not even the shooting data.

I personally don't get it. I try to always put something about the image in my comments.

I not only want to see great photos, but knowledge of where and how it was taken. It's helpful for those of us looking to improve.
    This kind of thing kind of reminds me of some of the 3D artists that use to never say how they did anything unique in their image, like it's their secret and you are not privy to the info or how to.

I am with ya GiMi... I don't like it one bit. ;-)

Well, now that I have ranted and all know my feelings....lol..

Thanks for letting me vent.
-B

PS.. I also get this vibe that Onslow does "It has a hint of elitism".

Personally, I allow comments but not ratings.  I tried ratings and this got to be a "look forward to" issue..I felt it was not an honest way to judge an image aor accept judgment on one of my shots.  I pretty well know if my shot justifies some comments in the first place.  "Comments only" works for me since I can at least segregate the fluff from the honest praise and constructive criticism.

(Then again, the particular image may mean something special to the one making a more extremely nice comment than expected.)

I view many image in several forms of graphics and comment on the ones I feel stir me enough to do that.  Otherwise, no comment.   I do not comment to receive comments or offer the favor of a comment because I received one.  Sure, when a photographer is new and trying, I will comment to encourage and offer constructive advice.  I have yet been rebuffed for kindly stated constructive criticism coupled with encouragement.

Leave it as it is..we will take it as it comes and deal with each shot as we may.  Sure, I do wish some who allow no comments would in the least do that.  

 I'll post an image, and not check it until I'm ready to post the next one. So, to be honest, I dont really give any feed back to those that comment. Its more of a time issue, and forgetting. 

Do I think that because I receive a comment, that I should give one back? No.
But I will comment on a outstanding image that I see in the gallery. 

Personally, I use rendo for the forum. 
The gallery, thats just a bonus. 

Very Nice!!!! Great work!! Awesome shot! --- Videos on Youtube.com get worse comments like "nice vid, check out my vids" and some other crazy whacked out spam. Some people disable ratings and comments because they dont want people saying how the video sucked (and other reasons).

All in all, comments I get here are much more civil and to the point, even if fluffy sometimes, than things folks have said to me on the net in general.  I will stick with the comments I get here.

Here I am not getting the depraved enjoyer of negativity hiding in cyberspace and getting kicks from nasty words.   So, I wll take fluff as it comes and not get too concerned about it.

Still, when I see a fine image with no comments allowed...it does bother me.   I don't know why that choice was made and I honestly cannot judge the reasons of the artists for doing so.  I would like to comment when it is deserved but cannot except through IM.

I always allow comment even when I am on holiday and I know I won't be able to see all the uploaded pictures. (sometimes4-5pages) I never look the artist name under the thumbnail, if I like what I see in thumby I will opene it and coment on it. Trust me, no back patting from me and I don't realy know what to do with ppl who do that. ( I noticed some artist soon as I coment on their art they coment "back" on mine). Very dissapointing when I "disabled" in this act and can not leave my oppinion about a piture. Yes I do feel  a person not interested about my coment. I will not have bad sleep over it, not worth it. And I don't want to go and see a web gallery of this person either, and do what sign a guest book tell what I thinking all the 300 picture one by one.

hope I was not very rude if it is my sorry goes out.

Ps: Wish I would hear some thouths on this issue from one of the member who is not allow coment. If I would have an understandable explanation I might would see the whole matter different way.

seeyus  Tunde

hello ;)

Regularly i browse the latests photograpy posts, and comments everyeach i feel intersting ... I don't do that to have comments in return.
But my comments are critics, sometimes hard i know, and i received sometimes messages that tell i'm a fool who don't know anything. Ok i stop comments on this person.
I always try to be contructive, and often i don't use the 'i love/i don't love it' 'it's bad/it's good' ... I try to stay technic and sometime semantic.

I feel some guys don't let the opportunity to post message because they don't want to risk a bad comment ...
I think rating is ridiculous, we are not at school !

Seeya ;o)
Olivier

I agree with you Michel artwork from wherever it comes is there to be enjoyed and does it really matter if  the person is not able to comment or otherwise why post an image if you dont want comments..  You may as well just have your images on a wall in your own home..

How about comments off and ratings enabled? Now there is an idea... :rolleyes: As I said before, I prefer it when an artist leaves comments enabled. Sometimes I do not even bother looking at an image if I notice it is an artist who does not allow comments. But if the thumb is intriguing I'll take a look at an image. No comments allowed? Bummer, but I won't lose sleep over it. Plenty of others have theirs enabled and this person just saved me 1/2-2 minutes of commenting time. If I feel I really need to comment, I send a site mail. No one else will see my message -- so what? It is how I connect with the image and my comments to the artist don't have to be public for me to feel validation. Like in the rest of life, we have choices here at Rendo. Not everyone will like the choices we make, but we have to respect them.

I "Leave" ratings enabled, but I really don't look at em much to be honest. Most always get a 5 star, no matter what. I guess I am just to lazy to disable em..lol.

But I still see the non-comments thing as odd.

I prefer it when people critique the image. 

One that sticks out is inshaala, commenting about how one of my images was not framed correctly (leaving a bit of a corner out). I did not notice it at first, but not i pay careful attention to framing the image before I click the shutter. 

So, cookies to him and who ever else gives critique for images, rather than fluffy comments. 

Fluffy is good, but it does not help an artist develop. 

No, but sometimes you just want to let someone know you stopped by and enjoyed what they had on display. I don't always have time for critique, but if know it is desired and is specifically asked for, will give my opinion.

Quote - I prefer it when people critique the image. 

One that sticks out is inshaala, commenting about how one of my images was not framed correctly (leaving a bit of a corner out). I did not notice it at first, but not i pay careful attention to framing the image before I click the shutter. 

So, cookies to him and who ever else gives critique for images, rather than fluffy comments. 

Fluffy is good, but it does not help an artist develop. 

I totally agree! Of course I love to receive lots of comments  (who wouldn't?), but it's much more gratifying to get some helpful critique, especially if the person appears to know what they are talking about, lol. Afterall, as my mother keeps telling me, you learn from your mistakes. And I should know I've made a few, lol.

So here's my (very, very  late) new years resolution - I'm going to start leaving a few comments and tell people what I really think of their pictures, :lol:

Quote - So here's my (very, very  late) new years resolution - I'm going to start leaving a few comments and tell people what I really think of their pictures, :lol:

Noooooo! Keep away from my gallery! :m_scared:

I'm a relative newcomer here, but have posted a lot of images, and I have to say that I'm really glad to get comments of ALL kinds.  I don't like feeling that I'm working in a vacuum!  If something I'm doing isn't working I want to know about it.  The ratings are, well, probably not as useful.  I think many people are like me -- I don't want to leave bad ratings for anyone, I just don't leave anything at all if I feel that the work is substandard.  Maybe that's not the way the system is set up, I don't know.  It's just really hard for me to give a poor rating.  I love looking at everyone else's work; when I see a posting that really strikes me I visit their gallery to see what other lovelies they have to show.  And I have to admit I'm guilty of not giving background information for many of my pics -- no excuse except laziness.  I'll try to be better in the future!  This whole public gallery thing is new to me, and I don't really know the accepted routines, but I'm learning.  I like to think I'm trainable!

Well, I will step up and admit to being guilty of almost stopping comments to my images. The reason is that I am unable to contribute much to this community. I used to be on here all the time, contributing to almost every forum topic, commenting throughout the gallery on people who I admire or images that really strike me or touch me in some way. Now, I haven't the time to do this. I value each and every comment that I get, fluffy or otherwise. So why, you ask, would I want to stop getting these wonderful comments? First of all, I don't get many to begin with. 10 if I'm lucky.......12 if it's the right time of day. So for one thing, I figured not many people would miss it. And as it was stated above, it saves these wonderful people a few minutes of their time. That is just a small part of it. The main thing is a bit of a confidence and self-esteem issue. I've got a lot of things going on in my life right now, and my confidence is about shot. Not only in my photography, but in other areas as well. I haven't been taking pictures like I used to. I feel like the ones I do take aren't all that good. The reason I still post at all is because if I don't do something with them, I'm afraid all these issues will just get worse. I need my photography and I need to stay involved with it. So it was a bit of a compromise.....I will upload, but I don't want to waste anyone's time with commenting. I know, I know, poor me. Whine, cry, piss and moan. :P lol It's a vicious circle. I'm not looking for sympathy here, just giving you a little insight to why a person might decide to stop allowing comments.

To sum this up (finally lol), I decided not to turn off my comments after all. I also want to apologize to those few people who do try to comment on my images no matter what for considering the stop of comments. GiMi is one of them. He always leaves a comment that makes me smile.

So my opinion on this whole thing is, you're right, it is a bit annoying to see a wonderful image that you can't leave a comment on (or see any technical details). But I also understand that the person has a choice to do so. Don't assume people do it just to be above everyone else. That may be the case for some, but some of us are just people trying to figure things out. :)

A few things:

1. Renderosity is one of the most friendly places comment wise.

While I get some criticism from time to time (though I wish I got more, to learn), it's always polite. I've been around the Net and I removed my photos from quite a few places where the comments were nothing but spiteful. Again, I wish I got more critical remarks about my images but saying "it sucks" or "get rid of the frame" is hardly helpful.

1. I don't have much time to comment myself.

My comments are usually only signaling what hooked me on someone's photos. I'd say something like "cool light" or "excellent POV" or simply "great shot". I appreciate more elaborate comments (always give them myself in I see something I think could be improved) but I'm okay with short acknowledgments as well.

1. I often comment on people who comment on me and see nothing wrong with that.

I only really pick those whose art I like. If a new person comments on my photo, I'd go to look through their gallery and only comment if I see something I like. If I don't, I don't comment. In most cases, these people don't come back to comment me again. I'm fine with that.

1. Same with favorite artists.

I have quite a few and while I don't comment on each and every image they upload, I look at all of them and post a comment when there's something absolutely special for me, I don't look through any charts, popularity contests, galleries of the month... sorry. I'm too subjective. :-)

1. I have disabled ratings.

It's true if I got any ratings in the past, it would have been 5s in most cases. Although, what really bothered me about this system was when I got a 4 or less and nowhere in the comments could I find what was "wrong" with my image. I mean, if someone gave me a lower note, I'd love to know why so that I can improve. I'd rather people tell me what they think than give anonymous ratings. I don't give them myself anymore.

1. I don't like people turning the comments off, either.

I never ever emailed anyone who had their comments disabled. I don't think I ever came back to their gallery either, unless I stumbled upon a special image while browsing "What's new". I uploaded a couple of photos with no comment option myself but these were Christmas wishes, I think. Something that needed no comments for me. Other than that, I'm always open and encourage comments.

Living with a constant migraine (7 damned years now) means that I don't have the ability to linger, read, write, or create very much.  Sometimes all I can do is pull out an older work of art and digitize it.  However, I still think! 

I try to put a few words under an image to show why I took a photo, my state of mind at the time, what inspired an illustration, or if something came from within.  For the photographs, I don't give technical camera details because that is like discussing whether art created on the Mac is technically superior to art created on the PC, or if oils are superior to watercolors!  It's the eye that counts.  I own a Nikon F2 (wowie-zowie finger-in-air), but the digital cameras make sharing online easier.  Even if I scanned all those old slides, the choice of camera and lens would be inconsequential compared to the choice of subject and lighting.  Besides, after I take an image into Photoshop for salvage, perhaps the only thing we can say is, "it used to be a photo!"

Because I still think, I'm still capable of learning.  Yes, I enjoy the compliments and friendly comments.  They are few because I don't do the reciprocal clique-thing.  Being unexpected makes them better... like selling something on cafepress to a stranger who likes our work enough to buy it.  The best comments, though, are helpful critiques or suggestions or leads to other artists or something that inspires an idea or opens the eye to possibilities. 

The only way we'll learn is if we admit that nothing we create is perfect.  Sometimes it is close, but what I see, what the camera sees, and what the viewer sees are not the same image at all.  Two people standing side-by-side can not see the same rainbow unless they are sharing the eyeball.  The viewer looking at a painting, CGI rendering, or photo of a rainbow is most certainly not going to see what the creator saw inside his or her mind's eye.  The most we can do is appreciate what each other sees and shares... and perhaps leave a comment.

And, yes, if I do look at someone's gallery, I'll look at the older work, too.

Carolly

Thank you Marka for the link to this page, it's very interesting reading, I don't visit the forums that much.

It's fun, thats why I do it, taking pictures is fun for me, I enjoy doing it.  Posting on RR is an outlet for me to share my fun.  I have been retired from work due to ill health and can't get out into the big wide world as often as I would like to do.  So I find things around the house and in the garden, take macro's and have guessing games, I enjoy doing it.  If I take a photo that I don't like, I don't post it.  First and foremost I take the photo to please me, if it pleases me I post it.  If that then pleases somebody else, that is a bonus, especially if they tell me it pleases them also.  It fills my day.

Yes I'm guilty of flossy/fluffy comments, great, fantastic, excellent, superb, outstanding are all superlatives I use, coupled with lighting, detail, framing, pov, dof, composition.  Very seldom do I use poor, crap, useless.  The reason I use the superlatives is because compared to mine they usually are superb.

Reciprocal comments yes, if someone comments on my picture, I like to go and look in that persons gallery, my mother always taught me that if a person speaks to you it is only polite to speak back.  If a person comments on mine yes I feel obliged to comment on theirs.  I do not however comment to gain comments, I am not upset if I comment on someones and they do not on mine.  I might comment on several pictures in a persons gallery I'm visiting for the first time, even though they have only commented on one of mine but this is not to gain more comments it is because I like what they have done.

As for ratings, I have them switched on, I have never bothered looking at them, I could not tell you if I have had either good or bad comments on any picture in my gallery.  I have no interest in ratings, I do it for FUN.  I am not a great photographer, neither do I aspire to become one, I do it for fun, if I make one person smile, then it has been worthwhile.  I don't think I have ever given a nasty comment to anybody, but If I do spot what I belive to be something wrong with the picture I am viewing, depending on what it is, I will leave a comment to that effect or mail the person so as not to cause embarressment. 

Some very interesting  thoughts on this thread.

there seems to be 2 sides to this discussion .i have read every comment so far and there are some interesting points raised .i posted on a site called eyefetch ,i was told it was a very good site for learning so being new to serious photography i joined .if you really want to see how elitism really works go check this site out .they have comments and ratings from 1-10 and if you hit 9.5 you receive a medal .how this site works is how many medals you can get and members will deliberately  down rate your image regardless of how good or bad if they see you heading for a medal at the end of the day and those that recieve medals end up with thousands .it is then a case of look at my pics arent they wonderful yours are crap !! .now for me personally i wasnt too bothered about medals although admittedly its a great feeling if you get one it was more about learning .well i had friends just like here but i learnt nothing and yet on rr i have learnt loads just by looking at other members work not by whats been said .naive or not the point is when i first joined here last july i got 4 maybe 5 comments from the same people day in day out ,(jeff being a good friend from the start ) now i get probably 30 and im thankful for everyone whether fluffy or not because ive made some great friends along this journey here on rr and a lot of the members only have this outlet to communicate with people for whatever reason .i definitely wouldnt hurt anyones feelings intentionally and i dont comment to receive them .i look forward to reading peoples comments on my pics good or bad .i still have a long way to go with this hobby and sometimes i dont feel qualified enough to give technical comments but that wouldnt stop me from saying i liked the pic in whatever manner i choose whether it be excellent or superb .if i like it i like it if i dont i dont .as for putting pics up with no comments ,well i think its being polite to tell the members they are too busy to look at the present at any of the pics and the only way i know of is to put a pic up explaining this .

in conclusion i would say this is the friendliest site i know of where people enjoy putting their pics up each day ,me included ,and communicating with people .the choice is still the members and how they choose to do things and members also have the choice to look or not whatever the case maybe .there are many members also that dont post pics all the time and yet still comment on pics everyday including mine ,so where is the i`ll scratch your back syndrome now .it is about photography ,it is about about learning ,but it is also about being friends with people and i see no harm in it as like jeff i do it for enjoyment of the hobby and of this site

mick

First of all I think we all spend a lovely time here seeing wonderful works and knowing new friends. In one way we share our works and also learn a lot from others and it's nice to make comments and of course reading what others think about our pictures, no matter in what kind of style or gallery we are looking at.
I don't always that have the time for it but normally  try to catch up  the works I really like a lot. I don't like to coment only because others leaves a comment on my work but I'm also a polite person!
We also have to think that not everybody speaks English and it's not so easy to write up our thoughts or a comment of what we want to express. Anyway I really think we all do the best we can and the important thing is that we all share our works nicely and try to help others also!
Have a great weekend all, Elizabeth ;O)

Hey very well said mick! ~ I really like to give,.. as much as I like to take in comments :-) as a matter of fact I always do thank my awesome friends here at RR for their nice and polite comments, and most times with them a good day as well :-] this place really is like  a family. and I will continue to enjoy this place a lot, regardless if I am able to comment or not on photography and artworks!!!

~Peace~

In all the years I've been a member of Rosity I have never once turned off the comments, until recently, in my last upload. My life is chaotically crazy with yearbook deadlines (I'm an advisor) and I was ill and now recovering from a car accident. The subject matter in the photo lent itself to "Taking a Break", which is the title. I thought it NEEDED to have nothing but viewing options. I only wanted people to see it and experience it that way and hopefully they would also feel they were taking a break. I never thought I was being stuck up or rude... I still don't! lol I'm sure there are many reasons why people turn off comments and/or ratings and we should just allow them the freedom to be themselves. That is what is great about this site. That's my 2 cents and worth every penny, even with inflation. LOL Peace to you all, Jodie

There are always two sides to everything and RR allows us that freedom to choose how we want to show our fotos.  And that's what makes this such a great site.  That freedom and choice. 
I love this site, and have met so many amazing people, it's become a huge part of my life.  Just let people do what works best for them.
marilyn

It's a free choice by the artist...allow or not. I'm not here to compete, I'm here to learn and share what I see. I love comments (and as most know, I tend to leave comments both short and long for others). Being a free community with free choice, I leave comments when I see something I want to comment on. I don't comment according to who comments on me, however, I sometimes get comments from people I am not familiar with and it gives me a chance to see new work and meet new artists that I don't always get a chance to browse around and find on my own. With the amount of ebots I receive in one day, and working a 9 hour day with heavy obligations of my own at home every evening, I can't spend as much time as I'd like  looking at all the marvelous things presented at RR.

Conversely, if I see an artist who consistantly uploads and doesn't allow comments, I also have the option to view that photo or not. I do feel bad that I can't tell that artist how wonderful their work might be and I know I can always site mail that comment but I am so limited on time I find I most often can't do that. Perhaps it is only that sort of frustration of not being able to express ourselves verbally to others that creates this dissatisfaction of those who do not allow comments or ratings.

People not allowing comments..?
No problem for me; I don't see that as a bad habit at all... I much prefer that to people who are constantly 'fishing' for comments in any possible way, by daily dedicating images to a daily very special friend, by adding 45 images to their favorites every day, or by leaving tons of constructive and relevant comments like 'Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' or 'WWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Young Oscar Wilde to Whistler: " Wish I had said that, James."

Reply: "You will, my dear Oscar, you will..."

**Hey all,

I haven't noticed too many that don't allow comments,  I did notice one that was someone new so perhaps they weren't sure on how to load their picture at the time.

As far as commenting on others works,  I probably open more of the photography categories, only because I know very little about the others Poser,  Bryce and  3-D and so on, but I have a curious nature and I enjoy most any type of creativity so I do open some that stand out and IF I like them, or they spark something in me I will say so. I am also guilty of seeing some work that is almost is too stunning to know WHAT to say....  so  umm duh  Great Work  doesn't quite  do it then.. so  I may not leave a comment at that point. so if you don't get a comment from me consider your work as stunning ........just kidding !! 

I do not see harm in making dedications to friends or others, if it is that artists gallery and if that is what they wish to do....... great for them. What harm is there  in giving a little special notice to someone, or in making friends. We all know there are people from all over here. I have made friends from here from quite a few places including Africa, I believe that is why the name of this site is Renderosity COMMUNITY,  it has a wonderful almost family or neighborhood feel to it.  A few children have even started Galleries here and that to me is wonderful, supervised by their parents or grandparents this sure seems like a safe site for them to visit. **

** **

**And as far as adding favorites artist, if you have hundreds or  10 what does it matter,  once again your choice...  I love to read so I have 20 or so authors that I really enjoy and have followed their work  and have stacks of their books and tried to keep up........others may have one favorite author or one book.......its all about choice....  

  **

**     BTW:     Jeff,  you can add any of your how did you put it  'flossy/fluffy'  comments to my work anytime hun, just don' t use those ummm three other words you mentioned, I want honestly after all.  LOL............

Nite Nite..**

** **

** **

** **

** **

**  **

** **

Yeah , I don't have much to say on this , Sure if people have nothing better to do than paste the same message on every damn photo in the galleries , I believe they have to much time on there hand's & want some recognition.
 
 I love receiving comments :Vain streak: heh , But comment's for the hell of it ?, I'm glad people comment & rate but I also would like a severe review of my pictures , If you don't like it damn tell me why :p only way to improve.
 
 I feel I don't comment rate enough , Then again I'm a nice person & still feel like a Rookie in this community , Ah well rant over for the time , Is tired!

 TC All
Peace!

more and more JUNK in the galleries, less "ART" (Don't bother trying to ask me what I consider to be "art"), fewer MEANINGFUL comments, though there are still a few out there (thanks to you special people) and sadly too many karma whores.... none of this encourages one to upload a decent image to watch some piece of junk next to it get 50-60, maybe even 100+ comments, while they might get 20 comments at the most of which maybe 1/5 actually mean something.... -_- probably why more and more people disable comments or just don't bother to upload anything anymore...

Having thought about it, I tend to agree with Short Ribs.
I like to think of RR as an ART community and not somewhere to post your holiday snaps there are plenty of other sites for that, unless of course they are very good holiday snaps,lol.
I don't mean to start telling people what they should or shouldn't be uploading but if you are going to post an image at least make an effort with it - get your levels/curves right, boost the saturation if need be, get those horizons level and think a little about the composition, at the very least make sure the image is sharp and in focus, I could go on....

Of course everyone is free to do as they please but I just felt I needed to get this off my chest.

Quote:

"I believe that is why the name of this site is Renderosity COMMUNITY."

I remember a time when this site was called 'Renderosity ART Community'... long time ago ;o)
That was the time when good images by great photographers got lots of praise and attention, and bad images received a few constructive comments; not the other way around...
That was the time when we still HAD a fair amount of great photographers who were willing to make the effort to show their good works to the 'community'...

I'm sorry, but when I see a real bad image without even the least photographic or artistic merit or relevance receive 182 comments and 35 favorites, I can't help but feel embarrassed about this 'community'... Let an anonymous person post the same image and he/she will get one or two comments... Post this same image on a 'serious' photo site and you will get even less... And if you tell them that this image got 182 comments and 35 favorites on an 'ART Community' site, they will never believe you...

Just try to look at it in a purely objective way, like any 'outsider' would do:
you stumble upon this Renderosity Art Community site;
you enter the gallery;
you see a really good artistic photo;
you click on it and you see that it has 11 views and 4 comments;
next to it is an ordinary garden-like snapshot, the 'thirteen in a dozen' type;
your first impression is "what is this doing on an Art site?";
you click on that image and you see that it has 187 views, 62 comments and 17 favorites;
your eyes blink in disbelief and you go "Ughh...!? Did I miss something here?..."
you see other ordinary images, some get 2 comments, others get 86 comments;
you see other great images, some get 2 comments, others get 15 comments;
what you do next depends on the type of person you are:

1. you are more or less serious about fine artistic photography --> you keep away from this site
2. you think: "maybe I can get some results here if I make lots of friends; hell, I can make snapshots too" --> you join in the race

Feel free to disagree; this is a community after all ;o)

To illustrate the comments above :

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1626713
"Sunshine" by Valerie-Ducom
213 views, 107 comments, 20 favorites.

 http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1628029
"Sun through the trees" by MrsRatbag

19 views, 2 comments, 1 favorite...

 http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1603582
"Sun rays" by GiMi53.

158 views, 64 comments, 10 favorites.

I'm not sure if 'illustrating the comments' like this is a good thing to do, Michel... it might get too personal that way. Besides, you forgot to include a good artistic photo :a_wink:
(I hope you don't take that too personal; I have seen much better photos from you, you know that..)

Frankly, I don't like the direction this discussion is taking. There are plenty of ART websites out there, if that's what you're into. I fell in love with Renderosity precisely for the reason that it's not elitist.

I'm no pro, I don't aim to be an artist. I love photography and I love sharing my work with friends. I had been looking for a place to do that and I've been taken aback by many such "artsy" websites, I just never dared to publish anything there. Nor was I interested with snap-shot swapping. I needed something in between and that's exactly what Renderosity proved to be for me.

I like a lot of your work, GiMi53, but I'm not sure what  you're trying to show here. That you're better than someone else? Well, enjoy the feeling. I don't care. 

For me it's about sharing and improving here, not patting myself on the back because: "gosh, this guy's work is crap, I'm sooooooooo much better." Anyone who feels like that, stay away from my galleries, please, and stick your comments up some dark place.

Those of you who are willing to help or just plain enjoy the hobby are the reason I'm here.

well said marka ,i too believe this is getting out of hand and proving to be an arguement with no merit .for those that feel they are so much better than us mere mortals maybe its time to stand up be counted and show us what it is we are doing wrong instead of bitching about members commenting on pics with fluffy comments .if your prepared to comment on the pics you feel need help with cc then do it and help people learn ,i do believe thats what its about .either put up or shut up and personally i dont care what you think about me or my work ,Art or not !!.and believe me when i say that i get more help and confidence from my friends here than from you so called artists

mick

marka you hit the nail on the head.
  I see the same thing in the Vue forum and thats why I quit posting in it.
I saw it here after visiting a few times and decided to just stay out this forum as well.
  I will continue to use the gallery and those who don't like what I upload then put me on your ignore list if you don't like what I upload... :)

I have found a couple other nice forums that are not like this one and who respect someone who is new and not a professional.     This place needs to clean up its act. :(
  

This HAS gotten out of hand and turned into something very different than I think it started out to be.  But, that's probably human nature, and we all see things differently, just another beauty of the universe we live in. 
I think it once again boils down to letting people do what they want; we don't have to like what they do or how they do it.  It becomes our choice to look, comment, respond, or not.  For me, the good far outweighs the bad here, and I'll just do what I've been doing, which is having a great time!!

Great discussion!!!

      I am one of those who feel very humbled to get comments and want to comment as i love seeing everyones work more than i can say ...I haveSO MUCH Appreceation for the work i see on here i cant even tell you  GOSH- i know what it takes to go out on a photoshoot spend the gas money and time trying to get just the right image ( like treasure hunting is how i see it hehe ) and ohhh it means the world to me to know and be a part of this site ITS SUCH A PRIVLAGE and meaningful to my heart. I feel like we get to see and experiance the world from this site and i am so compleatly IN AWE of it!!! and learn and grow here  HOW AWESOME Is THAT !!??
 this site has changed my life and how I see the world!!!!! REALLLY!!!

    THEN  i have this whole guilt complex that follows me when i upload ...LOL- as i value each comment like i gift i want to despertly give back !!!!!

... then reality hits the fan at times...
 uhm  i will be making dinner for a family of five and taking care of an animal mess my mom is calling me and then the doorbell is ringing and yet i feel LIKE I MUST comment and sneak over to the comp that is somehow miraculously not taken by my  three girls ... hehe...
 and sometimes there is so much going on that i cannot possibly allow room for comments like if i have to go on a trip out of town .
i feel if i leave it open then i look selfish and can't comment back .....
i love to comment . i know some people are so busy and cannot leave room for comments as they dont have the time..

LOL i am a libra and always see both sides of the picture... hehe...
 anyways just a few of my rambaling thoughts
my final thoughts are just to enjoy this site
comments or no comments ... this site -  IT IS A GIFT and a wonder  and a place like no other online !!!
 enough of my blah blah blah ....
love ya all
 kimmers :O)

There are other sites out there for the photographer who feels he is already polished and professional and the only support he feel he needs now is through financial gain.  Or if a photographer feels they are above the comments of peers, let them open their own gallery on- line and see how much they don't need the support and assistance of their fellow photographers.

Art? Who on earth would think they were so good as to define art for everyone? It is only one opinion in a billion out there.  In my book, there is no authority on what is art ...only some people with better taste than others. But that's only my opinion. :-)

Which brings us back to the purpose of this discussion... its all about freedom of choice as to whether someone allows comments, ratings or bothers to open a thumbnail.  And its about freedom of choice as to what, if any, comment or rating is left behind. So what's the fuss?

"i may not agree with what you say, but i shall defend to the death your right to say it..."

please forgive a '2d graphics' guy for weighing in on a photo forum thread, but i was told about this one by a photographer friend of mine and the subject seems to transcend photography, so here goes...  i'm a live-and-let-live type, and firmly believe the choices - to allow comments as well as whether to give them, make them fluffy or meaningful, etc. - are personal and should be respected.  i believe too that it's not my place to judge, and i can think of perfectly innocent, well-intentioned reasons for a person to allow/disallow comments, reciprocate/not reciprocate, etc., so i try not to read too much into people's actions...

that said, i can empathize with many of the sentiments expressed above.  i too value 'rosity's 'community' aspects, the easy friendships one can form here, how willing people are to help if asked, and how one can learn/grow (admittedly more by studying others' works than through comments received, since folks tend to be nice and offer more attaboys than critiques).  i love giving and receiving comments, feel a pang of awwwwwwww-mannn when i can't comment on a piece that moves me, and don't comment nearly as often as i'd like to (most of my 'rosity friends are photogs, many of whom post multiple excellent entries a day - commenting all the shots that impress me would take all my free time!).  i too don't want to see 'rosity turn elitist.  nonetheless, i have also observed that disproportionate response to similar works that i think gimi53 was trying to point out, and can understand how disheartening it may be to the person who only gets a handful of views and fewer comments.  similarly, i have felt discouraged that even poor pieces that feature nudity get overwhelmingly more attention and response than outstanding artwork that doesn't. 

but what would folks propose to do about it, alter human nature?  restrict what one can or can't respond to?  life, especially art, is all about choices, individuality, freedom of expression.  and joy.  enjoy the wonder of what 'rosity's artists have to offer... have fun contributing, interacting and learning... comment or don't... view or avoid... be fluffy or deep... just be yourself, and allow others to do likewise, without prejudgment. 

live and let live...

michael (aka bangonthedrums)

I like to think I'm a pretty good photographer and I would also consider myself an artist, of sorts lol! But I certainly don't think I am elitist and I don't think anyone else, who I know here on RR, is either.
If I see a picture that I think is rubbish I just ignore it, but if I think I can offer something useful then I'll say so. I, for one, certainly don't mean to cause offence but if you don't want criticism then just ask for non-critical comments when you upload.
There are people here on RR of all ages and abilities and that cannot be anything other than a good thing. By looking at those artists who are better than me and trying to see what it is they are doing different I feel I've become a better photographer - just take a look at my early work, lol!
Maybe it isn't quite right that some images that are of poor quality get loads of comments and the really great shots get few, but no matter how much it annoys me life's too short to get all bitchy about it. So lets all just relax folks and get back to posting some really good images that we can all criticise.  :biggrin:

Well said Michael.........   Your words say it all..

Good day to all.........