John Suler's PhotoPsychology
Commenting on Photos
Someone shows you a photo. They must like it, even be proud of having taken it, otherwise why would they show it to you…. So what do you say?
Of course, here in online photo-sharing communities like flickr, we deal with this situation all the time. It’s what flickr is all about. And it’s interesting to see all the different ways that people comment on a shot.
In flickr and other situations as well, people may offer very terse, usually complimentary comments, like “Nice capture,” “Great colors,” or “Beautiful shot.” These kinds of remarks are nice to hear, although they’re a bit generic and sometimes unsatisfying, especially if you put a lot of work into an image and are hoping someone will notice your efforts. People may give such comments because it’s hard for them to verbalize exactly why they like the shot. They may not want to let too many words smother their appreciation of the shot. In photo-sharing communities, they may be browsing lots of images and only have time to offer terse encouragement. Short and positive comments may be the norm of the community. It’s what most people do, so others follow suit. People’s status and sense of worth may revolve around how many comments appear under their images, so the terse, complimentary comment may be an efficient form of social barter: I give you one, you give me one. Lots of these kinds of comments tell you that the shot must be good, although you may not be exactly sure why it’s good.
If you want to offer more than a brief compliment, what do you say? I find that if I take my time in looking at and thinking about a shot, something always comes to me. I might comment on the composition or some technical aspect of the shot, because I’m interested in that sort of thing. People usually appreciate it and perhaps even see something in their shot that they didn’t realize before.
But it’s not necessary to get into technical stuff. Often I’ll just comment on what I like about the shot. It might be something in particular about the colors, shapes, or textures, the people or subjects in the shot, or the idea, feeling, or sensation that the image creates. It may sound overly simple, but I just comment on what I see and what it means to me. The nice thing about this is that there is no right or wrong in it. You simply describe your impression of the image. What does it remind you? What does the image say to you? How might it relate to your life? People usually like that kind of feedback about their photography. They like to hear about the different ways people see their image, the various ways people interpret and find meaning in it. That’s what makes photography interesting. That’s what makes it art.
Rather than a comment that’s a statement, you can also ask a question. What did the photographer like about the shot? How did he shoot it? What does it mean to her? What was it like being at that scene? People are usually happy to reply to these kinds of questions. To them it shows that you’re interested in the shot and want to know more about it. It opens the door to their talking about what went into the creation of that image. Photographers often are as excited about the process of taking the shot as they are about the shot itself.
What if there’s something you don’t like about a photo? Should you say so? It’s very possible people might feel offended, hurt, or react defensively. Their photo is like their child. On the other hand, they might also appreciate your honesty, especially if it helps them improve their skills, or, at the very least, gain a better understanding of how people vary in their photography tastes. It’s also a good idea not to express your criticisms or suggestions for improving a shot as if they are some objective truth. After all, it is just your opinion, your personal taste. Others could very well disagree. Rather than presenting a critical statement, you might describe how you might have done the shot differently. You might suggest “alternatives.”
What if you don’t like the shot at all, if you really hate it? It’s probably best not to say that. I find that if I look at shot for a while, I always find something about it that I like. I also try to keep in mind the fact that the person decided to take this shot because something about this situation, person, animal, or scene was worthwhile, important, or interesting to that person. That’s what makes it interesting to me too.
How do you like to comment on shots? What kinds of comments do you like or dislike to get on your photography?
* This image and essay are part of my research project The CyberPsychology of Flickr . I’m using these kinds of images and essays to stimulate discussions about life in flickr. So feel free to offer your comments. I appreciate your input!
* This image and essay also are part of a book on Photographic Psychology that I’m writing within Flickr. Please see the set description.
Commenting on Photos
Someone shows you a photo. They must like it, even be proud of having taken it, otherwise why would they show it to you…. So what do you say?
Of course, here in online photo-sharing communities like flickr, we deal with this situation all the time. It’s what flickr is all about. And it’s interesting to see all the different ways that people comment on a shot.
In flickr and other situations as well, people may offer very terse, usually complimentary comments, like “Nice capture,” “Great colors,” or “Beautiful shot.” These kinds of remarks are nice to hear, although they’re a bit generic and sometimes unsatisfying, especially if you put a lot of work into an image and are hoping someone will notice your efforts. People may give such comments because it’s hard for them to verbalize exactly why they like the shot. They may not want to let too many words smother their appreciation of the shot. In photo-sharing communities, they may be browsing lots of images and only have time to offer terse encouragement. Short and positive comments may be the norm of the community. It’s what most people do, so others follow suit. People’s status and sense of worth may revolve around how many comments appear under their images, so the terse, complimentary comment may be an efficient form of social barter: I give you one, you give me one. Lots of these kinds of comments tell you that the shot must be good, although you may not be exactly sure why it’s good.
If you want to offer more than a brief compliment, what do you say? I find that if I take my time in looking at and thinking about a shot, something always comes to me. I might comment on the composition or some technical aspect of the shot, because I’m interested in that sort of thing. People usually appreciate it and perhaps even see something in their shot that they didn’t realize before.
But it’s not necessary to get into technical stuff. Often I’ll just comment on what I like about the shot. It might be something in particular about the colors, shapes, or textures, the people or subjects in the shot, or the idea, feeling, or sensation that the image creates. It may sound overly simple, but I just comment on what I see and what it means to me. The nice thing about this is that there is no right or wrong in it. You simply describe your impression of the image. What does it remind you? What does the image say to you? How might it relate to your life? People usually like that kind of feedback about their photography. They like to hear about the different ways people see their image, the various ways people interpret and find meaning in it. That’s what makes photography interesting. That’s what makes it art.
Rather than a comment that’s a statement, you can also ask a question. What did the photographer like about the shot? How did he shoot it? What does it mean to her? What was it like being at that scene? People are usually happy to reply to these kinds of questions. To them it shows that you’re interested in the shot and want to know more about it. It opens the door to their talking about what went into the creation of that image. Photographers often are as excited about the process of taking the shot as they are about the shot itself.
What if there’s something you don’t like about a photo? Should you say so? It’s very possible people might feel offended, hurt, or react defensively. Their photo is like their child. On the other hand, they might also appreciate your honesty, especially if it helps them improve their skills, or, at the very least, gain a better understanding of how people vary in their photography tastes. It’s also a good idea not to express your criticisms or suggestions for improving a shot as if they are some objective truth. After all, it is just your opinion, your personal taste. Others could very well disagree. Rather than presenting a critical statement, you might describe how you might have done the shot differently. You might suggest “alternatives.”
What if you don’t like the shot at all, if you really hate it? It’s probably best not to say that. I find that if I look at shot for a while, I always find something about it that I like. I also try to keep in mind the fact that the person decided to take this shot because something about this situation, person, animal, or scene was worthwhile, important, or interesting to that person. That’s what makes it interesting to me too.
How do you like to comment on shots? What kinds of comments do you like or dislike to get on your photography?
* This image and essay are part of my research project The CyberPsychology of Flickr . I’m using these kinds of images and essays to stimulate discussions about life in flickr. So feel free to offer your comments. I appreciate your input!
* This image and essay also are part of a book on Photographic Psychology that I’m writing within Flickr. Please see the set description.