Making up for a lack of comments...

[iphimeda]

I don't get much feedback on my posts, although I try to visit and comment on other photoblogs as often as I can. Are my photographs really that bad?

A copple of recent examples:
trailor trash carnaval (http://www.iphimeda.be/index.php?showimage=38)
hansom horse (http://www.iphimeda.be/index.php?showimage=36)
general patton carnaval (http://www.iphimeda.be/index.php?showimage=37)
old man at turnhout station (http://www.iphimeda.be/index.php?showimage=34)

What do I do wrong?

[GeoS]

Be more active in photo communities and with it should come new visitors and new comments to your photos ;)

[nephoto]

Comments are nice, but I don't base much on them as far as the success of my site. Personally, I like checking my stats at the end of every month and seeing significant increases in the amount of traffic my site is generating. I'd rather have more people coming to the site, than a few people telling me they come all the time in my comments :) Just my own personal preference.

[nygorilla]

Add your site to photoblogs.org (http://www.photoblogs.org) - that should help get a little exposure.


neverhappen.com (http://www.neverhappen.com)

[se.nsuo.us]

Roughly out of all the visitors just .1% people care to comment - we did this study based on 37 million views across 5 domains.

Count the visits - specially the returning visitors

[blinking8s]

i comment on about 10-30 blogs a day, am active in the photoblogs.org mailing list and about 3 photo forums...

i might get 5 comments in a good day, most days are 1 or 2

[iphimeda]

I see. Then what about those peepz with +50 comments on every photograph? Are they amazingly good photographers, or do they just have a steady fanbase? :D

[blinking8s]

some of the photoblogs that get 50+ a day arnt all that great of photographs, at least not in my eyes...some days they have great images, most days are average at best

i dont know, i dont have a photoblog for traffic reasons, its to keep me shooting for me, rather than for school or work...

[iphimeda]

I know what you mean, but sometimes the idea of getting some more feedback is appealing :d

[nygorilla]

Its true there are some truly huge comment sites, but for the most part they are posting shots of something different and unique.

Take chromasia (http://www.chromasia.com)for example, he is posting something complete out of the ordinary and mostly of a very high standard.

Earlier I suggested photoblogs, but its also worth trying in one of the memes around the place with one of your better shots. Hit moody monday (http://www.moodymonday.org), there is a list of the more popular ones there.

neverhappen.com (http://www.neverhappen.com)

[pixelposeur]

90% of the comments on Chromasia are of the "you are SOOO great!",
"this is the most wonderful picture I've EVER SEEN!!!!" variety, even for
the most mundane of his shots. I think most of the commenters on
his site are either: A. Very new to the whole concept of photoblogging
or B. Very new to the field of photography in general. Its as if they
have never seen a photograph before.

Granted, some of his stuff is really nice, and I'm not saying I am
superior in any way, I'm just pointing out the fact that the number of
the comments on his site are just over the top fawning and praise.

Not that I wouldn't mind some of that love coming my way, though :)
Maybe Im just jealous...

[se.nsuo.us]

Maybe Im just jealous...
May be you are - but hey! it is OK to be jealous.

As a side note - I like making people jealous ;)

[iphimeda]

That's something else I was wondering about. If I read the comments on other blogs, people always tend to write 'ow, nice' 'great photograph' etc. Is it that wrong to say smth if you really do not like the photograph (then explain why) or if you think something could be improved? I don't see that happen often.

[Joe[y]]

That's something else I was wondering about. If I read the comments on other blogs, people always tend to write 'ow, nice' 'great photograph' etc. Is it that wrong to say smth if you really do not like the photograph (then explain why) or if you think something could be improved? I don't see that happen often.

i do that for friends. but generally if i see a photograph i don't like at all i tend to just ignore it.

[pixelposeur]

Yeah, if I see a shot I really think is bad, I just move on, I rarely leave a negative comment, especially if there are no comments there already, I just don't feel right being the only comment and not having much nice to say.

I do sometimes drop a "this is not so great" comment on Chromasia just to balance out all the over-the-top praise that some people heap on him, though I try to be constructive and friendly. I've also left my own share of positive feedback on his site as well, so it balances out.

I implemented the "ratings" addon on my blog a while back, and what bothers me is that some people will rate a picture as a "1" or a "2" and not follow up with a comment as to why they thought it was only a 1 or 2. I'm thinking about hacking the "ratings" addon to popup a window asking the rater to leave a constructive comment on why they dont like a photo and what could be done to improve it if they mark it with a 1 or a 2.

[jkn]

The "wow, great photo" is the same for music posting... when I'd post a track for comments to a community like the old (very old) mp3.com - or to smaller forums since then - 90% of comments would be of the "nice track" variety while a few would really dig into contructive criticism. It's important to find a few good people you know will tell it to you straight - I really only share my unfinished songs with a very small group of people anymore. I know they'll tell me when the track is dull, when the mixing and mastering isn't quite what it should be - and when I've nailed it.

With photos - finding a few people on a small forum like this one is invaluable.

I think you'll find that a couple of people that like your work and respect what you do and what you're trying to do - when you start trading comments back and forth on each others work - that will matter far more to you than having a larger quantity of visitors.