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Abílio Silveira
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 02:02
Hello to all members, specially those who are participating in "Most Beautiful Picture of June 2008 --- New Unofficial Contest"
I became a member of Woophy about a month ago. I'm a Rehabilition Medicine doctor, but I have other interests in life, connected to arts and artistic expression. Just like all the other members, I guess.
When I noticed that this contest was running, I decided to participate with one of my photos, just for the fun of it.
On July 9th, I noticed that the member Nivad posted the following comment on my photo: "A very well chosen pov. with some cropping you could even increase the effect as if this wasn't taken from below. Too bad of that line in the top right <4>"
I accepted the comment, of course, and answered like this: "Nivad: thanks for your comment. That line on the top right is smoke from a plane. That's where all the stone figures are looking at. They are all fascinated with the possibility of leaving the place where they stand and being able to fly. That line is the reason of this photo. That line is everything."
Yesterday, I was looking at the other photos in the contest and I noticed that the member Nivad had left comments in all the photos of the first page on the same day (July 9th). He rated all with 4, some he rated 3 and one he rated 2.
There goes a list ordered like this: name of the member, number of the photo, comment by Nivad:
- Jono, 575984, "For a nightshot really awesom colors. Btw did you work on that sky? <4>";
- Geoffrey McElwaine, 565699, "Good use of depth and chose the right time of the day for some good light. Nice reflection too. <4>";
- Rik Herrygers, 559469, "Nice and sharp photo of our nations best known cathedral. Too bad of those damn cables hanging over every street. <4>";
- Luis Borges Alves, 570107, "A truly nice sunset, however I ain't very keen on that foreground <4>";
- Pawel76, 567295, "Breathtaking... <4>";
- Tony Freeman, 567274, "Agree with oscar, also a remarkable contrast between the monochrom stones and thecolourful advertisement. <4>";
- pansa, 565633, "Although the clouds at top are a bit burned, a great sky. Furthermore a good compo and nice sharpness. <4>";
- fercar, 571944, "Welcome back, nice sky but might have contrasted a bit more with its foreground silhouette <3>" (comment posted on June 22nd);
- A.Miguel Oliveira, 570136, "Impressive for sure but you exaggerate your skywork in my opinion <3>";
- António Botelho, 560807, "Remarkable picture howevernotexactly my taste. Seems a bit out of focus, but I just don't know yet if it does or doesn't fit the atmosphere of the picture <3>";
- Ruud~, 569924, "A marvellous street picture, I 've the impression this kind of pics are quite rare. Also remarkable: no street signs... <4>";
- Marzena320, 566236, "lovely scene <4>";
- Jan Durbin, 568902, "This is nice but it ain't thrilling perhaps a more exciting pov would be beneficial <3>";
- jackfre, 574550, "At first I thought it was rabot in gent. Nice picture with averyspecial foreground <4>";
- Abílio Silveira, 568490, "A very well chosen pov. with some cropping you could even increase the effect as if this wasn't taken from below. Too bad of that line in the top right <4>";
- Phoenix Rising, 572711, "You did a nice post-producing job on this one my admiration for that... <4>";
- ortho158, 572598, "It is an amazing sky, but not as a subject on itself. Perhaps it might be usable to edit other pictures... <3>";
- Vidar S, 561970, "Nice dynamic picture, however the depth of field might have been a lot smaller, perhaps a smaller aperture value could have been a good idea. <3>";
- Jan Hemels, 561296, "A nice quiet, I might even say desolate, atmosphere you have here <4>".
The photos of the first page received Nivad's comments July 9th. Today, July 11th, he went on:
- Ana Afonso, 565296, "A wonderful sky here but in my eyes, and I apoligize for perhaps sounding harsh, you ruined it by making it so blue. <2>";
- Walther, 570194, "Nice peaceful image, natural colors only a pity for some disturbing elements like the pole or even the people <4>";
- lonesome runner, 568530, "I agree with Miguel Oliveira. Perhaps getting closer would also involve the watcher a little more. <3>";
- Dieuwertje, 576094, "Some nice spontaneous faces. Prefer the top two out of those 2 the right one. However I wouldn't have stitched them together. Each one apart did also havea great potential. <3>";
- Virgínia, 565755, "Just a nice picture <3>";
- 1LOP, 560313, "An impressing picture, too bad there were that plnty of cables and masts... <4>";
- chasamatazz, 566988, "Impressive landscape, however that mountain seems a bit too present... <3>";
- aiso, 566209, "Nice landscape with those threatening sky <4>".
He stopped here today. All warriors get tired. This one too.
I am a curious man and I wanted to know more about an expert on photograghy like this. So, I took a look on his profile. I was expecting hundreds or thousands of top rated, high quality photographs, but I got a surprise! Nivad is a member of Woophy since January 3rd, 2006, and he has 135 photos. And none of them rated 5! Besides, he has only a Silver Camera in two and a half years of hard labour!
Dear fellows: I don't understand how can you ignore such a high-skilled photographer. He is helping us so, so strongly, and we are not appreciating his tremendous effort giving us a helping hand?
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Virgínia
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 02:38
As a matter of fact, I was a little dismayed by Nivad's comment on my photo of Castelejo, but I'm very naive and thought, probably it's a bad language use of just, people are not obliged to know how to express themselves in English and sometimes they make serious mistakes ( I'm an English teacher I spot them at once... )
I wouldn't like to get involved myself into this sort of tricks and gossips, I'm just trying to figure out why Nivad has such a low opinion on all of our photos...are they all that bad?
Thank you, Abílio , to call my attention to this sort of comments. The add almost nothing to our performance and surely demoralise us a bit.
Have a nice weekend.
Virgínia
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Walther
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 03:33 - Edited by: Walther
Caro Abílio...
Não entendo perfeitamente o inglês, mas também fiquei indignado com o comentário e a nota "4" do Nivad (pode ser até merecida), mas com tantas fotos na minha coleção, porque comentar somente uma. Na mesma hora entrei no perfíl e coleção de fotos dele e a dedução foi fácil.
Trata-se de um fotógrafo frustrado e complexado, pois em toda sua coleção realmente não conseguiu uma nota "5", como se isso fosse a coisa mais importante e, não se conforma que fotógrafos amadores consigam tal pontuação e, para demonstrar sua inveja, dá nota abaixo de 5, como se fosse um "expert" no assunto, o que o torna ridículo.
Eu o desconhecia e, doravante nem me preocuparei em ver e comentar as fotos desse indivíduo. Para mim o que importa é mostrar meu trabalho e quem quizer comentar (bem ou mal) eu agradeço da mesma forma e se quizerem também dar nota "um" para todas as minhas fotos, estejam à vontade.
A vida é maravilhosa e não vale a pena esquentar a cabeça com uma "coisa" dessas.
Abraços
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Ruud~
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 03:33 - Edited by: Ruud~
Hello Abílio,
You're right: not a single five. That is odd.
Maybe Nivad still rates as in the old days, when "1" was interpreted as average and "5" as excellent. We had no bad pictures in those days.
Since a year and a half we give a "3" for a bad photo, if we rate it at all. We give a "4" for an average picture and a "5" for a good one.
Bye,
Ruud
Hi Nivad,
I liked your comment "A marvelous street picture, I have the impression that this kind of picture is quite rare. Also remarkable: no street signs". I think you left it because you like the picture. That's nice. In contrast, the rating seems lowish.
But why did you leave twos and threes with some of the other pictures? That is really painful. Also, you rated not a single 5. Could you please show us a few examples of pictures that you think are worth 5 stars?
Thanks,
Ruud
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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 09:02
Abílio, with your data presentation, something is clear now!
Nice weekend for everyone,
Greets!
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Coffeejunkie
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 09:04 - Edited by: Coffeejunkie
i agree with the first lines of Ruud~
2-3 years ago it was already a honor to receive a 3! then we had only 3 or 4 members with a golden camera....
in my eyes, Nivad is honest. give consturctive comments. what does it brings to rate only with 5?? then we can erase the rating possibility 1-4..... but Nivad: think about your own comments when you upload a picture! 
i think it is not something bad. it is just the way it is. and it is his way. so let it be
and remember: he shows you what he voted! even if the voting system is anonimous!!! the most would not do it...
greetz
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Ana Afonso
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 09:29
Not anonimous is good thing, but very strange rating for comments. I am sad, the only 2 is my . (soory for english)
Greetings!
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trudy tuinstra
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 09:34
There we go again. It was for fun!
If someone gives his honest opinion by not rating your picture very high nothing happens. Because we can vote all and show all our opinions. So if your picture realy is good others will give it high rates.
At last we have to choose three pictures from all the good ones. I have seen a lot of pictures better then my own. And if they get a 5 in rating then my picture doesn't earn it. Simply because it is not the best.
But I like to get that 5 and I give lots of fives because it is nice to hear from eachother how nice the pictures are.
I think Nivad always have expressed his honest opinion, he also has explained why he would not like a contest. (look in the forums about the contestes of last monnth)
I am very sorry you did not contacted Nivad in private about this. Now you put him in a bad light. I don't think he deserves that.
Let it stay for fun and be happy some members give a bit good advice! You can learn from it.
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Coffeejunkie
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 10:12
Thank you Trudy! you are the best!
let it be for fun... thanks
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ortho158
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 11:21
I was initially surprised by the comment, and then I felt proud: at least, my pic deserved a comment, contrary to a lot of other pics.
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Geoffrey McElwaine
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 11:57 - Edited by: Geoffrey McElwaine
Abílio. Thank you for drawing my attention to this Forum, because one of my pictures is mentioned. I will reply by saying -
a. My main reason for joining Woophy, and chief delight since, is to have my pictures seen by folk from all over the world. The first thing I look for in the data about each of my pictures is the number of times it has been viewed. Because many ( most ? ) members do not have English as a first language, I am very happy when some take time to write anything - even " nice " ! In this context, you will understand that, to me, the rating is secondary : which is not to say that I don't appreciate receiving a 5 !
b. Each member approaches others' pictures differently. Because, like all members, I have limited time to devote to Woophy, I tend to scroll quickly through each day's uploaded pictures. Of the 400 - 500, it may be that only, say, 15 - 20 have an immediate appeal to me ( which is not to say that the remainder are no good ! ). I then try to spend some time commenting on / rating those 15 - 20 and, because I " like " them, I usually rate them 4 or 5. I know that my " system " is flawed, because I do not comment on pictures which do not appeal to me. Other members, of whom Nivad is one, take the view that commenting on pictures which might, with cropping, etc. be improved is a useful exercise in helping members take better pictures. That, to me, is great - I just don't have the time !
c. Each member's response to pictures is different. I may think that one member's pictures are fabulous : others will totally disagree. This, of course, will be reflected in the ratings. Under what I call " my system ", large numbers of pictures are left with no comment or rating. Members uploading those pictures have, therefore, no way of learning - from me - how to become better picture-makers.
d. I must agree with Trudy : you might, perhaps, have been better contacting Nivad by E-mail, rather than raising your concern in this public Forum . Some of his rating do seem a little harsh, but he, an man of integrity, could then have explained his rationale.
Above all, as Coffeejunkie says : let's remember - this Woophy site, and NUC, are for FUN, to be enjoyed !
Regards
Geoff. ( Geoffrey McElwaine )
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Ruden Fretsbo
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 12:00 - Edited by: Ruden Fretsbo
I'd propose Nivad as a member of the NUC jury! ... but maybe then it would end with no winner!
O.k. Talking seriously, there are different levels of demand in different woophy members and he is really a demanding one. On the other hand, I don't see really nothing offending in his comments... even if I don't agree with some of them. So for me there is no problem with him...
To all you, remember that all this is only for fun, let's be peaceful!
Good weekend!
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devish
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 12:19
Here is another picture commented by Nivad:
Very very strong portrait, perhaps one of the first fives i ever gave here in woophy... <5>
Even if the comment is old I think it expresses well Nivad's method.
Every one of us has got his own rating system, we can obviously criticize Nivad's but since I do not find any "criminal" behavior in his commenting and rating we must respect what he is doing
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Vidar S
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 12:32
First of all, I hope Nivad is aware of this topic. I don't like talking behind a persons back.
Well, Nivad. I took your comment with a smile even if I don't agree with you about the picture. I ask for honest comments, and I can take it! It was honest, right?
Why I ask?..
I have huge respect for some of the photographers on woophy, and very rearly say anything negative about their pictures. The reason is because they are a lot better than mine anyway, and who am I to say anything negative about them when my own is no where near the same quality?
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joris
Moderator
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# Posted: 12 Jul 08 12:34
from Woophy
1. Rating is personal
2. a five rating is meant for the occasional master work, no point in rating only fives
3. When somebody takes the effort to serious criticize photos he deserves a Woophy T-shirt not complaints
4. To criticize once behavior in a public forum is much worse than personal critic on a picture
discussion closed
Joris
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