This building could be anywhere. This photo doesn't imply any urbanity, just decay maybe.

Digitalpeace- I have noticed that you have very caustic comments. I think you have much talent as a photographer and much to learn about offering constructive criticism.

kyla: so I guess for you "constructive criticism" should be a positive statement such as "love this", "good", "great something", "awesome shot", and so and and so forth. I'm afraid, it's you who've got to learn that my mordant comments are much constructive than these flattery remarks that cannot even be referred to as criticism.

digitalpeace- Your comment is as helpful as the flowery comments only it is not particularly nice. When I see your name I immediately think I wonder how he trashed this photo. Frankly, you amuse me and I have yet,"yet" being the operative word, to be on the receiving end of your comments, I just feel empathy for all those who have.

Oh, boy, dialog!

First, this image has a lot going for it. I like it, but I don't know that it fulfills the Urban Decay theme.

Kyla tends to be supportive, which is much appreciated by me and others. However, I think "caustic" is extreme and an inaccurate description of digitalpeace's style.

Digitalpeace, by contrast with Kyla, seems more elitest and his remarks carry a jaded tone that splashes cold water on all Pollyannas.

Between the two, I find more balance than with one or the other.

I aspire to find this balance in my own comments. When I joined WeeklyShot on September 11, I started out pretty argumentative. Now I'm being so supportive that I'm starting to nauseate myself.

I hope to find a place where I can be authentically appreciative of the work of others, able to disagree without being reactionary, and honest enough to offer thoughtful, constructive criticism.

I think we all have some work to do.

Oh, boy, dialog!

First, this image has a lot going for it. I like it, but I don't know that it fulfills the Urban Decay theme.

Kyla tends to be supportive, which is much appreciated by me and others. However, I think "caustic" is extreme and an inaccurate description of digitalpeace's style.

Digitalpeace, by contrast with Kyla, seems more elitest and his remarks carry a jaded tone that splashes cold water on all Pollyannas.

Between the two, I find more balance than with one or the other.

I aspire to find this balance in my own comments. When I joined WeeklyShot on September 11, I started out pretty argumentative. Now I'm being so supportive that I'm starting to nauseate myself.

I hope to find a place where I can be authentically appreciative of the work of others, able to disagree without being reactionary, and honest enough to offer thoughtful, constructive criticism.

I think we all have some work to do.

Well that was an interesting exchange. I think it really points up how comments (ever had an email misinterpreted?) can be mis-construed, mis-interpreted, mis-read, mis-understood or given meanings that are really the projections of the reader. God only knows what happened in this one.

I did not take digitalpeace's comments negatively. I come to this with the assumption/bias that comments are going to being given in the spirit of constructivity, so I have thought a bit about those comments. The only thing I noticed was that the comments perhaps could be called "blunt". That is OK, but I have found that part of the art of this crazy electronic communication without any facial feedback or hearing the tone of voice, is that I have to be soft and thoughtful in what I write because it is so EASY for a comment to not come across right.

That doesn't stop me from giving "negative" constructive feedback, but I try to do it with balance and care and always ask myself "how will this sound" I am SURE I blow this occassionally, but I do try.

Sooooo, thanks for the comments both of you! Just thought I would chime in with my reaction and thoughts about electronic writing.

Isn't it amazing how we all bring so much of ourselves to viewing images? Makes it fun and gives us some surprises!

Cheers, Scott

kyla: first of all, tell me why I should be "helpful"? My task here is to rate images and leave comments to explain why such photo work for me and why others don't. Am I a better photographer than them to give them instructions to improve themselves? This is pure bullshit. And finally, as Scott said, my comments are not "negative". I'm just being genuine and I know that genuine and direct people are generally not liked. Keep on being amused.