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I believe this from the genus Opisthoncus.

Comments welcome.

Excellent ... Jumping spiders must be the flavour of the week.

Briliant shot, the only sugestion I can offer would be a little more light on its face to show up its eyes

What should I make of the fact that I only have one response to this picture?

Is the photograph so bad that it can't be improved at all? No-one is game enough to tell me how crap it really is?

Is the photograph so good that it doesn't need to be improved? One thing I do notice is that we have some fantastic photographers on DSLRusers, many that get paid for their images. These people get many responses to the photographs they post even though they don't need to be improved.

Is it the subject matter? I gave up trying to get comments on my marine subjects but I would have thought I'd get some comments on this one as there has been another recent thread with a very similar subject. Is this so bad?

Is it me? Do I assume there is some conspiracy and the only people that comment aren't in on it? Should I just give up?

I didn't see it until now
Great shot - you don't often see good photos of the dorsal view of a spider - a great taxonomic shot as it details the colouration on the abdomen
Lovely
But then, I love spiders

ATJ wrote:What should I make of the fact that I only have one response to this picture?

I think you're reading too much into it. Some just get missed...there's 13 others in the first 2 pages of threads without any, or only one reply, as well. It's the weekend, less stuff gets posted (and seen), IMO. Nothing more, nothing less!

Like Rel said, great pic.

ATJ wrote:
Is it the subject matter? I gave up trying to get comments on my marine subjects but I would have thought I'd get some comments on this one as there has been another recent thread with a very similar subject. Is this so bad?

Is it me? Do I assume there is some conspiracy and the only people that comment aren't in on it? Should I just give up?

........ I just gave up posting pix's due to the lack of response...... I post a pix now and then just for fun, but, you guessed it, very little response as well....... I see some great pix's posted with very little response, I try and comment when possible, but unless the pix has a racing theme or a woman wearing very little, there is hardly a chance of a comment...... maybe one or two.......

....... BTW.....nice spider pix......

Lovely capture.
Focus on the eyes and the catchlights give him real character.
Don't see how you could improve on this.

I think it's a nice capture as it is, but I reckon it could be improved by a tad more DOF, so that the abdomen comes into sharp focus, too. Composition and colours are great.

As for the lack of responses you (and others) mentioned, I tend to comment only if I have a specific suggestion or gripe. I don't like responses like "top image" or "great shot" and try not to give those myself. I also shut my mouth if I can't make anything of an image, for no specific reasons (if the image just doesn't do it for me).

I admit that I could offer more critique than I'm doing, however, like you I find it hard to attract any interest to my pics as well.

Cheers
Steffen

imho it looks like a great encyclopedia pic recording the species. if thats what you were going for it's perfect. nice and sharp, clear lighting etc.

if you were going for something a little different i'd try another angle; from the front preferabley recording his eyes and head and maybe even a little less dof to isolate the subject.

Hey Andrew,
Even if I don't always coment I veiw most of your offerings.
I do like your marine shots as this is a part of the world I don't get to see anywhere else. Please keep posting them when you have some new ones to share.

I would like to see a little more depth with this little one towards the rear of the abdomen. It would also be great if you could stretch the depth to include the feet.

Regards Colin

ATJ wrote:What should I make of the fact that I only have one response to this picture?

Not a damn thing.

I love the underwater shots. Great vibrant colours. If I don't comment it's because there is nothing useful I can say. However sometimes we all need a group hug so I'll say that, in my opinion, you have taken some outstanding shots . I had a brief part of my life doing SCUBA and I'm most impressed by the great clarity of your underwater photos. Sadly my SCUBA experience ended when I did a dive with a sore throat and kept on diving without equalising properly, and blew out the round window in my right inner ear during the dive.

Most of the photos I post here don't get many comments. That's OK and I don't stress about it.

There is no conspiracy (well I don't think there is....maybe I should check with the inner circle but I don't know the secret handshake. )

Of course there's no conspiracy - it's silly to even suggest that.

If by inner circle, you mean admins and mods, then I can tell you that the last image I posted had 97 views and only 1 reply. It happens to everybody. I belong to two international photo sites, and both forums have had similar issues lately. One forum has gone as far as publicly chastising people who post images but don't offer critiques, which I find utterly distasteful.

Things you can do:

- throw your toys out of the cot and don't post any more pics
- spit the dummy and harangue the forum for not paying attention to you
- suck your thumb and sulk for a year

None of which, in my view, is very productive.

Or:

- do like most of us do. Realise that it's not all about you. People have busier lives than ever, and may have only limited time to spend on the forum.

Keep enjoying your hobby and posting the images. Sometimes you'll get positive strokes, sometimes negative strokes, sometimes no strokes at all.

That's just the way it is. Get over it.

My post was not about "guilting" people into providing comments, but thank you to those people that provided comments, they are appreciated. It was not about being upset because I wasn't getting my ego stroked - I'm not after those sorts of comments but do appreciate the suggestions that I'm on the right track. I'd much prefer to get a response such as "Great picture, but...". What comes after the "but" is the really useful part.

I was asking (what I thought were) genuine questions about responses in the Image Reviews and Critiques (IRaC) forum. I find that I get very few if any responses to my posts in that forum. It also appears that I'm not the rarely receives many responses.

I post images in the IRaC forum to get feedback on how the image can be improved, whether that be post processing suggestions or things to do different next time to get a better image. I thought that was the whole purpose of the forum. I'm sure that's the reason most people post in that forum. If people get few or no responses, what is the point?

I do understand how busy people are and how little time they may have to post responses. I'm busy myself. I can't help but notice that at over the same time period some threads in the IRaC forum get loads of responses and some get one or even none. Why does that happen? I also notice that some posters almost always get a lot of responses to their images no matter the subject - and most of these people aren't moderators or key members (that was never my suggestion). Why does that happen? Is it because their images are better - and if so wouldn't that mean they need less comments? Are these images really being used as a showcase (intentionally or unintentionally)?

If nothing's wrong and that's the way things are, so be it. I just won't post - not because I'm sulking or spitting the dummy but simply because I don't feel I'm getting the intended value from that forum. If something is broken, why don't we try to fix it?

cricketfan wrote:Things you can do:

- throw your toys out of the cot and don't post any more pics
- spit the dummy and harangue the forum for not paying attention to you
- suck your thumb and sulk for a year

Speaking of utterly distasteful....

I would have thought as a moderator you'd be interested in hearing comments from members and accepted them on face value. Belittling the member or the comments is hardly productive.

ATJ wrote:I'd much prefer to get a response such as "Great picture, but...". What comes after the "but" is the really useful part.

It is.

But often people may not have the bit that follows the "but". It is absolutely correct and appropriate that, in those circumstances, they also not post the bit that precedes it.

I find that I get very few if any responses to my posts in that forum. It also appears that I'm not the rarely receives many responses.

I get even less. I'm over it.

I post images in the IRaC forum to get feedback on how the image can be improved, whether that be post processing suggestions or things to do different next time to get a better image. I thought that was the whole purpose of the forum. I'm sure that's the reason most people post in that forum.

It should be the only reason.

If people get few or no responses, what is the point?

Actually, and with respect, you're missing the point. It's all very weel to request a critique, but please tell me how we can actually enforce some way to ensure that you get one?

This has been canvassed many times in the past, and simple fact is that people will offer a critique when and if they feel it's appropriate.

That is, IMHO, fair and reasonable.

And if they have nothing to offer, than it's also appropriate that nothing is exactly what is said.

That you might not like that fact is accepted.

But it is a fact, and there is nothing that you, nor I, nor any of the mods, can do anything about.

can't help but notice that at over the same time period some threads in the IRaC forum get loads of responses and some get one or even none. Why does that happen?

That is the $1000000000 question.

Again, it's the way it is, and you need to accept it, because there's no way that I can think of that will permit you to change it.

Are these images really being used as a showcase (intentionally or unintentionally)?

Oft times, yes, and we often feel that is intentional. I'm not suggesting that you fall into this category, but we do see images that seem to scream "here, look at me!" or "hey, look at what I've been doing" rather than "I did this with this image, and I'm still not happy with it".

If something is broken, why don't we try to fix it?

Fine. What's broken. Please be specific. Please start a new thread, because this thread is about your image. And please, do be specific.

But please try to avoid bringing up the insoluble chestnuts that you've raised, that require us to somehow compel people to make posts here.

cricketfan wrote:Things you can do:

- throw your toys out of the cot and don't post any more pics
- spit the dummy and harangue the forum for not paying attention to you
- suck your thumb and sulk for a year

Speaking of utterly distasteful....

I would have thought as a moderator you'd be interested in hearing comments from members and accepted them on face value. Belittling the member or the comments is hardly productive.

Trevor certainly is, as am I.

But we are not interested in hearing people complaining that they've not recieved any comments on their images. Your initial question was

What should I make of the fact that I only have one response to this picture?

To which I responded

Not a damn thing.

I don't believe that there's anything that you, or anyone else, has said that changes that.

And that is the way is needs to be.

Whoa, ATJ, hold on there!

To clarify, I did not accuse you of any of those things. It was a list of ironic, light-hearted possible actions. That you have taken them personally and out of the context of my post says more about you than it does about me.

ATJ wrote:I would have thought as a moderator you'd be interested in hearing comments from members and accepted them on face value. Belittling the member or the comments is hardly productive.

As a moderator, I am certainly interested in members' comments. But I don't accept them at face value, because sometimes they are wrong, like this one:

ATJ wrote:Is it me? Do I assume there is some conspiracy and the only people that comment aren't in on it? Should I just give up?

My point is that you will sometimes post an excellent image and not get any or many responses. Unfortunate? Probably.

But this type of thread won't help.

Please refer to this current front page post from Gary:

http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php? ... 4643b08ead

Whilst my opinion won't add anything, I find that I look at an image (say, marine) of which I have no knowledge or, and I say this with all due respect, relatively low interest, and therefore can not add anything constructive. I am not a big fauna photo fan, but then I will see one which looks absolutely amazing due to either the absolute level of skill, luck or bravery needed to get that shot or some other factor. In a situation like that, there isn't much I can add except for "Great photo", which we all realise is nice but not a critique.

I have been in a similar position where I post photos of Alex (my little boy), seeking improvement but get little to no response - yes it can be frustrating, but then I realise that baby photos are a cup of tea that, perhaps, very few people like. Yes, it is easy to feel conspired against, it is easy to feel like your photos are crap, etc, but then again, it is logical to realise that photos of certain styles are not everyone's favourate and people are very, very busy.

I have just spotted this thread and I think it's an excellent image. I think the hot-spot on the spiders head is a slight distraction and perhaps a little extra PP might dull it down a little. As for getting few respnses....it happens to all of us. Some of my best images (in my opinion) have just slid to the bottom of the page without comment. Clearly the forum members were so overwhelmed with the brilliance of them they felt inadequate to respond. Clearly ATJ, you are now in that league.

i wonder if a "photo of the day" kind of thread may be a better alternative. much easier to scroll thru one thread and comment on multiple images in just one reply rather than going thru 10 threads.

i try and comment on as many as i can but there are so many single photo threads, it takes alot of time to try and scroll thru each and reply to them individually.

bandwidth obviously could be a problem. just an idea.

Well.. you must be pleased now... you have stacks of posts... just not about your image!

I would agree that it is a good shot BUT .....

just kidding, I think it is good!