Did I do something?

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ToddMR

ToddMR

Member
Joined
May 3, 2010
Messages
1,715
Location
Columbus, OH
I have noticed over the last several months whenever I post some pens I completed, I barely get any responses. I will have quite a few views but I might get 1-2 replies and that is all. Now I have thought perhaps its the same 'ol same 'ol to people, but I have even done things that are different for me. So At this point I am not sure if I suck as a pen turner, I did or said something to **** off the masses here, or I am just not liked for some reason. I am hopeful I am just reading too much into it, but even after not posting anything new in the pen area for a month or more I barely get anything. I have always liked it here, and have received valuable information that has helped me to progress. If anyone knows anything that might help me with my concerns, please feel free to IM me on here, or post a reply and let me know if all is good and its just how things can be.

Hope all had a good weekend.:confused:
 
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i wouldn't worry too much about it, this has happened to me in the past, loads of views but no comments. I put this down to when you post, who,s awake and viewing and who,s not, how quickly you posting can be pushed off the homepage, etc. If it makes you feel any better i,ll try and remember to leave a comment when i see your work. Sometimes theres that many pens posted on here its hard to leave comments for all.
Rich
 
Thanks guys. I figure I was just imagining things. Just seems its the norm for me now matter how far down/up it is. I just need to take it with a grain of salt. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't me or something I was doing. I wish I could be more active on here than I have been too. Thanks again for the reassurance.
 
I'm not a big commentor but I do use the like button.

Some things I've noticed...

Poor titles result is less views. With how busy the forum is I tend to skim over unclear titles.

Certain members are certainly 'popular' and attract more comments. This has been discussed, the theory is they comment a lot so they receive a lot.

The first few comments greatly impact where the thread goes. Threads tend to continue with the theme of the OP and subsequent posts.

I'm not suggesting any or all apply to you, just pointing out general observations.

AK
 
Hey Todd,

I may or may not be like most members here, but when I'm on the board it is generally for short periods of time because, well, time is short. I'll check out the homepage first to see what recently posted and will then dive into the "Show Pens" or "Other Things We Turn" sections. If time permits I will meander into other topics.

I look for titles of interest and then quickly scan those posts. Two things really get my attention. First is the uniqueness and beauty of the items and second is the quality of the photos. If I see something that jumps out at me I will comment.

I scanned thru many of your threads just now to see if I could spot any trends. Your turns are great. Wonderful craftsmenship and variety are there for sure and you select very interesting blanks and kits.

I do however see common traits that may be the source of your problem. The lighting is generally flat and the subjects are sometimes slightly out of focus. Consider investing in some fill lights and maybe a small photo tent. This will add pop to your images and will give your creations much more dimension and color. Do that, watch the focus and I think the comments will tick up right away!!

I hope this helps!

Tom
 
Many people may be like I am. I enjoy looking at the pens that have been made but I do not normally make comments because I type by the hunt and peck method and if I commented on every post as slow as I type I would not have time to do anything but sit at the computer all day. Continue posting and know many of us are enjoying looking at your work even if we don't post a comment.
 
Now that I am sitting at a computer (not on my phone eating breakfast) I had time to look at a few of your posts.

Although I try my best not to be a photo snob, the number of exceptional photos we see daily have made me (and probably most) a bit of one. I have grudgingly accepted that photography is as important as the pen when posting pictures. This is why you see so few of mine ... I don't make the effort to take quality pictures.

The reason I think it is as important is becuase it is hard to comment on a pen if you can't see the details and the fit and finish clearly. Poor lightling, out of focus and distracting back grounds make it almost impossible to assess a pen fairly.

This is just my mile high observation, take it for what you paid for it.

AK
 
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Nothing to worry about, we all feel this way some time or another...
It's not you, this is the time of the year people are on vacation, folks are doing shows and when not at shows, they are in the shop to make tons more of products which they sold out of......there are many reasons, hang ing there
 
Thanks for all the comments. It just seemed to be an overall issue I was running into, no matters to the month. I guess 99 views and 0 comments is better than 1 view and 0 comments right? LOL. I just like to make sure I am in ok standing within the community. As for the picture taking, I try to do the best with what I have. I know some are way more talented in that dept than I am. Most of it is my fault for not wanting to take the time to build a photo tent or box. None the less thanks for all the comments about this.
 
You can also get great results using sunlight and reflectors or even good compact fluorescent bulbs that have a color temp between 5,000 and 6,500 kelvin.

I purchased some cheap tabletop lights with stands from Cowboy Studio (see www.cowboystudio.com) and have seen a tremendous improvement in my pictures.

You can make cheap reflector panels with some PVC and fabric. Those can help a lot.

Tom
 
tkbarron said:
You can also get great results using sunlight and reflectors or even good compact fluorescent bulbs that have a color temp between 5,000 and 6,500 kelvin.

I purchased some cheap tabletop lights with stands from Cowboy Studio (see www.cowboystudio.com) and have seen a tremendous improvement in my pictures.

You can make cheap reflector panels with some PVC and fabric. Those can help a lot.

Tom
Click to expand...

This is true, outside light is terrific, but sometimes the weather isn't ideal for it. My shop is lit with florescent fixtures and I take pictures right on my bench with no supplemental lighting. I do lay down a white cloth and prop up a white foam board behind. If the pen is very dark, this won't work, so I use a couple gray cookie sheets.

Usually the images are too dark to start with, so I then tweak in Windows Photo Gallery or what ever you have. If you're using a phone, I can't help you--never tried it.

But the consensus here is right on: if the pictures look bad at first glance, I'm afraid people skip on to another post without reading. Once the pictures are good and you have them reading, ask questions, raise a couple points about the blank or kit and try to stimulate some discussion.

Hope this helps.
 
Just speaking for myself, there are several reasons why I don't post to every pen I see. 1. If the talent of the pen maker is significantly above me, then I am not really sure what went into the pen in the first place. I admire the piece, but rarely post "Wow, that's cool." 2. If the title of the post is unclear, I may not click on it at all, or if I click thinking its something different than what it turns out to be, I usually go back to the home page without commenting. 3. Poor photography is a real turn off. Camera phones are not good enough to take photos that allow us to judge workmanship or finish. Furthermore, I don't understand why people don't look at their photos before posting. Why bother posting a blurry photos of your pen? Its just not worthwhile, when you can sit down, adjust the lighting, take a few more photos and put up a proper one. 4. Some people like to modify the original design. If its unique, beautiful or interesting, I don't mind commenting, but I usually don't comment on Slimlines or someone's Giant Slimline modification.

I am making these comments in general. I do not recall seeing any of your posts specifically. I am hoping this might assist the masses if they want to increase their level of responses.
 
I think most of us that post our pens get minimal responses. It's not that the work is sub par, or that people don't appreciate the work. I know I look at a lot of pens that really impress me, but I don't comment on. Mainly because unless I have something new to say, I just use the like button. Now if I know the person, I'll usually comment. I also try & comment on peoples 1st pens when I notice them. I think others do also. It makes newbies feel welcome, and encourages them to be more active in the forum.

I do think the photography has something to do with the number of posts. But that's not always the case. I've seen some average photos get lost of comments, where some great photos don't get many even when the work is really nice.

Finally, I think when we've been on this forum for several months, we get used to seeing exceptional pens, and the "WOW" factor goes away. Kind of like watching a 3D movie from the 50's. At the time, everyone was astounded by the images in the theaters. Now, we compare them to Avatar & the modern 3D, and the old ones just don't impress us anymore. We always need something that goes to the next level to get us excited. I go back to my 1st few pens. I was so impressed. Now I kind of smile when I remember how proud I was of those 1st few pens.
 
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