Voting Observations - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/27/2006 12:27:50 PM · #26

My voting pattern has changed too...use to have my curser on 5 than move one way or the other. Now its on 6, very rarely vote less than 4, but when I vote I vote on 100% of the images. If we just vote the top 20%, what happens to the folks that are new and or trying to improve, I don't comment as much as I should.....one area I need to improve on....

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

10/27/2006 12:35:39 PM · #27

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

or 2) rowing crew on a glass smooth lake in the fog listening to the bubbles under the hull on the swing of the stroke.

That is an experience one cannot appreciate unless one has actually been there. And if it's a really good boat, it's not just the bubbles under the hull, it's the sheer power as the boat picks up and slides forward just after the oars enter the water. Unparalleled. And sadly, probably not something one could truly capture in a photograph.

bmartuch

Nikon D7200

10/27/2006 12:53:30 PM · #28

bump

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/27/2006 12:54:04 PM · #29

I'm with you Ace. I try to vote 100% on any challenge I vote for. I also try to vote in all challenges that I'm not entered in. Knowing that I can't vote in all challenges I'd rather "no-vote" the ones I'm entered in.

The exception to this is large free studies that I've entered. I vote there just to help keep the voter pool up because of the typically large number of entries.

My goal is keep my votes cast well ahead of my votes received. Right now Iâ��m at 6865 to 1093.

I know that voting 100% isn't possible for everyone but I try in an attempt to "pay forward" for what I receive from the site.

I also have to work on giving more comments!

Message edited by author 2006-10-27 13:52:20.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/27/2006 01:37:50 PM · #30

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

I think the morning challenge is even worse. The description talks about what morning means to you. In my opinion, only 2 out of the top 10 actually meet the challenge description. Don't get me wrong, the others are really good pictures, but voters are very forgiving for good pictures that DNMC. If your pictures is average and DNMC, you get hammered.

I certainly don't blame the people entering pictures; If I had one like that I would have entered it also to get a good score.

Which two would those be? I'm curious. The top 10 consist of 9 "morning light" photos and one self-portrait, jutilda's. So I'd assume Judy's is one of your two, and perhaps the shot of the catboat in the mist is the other, just because it has an actual isolated subject, but I honestly don't know.

Be that as it may, I'm a photographer and I can tell you EXACTLY what "morning means to" me: it means the low, sweet morning light; always has, always will. I don't find it any surprise at all that so many people went the same direction, since we're ALL photographers...

I don't mean this to be confrontational at all, I'm curious to see your thinking expanded upon.

R.

Message edited by author 2006-10-27 13:38:32.

Artifacts

10/27/2006 02:16:00 PM · #31

Originally posted by DJWoodward:

Steve,

Please don't take my words as an acusation. It's not meant that way.

None taken. Obviously you and I like the same type of photography so we are blood brothers at heart. We will never be at serious odds.

I've never had a problem being a non-conformist and am not about to start now. lol!

Artifacts

10/27/2006 02:22:38 PM · #32

Originally posted by dallasdux:

I'd like to thank StDavidson for the quality of his comments. I'd prefer more comments like his and a score of 5 given than get a "drive-by" 6 with no explanation as to what could have been improved.

Now if people could just tell me why I get all those darn 4's :( or better yet, How NOT to keep getting them. :)

Thanks for your kind remark. I've been getting a lot like that from this challenge. Must be because I'm on a slow connection so have a lot of time to think before voting. :)

I don't like stroking people's ego for no reason, but do like to give accurate feedback.

jaysonmc

Nikon D200

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

10/27/2006 02:24:54 PM · #33

It shouldn't matter how one votes as long as you are consistent throughout the challenge. I think the scores mean less than the actually placement you received compared to everyone else. The whole thing is a standard curve, so you have to take that into perspective.

Cheers.

Artifacts

10/27/2006 02:27:56 PM · #34

Originally posted by ace flyman:

My voting pattern has changed too...use to have my curser on 5 than move one way or the other. Now its on 6, very rarely vote less than 4, but when I vote I vote on 100% of the images.

I'm with you except my cursor is on 7 now.

I also strongly feel that voting on ALL the entries of a challenge is the most fair. I feel you can't accurately evaluate the whole challenge unless you evaluate all the images submitted to it.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/27/2006 02:35:18 PM · #35

Originally posted by stdavidson:

None taken. Obviously you and I like the same type of photography so we are blood brothers at heart. We will never be at serious odds.

Thanks for the kind words. I can only hope to improve to your level of skill in that type of photography.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/27/2006 02:37:54 PM · #36

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by ace flyman:
My voting pattern has changed too...use to have my curser on 5 than move one way or the other. Now its on 6, very rarely vote less than 4, but when I vote I vote on 100% of the images.

I'm with you except my cursor is on 7 now.

I also strongly feel that voting on ALL the entries of a challenge is the most fair. I feel you can't accurately evaluate the whole challenge unless you evaluate all the images submitted to it.

My cursor starts on 5, but I am very open-minded about what a good photograph can be, so my average still skews almost to 6.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/27/2006 02:40:55 PM · #37

I tend to score on an absolute scale, not on a DPC-weighted scale. My standards for photography are high. Images that get 9's and 10's from me rank with some of the best images I have seen, basically. So my voting average is low, but I'm very consistent. I also rarely give out anything lower than a 4.

Robt.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

10/27/2006 02:46:21 PM · #38

Originally posted by posthumous:

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by ace flyman:
My voting pattern has changed too...use to have my curser on 5 than move one way or the other. Now its on 6, very rarely vote less than 4, but when I vote I vote on 100% of the images.

I'm with you except my cursor is on 7 now.

I also strongly feel that voting on ALL the entries of a challenge is the most fair. I feel you can't accurately evaluate the whole challenge unless you evaluate all the images submitted to it.

My cursor starts on 5, but I am very open-minded about what a good photograph can be, so my average still skews almost to 6.

posthumous and stdavidson are also 2 of the best commenters at DPC. posthumous for his creative comments and stdavidson for his ability to give constructive criticism and make you feel good about it.

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/27/2006 02:58:31 PM · #39

For Doc and Bear:

I normally try to have a wide interpretation for meeting the challenge. If it's even close, I won't deduct.

That being said, "Another Day in Paradise" by Jutilda is one of the two.

The other one is "Early morning means good reflection photos" by RUEDISCHMUTZ.

These nailed it for me because I got the meaning of morning from the picture/title, without having to assume that it's a photographer's viewpoint. If the title of many of these was "Sweet Light", "Photo Opportunity", "Me Alone with my Camera", "Shooting Ecola", or anything in that vein, that would have been enough for me. Many seem to me to be pictures of morning, as opposed to what morning meant to the photographer.

A couple that I thought really met the challenge:

"Waking Thoughts" by Amandalore

"Saturday Morning Cartoons" by Dr. Jeuss

"The A.M. Ritual" by Sherpet

As I type this, I realized that they all connect me to a person, and not just a nice scene to photograph.

I also think that many of the pictures that scored below average met the challenge well, but weren't as well done technically, and certainly don't have that "wow" factor.

cloudsme

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

10/27/2006 03:44:53 PM · #40

Observation 3.
Artistic merit doesnt count for much here. I suppose this is a good thing. I've learnt heaps from this site in terms of photography 'technique'. Now I can apply the good technique to my art.

I'm surprised no one has taken issue with this statement. I think the voters do appreciate art. I can think of many winners that are beautifully artistic.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/27/2006 04:10:16 PM · #41

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

Mad, just so I understand...
Are you saying that if the other 8 had different titles, ones that were more personal expressions of what morning means, they would have met the challenge better? Do titles have that much influence?

dallasdux

Pentax *ist DL

10/27/2006 04:27:02 PM · #42

Originally posted by DJWoodward:

Do titles have that much influence?

I'm not about to answer their question, but this last one you posted struck me. Some titles do have a lot of influence as they can add an additional element to the photo such as humor or direction of how it met the challenge.

I know a title or two has helped bump an image up in its score (even some already really good photos). Depends on how straight forward the challenge is. Take the Gary Larson Far Side Challenge. That is a challenge where the title could REALLY help your image. Especially if you did not use any text in the photo (can't remember if text was allowed, but I think it was).

Ultimately you would hope that your photo carries enough weight that a title is not even needed.

Message edited by author 2006-10-27 16:33:41.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/27/2006 04:36:15 PM · #43

dallasdux,

I wasn't really trying to stir the pot. I was just curious if the title was that important in this particular challenge. If it was to Mad I have no problem with it. I was just curious.

For me a clever combiniation of photo and title might affect a score a point or two but I wouldn't go all the way from Top 10 photo to DNMC because of a title. (JMO)

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

10/27/2006 04:37:07 PM · #44

Originally posted by DJWoodward:

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

These nailed it for me because I got the meaning of morning from the picture/title, without having to assume that it's a photographer's viewpoint. If the title of many of these was "Sweet Light", "Photo Opportunity", "Me Alone with my Camera", "Shooting Ecola", or anything in that vein, that would have been enough for me. Many seem to me to be pictures of morning, as opposed to what morning meant to the photographer.

Mad, just so I understand...
Are you saying that if the other 8 had different titles, ones that were more personal expressions of what morning means, they would have met the challenge better? Do titles have that much influence?

In this challenge, they have more influence (in my opinion). And even if it seems like I have a narrow view of what this challenge means, it takes something to take it a step beyond "morning picture" and into "what morning means to you". Instead of insisting the picture stands on it's own, I actually allowed the title to help avoid DNMC. But it's possible to meet challenge without the title - Sherpet's picture proves it.

Edit: After reading your reply to dallasdux, DNMC does not necessarily mean a very low score from me, but in my opinion shouldn't be a top ten. As stated earlier, I typically have a very loose definition of the challenge (name and description) and my starting vote is typically 6, and I add or subtract from there. I used to give very low scores for DNMC but I've been working very hard to raise my voting average.

Message edited by author 2006-10-27 16:43:48.

10/27/2006 04:42:31 PM · #45

Thanks for the response Mad. I really enjoy hearing all of the different perspectives that members bing to the table. It makes us all think twice about how we participate/vote in this community.

Variety is the spice of life :-)

Message edited by author 2006-10-27 16:43:37.

yanko