What's up with the scores? - DPChallenge Forums

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

12/08/2008 12:19:05 PM · #53

I was a little upset about my results in the free study challenge that ended recently.
can i get some critiques?

Bear_Music

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

12/08/2008 12:32:36 PM · #54

Originally posted by mgarsteck:

I was a little upset about my results in the free study challenge that ended recently.
can i get some critiques?

From your photographer's notes: "I hope this photo does well. I don't care about the votes, just the impact it has..." So why are you even a "little" upset?

As to why it didn't score better, I'd observe:

1. Loaded political statements tend to polarize the voters and bring the scores of otherwise-excellent images down towards the middle as low votes cancel out higher votes.

2. The slightly grungy, "tone mapped" look has been overdone, according to a lot of the voters, so that will have brought you down, even though I, for one, think it's an effective mood for this shot.

3. The hands are not in really crisp focus, and they are critical to the shot.

R.

Paul

Leica SL

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black

12/08/2008 01:21:42 PM · #55

I gave the Slave image an 8 - I really liked it. But I suppose, in a free study challenge, if you want a high score you need to shoot with the audience in mind.

Also, at the point of voting, voters don't get the information you have written to go with it and thus they are free to form their own conclusion as to the 'why' of the image and some will jump to those conclusions.

Personally I'll take thought provoking images over 'perfectly sweet' any day of the week - but if we look at De Sousa's absolutely fabulous 'Descent from the Cross', quality can win even if the image is controversial. That it isn't to say your image wasn't high quality - I gave it an 8. However, De Sousa's was a 10 - automatic, no question and 82 other people gave 10s too.

I suppose what I am saying is that controversial images can do well but the quality threshold needed to win people over is much, much higher than say a nice image of a newborn baby. Having said that, I doubt a baby image would ever get 83 tens!

Does this help?

Regards

Paul

FireBird

12/08/2008 07:30:26 PM · #56

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

However, De Sousa's was a 10 - automatic, no question and 82 other people gave 10s too.

I wonder how many of the 82 knew it was De Sousa's the moment they saw it. I knew it at once.

jtlee321

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

12/08/2008 07:42:01 PM · #57

That brings up another point.. How many people rank an image higher because they think it is a particular photographers entry? And then follow that up with lower scores on some of the other great images? This seems like it has become a popularity contest with a little bit of anonymity. Just my opinion..

ErinKirsten

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED

12/08/2008 08:05:46 PM · #58

Originally posted by jtlee321:

It is about the same number of people who when they are tired of a particular subject; i.e., water drops, butterflies, frogs, etc. they vote it down. In lieu of judging an image based on it's merit individually people vote it in accordance with previous contests that have already occurred.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/08/2008 08:31:49 PM · #59

It's difficult to maintain ones own preferences and not go with the pack menatality. When you do exercise those preferences with your vote, if your tastes are not mainstream, it has the effect of compressing the scale further. End result is what we have here: The difference between a so-so image and a really good one is only about 1 1/2 points on a scale of 10.

mikeee

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/10/2008 04:54:49 AM · #60

I have only entered 2 competitions and I don't take the scores seriously. To me it's just a way of focussing my photography for a certain challenge rather than just taking random photos of what's around me. I take notice of the comments.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/15/2008 07:35:10 AM · #61

My own personal rating system, goes like this (normally):

(RARE)
1 - Really not great either technically or creatively, cannot see any effort made/image has no appeal on any level to me (or I really don't agree with the ethos of the photo - but this would be v.v.v.v. rare) (imo)
2 - Technically or creatively not great and image has no appeal (imo)
3 - Some effort made either technically or creatively, but image has no appeal whatsoever (imo)

(SOMETIMES)

4 - Technically and creatively average

(MOST OF MY SCORES)

5 - Creative and good technique - but not to my taste (imo)
6 - Creative, good technique, effort has been made (imo)
7 - Creative, interesting, good technique, effort has been made - to my taste (imo)

(GIVEN OUT MORE THAN THE LOWEST SCORES I THINK)

8 - Creative, interesting, good technique, lots of effort has been made - to my taste (imo)
9 - Highly creative, captivating, amazing technique, lots of effort has been made - completely to my taste (imo)
10 - Extremely creative, a shot I would aspire to take, expert technique, polished finish, huge effort has been made - to my taste exactly (imo)

This is all just my opinion :)

I always try and be extremely fair when rating too.

AmeedEl-Ghoul

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/15/2008 08:05:05 AM · #62

Rainbow, This is the kind of way t he rest need to be concidering .. but when it comes to reyality .. as long as there is a single thing they don't like you get 1 to 4 ..
My self I try to keep to the way you mentioned,

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

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

12/15/2008 08:10:02 AM · #63

Speaking for myself, I try REAL hard to keep my own taste out of the voting process. I see no reason why scoring in a competition should be based on what I prefer to look at. I try to judge images on their intrinsic merit, how creative they are and how technically accomplished they are basically.

R.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/15/2008 08:47:19 AM · #64

I just want to point out with the best of intentions:

Anyone who has an average giving score under 5 (which if I am correct is the average in a 1 - 10 range), and is unhappy about scores being low... well... maybe consider your own voting system?

Like I said, I mean this with the best of intentions... no offence intended, it's just my opinion.

JaimeVinas

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

12/15/2008 08:56:42 AM · #65

I kinda agree that some voters put their personal tastes over challenge criteria. But then again, we need to rememeber that the average voter on here knows less than the average photographer. So, that said. The scores are what they are. Just remember who is voting. That explains it to me.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

12/15/2008 09:03:36 AM · #66

Originally posted by Rainbow-Coloured-Soul:

Anyone who has an average giving score under 5 (which if I am correct is the average in a 1 - 10 range), and is unhappy about scores being low... well... maybe consider your own voting system?

And also remember that having a scoring average of less than 5.5 in a voting system from 1 to 10 is suggesting that most images are below average..

Average Score = (1 + 10)/ 2 = 5.5 not 5.0...

Message edited by author 2008-12-15 09:04:32.

bob350

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

12/15/2008 09:05:20 AM · #67

Originally posted by Rainbow-Coloured-Soul:

I just want to point out with the best of intentions:

Anyone who has an average giving score under 5 (which if I am correct is the average in a 1 - 10 range),...

Common misunderstanding. Five is half way between zero and ten. However, the voting scale does not start at zero but instead starts at one. The number 5.5 is half way between one and ten.

But your general idea is right on target.

12/15/2008 09:08:20 AM · #68

Originally posted by bassbone:

Originally posted by Rainbow-Coloured-Soul:

Anyone who has an average giving score under 5 (which if I am correct is the average in a 1 - 10 range), and is unhappy about scores being low... well... maybe consider your own voting system?

And also remember that having a scoring average of less than 5.5 in a voting system from 1 to 10 is suggesting that most images are below average..

Average Score = (1 + 10)/ 2 = 5.5 not 5.0...

Well, without ruffling any feathers, from what I have seen, a large proportion of people have average scores (for all challenges voted in) under 5.5