|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/22/2009 12:41:01 PM · #1 |
Hello everyone,
As I've only arrived at this site recently, I have got to wondering how different people apply their own scoring criteria. The main reason for this is that some shots I rate as a 10, other voters rate much lower, and of course challenge winners often end up around the 7 mark for an average score, yet I score many more shots around this mark. BTW, as a non-paying member as yet, I can only vote on the open challenges.
This is the process I use - i expect if differs somewhat from most regular members as I seem to score people more highly than the bulk of voters.
I assume an "average" photo as being a 5. I think an average photo is one that shows some thought has gone into the composition, and the photograph is nice enough, in forucs, with a subject, but has nothing special about it. Then I use 6's and 7's for those that are above average, better composition and lighting, showing decent technical skill.
Usually there is 1 standout WOW shot in a challenge. This is where my 10 goes. I usually give out only 1 of these per challenge, and is obviously the shot I feel is the winning shot. The next couple of contenders for the top spot I would award a 9 to, generally 2-4 of these per challenge, then everything that is much better than average but not quite ribbon material gets an 8.
At the other end of the scale, "snapshots" generally get a 4, with it being rare that I give out a 3 or less as I feel it's insulting for the photographer - however photos that are completely lacking in a subject or completely out of focus get 3 or less.
After I have gone right through the challenge, I then look at the overview page and juggle some up and down... this is usually in the 6, 7, 8 range as I settle on a pecking order. Likewise when looking through the 5's I tend to start knocking some down to 4's and try to determine the shots which I originally though were average that I subsequently feel are below average. Once I've gone through this 2nd process, I don't return to the voting at all.
For example in the business stock photo challenge, I gave out 1 ten, 4 nines, 5 eights and the lowest score I gave out was a 4.
I suppose my lack of ability at the moment means that my critical eye is not as finely honed as more regular voters. Alternatively the cynic in me suggests that people entering the challenge give out generally lower votes to all the other submissions in an effort to boost their own rating?
I'm just wondering how other apply scoring criteria, and how different from my own it is.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks in advance for anyone that puts the effort into a decent response :-)
LS |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 12:55:14 PM · #2 |
Not too different from most of us, with minor variations. There are some folks with way different criteria. Once in a while I've gotten some insight, but many of those folks don't frequent the forums, so it's hard to know why they hand out votes that are way out of line with everyone else.
Here's my scale:
1-totally sucks, blurry grainy, unidentifieable. I rarely give a 1. Maybe to a lens cap shot that is a clear effort for a brown ribbon placement.
2- brown ribbon for sure. Grainy, blurry, lots of artifacts, shadows and blown highlights. lousy snapshot
3- The average snapshot someone takes if they don't know anything about photography. Or an entry from  Whiterook (He's awesome, BTW. Has quite a fan base here.)
4- basic exposure and composition is good and shows effort and some knowledge. A decent effort, but lacking somehow compared to other DPC stuff.
5- A good shot, but nothing that stands out over the rest. No shame in getting a 5. Something that averages in the high 5's will probably get wowed over elsewhere.
6- Something stands out to me about this one. Really liking it.
7- Really good stuff.
8- Getting into "WOW" territory. 50% chance I will fave this.
9- How to you do it? Do you have a life outside photography?
10- I am in awe.
Other factors:
-If I feel the entry does not meet the challenge topic (a.k.a. a "shoehorn" entry) I will rate it on the quality of the shot, but then deduct 1-3 points depending on how far off base I think it is. If I am the only one that feels that way, then my slightly lower vote won't hurt it much.
-Sometimes an extra point for an outstandingly creative idea, but an average shot.
-I often give a lower vote for visible compression artifacts that could have been easily avoided. If there are visible artifacts and a small file size, I will ding you. I have often low voted high scoring images for this when everyone else wows over it. If I ding you on this, I will leave a comment about it, so that you know why it got that low vote from me.
-Although personal taste is part of the process, I try to rate on the quality of the photo. If I don't personally care for it, but still think it is good work, I won't low vote it.
Message edited by author 2009-01-22 12:57:53. |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 12:56:01 PM · #3 |
This is almost exactly how I score.
I will rate more than 1-10 if deserved though.
I hope you rate all my entry's in the future! |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 01:12:20 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by yospiff:
Not too different from most of us, with minor variations. There are some folks with way different criteria. Once in a while I've gotten some insight, but many of those folks don't frequent the forums, so it's hard to know why they hand out votes that are way out of line with everyone else.
Here's my scale:
1-totally sucks, blurry grainy, unidentifieable. I rarely give a 1. Maybe to a lens cap shot that is a clear effort for a brown ribbon placement.
2- brown ribbon for sure. Grainy, blurry, lots of artifacts, shadows and blown highlights. lousy snapshot
3- The average snapshot someone takes if they don't know anything about photography. Or an entry from Whiterook (He's awesome, BTW. Has quite a fan base here.)
4- basic exposure and composition is good and shows effort and some knowledge. A decent effort, but lacking somehow compared to other DPC stuff.
5- A good shot, but nothing that stands out over the rest. No shame in getting a 5. Something that averages in the high 5's will probably get wowed over elsewhere.
6- Something stands out to me about this one. Really liking it.
7- Really good stuff.
8- Getting into "WOW" territory. 50% chance I will fave this.
9- How to you do it? Do you have a life outside photography?
10- I am in awe.
Other factors:
-If I feel the entry does not meet the challenge topic (a.k.a. a "shoehorn" entry) I will rate it on the quality of the shot, but then deduct 1-3 points depending on how far off base I think it is. If I am the only one that feels that way, then my slightly lower vote won't hurt it much.
-Sometimes an extra point for an outstandingly creative idea, but an average shot.
-I often give a lower vote for visible compression artifacts that could have been easily avoided. If there are visible artifacts and a small file size, I will ding you. I have often low voted high scoring images for this when everyone else wows over it. If I ding you on this, I will leave a comment about it, so that you know why it got that low vote from me.
-Although personal taste is part of the process, I try to rate on the quality of the photo. If I don't personally care for it, but still think it is good work, I won't low vote it. |
Wow, quick reply thanks :-)
It's good to know that I'm not too far off the mark then. Sometimes I am baffled by people voting 2 and 3 on something I've scored 9 or 10. |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 01:16:07 PM · #5 |
| 10 does not equal first place... I look at each photo and rate it on its own merits. I also start with a 5 and increase from there. 9s and 10s are very rare. 1s are usually reserved for nudes and DNMC. Really bad shots that meet the challenge get a 2 or 3. |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 01:19:40 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by LadyStarstruck:
Wow, quick reply thanks :-) |
My dirty little secret is that I keep that response in a text file on a flashdrive. Its a reasonable question that comes up frequently. I think I asked it myself when I first joined the mayhem here. |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 01:38:49 PM · #7 |
I'd have to say that yospiffs rating is close enough to mine that I don't need to reiterate. Some really low votes are quite baffling at times, but that's why everyone needs to vote! I do my best to leave as many comments as possible... though it gets quite difficult to do so on the larger challenges. I only wish I got more comments in return... I guess my entries have been pretty uninteresting though. >.<
Keep voting! |
|
|
|
01/22/2009 02:08:34 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by HawkeyeLonewolf:
1s are usually reserved for nudes and DNMC. |
seriously? |
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 08/30/2025 01:57:41 AM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/30/2025 01:57:41 AM EDT.
|
