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01/23/2009 11:20:06 AM · #1 |
The last two entries of mine were totally different from one another.
Here are the images and how they scored:
 5.4724
 5.2311
The butterfly entry is in my opinion way better than the silly turtle shot, yet the turtle shot scored higher (not by much but still higher). The turtle scored right about where I expected. The butterfly shot I was disappointed with the score as I really felt it would manage a 6.0 What really threw me for a loop was the one comment that it was OOF and deserved only a 4 - the lowest of scores they were giving out. I'm sorry, but a 4 to me says this is less than average. Totally an insult in my mind.
I will never figure out how people vote here. It makes no sense at all. |
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01/23/2009 11:28:45 AM · #2 |
Numbers go in hat, numbers come out of hat, very simple.
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01/23/2009 11:32:49 AM · #3 |
i would say it has something to do with the challenge. Best of is going to be a challenge where people are looking for lots and lots of wow.
Had the challenge been "insects" "garden life" or something like that, I feel the butterfly shot would've been higher. |
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01/23/2009 11:34:48 AM · #4 |
| it is slightly OOF on the wings but i wouldnt say it deserves a 4 although i wouldnt give it a ten either |
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01/23/2009 11:35:34 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by karmat:
i would say it has something to do with the challenge. Best of is going to be a challenge where people are looking for lots and lots of wow.
Had the challenge been "insects" "garden life" or something like that, I feel the butterfly shot would've been higher. |
That is what I figured too, but I do not agree with that way of voting. I feel an image should be scored upon it's own merits regardless of whether it is a Best of challenge, a FS , or a dedicated theme (providing you meet the challenge theme). Technically I do not believe the butterfly should have scored so low. |
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01/23/2009 11:37:16 AM · #6 |
| I gave it an 8. The only thing I would say is the greens were a little flat to me but that could be my monitor which sucks. Hahahaha. I am hoping to switch it out for a better one pretty soon but I liked your butterfly! |
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01/23/2009 11:42:52 AM · #7 |
I agree that the head is slightly OOF and that detracts from the image, but doesn't not make it a poor photograph or deserving a '4' at all.
Having said that, this was in fact the 'best of 2008' challenge, with over 500 entries, and many stand out images. This image, IMHO, does not 'stand out' and its not strikingly original or anything (that's hard with butterfly shots), and I think that's why it scored so low. |
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01/23/2009 11:43:45 AM · #8 |
I too am sometimes surprised by how voting works out. That's what makes things interesting though.
I much prefer your turtle shot to the butterfly. I gave the butterfly a 5 in voting. I wasn't able to vote on the life challenge, but I know for sure you wouldn't have gotten less than a 6 from me. The turtle photograph is just so clean, simple and comical. The butterfly photo has room for improvement imho. |
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01/23/2009 11:46:14 AM · #9 |
| honestly, I think that the turtle shot is better ... lighting is better, focus is better ... I scored it a 7 ... to me, the butterfly shot is average, the face isn't sharply in focus and the sunlight is a bit harsh ... I didn't vote in the "best of 08" but would have give it a 5 ... hope that helps! |
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01/23/2009 12:18:09 PM · #10 |
Hi
Your post has made me think a lot about voting. I opened the butterfly image and thought that I would be a 6. I scrolled down and saw that I had given it a 4! (sorry!) Now let me try and explore that a bit. I'm not a fly-by voter; I vote on all challenges; I comment quite a bit; The three 10s I gave in this challenge came 1st, 2nd and 4th and it isn't often that the scores I give are outliers.
For this challenge, because of the large number and variety of images, I used the following criteria for grading:
1-3 Technically not up to par (in my view)
4-6 Technically fine but lacking some interest (in my view)
7-9 Technically fine and highly interesting (in my view)
10 Technically fine and highly interesting AND makes me just want to keep looking at it.
Each scale allowed me some subjective flexibility. By the score I gave, I thought your image was technically competent but had a low interest level. I should say that on my scale, a 6 isn't necessarily any more technically competent than a 4 but it would be a more interesting image (to me).
So even now, looking at the image on its own, I'd have this in the 4-6 range but in the context of having only 10 grades to differentiate between 530 images, there were other images (in my view) that didn't hit the 7-9 band but were more interesting to me than yours was.
In summary, I think my score doesn't reflect the absolute quality of your image, but reflects how I thought it sat within the overall challenge offering.
I'm probably sticking my neck out declaring my score but I thought you might find it useful to read some rationale behind one of the lower scores you received.
I hope this helps.
Paul
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01/23/2009 12:21:16 PM · #11 |
| I think "best of" was a harshly judged challenge. I gave your entry a 6. Biggest issue I can see, is the subject may not stand out from the background enough for lots of impact. Probably would do at least in the high 5's in any other challenge. |
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01/23/2009 12:52:55 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by paulbtlw:
Hi
Your post has made me think a lot about voting. I opened the butterfly image and thought that I would be a 6. I scrolled down and saw that I had given it a 4! (sorry!) Now let me try and explore that a bit. I'm not a fly-by voter; I vote on all challenges; I comment quite a bit; The three 10s I gave in this challenge came 1st, 2nd and 4th and it isn't often that the scores I give are outliers.
For this challenge, because of the large number and variety of images, I used the following criteria for grading:
1-3 Technically not up to par (in my view)
4-6 Technically fine but lacking some interest (in my view)
7-9 Technically fine and highly interesting (in my view)
10 Technically fine and highly interesting AND makes me just want to keep looking at it.
Each scale allowed me some subjective flexibility. By the score I gave, I thought your image was technically competent but had a low interest level. I should say that on my scale, a 6 isn't necessarily any more technically competent than a 4 but it would be a more interesting image (to me).
So even now, looking at the image on its own, I'd have this in the 4-6 range but in the context of having only 10 grades to differentiate between 530 images, there were other images (in my view) that didn't hit the 7-9 band but were more interesting to me than yours was.
In summary, I think my score doesn't reflect the absolute quality of your image, but reflects how I thought it sat within the overall challenge offering.
I'm probably sticking my neck out declaring my score but I thought you might find it useful to read some rationale behind one of the lower scores you received.
I hope this helps.
Paul |
I pretty much score the same way. A photo can be technically perfect, but boring, and thus doesn't deserve a ten. I like the butterfly shot, but being a macro shooter myself, I demand a little more from a macro shot, including the focus being on the head and not the wing. Would I give it a 4, probably not, more then likely a 5. You have to remember that judging also depends on what the person shoots. Since I shoot a lot of macro, I am more discerning with these shots and am not wowed by many shots; on the same note since I don't shoot a lot of other types of photography I might be more easily wowed than another photographer. This is why well I may not agree with some of the ribbon winners, I can respect that they impressed ENOUGH of the people on here to win a ribbon.
Just my .02
Message edited by author 2009-01-23 12:53:42. |
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01/23/2009 01:37:34 PM · #13 |
| I agree with the others that it was about what challenge it was in. My Best of 2008 entry got a 5.4. In any other challenge, I think it would have gotten at least a 6. |
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01/23/2009 08:36:11 PM · #14 |
| Thanks for the input everyone. I wasn't asking for more image comments - but thanks for those who did. I really just felt the need to express my confusion over why some vote the way they do. |
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01/23/2009 10:09:53 PM · #15 |
I guess I'm kinda different. On these open challenges I vote the entry based on its own merits as to how I think they are presented......and that's a combination of technicals and how the image speaks to me.
I don't subject images to any arbitrary criteria, ESPECIALLY something like "Well, this is a "Best of...." competition, so I'm going to vote it more harshly.
Personally, I think it's unfair to ever judge any image by anything other than its own merits.......yes, that means also in reference to a theme, but I'm careful not to project my opinion of the theme onto others' entries.
But hey.....what do I know?????.....8>)
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01/23/2009 11:15:04 PM · #16 |
| The best of a years worth of shots is hard to compete against so an image that would normally be mid to high fives is not likely to have as much appeal in a best of challenge as one taken for a weekly challenge. I also think when there are really good images in a challenge sometimes an image follows a fantastic shot which will make a mid range image pale in comparison. |
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01/24/2009 04:59:38 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by ShutterPug:
I really just felt the need to express my confusion over why some vote the way they do. |
"Registered: May. 2nd 2005"
Now I am the one who is really confused. Three and a half years and you are STILL trying to understand voters??? |
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01/24/2009 05:17:25 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Originally posted by ShutterPug:
I really just felt the need to express my confusion over why some vote the way they do. |
"Registered: May. 2nd 2005"
Now I am the one who is really confused. Three and a half years and you are STILL trying to understand voters??? |
They're easy to understand! Scratchy sharp and they love it creative and slightly sharp and they hate it, it is just a matter of tast! I often comment oversharp the way some people comment oof! I would like to reccomend that some of these people who comment oof! buy and study some of the photo mags such as Practical Photography. and Black and White magazine to name two but basicall you either shoot for your own creativity or shoot for DPC ribbon!
Registered March 2002. |
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01/24/2009 05:36:52 AM · #19 |
Voters are as diverse as photographers. Just like a photographer learn how to take better pictures year after year, a voter learn how to judge photography and will change over time. We cannot expect some of our newbies to fully appreciate or recognize all aspects of a photograph taken even by a seasoned pro.
And besides; we are luckily all different. :)
In summary: If you cannot understand all photographers (and I'm sure you don't); you should not expect to understand all voters. They are after all the same individuals. |
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