VoteCard - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/19/2004 02:10:13 AM · #1

I know this topic has been brought up over and over. But I wanted to share with everyone how I vote. I call it my voting card. I want to be fair to all the photos I vote on. I go in order on the card: question 1,2,3, and 4. If you notice Questions 2,3,4 is weighted on question 1 which is the most important. On the far right you can see what the lowest and highest score could be based on question 1. Comments please.

Phileine

Pentax K100D Super

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/19/2004 02:27:29 AM · #2

i will use it while voting for the neon-challenge, and let you know afterwards what I think of it.

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

08/19/2004 02:28:53 AM · #3

Nice one Scott :)

My method is similar, but not quite so refined:

A. Does the pic meet the challenge description?
0 - not at all
1 - in a way, yes
2 - clearly does
3 - illustrates it perfectly

B. Is it a technically good image?
0 - no, bad quality
1 - some issues with the image
2 - good quality pic
3 - technically perfect (IMO)

C. Creativity/originality
0 - nothing new
1 - interesting interpretation
2 - very creative and original

D. Wow factor
0 - regular pic
1 - Ohhhh, that's good
2 - Oh wow, I love it!

As for comments on your voting card,

I feel that the contast between the red and black in the top left corner pulls my eye and has a poor contrast, the blue area fails in a similar way but not quite so obvious. The desaturated area on the right works well, bring a certain clarity to the image although the same effect on the left side feels a little lost. Also I'm sure that the pic would benefit from being taken with some perspective and some interesting lighting added. The black areas look very rich and solid - are you sure that you have not done any spot editing? ;)

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/19/2004 03:44:01 AM · #4

i vote based on a artistic/technical personal appeal, if i had to explain my scale it would go something like this...

10 - on topic, amazing, technically near perfect, wow factor,
artistically appealing
9 - on topic, excellent, wow factor not as strong
8 - technically very good but artistically something is a bit off
OR very good idea and strong emotional appeal but
technically average
7 - technically average, artistically average
6 - needs technical work, not strong artistically
5 - boring, no emotion or narrative present, not an interesting image
4 - 5 + poor quality
3 - webcam shot, noisy, blurry and grainy
2 - absolutely one of the worst photos ive seen
1 - the worst photo ive seen in my life
(I havent given out any 1s or 2s yet)

I also
- add a point or two for strong ideas and originality
- subtract a point if the image is 'gross' (examples would be a pictures of poo or excessively overweigh people without their shirts on)
- add a point for humor
- add a point for excellent title
- might subtract a point for a horrendous horrible title

Im a pretty flexible generous voter and usually leave comments on about 20-30% of photos in each challenge.

Something I've noticed with photography so far is that it is less accepting of artistry than drawing/painting and more concerned with technical details. For example I would say the average photographer on this site would prefer Edward Hopper or Norman Rockwell to Pablo Picasso or Mondrian. Abstract artistic photography is a mostly hate it or love it affair, with little middle ground. I feel like in beginning to rant so i'll just click the 'post' button...

computerking

Sony DSC-P73

08/19/2004 03:56:14 AM · #5

I use a similar system to Colda. And I give him credit anytime I post it. Though my version takes into account the emotional impact, something I count separate from the "WOW" factor. WOW, to me, is about the visual "punch" the picture has, whether it grabs your eye. The emotional factor depends on whether it grabs my heart. Or wherever the emotion it evokes is kept.

08/19/2004 04:02:53 AM · #6

Originally posted by computerking:

I count separate from the "WOW" factor. WOW, to me, is about the visual "punch" the picture has, whether it grabs your eye. The emotional factor depends on whether it grabs my heart. Or wherever the emotion it evokes is kept.

I think that I should re-word my 'wow' bit, I totally agree, it's more than just visual punch, it's more 'Does this pic communicate to me: 0-no/nothing more than a whisper 1-yes 2-it shouts at me (where's the earplugs?)'

08/19/2004 04:26:11 AM · #7

I don't have a system, but I probably take a lot of what you say in my head - I gave it a 6 or 7.

08/19/2004 04:37:10 AM · #8

My problem with these types of votes is that it allows no leeway of thought and potentially blocks your natural instincts. For example, if I had followed your card (SDW65) - my score would have been as follows:

Does it meet challenge: Yes - 5 Points
Photograph Quality: Good - 0 points (dust spots)
Photographers creativity: - Poor -1 Points (common scene, common time of day, common weather, common angle)
Does the photograph have the Wow factor: No - 0

Final score: 4

Now I have been very truthful - but even I do not think it warrants a 4.

Using Colda's system we get
-------------------------------

A. Does the pic meet the challenge description?
0 - not at all
1 - in a way, yes
2 - clearly does
3 - illustrates it perfectly

B. Is it a technically good image?
0 - no, bad quality
1 - some issues with the image
2 - good quality pic
3 - technically perfect (IMO)

C. Creativity/originality
0 - nothing new
1 - interesting interpretation
2 - very creative and original

D. Wow factor
0 - regular pic
1 - Ohhhh, that's good
2 - Oh wow, I love it!

Total Score: 3

3! Surely not!

Again the same question about the WOW factor - but it gives me a different option due to wording. It's neither poor nor WOW so it gets an extra point over the previous system.

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 04:37:40.

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

08/19/2004 04:42:27 AM · #9

I gave it 8 (3+2+1+2)

I intentionally avoid 'perfect' as there I don't believe that there is such a thing, and if there is then I'm certainly not qualified to judge it :)

I'm my amature perspective it's certainly a technically good picture, there is something about it that does not 'fit' but I have no idea what it is or how to describe it, my wife thought that it had been spot edited (I don't allow issues like this to effect my voting - if I don't believe it then I'll recommend it for DQ). All that said I ended up giving it a 2 rather than a 3 because of the fact that it seems a little off balance to me, and a little busy, as much as I love the pic my eyes cannot find a comfortable resting place when looking at the image.

For originality/creativity I gave it a 1 rather than a 2, at the end of the day the VP issue is another road, also I live in Switzerland - I've seen mountains once or twice before (ohhhh, how I miss the ocean).

Node

Nikon D300

08/19/2004 04:43:13 AM · #10

I like it Scott. Only 1 thing troubles me, "Interpretation", I'm not sure we should be penalising those who wish to experiment by showing a different viewpont of the challenge.

Maybe its just the word that does not sit right with me. Bob

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

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

08/19/2004 04:44:58 AM · #11

I gave that one a 10. What i would define as technicals are colors, contrasts, composition, perspective, sharpness, detail, etc
Artistics for me would be emotion, narrative, movement, feel, vibrancy, simplisity, complexity, message, appeal stuff like that.

Originally posted by jonpink:

I find the different voting schemes very interesting.

Some of the criteria like 'is it technicaly perfect' confuse me -what is technicaly perfect?

So it will be interesting to see how your vote broke down on this image:

I don't have a system, but I probably take a lot of what you say in my head - I gave it a 6 or 7.

e301

08/19/2004 04:47:45 AM · #12

I can see your interpretation there Jon, but it would be easy to argue that the shot warranted at least three more points, one in each category of A, B, and C - I think you're being a little harsh. However, your point remains well made.

What I don't get it this desire to machine-vote. Where's the fun in that guys? Open an image, look at it for about 30 seconds, think about the issues that strike you, and assess your vote from there. I start with the mental idea that an image is worth five or six points - that difference is usally simply a technical quality issue. I move the score from that as I find the image. I wish I found it easier to vote down very well executed shots on the grounds of obviousness and dullness of meaning, but I don't.

E

08/19/2004 04:49:26 AM · #13

perfect is a big word.

Interesting about quality - to me it's got a lot of dust spots in the top right corner (probably down to different settings)

But having said that - dust spots don't figure in my personal voting at all as everyone has them and it's just a fact of life in digital.

For the thing you can't put your finger on - I think maybe it's the bland foreground. If I was there I would have looked for a rock or old lump of wood. As it stands there is not as much depth as there could be and the foreground takes up so much room but has no detail, no focus points and is brown.

all in all the colors don't bode well for me.

I must say though - his black and white is much better in my opinion.
It also highlights the road and VP better which in turn draws your eyes a bit more.

08/19/2004 04:50:27 AM · #14

Although on second thoughts I cannot justify the 3 for meeting the challenge (should be a 1).

Also, in defence if the system, during the application of the system my thoughts are naturally influenced by my personal liking of the pic (as is evident in my failing - that's a great pic, 3 for meeting the challenge).

Voting systems such as this are only a framework to aid in providing some form of consistancy and structure, naturally the heart should have a say too. As we have seen in the voting for the 'Neon' challenge, picking at wording and taking things 'literally' from a personal perspective and understanding does seem to lead to problems.

08/19/2004 04:56:20 AM · #15

I agree it's more consistent than just going by personal taste as I do.

Also find that if your in a bad mood -votes suffer ;)

08/19/2004 04:59:08 AM · #16

I agree on the B&W shot being better for the challenge, my only issue with that is a personal one, as well as putting more emphasis on the road, it also highlights the big lump of rock in the background

I'm feeling homesick again :/

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/19/2004 08:09:08 AM · #17

Originally posted by jonpink:

You can view my comment on this picture.
5 Meeting the challenge
+2 Great Photo Quality
+2 Photographers Creativity
+1 WOW Factor
Total 10

08/19/2004 08:14:19 AM · #18

.

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 08:14:39.

08/19/2004 08:16:17 AM · #19

Originally posted by SDW65:

You can view my comment on this picture.
5 Meeting the challenge
+2 Great Photo Quality
+2 Photographers Creativity
+1 WOW Factor
Total 10

How has he been creative? In what way do you find creativity in this scene?

I am not trying to be pedantic, just want to get an idea of how different people perceive different photos - I love the variation of taste on this site, it fascinates me.

Message edited by author 2004-08-19 08:18:12.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/19/2004 08:16:30 AM · #20

Originally posted by Gurilla:

I agree with you there. I put interpretation to mean: I, the voter, must think out side the box even if I feel it may not meet the challenge and try to see from the photographers point of view.
It all comes down to one thing NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT and after voting using my VoteCard I go back and look at all pictures with my eyes and heart and adjust some scores, sometimes twice. I find it hard to give anyone a 1 or 2 if they put effort into the challenge.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/19/2004 08:21:03 AM · #21

Originally posted by colda:

VERY WELL SAID. A FRAME WORK, A STARTING POINT THEN GO BACK AND ADJUST UP OR DOWN WITH WHAT YOUR EYES AND HEART SEES.

08/19/2004 08:23:28 AM · #22

Originally posted by SDW65:

Originally posted by colda:
Although on second thoughts I cannot justify the 3 for meeting the challenge (should be a 1).

Also, in defence if the system, during the application of the system my thoughts are naturally influenced by my personal liking of the pic (as is evident in my failing - that's a great pic, 3 for meeting the challenge).

Voting systems such as this are only a framework to aid in providing some form of consistancy and structure, naturally the heart should have a say too. As we have seen in the voting for the 'Neon' challenge, picking at wording and taking things 'literally' from a personal perspective and understanding does seem to lead to problems.

VERY WELL SAID. A FRAME WORK, A STARTING POINT THEN GO BACK AND ADJUST UP OR DOWN WITH WHAT YOUR EYES AND HEART SEES.

You have a seeing heart? ;) No I agree - that sounds very good. But if that is the case, why have a framework in the first place if one is going to let it be overridden by emotion / personal taste?