Voting on Quality or content - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

12/13/2006 03:05:04 AM · #1

It's really hard for me to separate the fact that an animal is just so darn cute from the photographic quality of an image. A cute animal with a low quality photo could arguably get the same score as a not so cute animal who has a high quality image.

The same goes for "death" or "Dirt" To me its hard to give a high score in these challenges. The content of those photos just isn't appealing to me. I try to remember that its about the photography but I don't know if I'm sure about that.

Can't remember who it was but I saw a comment on someones profile tonight that said photography is more about depth of feel than depth of field.

So what do you guys think. Should it be more about the quality of a photo or the content of a photo. or if both then which is higher priority?

Blue Moon

Canon EOS-40D

12/13/2006 03:10:16 AM · #2

it depends on my mood :) Although I really lean towards the content, however if it has the content but otherwise suck, I'll give it a low score. Hmm, but if I really like it even though it doesn't really fit the content, I'll give it a 4 or a 5.

So yeah...it depends on my mood.

escapetooz

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/13/2006 03:11:08 AM · #3

Shall I go with the copout answer and say a good balance of the 2? :) That's what I think.

I don't care how cute the animal is, if it's a bad photo it's a bad photo. But yes, an average photos with a cute animal does get a boost, even if it's an unintentional one.

rinac

Pentax K20D

Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.7

12/13/2006 03:11:59 AM · #4

I think it's both. But I'd put more weight on how an image makes me feel. Minor technical flaws can easily be ignored if it's an enjoyable image. But technically perfect images with no soul, may as well be wallpaper...

12/13/2006 03:14:30 AM · #5

Originally posted by rinac:

Right so say you have one of each. What are your scores to those photos. Do they have the same score? or is one higher than the other.

Artifacts

12/13/2006 03:15:47 AM · #6

For a web site about learning photography, quality should probably be your guide. But make no mistake, content contributes greatly to the quality of an image. But content is subjective which is probably beyond the scope of DPC. Rewarding poor images with high scores, though, defeats the purpose of learning proper photography.

You will find, however, that photographic quality and good content tend to go hand in hand.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

12/13/2006 03:15:55 AM · #7

To get a 7 or higher vote from me you must have compelling content that meets the challenge then I use technical quality to sort those out. There are exceptions but that's basically what I do when I vote.

ETA: Or at least that's what I'm doing today. :P

Message edited by author 2006-12-13 03:16:21.

rinac

Pentax K20D

Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.7

12/13/2006 03:18:33 AM · #8

Originally posted by Sheryll:

Originally posted by rinac:
I think it's both. But I'd put more weight on how an image makes me feel. Minor technical flaws can easily be ignored if it's an enjoyable image. But technically perfect images with no soul, may as well be wallpaper...

Right so say you have one of each. What are your scores to those photos. Do they have the same score? or is one higher than the other.

If it manages to move me in any way (laughter, tears, empathy, "wow" etc...), yes, I'll vote higher than I would, say, a technically perfect, saturated landscape.

edited for clarity, I hope :)

Message edited by author 2006-12-13 03:22:47.

escapetooz

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

12/13/2006 03:38:04 AM · #9

Originally posted by rinac:

Originally posted by Sheryll:

Originally posted by rinac:
I think it's both. But I'd put more weight on how an image makes me feel. Minor technical flaws can easily be ignored if it's an enjoyable image. But technically perfect images with no soul, may as well be wallpaper...

Right so say you have one of each. What are your scores to those photos. Do they have the same score? or is one higher than the other.

If it manages to move me in any way (laughter, tears, empathy, "wow" etc...), yes, I'll vote higher than I would, say, a technically perfect, saturated landscape.

edited for clarity, I hope :)

Agreed. Like for me a big thing is expression. A good expression, well captured, goes a long way in my eyes.

12/14/2006 01:57:03 AM · #10

bump

fotomann_forever

12/14/2006 02:00:52 AM · #11

As long as you think dogs are cuter than cats all is well :-)

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

12/14/2006 02:04:11 AM · #12

Well I like them both but right now I don't have a cat but I DO have a dog.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/14/2006 02:04:19 AM · #13

I always try to bear in mind that it's not the "job" of a photograph to make me feel good; it's to make me FEEL, period. I try not to score down excellent work that leaves me feeling uncomfortable, or sad, or shocked, ore even revolted. I try to recognize that this often (if not usually) means the photograph is "working" as it was designed to do.

It's not quite so easy the other way, when very good photographs move me more than other, excellent images that happen to have some sort of negative trigger response in my psyche. But I try to be fair.

One thing, though; I find it easy to separate the issues of emotive content and technical competence. NOBODY is gonna get a 10 or a 9 from me because I happen to love lighthouses and they have a pretty decent lighthouse shot. It might score 7 instead of 6 because of my pro-lighthouse bias, I don't honestly know, but nothing reaches the top of my heap unless it's technically superior, basically. But then, I don't give out very many 10's or 9's at all, so...

Robt.

fotomann_forever

12/14/2006 02:25:47 AM · #14

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I always try to bear in mind ...
Robt.

I saw not one single bear in that challenge :-P

12/14/2006 02:31:26 AM · #15

You're too funny Leroy. So which one was your mug? LOL

fotomann_forever

12/14/2006 02:32:15 AM · #16

Originally posted by Sheryll:

You're too funny Leroy. So which one was your mug? LOL

I'm in a dog suit :-)

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/14/2006 02:34:23 AM · #17

Man I thought I had you pegged at the Iquana.

mist

Canon EOS-60D

12/14/2006 02:37:41 AM · #18

I find this easy. I'll give a 10 to all the cat photos and a 1 to all the dogs ;)

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/14/2006 02:47:34 AM · #19

Originally posted by mist:

I find this easy. I'll give a 10 to all the cat photos and a 1 to all the dogs ;)

And what do dog "suits" get?

mist

Canon EOS-60D

12/14/2006 02:50:25 AM · #20

Originally posted by Sheryll:

Originally posted by mist:
I find this easy. I'll give a 10 to all the cat photos and a 1 to all the dogs ;)

And what do dog "suits" get?

Marked as a favourite for later :D