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11/24/2003 10:38:18 PM · #1 |
I'm fairly new to DPC, so I will preface this with an apology if this has been brought up in other threads and if it does not necassarily fit in this category.
I have noticed quite a few very nice photos get low-balled because of the photographer's take on a challenge. One that comes to mind was for the "Alone" challenge that depicted a suicide in the tub. The photo itself was very well done, it fit the requirements of the challenge, although it was a little mormid. I do not see any reason this photo should have recieved a "1" (which it recieved quite a few). It appears to me, and as others have noted in this photos comments, voters are marking down a photo just because they don't like the subject of the photo. Aren't the photos supposed to be judged on the quality of the photo and if it meets the challenge requirements...not necassarily whether the photo matches your personal tastes or not?
While I can appreciate that a photo does not match someone's personal tastes, I don't feel that should automatically result in a low vote. IMHO, if you can not judge a photo objectively because you don't like the message the photographer is presenting, you shouldn't vote on that photo.
I would also like to see it a requirement that if you vote a "1", you be required to leave a comment stating why the photo received a "1" vote.
Opinions or comments? I hope I don't appear to just be ranting. Thanks.
Chris |
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11/24/2003 11:05:19 PM · #2 |
| A lot of people think if it isn't a puppy licking a baby (or the equivalent) it can't be art or a good photo. Sad for them. |
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11/24/2003 11:23:38 PM · #3 |
I didn't actually vote on the All Alone challenge, so I can't say how I would have marked the suicide photo. In my short 2 months on DPC, I believe I've picked up on what you are mentioning here, but I attribute it more to appeal than personal taste.
I think people will usually tend to vote on the challenge criteria, the creativity, and the technical merit. Then comes into play deducting (conciously or not) for lack of originality and for ugliness.
I have to take the approach that I'm not on the same curve as everyone else for originality, so I'm going to be scored lower until I learn to stretch my wings and move "forward." Likewise, someone who wants to produce photos that are (progressively) edgy, gross, ugly, or depressing needs to realize that while they are happy with what they produced, they can't make other people like it.
That said, there is a place for edgy and ugly shots, and maybe even for depressing and gross ones - I'm sure there's a market or forum where those qualities are needed or celebrated. But for the most part, it's not here. Bottom line to me - Each of us must be content with the progress we make, even if the result is that our DPC scores go down, if you disagree with the bulk of the voters.
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11/24/2003 11:41:27 PM · #4 |
I believe that there is definitely what I call a "DPC aesthetic" that pictures need to succeed in challenges. That is not to say that photos need that to be considered good photos, nor is it intended to denigrate those photos that are successful, it's just a personal observation. I don't have a strict definition for it either.
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11/25/2003 01:17:26 AM · #5 |
By making it that people who give a '1' vote must leave a comment you are basically going to cause at least two things to happen. 1) People will just vote a two with no comments, or 2) leave a comment that doesnt necessarily reflect their 1 vote, or else be completely pointless and certainly not helpful. Of course someone leaving a 1 vote could very well be honest about why they gave a 1 vote, some people already do this.
Voting on quality of the photograph, meeting the challenge, and not letting personal opinion play any factor. Interesting idea. I've had several comments on some of my submissions on the technical and quality aspects of my photograph. They have been contradictory. There are people who vote on DPC who have owned a camera for an hour or a day, and some who dont even own a camera and you want them to be able to judge the technical and quality aspects of the photographs? Not to attack those who are in that position as they may have a degree in photography or a lifetime of experience, but as a stereotypical generalisation it is Average Joe and Jane who votes.
Meeting the challenge is another factor that is often discussed in the forums. For whatever reason, whether it be cultural, gender-based, life experience, religion, or other, people interpret things differently. What is meeting the challenge to one person isnt to another. The example you mentioned of the bathtub suicide may not have been seen as meeting the challenge to some. It's completely possible.
I dont agree with people voting down images they dont like, whether that be the image of someone dead, an american flag, a pet, a child, or a pair of naked breasts. I think it would be impossible for people to vote without any personal feeling. In fact, I think if people did vote without any personal feeling then scores would be a lot lower as there are quite a few images that score high because they reach out to a certain audience rather than be voted on by purely technical merit.
If you tell voters to leave their dislikes, and likes, at the door then it will amount to a large number of potentially boring photographs.
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11/25/2003 02:08:40 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by cbeller:
I'm fairly new to DPC, so I will preface this with an apology if this has been brought up in other threads and if it does not necassarily fit in this category.
Opinions or comments? I hope I don't appear to just be ranting. Thanks.
Chris |
Welcome! If you look under the Community menu and go to Forums, down at the bottom is a search box. Enter "mandatory" in the search fields, and I believe about 30-40 of the first 60 threads you find will deal with this topic ... that there are good points to be made on both sides is evidenced by the fact that the topic is re-introduced up every few weeks. |
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