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DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Results >> Urm... is voting...
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05/24/2010 12:28:56 AM · #1
Is the voting always that tough??

I just took a look at the camera bag scores/winners etc and wow some of the images that got very low 5's were quite nice in my opinion.... Makes me very scared to enter a competition...

So I am curious... when you guys vote... what are you looking for... I dont expect a win(anytime soon that is) but Id like to at least have an idea when I do enter of what the image is being judged on... does anyone have a set criteria? Do you just go by feel? etc...

Just trying to get some ideas!
05/24/2010 12:34:28 AM · #2
Originally posted by JustCaree:

when you guys vote... what are you looking for... I dont expect a win(anytime soon that is) but Id like to at least have an idea when I do enter of what the image is being judged on... does anyone have a set criteria? Do you just go by feel? etc...


Hah. If you ever get a good answer to this question, please let me know! I think the whole of DPC has been trying to figure this out for years...

But in the nutshelliest of nutshells:

- Simple is good
- Bright colors are good
- Broad tonal range is good
- Pretty girls are good
- Macros of bugs are good

- Blurry is bad
- Grainy or noisy is bad
- Pictures of your cute kid are bad

It's always a tough field, but it's a good time :)

Good luck, and I hope you get the courage to enter sometime! Even the best photographers here often have a few stinkers in their challenge history, and I certainly have a few entries that are pretty close to embarrassing. It's all just for fun anyway :)
05/24/2010 12:36:54 AM · #3
Best way is to jump in with both feet, enter something, and only compete against yourself.

What I mean is: enter a photo, find out what you score and how you place, the next time you enter something -- try to beat your previous score/placement.
05/24/2010 12:40:17 AM · #4
Thanks you two. :) atleast the people are nice :)
05/24/2010 12:43:11 AM · #5
Very often the early voters tend to vote low. Plus, all votes early on produce wide swings in scores. No idea who and why unless they leave comments, and they usually don't. Most members vote more fairly than that.
05/24/2010 12:43:52 AM · #6
One key thing when entering challenges is 'Don't sweat the low votes'. They will always be there and most will be given without explanation. After a challenge is over you can always post in the forums for more insight into why your image scored where it did.

Don't try and figure out DPC as you'll drive yourself nuts and just get frustrated. Enter what you like, try and detach yourself from your image and don't take your scores too personally.

Most of all, have fun.
05/24/2010 12:44:36 AM · #7
You have to realize that there are vastly varying tastes on this site and you are guaranteed to get a huge range of votes.
Nothing you do will ensure that you do well... there are some things that do better then others like mycellum was saying but my advice is to enter what you really like.. that's what I do ;)
05/24/2010 12:53:23 AM · #8
soooooooooooooo basically... stop being a chicken... have fun... suck it up... and dont take it personal ... GOT IT! lol

You guys are great. Im so glad I stumbled in here
05/24/2010 01:34:43 AM · #9
Originally posted by JustCaree:

You guys are great. Im so glad I stumbled in here

Many of us are still stumbling!
05/24/2010 09:33:33 AM · #10
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by JustCaree:

You guys are great. Im so glad I stumbled in here

Many of us are still stumbling!


Speak for yourself. I, personally, am *staggering*...

R.
05/24/2010 09:35:33 AM · #11
Originally posted by JustCaree:

Thanks you two. :) atleast the people are nice :)


Well some of them are, others well just watch out for us them.

05/24/2010 10:50:31 AM · #12
Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by JustCaree:

Thanks you two. :) atleast the people are nice :)


Well some of them are, others well just watch out for us them.


i resisted the temptation to answer similary "well you haven't met ______ yet" (insert your favorite cantankerous member name here)

Joe
05/24/2010 03:57:27 PM · #13
Keep in mind too, that challenges with higher numbers of entrants are more brutal as far as voting goes. Free Studies are another example of this. In general, the larger the pool, the more discerning voters are. We're currently doing league competition, and entries are very high, so voting has been pretty tight lately. Vote however you feel you should. If a photo tickles your fancy, vote it high, if it doesn't, don't.
Don't be surprised when you enter challenges if you're frustrated by voters not getting the interpretation out of your photo that you thought they would. Sometimes we invest too much personally and it is sooooo evident to ourselves what we meant, but not to the viewer, at all. It's just part of it all.
05/24/2010 04:11:29 PM · #14
Since the top (best) images we see on this site are sooooo amazing - many people expect that quality if they are going to dish out a 10 - any minor imperfection will bring that 10 to a 7. Of course I can only speak for my own voting but this seems to be true.

So an "average" image on this site is usually quite good - even though it scores a 5.

To get all the way to 10 (as an average) is impossible. Literally, getting an 8 as a final score is statistically as likely as getting struck by lightning … I wrote that so it must be true ;)

I hope that clears things up ;D

Message edited by author 2010-05-24 16:13:40.
05/24/2010 06:14:26 PM · #15
Originally posted by FourPoint7:

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by JustCaree:

Thanks you two. :) atleast the people are nice :)


Well some of them are, others well just watch out for us them.


i resisted the temptation to answer similary "well you haven't met ______ yet" (insert your favorite cantankerous member name here)

Joe


The list is getting pretty long these days with all the complaint threads.

Matt
05/24/2010 06:17:31 PM · #16
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by JustCaree:

You guys are great. Im so glad I stumbled in here

Many of us are still stumbling!


Speak for yourself. I, personally, am *staggering*...

R.


my gait is more of a "sashay" with one hand held out to the side
05/24/2010 08:46:19 PM · #17
Originally posted by smardaz:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by JustCaree:

You guys are great. Im so glad I stumbled in here

Many of us are still stumbling!


Speak for yourself. I, personally, am *staggering*...

R.


my gait is more of a "sashay" with one hand held out to the side


I'm just sitting by the side of the road, and moaning and weeping quietly. (At least with this week's scores.)

One thing to keep in mind, even when the scores and comments are brutal, is that this is an international site. When you compete, you compete against some very fine photographers from around the world. So when you do well, you are doing very well. A 5.0 score here, will usually amaze your friends and neighbors with your prowess and skill.

Look to see what others are doing, often they share details that can be seen after the voting. Spend some time with the images you like. Ask questions. But above all, have fun!
05/24/2010 08:46:40 PM · #18
LOL Thanks guys! So a 5 isnt bad... and 7 is great and a 8 is awesome... got it... and Im not so scared anymore... I figure this... if i enter something and it sucks... I learn what not to enter next time right... im just excited to have a bunch of people that I share a common interest with! Its like having friends all over!
05/24/2010 09:20:44 PM · #19
Originally posted by JustCaree:

LOL Thanks guys! So a 5 isnt bad... and 7 is great and a 8 is awesome... got it... and Im not so scared anymore... I figure this... if i enter something and it sucks... I learn what not to enter next time right... im just excited to have a bunch of people that I share a common interest with! Its like having friends all over!


Actually I would say a 5 isn't bad, a 6 is sweet and a 7 is awesome, and an 8 Is insane!
05/24/2010 09:38:28 PM · #20
That makes me feel even better!! lol

Originally posted by tehben:

Originally posted by JustCaree:

LOL Thanks guys! So a 5 isnt bad... and 7 is great and a 8 is awesome... got it... and Im not so scared anymore... I figure this... if i enter something and it sucks... I learn what not to enter next time right... im just excited to have a bunch of people that I share a common interest with! Its like having friends all over!


Actually I would say a 5 isn't bad, a 6 is sweet and a 7 is awesome, and an 8 Is insane!

05/24/2010 11:12:16 PM · #21
Cute, cuddly stuffed animals are also a no-no. Experimentation is seldom rewarded. But, some of my favorite shots on dpchallenge have gotten the brown. Another hint - typically voters give each picture about 5 seconds (in other words, obvious typically scores much better than subtle).
Try to think of scores this way - the only way to get above a 5.0 is if some are voting your shot 6 or better. If your score goes above 6, that means you are getting 7+'s from more voters, and on up the line.
To give you an idea (and agree with ambaker's point), I entered an outtake from a local photo contest (all entries taken on a particular day, open to professionals and amateurs) in the "Hidden Gems" challenge. It got a score a tad above 5.5. My entry in the contest was runner up in the People's Choice category (judges selected #s 1-3, and 4 candidates for people's choice).
If you ever hesitate to enter a challenge, take a look at some of my lower scoring shots (I even got a favorite on one!).
Welcome to dpchallenge!


Message edited by author 2010-05-24 23:13:51.
05/24/2010 11:24:36 PM · #22
Originally posted by dtremain:

Cute, cuddly stuffed animals are also a no-no. Experimentation is seldom rewarded. But, some of my favorite shots on dpchallenge have gotten the brown. Another hint - typically voters give each picture about 5 seconds (in other words, obvious typically scores much better than subtle).
Try to think of scores this way - the only way to get above a 5.0 is if some are voting your shot 6 or better. If your score goes above 6, that means you are getting 7+'s from more voters, and on up the line.
To give you an idea (and agree with ambaker's point), I entered an outtake from a local photo contest (all entries taken on a particular day, open to professionals and amateurs) in the "Hidden Gems" challenge. It got a score a tad above 5.5. My entry in the contest was runner up in the People's Choice category (judges selected #s 1-3, and 4 candidates for people's choice).
If you ever hesitate to enter a challenge, take a look at some of my lower scoring shots (I even got a favorite on one!).
Welcome to dpchallenge!


Maybe ill just enter for me and not worry about the score LOL and umm whats the brown??
05/24/2010 11:43:10 PM · #23
The "Brown Ribbon" is the unofficial award for the last-place photo in any challenge. You can organize my challenge results by percentile and look at the last few pages for a variety of examples ... :-)
05/25/2010 12:20:08 AM · #24
Originally posted by GeneralE:

The "Brown Ribbon" is the unofficial award for the last-place photo in any challenge. You can organize my challenge results by percentile and look at the last few pages for a variety of examples ... :-)


Or you can go to the other two "masters of Brown", Whiterook and Charliebaker.

R.
05/25/2010 01:53:49 AM · #25
Originally posted by dtremain:

I entered an outtake from a local photo contest (all entries taken on a particular day, open to professionals and amateurs) in the "Hidden Gems" challenge. It got a score a tad above 5.5. My entry in the contest was runner up in the People's Choice category (judges selected #s 1-3, and 4 candidates for people's choice).
If you ever hesitate to enter a challenge, take a look at some of my lower scoring shots (I even got a favorite on one!).
Welcome to dpchallenge!


Exactly, my entry in Fashion here scored high 5s here but it won me $200 worth of lighting equipment locally, 5s is a respectable score!
Sometimes (like most here) I may think I have a low score for a shot but when I look at the shots that finished around mine I think it comes out about right. There are a lot of good Photographers here, and you learn a lot if you're open to the comments, don't sweat the scores just aim at improving yourself.

Message edited by author 2010-05-25 01:55:10.
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