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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> One more thread on voting -- kinda....
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07/21/2021 08:05:12 PM · #1
So I'm curious people's thoughts on the following:

(yes, it's about votes of 1, but not quite the same discussion)

I know there are people who automatically vote 1 on subjects, not photographs.

I know there was someone who would vote 1 on any military photo.

There have been people that would vote 1 on any nude.

It never bothered me much in the past, but with so few people voting, I think it's worth a discussion. Anyone who has a beef with a particular subject can pretty much tank the person's chances of a ribbon. When I saw a one come in on my shot of a military jet, it didn't surprise me. I actually thought twice about entering it knowing that it would probably get trolled. So it was no big deal since I expected it.

However, it may be worth a discussion. It seems like automatic 1s because of subject is contrary to the spirit of DPC. I would hope that by now photographers would be able to judge photos individually. Personally, I don't like pregnancy photos. I have no idea why. They just do absolutely nothing for me. But I still judge the photo on it's complete merits, not just the subject.

I abhor suicide photos, and a good portion of those have been scored down by me. However, I've seen some that have made a really strong impact, and though the subject is terrible, I've scored those high.

I challenge people who are quick to judge a photo strictly because of the subject -- look further. If it's an average photo of a distasteful subject, then it's an average photo. If it evokes extremely strong feelings, perhaps that makes it an effective photo - even if it disturbs you.

Thoughts?
07/21/2021 10:41:32 PM · #2
I am irrational about snakes.

I can’t stand to look at a photo of them.

I’m irrational, as I said.

Yet, when one comes up in voting, I compose myself as well as possible and vote on the image according to how well shot it was.

(Even if I think it should have been shot in a different way. Ha!)

07/21/2021 11:29:08 PM · #3
I think we should be challenging people to vote, in general. On every challenge if they can.
07/22/2021 04:00:01 AM · #4
It is unavoidable that people take the object of the picture into account, although (in theory, if it is about learning and improving) the voting should be more about the subject, about the way the picture was taken (creative?), the clarity of the message that the picture intends to convey, the thing that the photographer wants to express or achieve etc. More about the subject and expression than the actual object photographed.

A picture of a cute or colorful or rare bird will almost always get a higher score that a similar picture of a common little brown bird, just as an example, even if the quality of the picture would be the same. There is a lot of voting on "the pretty picture".

Someone voting a 1 on a picture of the military or nudes is just an extreme example of this behaviour.

07/22/2021 10:06:08 AM · #5
Originally posted by willem:

It is unavoidable that people take the object of the picture into account, although (in theory, if it is about learning and improving) the voting should be more about the subject, about the way the picture was taken (creative?), the clarity of the message that the picture intends to convey, the thing that the photographer wants to express or achieve etc. More about the subject and expression than the actual object photographed.

A picture of a cute or colorful or rare bird will almost always get a higher score that a similar picture of a common little brown bird, just as an example, even if the quality of the picture would be the same. There is a lot of voting on "the pretty picture".

Someone voting a 1 on a picture of the military or nudes is just an extreme example of this behaviour.


I wasn't sure you were right about the bird analogy. But I started thinking -- it's not often that a spectacular photo of an overweight, middle age woman would come anywhere near the score and popularity of a gorgeous, young woman. Unless there's a huge amount of character in a portrait, people don't really want to be looking at aging, overweight people.
07/22/2021 01:34:54 PM · #6
Originally posted by willem:

It is unavoidable that people take the object of the picture into account, although (in theory, if it is about learning and improving) the voting should be more about the subject, about the way the picture was taken (creative?), the clarity of the message that the picture intends to convey, the thing that the photographer wants to express or achieve etc. More about the subject and expression than the actual object photographed.

A picture of a cute or colorful or rare bird will almost always get a higher score that a similar picture of a common little brown bird, just as an example, even if the quality of the picture would be the same. There is a lot of voting on "the pretty picture".

Someone voting a 1 on a picture of the military or nudes is just an extreme example of this behaviour.


Originally posted by vawendy:

I wasn't sure you were right about the bird analogy. But I started thinking -- it's not often that a spectacular photo of an overweight, middle age woman would come anywhere near the score and popularity of a gorgeous, young woman. Unless there's a huge amount of character in a portrait, people don't really want to be looking at aging, overweight people.


I am of the mind that the automatic 1 due to subject material is a kneejerk and unfair way to go.

For one, I'd like to think that the type of person who is a DPCer is a little more discerning than the average FB clicker.

It does seem that there is a certain type of elementally pleasing formula will always do well.

I've also noticed that as my own perspective and tastes in imagery have changed over the years and I vote images that historically do not do well with more enthusiasm.

And as to your assessment of the overweight, middle age woman, it depends.

There have been themes like Portrait of the Elderly, Tribute to Dorothea Lange, and a slew of incredible portraits from the likes of LevT, librodo, and jjbeguin that have shown the beauty and poignancy of our elders, so age isn't necessarily a deal breaker for voting.

That said, I can guarantee a random nude of me would send anyone screaming from the room!

I hope that people might pause before firing out a 1 in the future.

Message edited by author 2021-07-22 13:35:40.
07/23/2021 05:51:59 AM · #7
We can make "middle age and overweight" into a challenge theme..... but then again .... how do you ask your model to have his/her picture taken?
07/23/2021 07:26:17 AM · #8
Originally posted by willem:

We can make "middle age and overweight" into a challenge theme..... but then again .... how do you ask your model to have his/her picture taken?

Self portraits, of course! :-)
07/23/2021 03:03:52 PM · #9
I find that some of the downvotes I get, at least the ones followed by a comment are usually due to someone interpreting the challenge title in their own way, and subsequently only 'upvoting' images that fit their personal interpretation of the challenge description.

Whatever the descriptor word means to you in the context of a challenge titled as such, can, should, does, and may vary between all of us, and that's fine :) I just also, in kind, tend to think objectively as I vote - so as to appreciate how people submitting images may have applied one of the many contextual meanings of [challenge descriptor word] to their pieces - rather than dropping a 1 and saying something like 'this doesn't meet my interpretation of what you should have done' lol. It's more fun being objective, you might learn new ways to expand your own interpretation of things by reviewing the works of others.

Just my .00000002

Message edited by author 2021-07-23 15:14:13.
07/23/2021 03:19:10 PM · #10
Originally posted by ShutterRev:

I find that some of the downvotes I get, at least the ones followed by a comment are usually due to someone interpreting the challenge title in their own way, and subsequently only 'upvoting' images that fit their personal interpretation of the challenge description.

Whatever the descriptor word means to you in the context of a challenge titled as such, can, should, does, and may vary between all of us, and that's fine :) I just also, in kind, tend to think objectively as I vote - so as to appreciate how people submitting images may have applied one of the many contextual meanings of [challenge descriptor word] to their pieces - rather than dropping a 1 and saying something like 'this doesn't meet my interpretation of what you should have done' lol. It's more fun being objective, you might learn new ways to expand your own interpretation of things by reviewing the works of others.

Just my .00000002


You entered 4 challenges since 2015 of which 3 with a theme and 1 free study?
07/23/2021 03:56:00 PM · #11
Thanks for chiming in Willem, I noticed you picked about the time I got real busy and took a few years off other than when I could participate, for where you chose to start generating data :)

Here I am trying to rejoin the welcoming community of DPC, while having still, even then, cast more votes than you :)

just sharing my opinion :)

- Nick

Message edited by author 2021-07-23 15:56:32.
07/23/2021 04:26:26 PM · #12
Originally posted by vawendy:

I know there was someone who would vote 1 on any military photo.


I posted a Military related photo 11 years ago, and got 5, 1's, along with at least one triggered comment that was plucked by admins, you can see my response etc here:
LINK

Selective desat, ...I know... not my best image, but at least one of the 1's was that knee jerk, and was clear by the former comment that came with it haha.

Message edited by author 2021-07-23 16:26:53.
07/23/2021 09:05:54 PM · #13
Originally posted by ShutterRev:

Thanks for chiming in Willem, I noticed you picked about the time I got real busy and took a few years off other than when I could participate, for where you chose to start generating data :)

Here I am trying to rejoin the welcoming community of DPC, while having still, even then, cast more votes than you :)

just sharing my opinion :)

- Nick


Cool!! Good to see you back! Been doing anything interesting in your off time?
07/23/2021 09:07:54 PM · #14
Originally posted by ShutterRev:

Originally posted by vawendy:

I know there was someone who would vote 1 on any military photo.


I posted a Military related photo 11 years ago, and got 5, 1's, along with at least one triggered comment that was plucked by admins, you can see my response etc here:
LINK

Selective desat, ...I know... not my best image, but at least one of the 1's was that knee jerk, and was clear by the former comment that came with it haha.


That was interesting to read through. Although my tastes have changed. It was a 6 from me back then. Probably a 5 now because of the selective desat. :)
07/24/2021 12:06:01 PM · #15
Originally posted by ShutterRev:

Thanks for chiming in Willem, I noticed you picked about the time I got real busy and took a few years off other than when I could participate, for where you chose to start generating data :)

Here I am trying to rejoin the welcoming community of DPC, while having still, even then, cast more votes than you :)

just sharing my opinion :)

- Nick


Sorry for making that comment. I was puzzled by the question how you could make that comment while you did not seem to have many recent entries where the challenge theme could have been misinterpreted/misused in that way. I have been away for 13 years and find that this community has changed a lot since the early times. Don't let the experience of the long past hold you back from participating.

Message edited by author 2021-07-24 12:36:02.
07/24/2021 04:17:43 PM · #16
Originally posted by willem:

Originally posted by ShutterRev:

Thanks for chiming in Willem, I noticed you picked about the time I got real busy and took a few years off other than when I could participate, for where you chose to start generating data :)

Here I am trying to rejoin the welcoming community of DPC, while having still, even then, cast more votes than you :)

just sharing my opinion :)

- Nick


Sorry for making that comment. I was puzzled by the question how you could make that comment while you did not seem to have many recent entries where the challenge theme could have been misinterpreted/misused in that way. I have been away for 13 years and find that this community has changed a lot since the early times. Don't let the experience of the long past hold you back from participating.


No harm no foul, looking forward to participating - do wish there was more entrants and votes in the challenges though, but then again I should do my part there before harping on that aspect to much haha

Have a good weekend
07/24/2021 06:14:09 PM · #17
I have never voted a 1 since I've been here although I have gotten my share and most often on innocuous subjects which I found curious.

While we are talking about voting and lack there of, does anyone have a clue when the "new improved DP" will be ready? I was hoping when that launches
there would be advertising and promotion that would bring new people to the site..new voters and commenters that might motivate us all to get more involved again.

Beta testing happened a while ago. I really hope the new version is visually exciting and able to attract new people. It seems we have been limping along and hanging on by a thread
for a long time despite the Covid delay.
07/25/2021 08:32:08 AM · #18
A bit of perspective on numbers of votes. My membership lapsed between the time I entered the June FS and voting. As a non-member with 281 challenges entered, including multiples this year, I was not allowed to vote on the member-only challenge that I had an image in.

Maybe if you were to allow non-members that meet a certain threshold of participation (comments, challenges, forum posts, etc. - enough to root out troll voters and folks who want to artificially inflate their own images) to participate in voting then you might just get some of them to join and participate more?

Message edited by author 2021-07-25 08:32:44.
07/26/2021 04:50:53 PM · #19
I mean I'm totally sure the 3 vote I got on this one was not to drag the total down, I'm sure it's just because it was an awful photo ;)

Message edited by author 2021-07-26 16:51:07.
07/26/2021 04:57:19 PM · #20
Originally posted by JakeKurdsjuk:

A bit of perspective on numbers of votes. My membership lapsed between the time I entered the June FS and voting. As a non-member with 281 challenges entered, including multiples this year, I was not allowed to vote on the member-only challenge that I had an image in.

Maybe if you were to allow non-members that meet a certain threshold of participation (comments, challenges, forum posts, etc. - enough to root out troll voters and folks who want to artificially inflate their own images) to participate in voting then you might just get some of them to join and participate more?


If there was enough members, and visiting people voting in challenges I would go a step further and say that you can not vote in a challenge that you are entered in, but I don't think with the participation and voting #'s we have presently that would work out till we had the numbers to support it.
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