I don't usually complain about votes but...

Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

06/02/2004 01:23:43 AM · #1

I understand there are people who vote an image down so theirs will do better, and others who just don't take this seriously, but I didn't think there were that many.

If you feel this shot only deserves a one or a two please let me know why. I got no negative comments. And please be honest! I can take it! Really!

PS I didn't think I was that ugly! :P

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

06/02/2004 01:26:47 AM · #2

I think u may have suffered from the 'i can't see multiple light sources' moreso than anything else. When you study the photo a bit, you can certainly tell that light is coming from above and below, but i estimate that you get 5 seconds or less of viewing time. I also assume that the challenge topic usually needs to slap the voter in the face or the resulting scores are mediocre.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

06/02/2004 01:33:12 AM · #3

I gave you a 6 for what I thought was a good but not over exciting portrait, fitted the challenge well, don't despair Aaron you did get a few 9s and 10s.

aaronb532

Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

06/02/2004 01:41:01 AM · #4

yeah I am greatful for those 9's and 10's too, I just want more! :)

Now that I look at it, if I only took a quick glance at it I might miss the second light source. However, before I give a 1 or 2 I will give thoroughly look over the image to make sure I didn't miss something.

Natator

Canon EOS-5D

06/02/2004 01:42:49 AM · #5

I gave this one a 6 as well. I think it must have suffered from people not seeing 2 light sources, although to me it is fairly obvious, so maybe not.

Look back at some of the absolutely amazing past ribbon winners. There is no way in hell anyone could justify giving some of them a 1 ..... but they do (although with some shots I do question the motive).

frumoaznicul

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

06/02/2004 01:49:56 AM · #6

Haven't voted only half this challenge and I missed yours, I can tell you from my comments I recived, many voters think if they can see a shadow than it's 1 light source.
I actualy used 3 light sourcess, I just prefered to play with the shadow instead of eliminating it.

4-1's
24-2's
23-3's

I would of gave you a 5 or a 6, it just isn't a wow shot for me but certainly not a 1. The use of multiple lights is too obvious, alot more obvious than in mine probably.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

06/02/2004 02:02:32 AM · #7

A decent picture should never receive a 1 or a 2 unless maybe a protest vote on a blatant disregard to the challenge, I mean these shots bear no resemblance to the last placed few, no disrespect to these entries, they may be just starting off in photography and as such will pick up some bad scores.

kbrashear

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

06/02/2004 02:34:23 AM · #8

I gave you an 8. Your shot is well lit with multiple lights and is a beautiful portrait shot. The voting here is harsh if you think about it, top shots usually only have a total score in the 7's. Yours is VERY well done.

aaronb532

Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

06/02/2004 02:43:56 AM · #9

kbrashear,
thank you for the very nice comments!

I have set some goals for myself in future challenges:
1 - get more 10's then 1's (hasn't happend yet in three challenges)
2 - Average over 6.000 (closest so far is 5.351)
3 - Win a ribbon! (Everyone's goal, I'm sure!)

DonC

Nikon D100

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8D

06/02/2004 02:50:51 AM · #10

This was my first exposure to this contest and just by looking at some of the votes (yours in particularly) do not deserve anything below 4 even if you dont like the shot it would be difficult to justify anything below that. Speakling of justifying maybe it should be a requirement that if you vote 1,2,9, or 10 you would have to write a comment as to why. Just a thought.
DonC

tomzinho

Nikon D70

06/02/2004 03:08:56 AM · #11

stop caring about the votes and submit photos that you like. if you don't feel appreciated, (1) join the crowd, (2) that doesn't mean that you are a bad photographer, (3) if you are still learning/improving (by your own estimation) then don't worry about it. my last couple of photos i'm very proud of, and if the mob didn't get it, **** them.

lwkimages

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

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

06/02/2004 03:41:04 AM · #12

In general, DPC is a popularity contest. I would guess that the majority of participants here use the 1-10 scale to express whether they like or dislike an image. If, instead, we used the scale to grade a photo with regard to a standard set of factors (meets challenge, composition, clarity, creativity, etc.), 1's and 2's would be rarer.

If your image simply doesn't interest me, I could give it a 2 without any qualms. Using the above factors, however, I don't see how I could grade it less than a 6.

Phileine

Pentax K100D Super

06/02/2004 03:49:51 AM · #13

I gave you a 6. Not because i didn't like the picture, but because my high votes went to the pictures where "multiple light sources" was really the subject of the picture, not just a technique used in it.

i don't think pictures ever deserve 1 or 2, or very rarely. The idea that you can only give them if you give a comment as well doesn't sound too stupid.

sorry for the bad english. i'm a dutchy

scottwilson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28mm f/2.8

06/02/2004 03:59:53 AM · #14

For me to give a 1 or 2 the photo pretty much needs to miss the challenge AND be of an uninteresting subject AND be of poor technical quality. Clearly there are those who give out 1s if they feel the photo fails in anyway, this is their prerogative and the good news is that they tend to do this to everyone so it evens out.

The other thing to keep in mind is that this was an open challenge and there are a lot more 1s and 2s given in the open challenges, even for the top three photos. So if you want to limit the 1s and 2s become a member and enter a members challenge.

I value the comments I get more then the votes and I try not to worry about the 1s and 2s and enjoy the comments, which are normally very kind and helpful.

asij

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

06/02/2004 04:47:08 AM · #15

This one flopped in the challenge...
Thought the sun colors, reflexing from the nature made these ambient lights.
I guess i was wrong :(
But my english is improving :P (Slooooooowly)

mijak

Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D

Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Minolta

06/02/2004 05:55:43 AM · #16

Can't see any valid reasons for your low scores either.

I personally really, really would appreciate if there were some official voting guidelines, something like the ones listed on Danny Jansen's profile page.

Since this forum is international, there are a lot of different cultures and value-systems in play here, strengthening the need for such a guideline.

In my experience, it is common in some cultures to start an evaluation with the highest score, and then deduct points for each found shortcoming. Other cultures start with the lowest score possible and make you earn each point. The third variant starts with the viewpoint that everyone has an average score unless there are obvious positive or negative aspects that affects the outcome accordingly.

I think an official guideline would help to find a common voting pattern.

Am I alone in this opinion, or are there others to share it?

/M

mamabear5612

Olympus Stylus 1010

06/02/2004 06:44:12 AM · #17

I hit all over the board on my photo.. I think what hurt me the most was what i noticed , was that depending on the light in the room during viewing made it look darker than it really is.. i check it out during the day and during the night and was very surprized at the change in it ...more so than most photos...any way i love my shot and am wanting to get a print of it when i can figure out how i get it to DCPrints ...clueless LOL

i also learned from this shot ...the lighting really changed what the subject really looks like..amazing how light can really make or brake a shot

1 2
2 5
3 25
4 43
5 68
6 69
7 33
8 17
9 2
10 1

i was very shocked i got a 10 and a few 9's...doing the happy dance

Firsty

Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

06/02/2004 06:54:03 AM · #18

Aaron
I gave this an eight it is a great photo
I bet if you re-shot it using the same settings but with a happy smile and a sparkle in your eye you would have a ribon by now, some here just don't like moody shots

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/02/2004 08:23:34 AM · #19

Originally posted by aaronb532:

who are the 11 people who gave me ones, and the 17 people who gave me twos? I can understand a person giving it a three if the just don't like it, but it fits the challenge, is in focus, and is well exposed. The only negative I see is the stupid shirt I was wearing, but I don't think that should affect the score that much.

I understand there are people who vote an image down so theirs will do better, and others who just don't take this seriously, but I didn't think there were that many.

If you feel this shot only deserves a one or a two please let me know why. I got no negative comments. And please be honest! I can take it! Really!

PS I didn't think I was that ugly! :P

Aaron... Look at your rating distribution curve for the image. It is perfectly normal. You ALWAYS expect to see higher and lower scores because DPC is a very diverse group. If you didn't get that many 1s and 2s it would have been abnormal.

Here are some possible reasons for the low scores...

The idea for the portrait, lighting positioning and model pose are all excellent. The technical execution and quality of the image is not. NI's effect on the goatee makes it look fuzzy and out of focus. The lighting, though positioned well and dramatic which is what you wanted, is to harsh and produces undesirable viewer effects. For example, the neck is very bright and nearly overexposed which draws attention away from your model's face. The unnecessary fold in the T-shirt produces a hot spot on it's edge and a dark shadow on the upper chest that should not be there. The bright area on the brim in front of the nose is a major distraction and to close to the eye which is the image's main attraction. The right collar being turned in makes it look a little sloppy in setup. Overall the image lacks a crisp, realistic sharpness that the viewer expects from this type of portrature.

(I scored your image a 5)

Message edited by author 2004-06-02 08:25:38.

Canon EOS-60D

06/02/2004 11:40:14 AM · #20

I liked the lighting, the pose, the hat (loved the hat, actually), but the shirts were just not working for me. Especially the collar...the left side was turned in and cast a big shadow that wasn't that attractive. That's what scored it down for me. I gave it a 5, but with a different shirt, or without the undershirt and the with collar fixed, it would have been higher.

PS - You aren't ugly at all! :o)

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

06/02/2004 02:15:51 PM · #21

Multiple light sources are not obvious and it is not a key factor in your composition. Clearly it does not meet the challenge.

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

06/02/2004 02:22:40 PM · #22

Multiple light sources are not obvious and it is not a key factor in your composition. Clearly it does not meet the challenge.

Actually Daryl, may want to take a closer look.

Lighting under the brim of the hat. Lighting on top of the brim. Lighting on both sides of the face.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/02/2004 02:32:32 PM · #23

I don't think your shot deserved any 1-3 votes... it's a technically good shot that obviously meets the challenge since the light comes from above and below. Don't feel too bad, though... I received 11 votes of 2 or less for this shot in the Something New challenge. Since the challenge there was simply to shoot something you've never shot before, any half-decent photo should have done better than 1.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT