DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> DP scoring and the pet peeve that you score low
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 116, (reverse)
AuthorThread
12/12/2010 04:06:28 PM · #1
I seem to have three things that I score lower for, curious what you may score lower for as well.
1) dead things, almost a guaranteed 1 from me, I find it disrespectful of the deceased.
2) animal butts, why would I want to see somethings ass? I had an animal poop recently in front of me, but I didn't take a photo of it!
3) bad titles - because I like a good title and reward the effort to think of one and tend to score low for uncreative titles.

So, what don't you like to see? What do you score lower for?

(sorry if I seem mean on this, I do have a bad body cold and am in pain everywhere.)
12/12/2010 04:38:58 PM · #2
First off, get better, dude.

There's nothing that I deduct for automatically. I absolutely hate cats, hyper-allergic and have been hospitalized because of them, yet I still don't mark them down automatically, as much as they deserve it.

My only pet peeve I guess is unimaginative titles. I'll see a really interesting image that takes some time to figure out what the story is, and then I'll glance at the title and it'll just be the challenge name or something equally uncreative. Right or wrong, it makes me think the photo was more an accident than something deeper. I still don't deduct, but it is a bummer.

Message edited by author 2010-12-12 16:40:00.
12/12/2010 04:46:00 PM · #3
I don't know if I can make a list of three things like you have, I don't have a one size fits all approach to scoring.

Sometimes a title is bad, but the photo is great and makes up for it. Plus everyone has their own idea of what a good title is, this is a photography contest not a title contest. A good title may enhance the photo, but if it is bad it really makes no difference to me.

A general disregard for photo quality will get a lower score from me, but if it strikes me as clever or touches me I don't always mark down for it.

I guess the only thing I tend to give a lower score than they may deserve is half naked women. I think guys may appreciate these photos more than me, I try not to be to biased and if it is a good quality shot I try to give it a decent score, but I just can't find myself giving a photo of a half naked woman anything above a 7. Nothing more than I just don't find these shots very interesting.
12/12/2010 04:47:19 PM · #4
Thank you for the insight. I have over time realized that the majority of 1's cast are not because the voter thinks the entry is that bad, but it is an objection to something the voters dislikes and this is a way of registering such disapproval. By the same token, most 10's are not cast because the image is perfect and beyond possible improvement, but to reward some aspect the voter has a strong appreciation for.

On your #3 reason, I feel that one to be unreasonable. Not everyone is good at titles, and some images don't lend themselves to a creative or witty title. Some of the most well known photos are purely descriptive in nature. ("Moonrise over Hernandez", for example). Is it any less of an image for lack of a snappy title? Not that my argument is going to change your mind about it, nor will mine change yours. I just wanted to give my own 2 cents on that.

Things I vote lower for:
-Compression artifacts are my #1 pet peeve. JPEG compression can ruin an otherwise good image. If I vote lower for such, I will ALWAYS leave a comment about it.

-Obvious tilt that is clearly not an induced creative tilt. It's so easy to fix, there's just no excuse for not correcting it.

-I am not as impressed by the eye candy shots (like colored refractions in wine glasses, water drops and flowers) as I used to be, however I will still give a good vote for a good shot which is a 6 or 7. It just won't get the 8,9 or 10 that the ones which resonate strongly with me may get.

That being said, I rarely vote a 1, as I feel a 1 is telling the photographer "this is so awful it cannot possibly get any worse." (Except for one of Charliebaker's colored squares, in which case a 1 is what he wants.) In most challenges I will usually give a couple of 3's to the ones I find to be the quality of a poor snapshot. I tend to be one of the generous voters, however.

Message edited by author 2010-12-12 16:53:55.
12/12/2010 04:51:27 PM · #5
1) a clear, recognizable, sharp, uncropped subject
2) a single point of focus that the eye is always drawn to
3) sharp detail in shadows and highlights
12/12/2010 05:04:24 PM · #6
If it takes only 1-5 words to describe your photo..
12/12/2010 05:05:43 PM · #7
That posthumous. Beated again.
12/12/2010 05:10:15 PM · #8
I don't necessarily score them lower, but eyeball pictures creep me out. I *want* to score them lower, desperately so, but some of them are really well done.
12/12/2010 05:18:22 PM · #9
It's a wonder that anyone manages to do above a 5.0. There is almost nothing you can enter that someone will not feel punishable with a 1.
12/12/2010 05:31:41 PM · #10
Dangerous children, yeah that really bugs me.



:-)
12/12/2010 05:37:02 PM · #11
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

It's a wonder that anyone manages to do above a 5.0. There is almost nothing you can enter that someone will not feel punishable with a 1.


I know! I think a similar thread was started a couple weeks ago and I was amazed at the things people give 1's for. I can see marking down a little for some of this stuff but a 1 is uncalled for.

There should be a rule you can only give out as many 1's as you gave out 10's then maybe people would think twice before pushing that button.

Message edited by author 2010-12-12 17:37:15.
12/12/2010 05:41:46 PM · #12
Ever notice that no one ever bitches about getting a 10... regardless of the fact that it probably was not warranted.

Truth is, most of the scores are pretty much where they should be...and each and every person has their own opinion as to what is deserved. I personally don't care what people dole out for scores, as long as they are consistent.

Ray
12/12/2010 05:43:43 PM · #13
wine glasses and water drops get an automatic 1 from me.
12/12/2010 05:49:48 PM · #14
Originally posted by amsterdamman:

What do you score lower for?


* Bad lighting, poor focus, bad composition... are just a few pet peeves of mine...
* Oh and anything that doesn't at least try to include a scantily clad female.

I'm fibbing about one of the above points, it's up to you to guess which one.
12/12/2010 05:57:00 PM · #15
I *hate* bad spelling/grammar in titles. If you spent that much time on the shot, it only takes an extra ten seconds to make sure you've got the title right.
12/12/2010 06:19:39 PM · #16
It's so sad that someone would mark down for a title. :(

It's extremely rare that I can think of a decent title for my photographs. I can shoot, but I can't write. I suck at titles. I hate having to do them, because I know I suck at them.

Ok, there, I got that out of my system. :)

The suicide shots get to me. I don't think I've ever scored any lower than a 3, and if they're good, they'll probably get a 6 or so, but I don't think I've ever scored one higher because they don't appeal or appall me. They're just "yuck" in most cases. If I'm shocked and appalled by a photo, that's worth something. But if it's just gratuitous ick, then it does nothing.

Dead animals that are just a catalog shot of a dead animal don't do anything for me, though I don't think I've given one less than a 4. However, I saw one dead animal shot in an art show that was an incredible photo. Dead raccoon in the middle of the road, line paint truck went down the road and just painted over it. It was gross, kind of awful, yet quite a statement at the same time. Very memorable photo -- would have given it a 10.
12/12/2010 06:20:25 PM · #17
Originally posted by JH:

I *hate* bad spelling/grammar in titles. If you spent that much time on the shot, it only takes an extra ten seconds to make sure you've got the title right.


Same here, I will often knock a point or two off simply because someone can't be bothered to check the spelling on their title. If you're not sure on the correct spelling, then check, and no I do not mean using your computer's spellcheck!! If English is not your native tongue, then all the more reason to know how/when to punctuate and be even more diligent about spelling. If you don't understand that there is a difference between 'its' and 'it's', 'your and you're', 'they're', 'their' and 'there'...then please make an effort to learn and use them.

Other things that annoy me and often draw a lower score...the title in quotation marks (unless an actual quote is being used) and CaPiTaLiZiNg every second or third letter in the title. IMHO it does NOT make the user look clever and innovative; anytime I see that I am much pickier with the photo, to ensure that the user is not relying on gimmickry to prop up a poor image. It's easy to make typos and just as easy to correct them. To not do so, imho, bespeaks sloppiness. And again that makes me much more critical of the image.

ETA: I have made my living as a copywriter/proofreader/editor/college-level English tutor, so yes, I am super-picky. Spelling does count. And for me it just throws things off, if there is a spelling error in the title. The image and title should match up and be harmonious - if I had titled a certain entry 'Plain of Prespective', I am pretty sure I would not have a blue ribbon for 'Plane of Perspective'.

Message edited by author 2010-12-12 18:37:27.
12/12/2010 06:22:48 PM · #18
For me, undersized images is a pet hate. When the challenge allows for 800x800pixels, why would anyone save under that? If it is significantly smaller I score them very low.
12/12/2010 06:31:32 PM · #19
SeEmS I nEAd TwO rEtidAl mI sUbmIsShion
12/12/2010 06:38:39 PM · #20
Originally posted by alans_world:

SeEmS I nEAd TwO rEtidAl mI sUbmIsShion


Uhmm might not be a bad idea...guess you're a little rusty after being away for so long! :-)
12/12/2010 06:49:15 PM · #21
Guns. I just don't like them and they rarely score above 5. No automatic 1, but it's just something I don't score well.
12/12/2010 07:00:52 PM · #22
Originally posted by snaffles:

Originally posted by alans_world:

SeEmS I nEAd TwO rEtidAl mI sUbmIsShion


Uhmm might not be a bad idea...guess you're a little rusty after being away for so long! :-)


;)
12/12/2010 07:02:10 PM · #23
Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Guns. I just don't like them and they rarely score above 5. No automatic 1, but it's just something I don't score well.

You had a field day with the military challenge then, eh?
12/12/2010 07:11:35 PM · #24
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

It's a wonder that anyone manages to do above a 5.0. There is almost nothing you can enter that someone will not feel punishable with a 1.

True wisdom spoken! This is the essence of understanding scoring at DPC. Also, it's fundamental to marketing art in a world of varied tastes. Well said, Yo!
12/12/2010 07:23:06 PM · #25
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Guns. I just don't like them and they rarely score above 5. No automatic 1, but it's just something I don't score well.

You had a field day with the military challenge then, eh?


Aww, I'm not that cruel. I just didn't vote. :)
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 11:13:22 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 11:13:22 AM EDT.