How I personally score for every challenge.....

05/09/2006 08:42:48 PM · #1

As I definaltely agree with you Scalvert re a thread in this section, I have decided to add a this thread as my way of scoring and commenting re challenges...... Maybe you would like to add some comments yourself.

I always start with a "five" score on every image in a challenge, and go "up" or "down" from there.

My "lower" scores, (below a "5") are usually acually marked down, due to not meeting the challenge, out of focus, or not sharp enough, to much sharpeness and over saturated, or maybe the images just doesn't appeal to me.
I never mark an image way down, if it is "offensive" or "unappealing" (maybe a point or two) to me, without saying why.

5 - I start at the level of "5" and the 1st thing I look for is. "Did it meet the challenge".

6 - Yes, and does is the subject matter ok & composition and focus ect, will get a "6".

7 - This is a good image so get a "7", but still could be better.

8 - "wow" factor and I personally like it a lot. On the way to the top, and may even go into "my favorites" if has a good idea, and is something I really like re a learning point for me.

9 - Very good, but something isn't quite right, and not 100% perfect.

It will again get some good comments like "WOW", and may also end up as a favorite as well.....

10 - "WOW".....I love it and this is definately going into my FAVORITES.....
I hope it "RIBBONS" as it meets the challenge perfectly in every way.....
You "ROCK" and just "LOVE" this image. (maybe I have got carried away, but a ten score does that to me.

I sometimes don't give out any "10's" at all, and other times I could have up to ten "10"s".....

I very rarely do under a 3 or 4, unless so bad that one cannot see what it is......

I also "DO NOT LIKE" people, marking "DOWN" an image. Due to the fact that they do not won't it to "ribbon", or that it may be better than there's, so make it a "1" or "2".

This is not a "fair practice" for anyone, especially "yourself", as you are not a "fair" voter.....How would you like that done to you.

Thank you for your time.....

[quote=scalvert] "I like it" doesn't usually translate to votes of 10. For that, you need "I absolutely LOVE it" comments.

I have personally made 11,995 VOTES, and 6999 COMMENTS, re challenges & threads in less than six months.....

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/09/2006 11:15:21 PM · #2

Dosen't anyone have something to say please re this thread.....

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

05/09/2006 11:19:02 PM · #3

This is pretty much how I have been voting as well. I think I was alittle harsher when I first came on but I am spending more time looking at each shot now and scoring a bit differently. Great description and detail here.

PS - I didn't notice anything here about spelling errors. ;)

tinky2

Nikon D7100

05/09/2006 11:21:57 PM · #4

Yes, I pretty much score this way too. I find myself looking more too.
But, I gotta say, the 10's just jump off the page at me.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/09/2006 11:23:31 PM · #5

I agree, as for me, they just "POP"

Originally posted by tinky2:

Yes, I pretty much score this way too. I find myself looking more too.
But, I gotta say, the 10's just jump off the page at me.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

05/09/2006 11:26:25 PM · #6

I pretty much follow the saem pattern too - with the addition of taking in account the difficulty of the shot. I try to give a point or two when I can see the shot was beyond the ordinary and most likely not that easy to achieve.

05/09/2006 11:26:51 PM · #7

Very funny mate.....You are rubbing it in, arn't you.
It took me awhile to work out what you meant.....
Hope you do well in the challenge.....
It is also my personal "best" score as well.... re "Rhythm" challenge.....

re: timmfythetoo re: part of his comment
PS - I didn't notice anything here about spelling errors. ;) [/quote]

Message edited by author 2006-05-09 23:29:58.

smp8766

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

05/09/2006 11:40:32 PM · #8

Yes, glad I came across this. I recently joined, (haven't posted in any challenges yet, to intimadated by the high quality of photographers here) and was wondering if I was voting fairly, seems I am pretty close to whats listed here.

PS: How often do you leave a comment?

Panasonic LUMIX-DMC ZS100

05/09/2006 11:46:22 PM · #9

If you mean by how many comments I have made in challenges, please see above, at the bottom of my origional thread, or do you mean, re each challenge.

I try and always vote on 100% with each challenge and comment between 25 to 60% on each entry.

Before entering challenges, I voted and commented on "EVERY" entry, in every challenge.....

Does this answer your question.....

Originally posted by smp8766:

Message edited by author 2006-05-09 23:59:52.

wheeledd

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/09/2006 11:49:37 PM · #10

sherpet,

I do it a bit differently. I imagine that I am the editor of a photographic book or the curator of a photo show on the challenge topic. I look at each photo and think about whether I want it in the book or show. Those that are WOW photos (and could be used on the book cover or show poster) get a 10. Those that I don't think belong in the book/show at all get a 1. There are usually very few of either 10's or 1's. All the rest get votes somewhere in between.

I always vote on all the images in a challenge. I also go through them twice, once to make a rough cut and then again to give them the final vote. I like photos that have feeling and are creative. I'm not as concerned about technical quality as some people here.

As I said, I use the full range of votes from 1-10. If you limit yourself to a smaller range, like 3-10, then your votes don't count as much as mine do. If I go to the trouble of voting on a challenge, I want my votes to count as much as possible.

I used to give comments on the images I rated 1 and 2, but I've stopped. My experience was that these comments were not well accepted. We were on a different wavelength and my comments were not seen as helpful. Now I'm trying to give more comments on the mid-range images. These don't usually get many comments and my remarks about what I found positive and negative about the image seem to be well received.

--DanW

smp8766

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

05/09/2006 11:54:50 PM · #11

sherpet:

Yes that does answer my question, Thank You.

livitup

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

05/09/2006 11:59:11 PM · #12

I do the 'sorting' method of voting.

I make one quick pass through every photo in the challenge, and give each one a rating of "bad, good, great." The bad get a 4, the good get a 5, the great get a 6.

Then I go back and filter on the 6s. Each 6 will get bumped up to 7-9. This is mostly subjective at this point, but anything in this 'bucket' fits the challenge well, is well done technically, etc.

Then I go back and filter on the 4s. Each photo in this pile gets bumped down to 1-3. 1s have nothing to do with the challenge, are horribly exposed/focused/etc. Something is really wrong with them.

Then I go back and filter the 5's. Each one of them will end up with a score between 4 and 6.

Finally I go back to the 9's and promote a few of them to the magical 10.

I figure this is very similar to what I used to do with slides on a light table in my college paper days and is also very similar to what I do with Adobe Bridge now when I sort keepers from trash for my DPC entries, prints, etc.

crayon

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

05/10/2006 12:37:30 AM · #13

How I vote?
I usually just vote for the opposition party

BrianR

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/10/2006 04:30:19 PM · #14

Have been watching this thread with interest, now I see why all my images start 4.5, or lower, as with this type of batch voting and the number of voters that are doing it, images are not opening on there own merit,( Not sour grapes, just an opinion) are those that go through and vote in this method voting on EVERY submission or, only the 20% required, if you vote all your images at 4, and then so do the next 20 voters your score is 4, the next 20 batch voters do the same voting 5, your average is 4.5, then when you go back and reacess your 20% of images selected, possibly you only see the good, and bump them into the WOW, BEST, format, and the others remain in the also ran basket, it is a long climb up from 4.5 over the remainder of the voters, IMO if batch voting is your way of going,start at a higher number Say 6, and then vote down if necessary. Example, An Image In DPC Cinema opened at 4.4, and stayed there for 48 hours,before a comment was made, now has 7 comments all positive,but because of the low start, has only reached 4.8, If you do this type of voting mentaly as you vote, giveing a score physically, the entry will be scored on its merit and not be forgotten later,and left on a low score.I rest my case.

Message edited by author 2006-05-10 16:42:00.

fotomann_forever

05/10/2006 04:38:22 PM · #15

huh huh... she said "score"! ;-)

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/10/2006 04:42:07 PM · #16

Here's how I vote...

Did it meet the challenge? No, 1. Yes, continue.

2 Met the challenge but is horrid
3 Pretty bad
4 Average but has some flaws
5 Average photo
6 Better than average
7 Still better and has artistic merit
8 Now we're talking
9 If that one little thing were different
10 Holy Shit

taterbug

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

05/10/2006 05:04:19 PM · #17

Bruce (my alligator cat) normally helps me vote. He has a very good eye, although he is a sucker for a good abstract. And this is how we do it:
Starting with the first photo, we score everything a 6 until there is a shot with the color red in it.
Then they all get a 3 until we see a title with the word 'the' in it.
Then all 8's til there is a black/white.
Then 5's til the top of the next hour.
Then 2's til the cd we are listening to ends, at which point if we are still voting, slide all the numbers up 1point and start over again.
Throughout this process, if Bruce's tail twitches at any time, that shot automatically gets a 10 and goes in favorites. If he meows though, we give it a 1 and request a dq.
...oh, and we comment everytime there is a noise outside.

hanneke

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/10/2006 05:05:35 PM · #18

Originally posted by taterbug:

that is just TOO funny :D

ignite

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

05/10/2006 05:31:51 PM · #19

I first look at all the basic requirements, like if it meets the challenge, how the title fits the image.

Then on to the actual image. Focus, any technical flaws, composition, effort, difficulty etc. Then I look at the image as a whole, how it strikes me. Then I give it a 1 and move on to the next image ;-)

No seriously, I very rarely give anything below 3, and even then the image has to be crappy beyond imagination. 6 is my average. 9 is amazing. 10s are rare, but yeah some extraordinary images do get a 10.

I deduct a point for focus problems, blown out highlights etc, but I also consider what the editing is. Sometimes in basic editing you can only do so much, and sometimes you can't reshoot a photograph so I am a bit lenient there.

livitup