I’m just trying to translate the vote digits into an understandable verbal formula. In my mind there seems to be quite a difference in how I vote in a contest, compared to the votes I often get. The accumulative message of a finished vote also speaks volumes of how an image is perceived apart from the voter. It is obvious to me that the scale of 1-10 means different things to different people. If I were to put words to the votes I give and get, and the average score I [could] end up with - it would be something like this:
What my vote means:
1 - Does not meet the challenge and is absent of aesthetic metrics for a good image, it possibly even offends me
2 - The image has little to no merit and does not appeal to me
3 - You did something there, but I just don't get it
4 - There are some redemptive elements to this photograph, but I do not like it much
5 - This shot has some good technical and aesthetic qualities
6 - Above average, the image has many pleasing qualities and is on the right track
7 - This is good, possibly a contender
8 - Inspirational, could be a top pick for me - it speaks to me and is of high technical quality
9 - Almost perfect, I could hang this on my wall - likely a favorite
10 - Excellent, nothing could be added or subtracted from this picture - favorited
What the received individual vote means:
1 - You suck
2 - This stinks
3 - Average
4 - Just above average
5 - This is kind of good
6 - I like it
7 - I really feel it
8 - It's great
9 - Fabulous
10 - Perfect
What the contest average vote means:
1 - Impossible, everybody hates you and your image
2 - This is clearly an offensive image that only the mother of the photographer could love
3 - Did possibly not meet challenge and looks awful
4 - Kind of bad; The picture is confusing – did you upload the right one?
5 - Good, most like the shot - some hate it
6 - Very good. More people love it than hate it
7 - Merit, should be a print
8 - Incredible! Has universal appeal, but is likely unattainable
9 - Utopic, could only be dreamt of in the early days of digital photography when minds were young and impressionable
10 - Forget it, no image is that good
1. aesthetically offensive
2. derivative
3. nondescript
4. one or two good qualities
5. an expression of your vision
6. an interesting expression of your vision
7. worth noting
8. beautiful
9. art
10. my kind of art
I came up with similar statements a while ago to help me always vote the "same" but I found it to just confuse me more so I try to vote with whatever comes to my mind first. Sometimes I'll go back and raise or (rarely) lower my vote but I feel like the best vote is when I'm following my initial gut reaction.
Either way, I like your statements and I'm in agreeance with them. (Both gotrond and posthumous.
I am intrigued by Don's 7 "worth nothing," but am quite torn between his 1 "aesthetically offensive" and his 2 "derivative."
I think I have a sliding scale that runs from disgust through despair to delight to ecstasy.
Still I am beginning to obsess over this "worth nothing," especially considering the transient nature of the medium. Possibly a special award for such sevens.
Sometimes it feels like the average voter uses this scale:
1. WTF?
2. Blurry and I don't get it.
3. Blurry
4. Not crisp enough for me, and or I didn't want to spend more than 3 seconds per image.
5. Some indication that the photographer is proficient but is not using the latest equipment
6. Glossy and Slick-good enough for a stock photo.
7. Glossy and Slick of an interesting landmark or recognizable subject.
8. A very near copy of a perfect idea I Googled once.
9. Properly shot in wow factor subject full frame raw(to the ideal exposure) with the correct L Lens(or Nikon equivalent) strained through the latest
software, edited to near perfection, and meeting the challenge to the finest detail.(while sipping a foreign sparkling water)
10. a #9, with an overwhelming feeling that everyone will agree that it is perfect.
Nah- that is just being cynical. I hope no one thinks- hey I use one of those...
Personally, I like Don's scale, he articulated very nicely what should be done.
and his tutorial is great as well
my voting is heavily influenced by my mood and what photos i am seeing evoke in me. it's not technical, but it's fair, especially since i will go back and revisit images if i do not vote 100% in a single sitting.
frequently it seems that the votes received are heavy handed, telling you that "we've seen it all before, there are not many things that will astound us, so make it amazing or don't complain, and if it is amazing and doesn't win, don't complain, you were beat by a better image, even if it was DNMC and had no business being in the challenge."
i know that the "received" bit i just said is not exactly true, it feels it sometimes, and i know that i've compared images to historical DPC images with 8-10x the number of votes and the scores have had a definite decline based on the same level of imagery. one might almost expect that with fewer entries, some items would tend to rise higher, not be pushed down more; but that's the internet for you - make of it what you will, but don't be surprised by what happens. :)
