Voting for POTW question

[JCW3]

I have been watching and being anactive member of the POTW for a few weeks now and was just wondering a few things.

1- What are alot of you guys looking to see? I mean sometimes I will see a image get 10-15 replies within a few days and other images will strugle for 1 or 2. Is it landscapes, macro, animals, HELP ME OUT...

2- How does a image actually get voted for POTW? I mean I saw I won last week, but seems there were fellow photos that had higher ratings and more replys. Just wanting to know the method of selection.

3- Are the majority of you putting images on the POTW for constructive critism or actually the POTW contest? Seems alot of the images are looking more for critism than the actual contest.

4- is it worth leaving multi sentince/paragraph messages that are explain my feelings, or you all just wanting the # vote? I would rather see a two paragraph reply with a 8, than a 10 with no reply anyday. Is this how you all feel?

Help me out, a few of these questions have really been bothering me.

[Gill]

I wondered the same thing. I noticed that the winning photos didn't always have the highest rankings. I haven't posted onto POW because I felt my pics weren't good enough for a competition - but have sometimes been disappointed not to get any comments from the ordinary gallery. Like you, I'm not so interested in ratings, but would always welcome feedback, advice or suggestions about how I could make the pic better.

PS. Liked your winning shot.

[Bagsfan5]

I am much more interested in comments and help to improve my work. I have not entered a POTW contest in a long time. Yes, I did win one of the very first POTW, but that is NOT why I am in the Club. I really want people to comment on my photos, but lately, it just does NOT happen. I was also wondering why.... Maybe my photos are just boring I even started a forum Titled : More Comments Please...... I have not recieved any comments since this post......

I do NOT comment on photos just because they are in POTW.... I look through the photos in the Recently Posted section and comment on photos that I am interested in... I am one that tries to write a little more than a few words... MOST OF THE TIME, I DO NOT LEAVE A # GRADE.... I just think comments are MORE IMPORTANT and helpful.

[raaf]

JWC3,

Here's my opinion:

1) Yes, I noticed this as well.
One thing I can imagine is that when the first person who's comment is not so good (low rating, 5 or 6), hardly anyone seems to be interested anymore. So you get one comment and that's it. If the first rating is a 10, there are a lot of comments following (and with high grades). This means that rating seems to be very important.
There has been some discussion about the rating in one of the threads which might be interesting.

2) good question

3) True

4) yes and no; I don't give much comments on pictures (sometimes only a rating, sometimes a short comment) depending on the picture itself. With the rating I can tell the photografer what I feel in general about a picture. I give comments whenever I feel that this picture can be improved.

Furthermore, this site is quite new. In time it will improve and more peope are giving comments and contribute to the threads. So I'm not realy worried about these issues but discussing it is always a good thing to do.

Ron

[Matt_C]

First of all JCW I for one appreciate the comments you make on the photos posted not just my pictures but others too. I learn just as much from comments on other peoples photos as I do mine.

I like the POTW and it wouldn't do my confidence any harm if I did win , but the main reason I take part is to learn. As far as I'm concerned then the more feedback I get then the better. I prefer the lengthy replies but even a quick "Very nice" or "Not my cup of tea" helps me get an impression of how others see my pictures.

As for selecting the finalist, all I know is it does not just go on the points rating alone as you've already worked out.

Thanks again for your constructive comments. Keep it up please.

Matt

[STaylor]

The potw week is done in two stages

Entries are placed into the potw category http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/s...ry.php?cat=503 where members critique and rate photos all of which are in public view then each Saturday night six photos are selected for the potw finals ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦ this selection is based on a combination of both the numerical ratings, and the comments ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦ it is always a very hard choice ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦ but it would be unfair to go on the numerical ratings alone as I see photos at times that may rank high but have only 1 or 2 votes despite being uploaded early in the week .. I’‚’‚…‚’‚…¾‚m of the opinion that a photo that has been available for voting an adequate length time that has 9.5 with only 2 comments is not as strong as photo with a lower 9 rating but has 15 valid comments ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦.

Then after the six are selected.. (At this point my brain is usually mush )
We then place them into an anonymous one vote per member poll http://www.bytephoto.com/forums/foru...?s=&forumid=27
And leave it open until the next Saturday at which point the winner is based exclusively on the statistics from the poll ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦

Is the system perfect no... I have yet to see a potw type contest that is but we are very concerned about the enjoyment members get from both participating and critiquing photos as well as being able to maintain honesty and integrity in the final outcome’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦

As always I welcome feedback’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦. Both positive and negative ’‚’‚…‚’‚‚¦ . If you have any comments or ideas you may add them to this thread or contact me directly if you would prefer paul@bytephoto.com

[Gill]

Good reply...now I can see how pics have been selected for the final. Thanks for explaining that.

[JCW3]

Well glad to see this come to life again. I feel the last few comments were very helpful and I am really glad to hear people are wanting feedback.

As for the voting of POTW I feel this is a very fair and effective way. Right after posting orginially I did a little research around the site and kind of figured it all out. But it was very nice of you to back up my thinkings.

I have started to notice more comments and even longer ones. As stated before, I feel a comment is very valuable to the photographer and fellow viewers. Just would like to see even more.

I also feel its nice to see a viewers thoughts on a photo if they vote differantly than the norm. You know what I am taking about. Say 5 comments give a photo a 8-10 and then one voter gives a low vote with no info. As well I have seen photos have all 5-7 votes and then it gets a 10. It would be nice to know WHY a voter went this way.

Still have not mastered the group yet. For me winning and loseing is not the immportant thing. I am mainly looking for feedback on fellow photographers views. With this being a mixed group (any kind of photos go) I find this is a effective place in getting info.

Thanks for your replys

[Tara]

1- What are alot of you guys looking to see? I mean sometimes I will see a image get 10-15 replies within a few days and other images will strugle for 1 or 2. Is it landscapes, macro, animals, HELP ME OUT...
[/B]

I prefer to see something that is different. There is plenty of lanscape shots that get posted that look wonderful but a lot of this is just because the landscape is beautiful. I'm not saying that the photographers don't have anything to do with it - I am very impressed with the images I have been seeing. I just prefer to see something that is more unique.

I love macro shots especially as I know how hard these shots can be to get right.

3- Are the majority of you putting images on the POTW for constructive critism or actually the POTW contest? Seems alot of the images are looking more for critism than the actual contest.
[/B]

I have been putting images in the POTW contest just to get critism. Sure I would love to get a high rating but I would prefer for there to be comments why they have given that particular rating. The same goes with the lower ratings - I find these very helpful only if they have given reasons why they have rated it so. I don't believe I will become a better photographer unless I get this feedback.

4- is it worth leaving multi sentince/paragraph messages that are explain my feelings, or you all just wanting the # vote? I would rather see a two paragraph reply with a 8, than a 10 with no reply anyday. Is this how you all feel?
[/B]

As I have said above I would prefer the comments over the rating.

I hope this has helped