Can someone explain to me the criteria used to pick featured photos here? Or, who do you have to kill to get a commendable photo on Picture Social!
Despite the tongue and cheek title of this forum discussion, like most humor there is always a bit of truth in the statement asked.
Although not a “professional” photographer, I have been taking photographs for over thirty years, as well as having been a participating member in Picture Social (PS) for over six months with some sixty photos posted to date, yet I am still waiting to have one picture posted as “commendable” or “featured”!
Outside of PS, I have been featured nearly a dozen times on Pixel Induced, and even won a couple of “Photo of the Day” contests with these posted photos, so what gives? Is there a bias against amateur photographers here, or is this a popularity contest, where you must get your friends to vote for your photos before they are deemed worthy?
I have seen many photo’s taken by the average “photogs” posted here, which I thought were commendable, however it seems the majority of those chosen are those photos that have been embellished with fancy frames, or over-the-top signatures and watermarks!
So what is your opinion?
Also, please post in your response if you are a professional or amateur photographer.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on -
I am not privy to the process used in selecting photographs that are featured, Several of mine have been featured and I'm always gratified that someone else besides me liked the photograph. As you know art is very subjective, What one man despises another adores so don't take it personally if your photographs aren't selected. I would offer for consideration what I perceive as being a bit of the criteria; first of all and in no particular order is visual impact, next is craftsmanship and composition. Color harmony and use of light certainly probably are a consideration as well as having the good fortune to publish the photograph on a slow day, since the quality of all art is based on comparison. Next, does the photograph depict unique material or common material in a unique way, and what is the quality of lensmanship that is represented in the photograph. I have seen many photographs posted that I thought certainly deserved to be featured that weren't, and several that were featured that made me wonder' "what were they thinking. When it comes down to it, it's probably one persons judgment based on what they liked that day.
I would take issue with you on this point in your question... "however it seems the majority of those chosen are those photos that have been embellished with fancy frames, or over-the-top signatures and watermarks!" I think that statement is demonstrably incorrect. The very great majority present the photograph on its own merits only, with no embellishments of any kind. Certainly the ones of mine that were featured were the photograph by itself. I imagine the signatures and watermarks give the maker some feeling of security that their photograph won't be absconded by an unscrupulous viewer, but I doubt those security measures have much effect except to distract the viewer from the photograph. Having just looked at all the featured photographs today I notice that none of them have a frame around them, a signature or a watermark.
I have question for you. Other than the affirmation that having your photograph selected to be featured, why is it important for it to be selected? This is not a smart alecky question at all but rather one whose intent is to make you think.
I am a professional commercial photographer and fine art photographer. I have training in graphic design and apprenticed for two years with a master portrait photographer before I went out on my own in commercial photography. I have been in professional photography for 32 years.
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Permalink Reply by John Read on -
Hi Nathan:
First and foremost, thank you for responding!
You are correct in the critical criteria for which, all photos should stress to achieve.
My state that you questioned was not off the cuff, open the view all for featured photos and I think you will see my point.
Regarding my personal reasons...I think as an artist yourself, you know that answer!
Thanks again,
John
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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on
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I think I know for myself but my reasons aren't universal and it is worth pondering. If I feel really strong in my opinion about one of my photographs and everyone else hates it does that invalidate my perception of my photograph? Why do we need others to validate our perceptions? I hardly ever seek out the perceptions of other photographers unless I am unsure of myself on a certain image. My perception, and my personal reason for posting photographs is so that I can communicate visual ideas with other photographers. So often our friends, wives, mothers and girlfriends go gaga over a photograph that isn't really very good to validate us. But it isn't a real critique, since they have an interest in making us feel good. The point is that often, almost always, our perception of an image is a lot different than reality and we need other photographers to shake a dose of reality our way. I'm not sure I'm communicating adequately here but my instinct is that the photographs that do get featured are pretty top flight material, with the occasional "clinker" that gets through he editing process.
BTW I did just open all the featured photographs that are up right now and none of them have any of the things you spoke of. I don't know what you're seeing but it isn't what I saw.
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Permalink Reply by John Read on
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Hi Nathan, again! lol
You post on PS, because you are looking for your peer's opinions yet, it almost sounds like you would really like PS to be exclusively to card carrying photographers, not for being stroked because you are secure in your work and ability, but for an exchange new ideas that mere moral cannot provide?
The point here is to have the PS administration be more receptive, to probably the majority of contributors, because some day it might financially matter!
Thanks again,
John
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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on
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Not at all. It's a place for the free exchange of ideas. There are probably a half dozen or more of the members that I tutor on a regular basis from this site via e-mail.
The thing that is annoying to me is people who have an unrealistic view of their photographs and aren't open to honest evaluations. They think they are beyond learning. The other group is people who won't learn or aren't interested in learning. We all should be learning, and seeking to learn, all the time. There are several people on this forum whose work I am in awe of and I would gladly go to their studios for a week to learn from them.
The internet has given us an unprecedented opportunity to learn. Much of the information I share with folks came to me at great expense. Much of it came from years of trying stuff that either did or didn't work and it's available for free. Why are you arguing instead of seeking that information?
At the risk of sounding mean let me ask you a question. When you say the administrators should... "be more receptive, to probably the majority of contributors, because some day it might financially matter!" are you suggesting that they should just put any old junk up because it "strokes" the members, instead of putting up only the strongest so we have something to aspire to? Because that's sure what it sounds like. I'm not interested in seeing snapshots of aunt Susie's birthday when they get posted here just so someone can say their photographs were featured. I think that, for the most part, only the strongest of the strong do get featured. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate the work you post and consider whether it is as strong as you think it is.
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Permalink Reply by John Read on
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Hi Jim:
First, thank you for responding!
So I gather you are not privy to how PS chooses its featured photos?
And as an amature, you feel there is equal opportunity in judging your work?
It's funny, I have received many emails (private, and off-site) from amature photographers which agree with this discussion, but felt intimidated here because of some of the attitudes of the "professional" photographers to post in this discussion, and the fact that it seems almost impossible to get a commendable photo posted.
Basically, this was a online opinion survey to see how other's feel, not a psycho-interpretation of my photos! LOL
Thanks again,
John
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Permalink Reply by John Read on
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Hi Nathan:
Sounds like you should create your own discussion on the subjective unrealistic views?
However, I think we have gotton off-point! By your own admission: "I am not privy to the process used in selecting photographs that are featured," this is the point of this opinion survey.
If you would like, please friend me, where we can continue this conversation in private.
John
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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on
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I don't believe I'll go an further with this discussion. If someone is interested in learning why photographs work well or don't work well at all I am interested in the conversation, and I thought you were at first. However it has become apparent that you are only interested in sarcasm, disguised as wit, and defending what is probably an indefensible position. Sorry to sound negative on it but that is how it is coming across to me. I seldom perceive that, but I do here.
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Permalink Reply by John Read on
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Sorry you feel that way Nathan, but the discussion was not about you!
Have a nice weekend,
John
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Permalink Reply by Robert Benson on -
This is just a guess at the process. Because the first photo I uploaded here, got "Commendable" and none since (some of which I consider better than the first), I think it's driven by software and the criteria are based on number of views and "high votes" relatively immediately after upload. I doubt anyone looks at the images uploaded here one by one and decides. The photo I am talking about, got dozens of views and 4 stars votes within 24 hours of upload. A lot of my other ones have received low views and votes and/or didn't get looked at a lot right away.
My guess is that it works a little like Flickr's "Interesting" or "Explore" where there has to be a ton of views and comments/favorites. And also like Flickr (I researched this), to get a lot of views, favorites and so on, there are several criteria that should be met. On Flickr, you have to have a ton of contacts and be in a ton of groups and add images to them as you upload. Otherwise, people won't even really see them unless you have a good set of tags that gets a lot of hits. On Flickr, it also matter what day and what time of day you upload...
Again, as I am not sure the exact algorithm they use, I am sure that it's view and vote based.
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Permalink Reply by Marcia C on -
The views and the votes do not have anything to do with it
Some only have a couple of views and no votes or even comments when they are featured.
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Permalink Reply by John Read on
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Hi MC:
First, thank you for commenting!
I believe you are right, but can only site my experience on Pixel Induced.
I believe it is the administrator's role to choose.
Some of my photo's there have been posted near instantly, and others after a couple of days! LOL
John
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