How do you decide on upvotes in the POTD thread?

[kallisti]

Curious as to how members decide whether to give a particular image an upvote (and perhaps a comment) in the POTD thread.

Do you have an internal and consistent sense by which you judge all photos? Whether as nebulous as "it works for me--or doesn't" on a gut level or perhaps a more detailed list of internal checkboxes about such things as subject, composition, lighting, technique, etc.

Does the poster and your exposure to their previous work influence your choices? Either I love their prior work and I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this current image, or perhaps the opposite--I know what they are capable of and this current image doesn't meet the standards of what I expect from them?

For images from new posters or those new to photography: do you lower the bar and give an upvote as a way to encourage them? Perhaps your internal standards allow some flexibility and acceptance that "good" is relative to the experience of the photographer in question.

More generally, what does an upvote mean? Good effort? Better than average? Brightened my day? Something I want to emulate? Something one would want to print? Something worthy of entering in a contest? Something worthy of being in a photography book? Or hanging in a museum? Or some other standard of "good" or "outstanding"?

Does technique play into your decision? Does having an appreciation of what went into creating an image, even if the final image isn't necessarily to your liking, push you to hitting the like button?

This is a forum for people with an interest in photography of many different skill levels. Also with many different objectives regarding the role that photography plays in their lives (from professionals for whom photography is their source of income to those for whom photography is a passing interest at best).

Many people along this spectrum choose to post their pics in the POTD thread. Curious how members of the community make their decisions about whether to upvote or not.

I realize this process is completely subjective. And I don't have any problems with it. Just thought the topic might be productive for discussion.

 

[mollyc]

I try to like every photo, although I probably miss some, because I don’t feel like the POTD should be skill based.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I’m a simple man. I see colours, I give it a like. I like bright colours.

Some photos I don’t give a like to, even if they contain bright colours. They’re not bad, but they normally contain a photo of some smirking kid with food all over their face. I don’t like those sorts of photos. Give me a rock any day of the week.

Pictures with people make me uncomfortable. Pictures of a boulder mournfully blocking a sunset — heck, you’ve got keys’ approval. Just make sure it’s got some colour in it too.

This one time I saw somebody take a picture of a hummingbird, nose-deep in a flower. Or maybe it was a bee. Come to think of it, maybe it was just the flower. Or possibly it was a sunset with some food-faced kid grinning in the foreground. Anyway, the point is — people take photos. I’ll like some of them, maybe.

Hope that helps.

 

[kallisti]

[Deleted]

 

[MacNut]

I go by what looks good to me. Content doesn't matter, it's all personal taste.

 

[F-Train]

I don't know enough about this forum or the participants to upvote based on personal factors.

Just now, I went through the 13 pages of current photos. I upvoted two on the ground that they stood out to me as good photographs.

For me, the problem is that a photograph might be a lot better than it looks after it's been compressed to death for upload. There are a few photos in those 13 pages for which that may well be true. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about that.

 

[Clix Pix]

For me, first and foremost is -- does the image immediately have an impact? Is it something which draws my attention and holds it? The impact isn't necessarily related to the subject, although that can obviously be a significant factor, too. If it's a strong B&W image, well-composed with lots of highlight and shadow detail as well as contrast, it will make me take a look. If it's a color image, again for me impact usually comes with contrast of colors or skillful use of colors which complement the subject, and where colors are well-balanced so that they aren't tipping too much over into overuse of HDR, which can result in a garish or "overcooked" look. Composition again is important. The subject, too, of course, is key -- is it interesting? Is it something which prompts me to study it and think about it or is it something which makes me shrug and move on because it isn't all that appealing or compelling to me? Some subjects are fascinating while others, well, just aren't to me, for whatever reason. Then the question becomes, and I occasionally do wonder about this, what about the subject appealed to the photographer in the first place, what compelled him or her to take the picture?

I appreciate the use and application of good technical skills, of course, but I don't necessarily look for perfection in each and every image that I see on the internet. I appreciate well-done, carefully lighted and appropriately processed images which, when including the other factors already mentioned, attract and hold my attention. Creativity is another factor which is important but it is not always evident. Sometimes an image is not great in terms of technique but it still has some intriguing factor which draws me to it nonetheless. Sometimes an image is shot so quickly and spontaneously in a fast-moving situation that there isn't time for fiddling with settings and getting everything just right. When that "decisive moment" happens and one is there at the scene with camera in hand and able to capture it, that may be enough.....

As for this ongoing POTD and who the individual is posting the image, I don't pay attention to that. This isn't -- or shouldn't be -- a popularity contest. I'm looking at an image and taking it at face value, I am not evaluating the person who shot and processed the image. The image should speak for itself. I usually zoom in so that I am looking at just the images in closer detail, not the list on the side of the screen which indicates the name of the poster. That said, we all have our individual styles and tendency to shoot certain favorite subjects and in a certain way.....after one has been around a while viewing images day after day, week after week, month after month, it soon becomes pretty clear that so-and-so tends to shoot landscapes or so-and-so prefers portraiture or so-and-so really likes to shoot macros and still lifes. Just as we each have distinctive writing styles, so do we have distinctive photographic styles as well.

I hit the "like" button when I have just viewed an image which pleases me in some way, has attracted my attention and held it, has perhaps made me interested in and curious about the subject or has me saying to myself, "oh, that's gorgeous!" If a subject doesn't really interest me but the execution of the image is impressive nonetheless, then again I'll click on the "like" button. A compelling image is, well, a compelling image. If the content of a photo for some reason bothers me or the image is way too overcooked with HDR or the image is so uninteresting and sometimes in addition so poorly executed that I look at it and wonder why the photographer even bothered shooting it in the first place, much less post-processing and sharing it, then I tend not to hit the "like" button. In my own shooting, when I'm reviewing my images in the computer during the culling process, the same thing applies -- at times I'll look at an image and think, "ugh, that's so boring, why did I even shoot it?" I figure that if looking at the results of something I shot doesn't even interest me, it sure as heck isn't going to interest anyone else, and that image gets sent to the trash.

Subjective? Oh, yes, indeed, and that is part and parcel of this for all of us, isn't it?

 

[someoldguy]

I don't try to do any kind of critique , my upvotes are usually just based on my first impressions . Is there something I like about the image ...i.e. composition ? subject ? color ? technique?

 

[F-Train]

Subjective? Oh, yes, indeed, and that is part and parcel of this for all of us, isn't it?

On this issue, I'm afraid that I don't see myself as part of your "all of us" group.

 

[Clix Pix]

On this issue, I'm afraid that I don't see myself as part of your "all of us" group.

In what way do you see yourself? Care to explain? By "all of us," I mean all of us human beings, as every single person is going to see things subjectively as well as at times objectively. it's part of the human condition.....

 

[F-Train]

Care to explain?

No. I don't think that an Internet forum is a good place to have a meaningful discussion about the role of personal opinion in evaluating photographs, films, books, dance, plastic arts, etc. I just wanted to say that I don't share the view that it is a significant factor in my own judgments. Of course, people can disagree about evaluative criteria, which should be at the heart of any discussion about "Is this photograph, or film, or whatever, good?", but that is a different issue.

This is one of those discussions that is better had over a good dinner (or, if you prefer, supper) and good wine.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

I try to like every photo, although I probably miss some, because I don’t feel like the POTD should be skill based.

Put me down for the same sort of ethos on the POTD. It's not a section for judgement, in my eyes, but rather, encouragement through a like or a comment if time allows it.

There are devoted threads for critical feedback if you are after that, within this sub-forum.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Generally I use the upvote for different things.
Personally I prefer a comment to an upvote. But sometimes time doesn’t allow.

If I see something in the photo that could be better I will mention it if I feel I know you. Basically I’d rather someone told me if my photo had a wonky horizon or pole coming out of my subjects head!

It’s how I learn what works and what doesn’t. I only really share my images on here and Flickr. So these are the only places I get any feedback (apart from work sometimes).

If I don’t upvote or comment on your image, might just mean I missed it as I was at work etc.

 

[kenoh]

I upvote the images I like for any number of reasons. In the case of POTD i will direct message people with critique if I feel strongly enough but that doesnt happen often as I dont think my opinion is something anyone should necessarily take as fact.

 

[stillcrazyman]

Along the same line as @someoldguy posted....

I like what I like based on initial impressions. If I feel compelled to make a comment, I will. That doesn't happen a lot though. I do like this POTD style. More than just a photo sharing community, but not as formal as a critique and advice forum. Simplicity works for me.

 

[fcortese]

It's a couple of things for me. First, it's an obvious "wow" that's an amazing picture reaction when I see the post. But others it's because it is a unique composition or subject, the colors or lack thereof appeal to me in the photo's setting and I am a glutton for landscapes and sunsets. Sometimes I'll go back a page or two and relook at photos and ones I did not thumb up, I will on second look. My commenting is erratic. If something really moves me or is funny I'll comment but I almost always have an internal comment for each photo as I glance through them. Like SOG and SC have already stated, I too like the style and the sharing community of POTD.

 

[Clix Pix]

It took me a while to become accustomed to the whole "like" button / upvoting thing; in another forum where I also participate, for years the custom has been to offer comments (not necessarily a full critique), not just saying that one likes an image, but usually stating why the image is appealing rather than just saying "nice image!" or reflexively hitting any sort of "like" button. The general expectation on that site is that there should be some actual interaction between the member who posted an image and those viewing that image, fostering an atmosphere where learning and developing skills is encouraged both by example and by actual practice. One can learn a lot by reading others' thoughtful comments about an image. Since on that forum the "like" button has only been available since a change to the same forum software we use here on MR, Xenforo, old habits die hard and most members there still tend to write something as opposed to using the "like" feature. Unlike MR, that forum, however, is a wholly photography-focused forum from the get-go, so there is more emphasis on all aspects of it, with subforms on topics from gear to accessories to retouching software and specific techniques to genres within photography (landscapes, portraiture, wildlife photography, Abstracts, Macro, etc.).

 

[Cheese&Apple]

Interesting question and discussion.

For me, on the surface, the answer is relatively simple. Does an image have an interesting subject that is presented in such a way that I enjoy viewing that image - if so, I "like" it. Digging below the surface, the matter of presentation and interesting subject is a bit more complicated.

I will say that I miss the days (going back about 5 years) when people around here felt it was ok to not "like" a shot, to critique it and then provide suggested ways improve it. I know I learned a great deal from the feedback received from members, some of whom have since disappeared from this forum.

I wonder if this is typical of the problems that plague many aspects of photography on social media...the like/follow me and I'll like/follow you back nonsense.

Thanks for posting this @kallisti, I "like" it.

 

[Clix Pix]

Cheese&Apple wrote:

"I wonder if this is typical of the problems that plague many aspects of photography on social media...the like/follow me and I'll like/follow you back nonsense."

Well, then doesn't it really become more of a popularity contest (something to which I alluded in an earlier post) or what these days seems to be an approach of "give all the kids a trophy regardless of the quality of their participation" rather than a "like" or absence of a "like" based upon an honest, thoughtful assessment of anyone's photos that they choose to share on here? Where is the line drawn? Are some members concerned that others may be hypersensitive and thin-skinned to the point that they cannot accept even a mild, thoughtful comment regarding an image or a lack of a "like"? Or has this "like" thing just become almost automatic, done by rote, so that little thought is actually given at all? Just click the "like" and move on.....? IMHO that is rather sad. I can see how it can happen, though, because most probably many members don't want to hurt someone else's feelings and so they simply give most images a "like" as they are skimming through the thread. While in one way that is understandable, in another look at this, how does it really help the member who really is serious about photography who posts an image which really could benefit from some thoughtful commentary?

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

in another forum where I also participate, for years the custom has been to offer comments (not necessarily a full critique), not just saying that one likes an image, but usually stating why the image is appealing rather than just saying "nice image!" or reflexively hitting any sort of "like" button.

I forgot about this! I was doing this for a while earlier this year & then as things got busier & busier I lacked the time to be able to continue doing this, but will endeavour to re-establish this pattern.

Thanks for the reminder @Clix Pix !

 

[erayser]

This is an interesting discussion. I post in the POTD thread... I do like it when people "like" my post, but it doesn't bother me if viewers skips my post. I'm still new at photography so... I don't expect much likes in this forum. I prefer to do portrait shoots... like for fashion Instagram influencers. But my real interest post process edits in lightroom/photoshop... that's what I enjoy the most in photography. I personally like most of the posts in in POTD thread, because I appreciate everybody's work... and I try to learn from their thought process. For example, my latest post...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/photo-of-the-day-december-2018.2158043/page-13#post-26935823

I posted this knowing I will NOT get a lot of likes for it... but I posted it for those interested in the preparation, creativeness, and thought process behind the shot. I thought of the best angle to get the grinch poster on the left, and grinch tree on the right... with the subject in the middle. I had to think where I was going put the candy cane in the shot during post processing... and asked the model to reach as high as she can and extend the other hand to the opposite side leaning forward. I had to take several shots to make it as she is getting pulled up by the grinch. Every element in the picture was shot on that location, except the grinch hand, and the sky. Since the shoot was at 7:00 am.. there was not much sky... so I photoshop'd a better sky... I'll do that once in a while.

You can take a look at the larger finished picture in POTD link above... but here is my pic process on location to make the final pic. You would think a pic would get more likes if they understood what was done to get the finished picture... but I know these types of shots are not visual pleasing for most in a photography forum. I don't mind not getting likes in this forum... but look at them likes in Instagram...

 

[F-Train]

I posted this knowing I will NOT get a lot of likes for it...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/photo-of-the-day-december-2018.2158043/page-13#post-26935823

You would think a pic would get more likes if they understood what was done to get the finished picture... but I know these types of shots are not visual pleasing for most in a photography forum. I don't mind not getting likes in this forum... but look at them likes in Instagram...

I'm having trouble understanding what the issue is. You had 12 likes/upvotes for that photo before you posted this.

Is there an Instagram account that you also want us to look at, apparently showing that you got more likes/upvotes there than here?

 

[erayser]

I'm having trouble understanding what the issue is. You had 12 likes/upvotes for that photo before you posted this.

Is there an Instagram account that you also want us to look, apparently showing that you got more likes/upvotes there than here?

I really don't have an issue. Content I post does okay as far as likes... but I've noticed pics I've put more effort in (mainly portraits) don't get as much likes/upvotes. The cookies 2 posts above mine has 15 likes... but I understand everyone has preferences. Nothing wrong with that.

I'm not posting the Instagram models account in this forum... I was just referencing the "likes" count in Picture 5 on the bottom. If you want to see the models Instagram, please DM me.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I’m always open to comments or critique on my photos. I sometimes say so after I post an image.
Unfortunately social media is a popularity contest. We held a photo contest at work a few years back. It was decided by public vote on FB. Let’s just say the winning photo every month (which was to feature in our newsletter) was pretty poor. Since then we’ve always judged in house!

Same on Flickr. I see some awful photo streams with 1000’s of followers. I barely get 100. But I’m not the sort to publicise myself or win any popularity contests.

I recall a marketing meeting when we were discussing a project to get our FB followers to follow us on Instagram or Vimeo. I said but what’s the point? If they already follow us on one platform, what’s the benefit of being followed on two?

 

[kallisti]

I don't know enough about this forum or the participants to upvote based on personal factors.

Just now, I went through the 13 pages of current photos. I upvoted two on the ground that they stood out to me as good photographs.

For me, the problem is that a photograph might be a lot better than it looks after it's been compressed to death for upload. There are a few photos in those 13 pages for which that may well be true. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about that.

This is indeed a problem (referring to your third paragraph). It's possible to upload larger versions of pics that get "blown up" when a viewer clicks on them (something I have been doing for some time). The larger versions still suffer from compression artifacts however which can hide detail (especially shadow detail) or show banding which may not be evident in the original uncompressed pic. Annoying, but the nature of the beast.