Query re. Most viewed, highest rated, most commented tabs.

[Deano638]

Its nice to have the appreciation for the effort that you've taken but I must admit unless I've missed something unless you open the photo's themselves you can very often miss comments that have been made.

[katswax]

I have to say, as new to photography I enjoy to see comments and help on my photos. It is a shame that there have been less this year.

[karenoliver]

I've left loads of comments but am not too bothered if anyone comments back. Most of the photos that I entered are on flickr so I get feedback there or I ask my husband or parents as they are all keen photographers as well.

Karen

[Stormsong]

Right, the reason I want the old voting system back (regardless of whether votes have any impact on the overall decision of picking winners or not) is because I am in two minds to pull a few photos from my entries and replace them with others. Votes gathered and comments read enable you to see how many people like/dislike your image and is a good indicator of where you are going right/wrong with your photography. Also, a lot of photo competition sites have a 'People's Choice' award, which is separate from the main judging. This is a good way for fellow togs to INTERACT with each other and comment and/or vote for images which they think are superb/dreadful and leave comments accordingly regarding the subject/lighting/composition/technique etc etc. I agree that last year's POTY website was a lot easier to use and was definitely more user friendly (to upload and comment/vote). I want to feel part of a photographic COMMUNITY and one way I like to do that is comment and vote. Anyway, the old adage springs to mind: if it aint broke, don't fix it.

Regards
Denise aka Stormsong

[Reinardina]

No 'People's Choice' award please. I think the person who can get the most people to vote, would win, and not necessarily the most admired photo. There are often blocks of pictures from the same photographer 'hugging' the first page of the 'Highest Rated,' while others, equally good, or better, don't get a look-in.

I'm beginning to wonder if the voting system shouldn't be shelved altogether, and the pictures shown in random order; at least you may see some that you have missed because they have sunk without trace somewhere in the middle of the entries.

The 'Comments' should stay however, as they can be of real value. Also, people will (hopefully) look at a picture properly, to be able to comment; to vote, they only have to click a link.

Maybe we should have 'Most Recent,' 'Random,' 'Most Viewed' and 'Most Commented'?

I also miss the search facility, which makes it impossible to check whether 'old friends,' have entered the competition.

[Mike finchley]

Not being funny Reinardina but youve got 3-4 shots on at least one first page of highly rated and presumably your saying you didnt get friends to block vote so its therefore feasible neither did anyone else? Anyhow good photography always shines through and I am confident the winner will be a worthy one. M

[Mike finchley]

My theory is that many of the highest rated photographers posted their iimages during the early days of the competition thus accumulating more votes along the way than recent entries. Once they reached the first few pages of highest rated they will always get more votes as that is where most people look first! People either look at highest rated or more recent. Lets also not forget the POTD photoradar bestows on photographs that catch their eye. Lots of the highest rated photographers have been photo of the day winners and accumulate views and votes that way. M

[Reinardina]

Originally Posted by Mike finchley

My theory is that many of the highest rated photographers posted their iimages during the early days of the competition thus accumulating more votes along the way than recent entries. Once they reached the first few pages of highest rated they will always get more votes as that is where most people look first! People either look at highest rated or more recent. Lets also not forget the POTD photoradar bestows on photographs that catch their eye. Lots of the highest rated photographers have been photo of the day winners and accumulate views and votes that way. M

Hi Mike,

Indeed, I am lucky enough to have some of my pictures somewhere relatively prominent on the 'highest rated' pages. Most of them have been on the site for a long time and slowly made their way up.

I have made friends/acquaintances 'on site' over the years, and some of them have commented on some of the pictures. The rest of the votes (how many we don't know) have come from unknown viewers over the months.
My relatives and friends are not interested in photography, and will occasionally look at my pictures, but can't be bothered to register to vote.

You're right about the fact that, once you're 'up there' you probably get more votes, because you're more visible. The 'ones in the middle' get totally lost; therefore I thought it would be a good idea to display the entries randomly, and do away with the voting. (Commercially not such a good idea maybe?)

A couple of years ago, I noticed by chance, that a picture that was put on the site at the same time as one of my own, was 'top of the pops' the next day. And once my attention was drawn to the 'fast climbers,' I have noticed it quite a lot.

Folks, that's it for the moment.

Have a nice weekend!

Reinardina.

[highlandscenics]

Originally Posted by Reinardina

Folks, that's it for the moment.

Have a nice weekend!

Reinardina.

lol...Reinardina....I agree...lets puts this one to bed....while I'm on here will I start the old leaving a photo "as is" versus too much processing debate?.....lol

[AmberFleur]

When I started this thread, I was a bit confused how when looking at the 'Highest Voted' tab, the same image could appear on several different pages at the same time. Several people suspected that it was something to do with the voting system and how with continuous voting, images would often move around the pages.

Therefore, I find it rather bemusing that now public voting has stopped, this is still happening!

It would be nice to hear an official explanation as to how an image can appear on pages 5, 7, 14 and 15 over the last few days since public voting has now ended.