How do you vote (for photos other than your own?)

[Pea-n-Me]

Thought it might be fun to see what drives you to pick the photos you pick in the Weekly Photo Contests.

 

[fhirleighinn]

Fow me it is all of the topics that you list, with the exception of sympathy (although that might explain the votes for the barbershop quartet group ((are they 4 for a $??))
Although it does not have to be difficult, some of the best shots are easy.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I guess I should have added "emotional response to picture" as a category but I can't edit the poll now. But what I meant by "sympathy" is something more along the lines of, if all else is equal and someone has zero votes, do you throw your vote that person's way? Just to clarify.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It's whatever pic from each group I like best. The technical stuff is lost on me, so the technical merits don't play into my choice.

 

[loopner67]

For me, it's whichever picture makes me say "ooooh" or just think "wow, that really brings me back to WDW (even though I'm sitting in PA in my den). Emotional response is a great choice.

 

[Michele]

I voted Other....first I look for a picture that really suits the theme, then it has to keep drawing me back to look at it. I go up and down through the pictures 3 or 4 times and the one that really makes me stop and look again and again gets my vote.

 

[ukcatfan]

This has actually been on my mind lately. It is is hard to get it own to one thing, but I think the composition is very important. I think I am of a minority though. I always tend to lean towards the shots that had good composition, were properly exposed, had a correct WB, etc. and are still interesting. That does not seem to be what gets the most votes around here though. I think the WOW factor rules the votes here. There have been quite a few shots get good reception that would be eaten alive on places like DPReview. I guess that is part of the beauty of this place. For my own contest entries, I have been having my kids and DW pick which one to use out of about ten I feel match the contest. For the response to mine, I am happy when I get just a few votes.

 

[oogieboogieman]

I have only entered 2 photos in the contest and I did vote for mine only once. I had to make sure I received at least one vote! So it's a 50/50 chance.

 

[YouJustBideYourTime!]

I usually like photos for their originality, content, creativity, humour, things like that and then for the technical stuff second.

if I'm voting for a contest and there's two I like about the same i will vote for the one that is better technically executed.

But I think photos sometimes stand out for different reasons. Something might not be the most astectically beautiful but maybe it is funny or something like that, whereas sometimes it is the most visually appealing one that i vote for. it's all on an individual basis I suppose. Because i think there's merit in trying your best as well as being skilled and practiced.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

I try to vote on seeral things on the list. The Wow! factor is high on the list but I like the fresh look at a shot, very clear and maybe something not the average person would see.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I voted composition, but there are many factors - it depends on which pictures I narrow it down to. If it's between two pics that are both composed well I'll look for which one was more difficult, or which one is more interesting. Should have been a multiple choice poll, or rate these from 1 -10...

D4D

 

[zackiedawg]

For me, the first seven options in the poll are definitely considered...the last three definitely not...and the other factor I'd include is how well it meets the theme.

As UKCatFan mentioned Dpreview, I've been on those boards for many years, so I guess I sort of come from the more technical and compositional voting style used on those boards...but I do try to let originality and intent count for more here than I would on a strictly photography site.

I've only been here a month or so, and have participated in 3 of the contests and votes so far...so I'm still new here and learning my way around. I'm honored to get any votes on my entries, for whatever reasons the voter used...for me, it's just fun to enter regardless of end result.

 

[DebºoºS]

Good composition gets me first. Then if it tells me a story or says something about the topic. Those aspects are more important to me than the the technical here on the DIS.

JMHO

 

[Golf4food]

I voted Other....first I look for a picture that really suits the theme, then it has to keep drawing me back to look at it. I go up and down through the pictures 3 or 4 times and the one that really makes me stop and look again and again gets my vote.

I'm the same way almost exactly.

If a great shot doesn't fit the theme for the week as well as a slightly lesser quality shot, I'll still vote for the lesser shot because it fits the theme better.

 

[Donold_Fan]

Definitely composition weighs the most for me. I tend to get confused when the discussions get too technical. Most of the photos fit the category, but if there's one that is especially fitting and original, I'll give it more weight. Definetly agree with UKCatfan, I think the WOW factor is hands down the driving force around here.

I do have to say that I love the contests and really appreciate RTPHokie organizing them. And I appreciate all the talented photographers (GDad, Groucho, MarkBarbieri, MasterMason, DVCJen, UKCatFan, etc. I could go on and on as there are so many.) on here that don't hold us (especially me) to as high a technical standard as they could. Everyone here is so helpful and nice.

 

[Gdad]

I think it is the Wow Factor- My kids usually run the voting process here it also has to be something they like.

 

[Amy]

I voted for originality as the most important for me. For instance, when the theme was Disney's Hollywood Studios, how many of us have a photo of the Sorcerer's Hat taken at night, and how many were entered in the contest? Tons. After a while, it becomes ho-hum. But somebody had a neat shot of a fog-shrouded lamppost at Tower of Terror that was different, so I remember voting for that shot just because it was unusual but you still knew where it was taken. That's just the most recent example that comes to mind, but I think you know what I mean.

Composition is a close 2nd.

And I'll be honest here.....sometimes I won't vote for a photo if it's TOO good. Makes me think there was some editing going on behind the scenes. (I apologize....I don't mean to insult those of you wonderful photographers on this board who DO take those photos that are "too good" without the need for editing. I know there are quite a few of you who ARE that talented, and I bow to your expertise )

 

[Pea-n-Me]

For my own contest entries, I have been having my kids and DW pick which one to use out of about ten I feel match the contest.

That's going to be Part II.

I must be in the minority too. I usually go for the degree of techincal difficulty. Which is actually what made me think about this today. Someone posted they were having trouble deciding on a picture, but one had edged out another. Both were nice, but one was daytime and one was nighttime. The latter had a higher degree of technical difficulty so I liked that one better, but the poster chose the daytime shot.

It's all very subjective, isn't it?

 

[juligrl]

It used to be WOW factor for me until I gave my DD5 my camera and loaded those photos onto my computer and she taught me some lessons about perspective. Now I'm much more drawn to perspective.

 

[Alztybrn]

I really look at composition. I like when a photo is planned out, well thought out, and executed well. I also look to see if it is exposed correctly, is focused and maybe a little unique...