Yes, I've seen the photo among the populars now.
Just to answer the main question in this theme - I also have a large number of favourite artists which I add to from time to time. But the photo that shows up there is not always the same as put in a PAD gallery, as it is the latest uploaded. So sometimes we can miss other images of our fave artists if they put more than 1 photo a day, to different subgalleries. That's why I also try to browse through the PAD main gallery from time to time, and I think it is a good way to find new artists and new photos worth seeing. It takes time, though.
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PaD Discussion
Does voting still has a meaning for you?
63 posts • Page 3 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Posts: 25
Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:43 pm
Reading this long thread, it's reassurring to see most people have a pragmatic approach to the flaws of the voting system. But, by definition, they reflect a minority view seeing as a majority vote for the kind of galleries that the minority think mediocre.
In spite of every attempt to rationalise why crud so often rises to the top and the cream to the bottom, it's dispiriting to see it happen. I cringe a bit when I wonder what it says to newcomers and outsiders who can tell the difference between the average and the exceptional about the calibre of pbase photography when they click on the first page of the pops.
Sometimes it works, though: as a recent example, Dirk's Intense Sea gallery deserved it (and no he's not paying me!).
There is a light-hearted parallel with the dilemma of democracy in this country. If you choose to opt out of voting, you abjure your power to people who may use it less 'wisely', if you do use your power you 'bed in' an inherently flawed system and lend legitimacy to whatever perverse or unsatisfactory results it throws up.
For the talented and the less so, one thing should be clear: don't believe the hype!
Niall
In spite of every attempt to rationalise why crud so often rises to the top and the cream to the bottom, it's dispiriting to see it happen. I cringe a bit when I wonder what it says to newcomers and outsiders who can tell the difference between the average and the exceptional about the calibre of pbase photography when they click on the first page of the pops.
Sometimes it works, though: as a recent example, Dirk's Intense Sea gallery deserved it (and no he's not paying me!).
There is a light-hearted parallel with the dilemma of democracy in this country. If you choose to opt out of voting, you abjure your power to people who may use it less 'wisely', if you do use your power you 'bed in' an inherently flawed system and lend legitimacy to whatever perverse or unsatisfactory results it throws up.
For the talented and the less so, one thing should be clear: don't believe the hype!
Niall
- Posts: 2689
Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:31 pm
I liked the political analogy, Niall.
But I also see parallels with the popularity of S Club 7 and The Spice Girls
Often the best music is played late at night on the more obscure radio shows.
Ray
But I also see parallels with the popularity of S Club 7 and The Spice Girls
Often the best music is played late at night on the more obscure radio shows.
Ray
- Posts: 678
Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:56 am
The true dilemma of democracy is that everything is reduced to its lowest common denominator. That is true for government, music, photos or anything else that is voted on by the masses. When people vote with their dollars, they get Wal Mart.
- Posts: 897
Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:03 am
I agree with Niall, Ray and Michael above.
This is the reason why I made (to be continued) my own personal Pop List, some months ago...
click image
I invite PBasers to do the same, with their faves.
This is the reason why I made (to be continued) my own personal Pop List, some months ago...
click image
I invite PBasers to do the same, with their faves.
Adal- Posts: 520
Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:45 pm
If the imperfections of the voting system show one thing, it is that photographs need marketing. We may have philosophical discomfort with this but it's a great preparation for the real outside world where selling photos is very very hard work.
It's perhaps a little harsh to say crud rises to the top and cream stays at the bottom. If the producers of cream don't promote their work in some way then it will remain unnoticed - maybe they are happy with that.
But PBase has taught me how full the world is of excellent images and that photography will only ever be a hobby for me. I have total respect for those who toil at producing great images and then work twice as hard again to get them in front of people who appreciate them.
BTW - I vote for any picture that is above the norm, exceptional, thought-provoking or with a message that needs to be aired. I don't always say I have voted!
Pity the slug the original 'Slug' concept has never materialised. A picture with 50 votes can be tops yet there are 100,000 Pbase members!
It's perhaps a little harsh to say crud rises to the top and cream stays at the bottom. If the producers of cream don't promote their work in some way then it will remain unnoticed - maybe they are happy with that.
But PBase has taught me how full the world is of excellent images and that photography will only ever be a hobby for me. I have total respect for those who toil at producing great images and then work twice as hard again to get them in front of people who appreciate them.
BTW - I vote for any picture that is above the norm, exceptional, thought-provoking or with a message that needs to be aired. I don't always say I have voted!
Pity the slug the original 'Slug' concept has never materialised. A picture with 50 votes can be tops yet there are 100,000 Pbase members!
- Posts: 25
Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:08 pm
John, you make a very good point about marketing and it's true of many areas of endeavour: there are so many talented musicians, photographers writers etc. out there who are poor self-publicists, perhaps because they lack the nous, grit and guile to go after it. Claiming to find it distasteful or that it's 'selling out' is often an excuse to get away with being lazy while comforting oneself that one's talent is merely undervalued or misunderstood.
I know that the lazy streak in me, in deadly alliance with a fear of failure, is a major obstacle to being successful in photography. I've no one but myself to blame if I don't get there!
Niall
I know that the lazy streak in me, in deadly alliance with a fear of failure, is a major obstacle to being successful in photography. I've no one but myself to blame if I don't get there!
Niall
- Posts: 897
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:32 am
Well I can't consider myself an "unsuccessful photographer".
I get many visits on my galleries.
And people, societies, organizations write to me willing to buy my originals.
I'm quite satisfied.
Yet, I rarely appear and have appeared in the Pops.
But this isn't a concern for me.
My worry is that I see in the Pops galleries full of extremely cheap "wow effect" photos.
Photos shot just to get easy votes, no other visible reason for them.
Pops can really ruin weak personalities.
I get many visits on my galleries.
And people, societies, organizations write to me willing to buy my originals.
I'm quite satisfied.
Yet, I rarely appear and have appeared in the Pops.
But this isn't a concern for me.
My worry is that I see in the Pops galleries full of extremely cheap "wow effect" photos.
Photos shot just to get easy votes, no other visible reason for them.
Pops can really ruin weak personalities.
Adal- Posts: 383
Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:22 pm
After years of being on pbase, I've come to the conclusion (through friends and much therapy ... 
) that popular photos/galleries have nothing to do with true success of any kind.
As with every system on any site I've seen, there is no way to stop friends from voting for friends regardless of photo quality; and especially no way to deter the tit-for-tat way of "i'm voting for you so you vote for me" clique mentality that is pretty obvious in some cases.
As told a while back by a wise friend "get the fuck over it."
Okay, it might have been more than one friend
When you like your work.. when you LOVE your work .. and you see what you consider inferior photos flying by yours it is confusing, and needless to say, frustrating.
One can get so into the comments and the voting because of that immediate gratification - it's addicting. Who doesn't like to read great things.. who doesn't like to watch their photo move up a symbol of popularity? But when you are into that, the "why isn't she commenting anymore?" "Damn I got 30 comments yesterday and only 3 today. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?" isn't far behind. Not a pretty nor healthy road to go down.
When one judges their work by other's reactions, the outcome can never be good for very long. It's the same as expecting someone else to make us happy. Eventually they will fail us because it's not possible.
I've heard those happy-crappy quotes a million times and am a little embarassed to say it but they're true
I love my work. I would explode if I didn't do it obsessively. I bleed it. I have doubts about things at times, but everything I post I absolutely love - EVEN if it doesn't grab another soul.
I (of course) love and appreciate the comments..I feel the same about the votes. But what gives me even a bigger thrill is when days/months/years later look at something I've created and think "GOD DAMN, that's good!".. that it stands the test of time (my test).
And only I get to do that.
I do want to address this though, Adal:
Obviously, this is just an opinion and you're aware of that .. but i have to say that one man's "wow effect" photo is another man's "god another street shot with no heart" photo. They sort of cancel each other out because we each have our own taste.
and:
Wondering what the critieria is for judging on the "no other visible reason" for a photo. Seems a bit omnipotent.
) that popular photos/galleries have nothing to do with true success of any kind.
As with every system on any site I've seen, there is no way to stop friends from voting for friends regardless of photo quality; and especially no way to deter the tit-for-tat way of "i'm voting for you so you vote for me" clique mentality that is pretty obvious in some cases.
As told a while back by a wise friend "get the fuck over it."
Okay, it might have been more than one friend
When you like your work.. when you LOVE your work .. and you see what you consider inferior photos flying by yours it is confusing, and needless to say, frustrating.
One can get so into the comments and the voting because of that immediate gratification - it's addicting. Who doesn't like to read great things.. who doesn't like to watch their photo move up a symbol of popularity? But when you are into that, the "why isn't she commenting anymore?" "Damn I got 30 comments yesterday and only 3 today. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?" isn't far behind. Not a pretty nor healthy road to go down.
When one judges their work by other's reactions, the outcome can never be good for very long. It's the same as expecting someone else to make us happy. Eventually they will fail us because it's not possible.
I've heard those happy-crappy quotes a million times and am a little embarassed to say it but they're true
I love my work. I would explode if I didn't do it obsessively. I bleed it. I have doubts about things at times, but everything I post I absolutely love - EVEN if it doesn't grab another soul.
I (of course) love and appreciate the comments..I feel the same about the votes. But what gives me even a bigger thrill is when days/months/years later look at something I've created and think "GOD DAMN, that's good!".. that it stands the test of time (my test).
And only I get to do that.
I do want to address this though, Adal:
My worry is that I see in the Pops galleries full of extremely cheap "wow effect" photos.
Obviously, this is just an opinion and you're aware of that .. but i have to say that one man's "wow effect" photo is another man's "god another street shot with no heart" photo. They sort of cancel each other out because we each have our own taste.
and:
Photos shot just to get easy votes, no other visible reason for them.
Wondering what the critieria is for judging on the "no other visible reason" for a photo. Seems a bit omnipotent.
- Posts: 897
Re: Does voting still has a meaning for you?
Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:46 pm
michaelsv wrote:It's a bit weird what is going on lately on Pbase.
Michael.
Yes Michael I agree.
The cheap wow style, commonly known as "meretricious" has increased, lately.
In my humble opinion...
(
at Jude! )
PS
I don't want to tell anything about another, yet related, topic:
the exaggerated flattering comments I have begun to get lately, (such as "genius" etc for quite normal images).
They appear also as written in automatic mode, being almost identical from an image to the other.
PS 2
For me the discussion is closed, no names from me
Adal- Posts: 383
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:04 pm
Meretricious
"1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity."
(just a quick look-see at the dictionary to make sure I had it right)
can't get more humble than that..LOLLLLLLLLLLL
ME <--- has never called ANYONE genius.. heh
"1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity."
(just a quick look-see at the dictionary to make sure I had it right)
can't get more humble than that..LOLLLLLLLLLLL
ME <--- has never called ANYONE genius.. heh
- Posts: 169
Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:07 pm
My pbase name is JEANNIUS
I resemble those remarks.
Off to vote for MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I resemble those remarks.
Off to vote for MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
- Posts: 897
Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:47 am
jude_53 wrote:we can vote for ourselves?
MOTHER FU*******!!
Yes we can! It's the best thing to do!
GMOV, Gets My Own Vote LOL!
PS
What I will no more do instead, is to vote for PBase ladies who shamelessly copy my style without giving me credit...
Ah, l'Amour...
Adal
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