Does voting still has a meaning for you?

[michaelsv]

It's a bit weird what is going on lately on Pbase. I see many images that commented with exclamation marks and multiple "Vote, GMV, etc..." thing, but it does not really look to me that these images are even close to be good. I understand that this is my personal opinion, and others might see something in this images that I do not see, but on the other hand many images that I think really worth voting passing without even comments.
I do not think that I'm so bad judge of the photography, that can't see if image good or not. And I usually vote on the images that seem to me worth this.
Butt don't you think that voting become more or less "exchange of mutual complements" type of thing...? To me it looks like it is.

Michael.

[jypsee]

it never did have any meaning to me or for me. It's really only a popularity vote which has no worth (supposedly) in relationship to the photo but more to the photo maker. However, most of the art world is about insiders and the not-so-inside. (for example the raging debate over some works attributed to the late Jackson Pollock which didn't come through the "normal" venue and are considered fakes.... but the way a painting is proved is by who owned it, by provenance...so...)

What goes on here on Pbase is so minor compared to the bigger picture of photography that I'm always amazed when this topic comes up. That said, I'm sure the folks who vote for one another don't mean any kind of cabal-like behavior, but the thing is that when you start talking to your public and making a relationship with them you also increase the chances that they will like you and, hence, your work. Goes back to popularity.

And, I have to agree with you; the bulk of the "popular" photos don't do it for me.

[jeannius]

Does seem the same people are always on the top....

doesn't GMV!

[jdepould]

I usually avoid the "popular" link for that very reason. Having said that, if I see a good image I might comment on it, but I only vote for images I feel are exceptional.

[adalberto_tiburzi]

... but I only vote for images I feel are exceptional.

This is the problem, because I (and many others) do the same.
So, votes are too few, and not too much representative of the reality of PBase.

In fact Slug clearly gives another advice:
"Vote for images and galleries you think are worth being seen".

That's a great difference:
Slug wanted to exclude from the Pops only the photos on no artistic interest, such as personal images, family, friends, trips and so on.

If everybody voted "Slug style" the Pops could be really interesting and representative.

But I know: it's difficult.
I always forget the rule, and me too, I vote only for the exceptional ones!

[papajim_48306]

I will hope that all of the votes cast for pictures are based on merit. While I try to comment and vote based on quality and individuality, it is human nature to review those who compliment your work. The sheer number of photos posted every day negates the possibility of complete and total fairness. I try to review the PaD offerings a few times a week and follow into galleries based on individual photos which catch my eye. No good answer here, let's just have fun.

[jdepould]

I will hope that all of the votes cast for pictures are based on merit. While I try to comment and vote based on quality and individuality, it is human nature to review those who compliment your work. The sheer number of photos posted every day negates the possibility of complete and total fairness. I try to review the PaD offerings a few times a week and follow into galleries based on individual photos which catch my eye. No good answer here, let's just have fun.

Good point, I almost always check out a person who leaves me a comment.

[echotide]

I always check out someone who has left a comment on my gallery, I check out the PAD gallery a couple of times a week and have a list of favorites - I vote - but sparingly.

A photograph/image has to really give me that "WOW" factor before I press that button.

I have looked at the "popular gallery" and I ponder how some of them actually got in there.

For me - In the end, I'm here to learn from others who know a whole lot more than me, and to enjoy what is offered.

[bobfloyd]

I work hard at only voting on those photos I believe are worthy of some form of recognition, regardless of who the photographer is. Sure, I visit those that often comment or vote on my work more than some others but there are also a large number of photographers who get my attention that have never commented or voted (to the best of my knowledge) on my work. It is possible they have never visited my gallery but that makes their work no less worthy.

I do admit to not voting for some photos based on the photographer because, while I think it is a good photo, it is not up to the level of what I have come to expect from that person. This is possibly unfair on my part and I struggle with it a bit.

And I too often wonder by what merit some photos get to into the pop galleries or even get to the top of pop galleries while some excellent work languishes at the bottom. I make it a habit of going all the way through the 7 day gallery to the bitter end at least once a week or so just to find those "jewels" at the bottom that I otherwise would never see. Many times they are as good or better than the photos in the first few pages.

[echotide]

What exactly is the criteria for getting into the "popular gallery?"

[chiz]

I think voting is a indeed communication between members who found each other. Yes, they can over-vote while others are ignored. Anyway this way people are found in a display where you can find new "favorites". i myself have used this system to find people who CAN make compositions in the way i wish to share and see. And repeatedly comming in the gallery-section i find new ones month after month and some i scrap of my list, others start to come on it. SDo. i like this way of voting to bring people i know-by-their-pictures in the attention of others. I very dont care the ranking, but i like the nice comments and so i give them also. it has nothing to do with art itself, but by the touch of sudden found pics.

[jillburhans]

Laughing here, because out of frustration I just stopped caring about the process of voting and actually taking it seriously. I really wish that my viewers would not say they had voted for my images, because I go look JUST to see if it is really there placed in popular and most of the time it is NOT.

The ones I do see however ARE ALWAYS there by the same photographers. It is not a reliable system.

I too vote rarely, and when I do the image has to really speak to me, regardless of who shot it.

Personally, I am a member on pbase because I like to admire the works of the talented which inspire me. Not here out of a need to be popular. I got over that in high school.

[adamstw]

Jill, (and others)
usually there is a delay of several days to a week after one votes before it shows up. I've been using this
http://homepages.tesco.net/jjh/PBase_popular_images/
It gives your votes for all time, 90days, 7d , etc.
Have a look, see if you're there.
(I picked this up from John http://www.pbase.com/earthling/profile )

[adalberto_tiburzi]

Personally, I am a member on pbase because I like to admire the works of the talented which inspire me.

Jill, if the voting system worked well (the way I told in my previous post here) could be really very useful to find more and more inspiring PBasers.
At this moment, one is forced to go to the 4-3-2 votes area, as Bob Floyd already said in this thread.
Because so few votes are for real, depurated from the "Friendship Effect" (legitimate though, even if it makes the Pops a bit useless).

[jolka]

This is a subject I have dealt with lately. See this:
http://www.pbase.com/jolka/image/70642993
My photo posted last Thursday had a very good and many comments an I counted 30 people who gave it "vote". Till now it is not showed in a popular photos gallery and I have written 2 emails to the Administrator but haven't got an answer. I have also checked in a link showed by adamstv and the photo is not showed even there.
Also some other of my recent images that got 2-5 votes are not showed there either. So I suppose the system does not work well at all and voting does not have any sense, then.