Rating an image

[Autumn]

I have just noticed that some of my photographs have been rated.

I assume the ratings are made by members, but as the rating bar is from poor to excellent, how is that converted into a "Thumbs Up?"

I mean, if one got a poor rating and also an excellent rating for the same picture, by two different members, would it still count as 2 "Thumbs up?"

Also, do the number of "Thumbs Up" equate to how many members have voted for that image?

[Stephen]

Re: Rating an image

I have just noticed that some of my photographs have been rated.

I assume the ratings are made by members, but as the rating bar is from poor to excellent, how is that converted into a "Thumbs Up?"

I mean, if one got a poor rating and also an excellent rating for the same picture, by two different members, would it still count as 2 "Thumbs up?"

Also, do the number of "Thumbs Up" equate to how many members have voted for that image?

The rating system simply indicates an average from 1-10 So if someone gives a 10 and a second person an 8 the rating will indicate a 9.

Personally I question taking much notice of the amount of as there are obvious flaws in the concept. However if it is viewed as a bit of fun and a quick way of indicating your feeling about an image thats all you should read into it. Part of the problem is that there are lots on images never get any yet this is not to say they are poor pics.

[Ian]

Re: Rating an image

The significance of gallery ratings is, as Stephen says, a bit hit and miss at the moment. But as we increase the forum/gallery membership the statistical reliability of ratings should improve.

I tend to rate a picture that jumps out at me. It's a decision I make within seconds of seeing it for the first time. I don't rate average or poor pictures.

Ian

[bigbob]

Re: Rating an image

I tend to agree with Stephen that the ratings are not particularly a good indicator , for instance most of my seascapes have been rated but hardly any landscapes , does that mean i'm better at judging a seascape than a landscape ?.doubt it .
Ian only rates images that jump out at him , i'm the same but i would rather see genuine comments posted , that way we could all get feedback good or bad .

B..

[Guest]

Re: Rating an image

Ian only rates images that jump out at him , i'm the same but i would rather see genuine comments posted , that way we could all get feedback good or bad.
B..

Hi bigbob. I agree with you about comments and took this up with the 'powers that be', but for some reason the suggestion was turned down. Perhaps if more members felt the same and expressed their view, maybe there might be a change of heart. ??

[lumix]

Re: Rating an image

Hi bigbob. I agree with you about comments and took this up with the 'powers that be', but for some reason the suggestion was turned down. Perhaps if more members felt the same and expressed their view, maybe there might be a change of heart. ??

As it is possible to run a pol on this forum, why not do just that and see how many want comments made available.

[Stephen]

Re: Rating an image

It would seem to me that the best way to get any sort of useful and constructive feedback on ones photographs is to ask for it by posting in the Critique forum. A system ideally suited for this method of feedback has been set up and as such is superior to most other photo forums I have visited.

In my experience the comments section of photo galleries usually lead to simple, basic and often inane platitudes, more suited, it must be said, to lesser places. We learn and gain little from such comments, except as an acknowledgment that someone has viewed an image.
If the comments facility were operative, there would still be many photographs posted that recieve no comments at all. Much the same as happens at present with the rating system. Are we to only comment on photos that instantly jump out at us as being great images, ones with the Wow factor. If not, then what should the criteria be to post a comment on an image. Will you post a comment on every picture you don't rate/like. I think not, much the same as peeps do not rate all the images they do like.

I'm afraid that I am seriously of the opinion that if you are a serious member of a photo community that I would hope this site is becoming, you would contribute both by giving as well as taking. In terms of posting photographs is concerned that would hopefully mean commenting on others photographs, just as much as posting a photo and expecting comment on it.

If this is to be useful and constructive then, with the option to give some in depth comment, rather than "Great photo" or some other less than helpful comment, then the place to do it ought surely to be on the forums and especially the Critique forum.

If you have a small album on a particular theme and you don't want to post links from every photo, then at the very least you can post a link to the Album and request that members look at it with a view to making constructive comment or give opinion in the Critique forum.

Don't forget though that you should not expect people to comment or give their time looking and thinking about your photos, unless you are prepared to reciprocate and comment and critique theirs. This should all be a two way process of give and take.

I have spent a good deal of my spare time on DPNow over the years. I have always been keen to help others, give the benefit of my knowledge and experience if I can, and also spend time commenting and critiquing others pictures. I have posted many of my own, sometimes getting feedback, sometimes not. I do not expect it, but feel at least that I earn it through any contribution I make to the DPNow community.

So, as far as gallery comments are concerned, i'm not especially in favour, but I don't want to be dogmatic about it, and I have to say that as part of a team on this forum we are still going through a period of trying various options, and Ian is constantly tweaking things and offering new options. If the weight of feeling was in favour its possible that new things could be tried.

[Autumn]

Re: Rating an image

Oops! I've certainly started something.

I know what I am going to do now.

[bigbob]

Re: Rating an image

All very valid points Stephen , but it still does'nt answer the question of how , if i see a image i like in someones gallery i can comment on it .
It's all very well saying that they should be put up for critique , but you can't do that with every image in a gallery.
There's a lot of images on here that i'd like to comment on (your's included ) but can't because they have'nt been put up for critique .
Maybe if we can't have a gallery comment , some other means of finding out about individual pics can be found , maybe a ''gallery comment'' forum where we could ask members about ,how,where,when and why a shot was taken ,as well as commenting .
Or maybe a general photo forum where pictures can be posted without the need for critique if thats what the poster wants .
I'm very much in favour of critique but i know from first hand experiance on other forums that the very word puts some people off posting .
As this forum grows like all things it will evolve , seems a pity to stunt it's growth at an early age .

B..