On 3/18/2010 5:05 PM, Cory Waters wrote:
I know... I haven't had one accepted since the voting was installed. CW
Such voting is literally an attempt at accounting for taste. It would be an interesting project to take the match algorithms that dating sites like okcupid use and use those techniques to classify people based on the photos that they do or don't like.
Among photographers there seems to be a dichotomy between those who use post processing pretty much as we used to use a darkroom, and to strive for the best version of the photograph that still looks like a photograph. These photographers may use HDR, but only to extend the dynamic range and bring out lost detail.
Then there are the sorts that consider the initial image as merely raw material for the post processing. This forum is likely to use phrases like "over processed". These photographers will use HDR tools, even when they only have one exposure to give an image more pop, brighter colors etc.
One metric I have of my photos is how many people use them as their profile photo on facebook. I've noted that "non-photographers" judge photos on very different things than most photographers do. They seem to care more about subject, and what moment was captured than such trivialities as sharpness or exposure. We tease Frank a lot about these very things, but it's all too easy too let the pursuit of technical perfection get in the way of a great image.
There is also the case of "maturing taste". I've heard the phrase "white wine jazz" used to refer to the sort of jazz that people start listening to, just as many people go through a white wine phase before they develop a full appreciation for red wine. I sure did in both of those. Likewise, I used to like The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich, but now strongly prefer Lagavulin and Glen Goyne.
In short, and not to disparage Ken's achievement, I suspect that one effect of the voting is to not only judge the quality of a photo, but who likes it. A good photo that appeals to a large group of people may well get accepted over a great photo that appeals to a smaller group of people.
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