There are some fantastic photos posted on Travel Blog each day. Photos that have been rated highly by other travel blog members are featured and rotate on the top right hand corner on the front page.
Do you take time to rate photos each day?
When you read a blog that you like you can click on the first photo and it will bring up all the photos in that blog so that you are able to rate the photos on a one to five scale. There is also a feature called rate 15 photos that show random photos that you can rate throughout the day. The 15 photos changes frequently.
I start my morning off each day by rating photos and make an attempt to do it several times during the day if I am not too busy. I find it is an excellent way to improve my personal photography. I am able to asses what makes their photo a great shot. Is it the location? Light and shadows? Angle? I've learned a lot of lighting from rating other peoples photos.
1. Do you rate photos each day?
2. What criteria do you use to rate them?
3. Do you use photo shop?
Reply to this I dont take many photos, but I like looking at them.
1. Do you rate photos each day?
Yeah, I rate some everyday. 😊
2. What criteria do you use to rate them?
I rate ones that make me wish I was there, ones that are funny, or ones that I think are important informationwise.
3. Do you use photo shop?
No, but maybe I would if I was into taking photos.
Reply to this I tried a while back but after clicking on a star nothing seemed to happen. So after reading your "instruction" I tried again. This time I waited a bit longer to see what would happen. After 5-10 seconds another picture popped up so I knew that the rating was being counted. However, sometimes I clicked and nothing happened...perhaps a very long compter response time. I don't know if there is anything you can do from your end with the servers to speed up responses. Anyway, I will try to rate pictures from now on if the response times are good.
Criteria: if a picture is just of a person or group of people drinking or partying then I rate it low. If the picture is a sillouette and I can't see the subject due to a bright background I rate it low. If a picture is under or over exposed I rate it low. If, however, the subject matter is interesting, and is particularly colorful and composed just right then I rate it high.
I don't photoshop or do anything else to artificially enhance a picture other than use a polarize filter.
Reply to this Bob,
Rating the photos has been a little slower recently. Maybe they can take a look at that.
I find that my photography has improved from looking at thousands of other photos and trying to emulate the fantastic ones.
Thing is how I do it:
Rate 1 = out of focus and blurring, over or under exposed.
Rate 2 = an uninteresting photo, poor camera angle or subject
Rate 3 = Its a fine photo, nothing technically wrong but -- just sort of there.
Rate 4 = Good composition, color, clarity, I like the photo and get happy when I look at it.
Rate 5 = It has to have that WOW factor in addition to all the things mentioned in rating 4. Generally something unique about the photo.
I'm sure the professional photographers among us cringe at the way I rate photos but this is subjective.
When you read a blog you can click on the first photo and it will allow you to rate all of the photos for that particular blog. I have been doing that more recently than using the "rate 15 photos" The response time seems to be a bit quicker for some reason.
We love it when people rate our photos as it helps us improve.
Reply to this As you know from my earlier enquiry about the "Rate 15(ish!) Photos" button, I tend to hit it each time I log on and go to my Control Panel. That's not every day but probably a couple of times a week.
I have to say that very few photos accessed this way are worthy of any rating however - they're often just personal snapshots, random people grinning into the lens or views of scenery that could be just about anywhere. I certainly prefer to rate pictures in the blogs I read.
I tend to only use 3 stars (for an interesting picture), 4 stars (for a particularly well-composed, interesting picture) and 5 stars (for an outstanding, well-composed, properly exposed, interesting picture that I wished I'd taken myself). I've eventually figured out how to click on the appropriate star in the new rating icon!
As for Photoshop, no, I don't use it, although I do use Microsoft Office Picture Manager occasionally to correct exposure levels or cropping.
Reply to this I like the ate 15 random photos button, it quite often often gives me a giggle. One of my favourite games to play is to try and guess which country the photo is from without reading the caption.
It is rare to stumble upon that many incredible photos, as Mike says, the majority are just holiday snapshots and for that reason judging them is a little unfair. I usually skip these rather handing down numerous 1's. For a photo that I believe has been taken with online publishing in mind, my lowest score is a three. For a photo to rate as a five, it has to be really exceptional. I give a five ones perhaps every sixth set of 15 photos.
I do use photoshop, but none of my pics on travelblog have been altered as they have been uploaded on the road.
Reply to this So---- your comment leads me to ask if you think you should not publish altered photos on travel blog. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with that. What are your thoughts?
Reply to this I don't think there is anything wrond with it unless you are trying to misrepresent the truth (e.g., putting a picture of yourself in exotic locations to claim you have been there), or trying to hurt someone else (I don't need to give examples). Some pictures have enhanced color and other visual effects that are obviously photoshopped for the purpose of artistic expression.
Reply to this I have no problem with modified photos being published at all, in retrospect I would like to change a number of mine for their new, buffed and shiny versions! Some great photos on travelblog are clearly manipulated, I'm thinking of Tyrone and MichaelnFaye here. Both use digital manipulation to very different, but equally pleasing ends.
[Edited: 2011 Jun 02 08:50 - scottandanny:54454 ]
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