Rating Photos.

When logging on to page, we are ask to rate 10 random photos. I enjoy participating in those and usually have my own criteria for rating them the way I do. However, I'm curious as to how other approach it. Usually first impression plays an important role to me, for instance if the photo takes my breath away. Next the effort required to take the photo, i.e. travel to a inhospitable or in very primitive conditions to get there. For instance a very beautiful photo of Notre Dame in Paris, in compared to a beautiful church in Moldavia or a Mosque in Iraq would make me lean to the latter 2. Photos of people-are they dressed in ethnic clothing, what are their attitude-are they genuinely happy to pose or doing for the money, or showing indifference or even hostility. Physical beauty does play some factor for me, I must admit. Photos of friends-are they just posing or sitting in a restrarant that could pass for any place in the world. Are they posing with natives they befriended, are they doing something a bit whacky or funny. Structures versus nature beauty-I'm partial to mademade structures especially those built prior to the use of cranes. Were they built by love or slave labor? Some of the churches in Latin America are beautiful, but I wonder if they were built with love or under forced conditions. Reply to this

Thanks for informing me about Cumberland Sausage. Judging form comments from his readers, many are in agreement with you. Some of his nature shots are especially dramatic and it took great courage to ask the natives to pose for him. Beside photos of beautiful places, I like the touching photos of people who have vsited needy families especially with disabled members. to help them get a start in life, like a few in Vietnam. The people look genuinely grateful for the help. Prior to being a member of Travel Blog, I was never aware that some countries have such beautiful sites, perhaps due to their political climate, they were not promoted widely as tourist destinations. One places especially comes to mind is Burma, which has lots and lots of beautiful temples comparable to Thailand, yet Thailand only is widely photographed in travel books, and Burma is not. Other places are like former Iron Curtain countries like Czecklosovakia and Hungary. Iran also, which unfortunately not considered safe to Westerners. India has many many beautiful ancient buildings, but I wonder about the creature comforts we may be accustomed to, while visiting there. Reply to this