I just wonder, are there any ethic rules which are not part of the official ones? I was thinking, what if my picture is a finalist and I think it's the best one? Is it O.K. if I vote for it? One part of me says no as I might be prejudiced and it may not be a fair move but another part of me says 'Why not?', if I am really convinced it is the best why shouldn't I?
This is currently a theoretical question but it could be a real dilemma in the future. Up to now this hasn't happened as each and every time I got to the finals I always thought there was at least one pic which was better than mine (and often more than one . ) so I voted for it. No problems. No conflicts. Now, of course all this drives me to get better but what if I really get better and finally be - well, at least IMHO - the best?
It's kind of a theoretical question anyway, I mean, one vote likely won't swing things. Seldom are the votes all that close, there is usually one entry that kind of runs away with it.
But if you're really struggling with the ethics thing, feel free to vote for my entries if it makes you feel better
Good on you for taking the time to question this. There doesn't seem to be any set code of ethics on the matter, I've seen comments indicating people voting for themselves regardless of whether they thought it was best and comments along the same lines as what wat and Kevin said. Personally I agree with Kevin and wat; you should vote for whoever you think is best. Of course a clear conscience is always something to consider, so if you feel that you might be too biased there is always the no vote button...
Cheers!
Jason
I have just started, and have been in one poll (#299). I couldn't vote for my own picture because there were several others that I liked better. If I truly liked my own picture the best, I would vote for it, but the odds of that happening are probably slim.
I also think that whoever took the picture is irrelevant to the vote, and my vote is based strictly on the image I like best in the context of the assignment.
Yeah, that brings up a point. I try to vote for the image I think is best in terms of the assignment....I've seen more than a few get a lot of votes or even win that I though were really a stretch to fit the assignment at all. Maybe I just wasn't getting it...
So, do you vote for the best photo? or do you take into account the assignment?
Hi all
Maybe this is just me but i submit photos into the WA to test myself. Whether or not i get through to the finals all i want to do is submit a photo that has done justice to my abilities.
My first photos were, to be honest, very poor and it has been through the WA and the forums that i realised i could raise my game.
This process of learning is far more important than any prize at the end ( please dont be offended Fred).
I dont look at the WA as being a competition but as this learning process, you see others peoples pictures and there individual takes on each subject. With this sort of variety of input you cannot fail to improve and see things different ways.
If you look at the WA and MA in this light the voting becomes secondary.
If you are happy with your picture then it has been a good week.
There will always be better photographers than me so i am happy to vote for them, there work is superb and unique, and through them i hope i have improved.
More important than the vote is the next subject.
So dont worry about the vote there is no dilemma, just vote for the picture that inspires you the one you stare at and ask `how`.
If people generally vote their own pics, and if the "new code" means you can't, the final result will be the same... and it's really rare (I mean really rare...) when one vote makes a difference. But I think it would be a good thing to vote for the best, whatever the case
mark nicoll wrote:
Maybe this is just me but i submit photos into the WA to test myself. Whether or not i get through to the finals all i want to do is submit a photo that has done justice to my abilities.
...
This process of learning is far more important than any prize at the end
...
I dont look at the WA as being a competition but as this learning process
Same here, really. I joined because of this whole idea of having a weekly *assignment* makes me go out and do it and if I am doing something then seeing what others are doing, it surely can't help but be a learning process.
And does that mean that one will not be able to vote for his own picture?
That is something that could be implemented. We could eliminate the ability for members to vote for their own photo. Is that something we want?
The WA and MA assignments will get a new upgraded and dedicated system. Many changes will be made but the purpose and goal of the assignments will be maintained. I should post a list of changes soon.
mark nicoll wrote:
This process of learning is far more important than any prize at the end
I agree.
mark nicoll wrote:
I dont look at the WA as being a competition but as this learning process
While I also look at it as a learning process, if I am in a competition I want to be rated as higher as possible. And just for the record, I don't care about the prizes. I just want to be able to tell to myself "at that week I was the best".
mark nicoll wrote:
So dont worry about the vote there is no dilemma, just vote for the picture that inspires you the one you stare at and ask `how`.
I pick the one I think is best. Sometimes my own, other times another one. At times I have NOT voted for the one I thought was the best image just because it did not follow the primary rule regarding size (640 longest dimension) but still made finals.
I have only entered in two WA so far and i voted for another members pictures. Well because the followed the WA title and were way better then mine. So i can't complain. But EXIF!!!!!! is a big part and is an ethic and rule to be followed.
Yakim Peled wrote:
What do you mean? EXIF is not presented in any picture.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Hi Yakim,
Unless i am mistaken every picture that is taken digitally and remains digital (ie within the computer and isnt scanned etc.) will have the data embedded in the file that was recorded as the shutter is pressed. The date, time, shutter speed, f no, iso and a few more esoteric bits of info are recorded and stay with the picture through the digital domain. There are some programs that are able to read this info therefore anyone not taking a picture within the allotted time Fred would know about.
Take care
Mark
mark nicoll wrote:
...More important than the vote is the next subject.
Mark
This is exactly how I feel, but I am (a) not good enough yet to have had a photograph chosen for the final, and (b) not disciplined enough yet to enter every week/month! Having said that I ften have ideas but simply just do not get round to putting them into practice.
) so I voted for it. No problems. No conflicts. Now, of course all this drives me to get better but what if I really get better and finally be - well, at least IMHO - the best?
