Voting Information

For Challenges and Competitions, the CPOPC Executive has established guidelines for the voting process. These guidelines are to be followed by members voting on Challenge images and external judges voting on Competition images.

The votes are tabulated using a custom software plugin which will present the resulting scores for each image in the contest.

How to vote:

• Vote for each image based on its own merit. Do not do a “ranking” of all the images, before starting to vote. It is possible that by the end of your voting, there may be images with the same score. This is normal.
• Do not “save” scores for future images. Example: if an image deserves a “5” for technical, do not give it a “4”, in case there might be one that is slightly better. Give the first image a score 5. If another image shows later that is even better technically – it gets a score of 5 as well.
• Vote on ALL images, including those voted off-topic; otherwise, NONE of your votes will be counted.
• If possible, try to complete your voting in one session. This will provide a more consistent score.
• When deciding whether an image is on or off-topic, refer to the on-topic criteria listed for the challenge. Members do not deliberately submit an off-topic image. They may be trying push their creative limits.  Give the submitter the benefit of the doubt if you are not sure.
• Comment on images:
  • Although not mandatory for your vote to count, commenting helps you and the photographer. Being able to articulate what works (or doesn’t) for an image helps you when you are making your own images. It helps the photographer by presenting a different perspective.
  • If you vote an image off topic, or if the “on-topic” is borderline, you must leave a comment as to why.
  • When commenting, do not use the phrase “If this were my image..”.  It is not your image and this is a sure-fire way for the photographer who made the image to feel backed into a corner and defensive.
  • Be kind. Everyone is here to learn!

Results are determined using the following criteria:

On Topic: Choose Yes or No
WOW Factor: Select a score from 0-5
Technical Merit: Select a score from 0-5
Composition: Select a score from 0-5

On/Off Topic: 

On Topic = Yes
Image meets the topic criteria of the challenge.

On Topic = No
Image is off-topic. Either the image falls outside the criteria or consists of a subject specifically identified as “off-topic” in the challenge description.

Wow Factor 

0 – Barely on topic and/or a poor quality image.

1 – Barely on topic and elicits no clear positive reaction from you.

2 – On topic but a rather ordinary photo for subject material.

3 –The photo represents the topic well and demonstrates qualities such as originality and effort.

4 – Great photo with the subject matter presented in a stimulating or innovative way. A photo you wish you had taken.

5 – Stellar photo, publication worthy, perhaps caused you to actually say “Wow!”.

Technical Merit

0 – Is a very poorly executed photo and has major technical issues such as overall poor exposure.

1 – Significant flaws with respect to exposure (overly bright or dark areas), depth of field, inappropriate shutter speed (e.g., unintended camera motion).

2 – Some flaws and perhaps inappropriate or clumsy photo editing such as poor cloning or distracting elements such as brightening, saturation or high contrast.

3 – Minor technical flaws but overall appropriate exposure, depth of field, focus and shutter speed plus suitable use of photo editing.

4 – Great photo with very few areas for technical improvement. Photo tells a story or creates a mood well.

5 – Flawless technique and seamless photo editing. Perhaps a creative technique was used (e.g., colour painting, ICM, special studio lighting) to portray a certain atmosphere or tell a tale.

Composition

0 – Composition is completely inappropriate for the subject matter.

1 – Significant flaws in the composition with respect to positioning and balance. The viewer has no idea where they are supposed to look.

2 – Some flaws (e.g., crooked horizon) and perhaps the photo could have benefited from using some standard guidelines such as the rule of thirds, cropping or a better choice of aspect ratio (landscape/portrait).

3 – Average composition that neither hurts nor enhances the impact of the image. Possible improvements are obvious such as reducing clutter that detracts from the main subject.  

4 – Great photo with no significant composition flaws and perhaps good use of negative space and going beyond standard composition rules.

5 – Superb use of composition to lead the viewer through or around the image, depending on the story that is being told or the mood that is being depicted. There are no major distractions from the main subject or confusing elements. Perhaps a standard rule has been modified in an unexpected and effective way.

How Scores are Calculated

For each individual vote on an image, the WOW factor, Technical merit and Composition scores are added together for a maximum combined score of 15. On Topic criteria is the multiplier. If the image is  voted On Topic, the score is multiplied by 2 to give a maximum score of 30. If Off Topic, the score is multiplied by 1 for a maximum score of 15.

All individual vote scores are then averaged to determine the final score for each image.