April 2011 competition

[Gruditch]

To enter the competition, please post a single image, taken within the month of April 2011 (1 post per member) as follows:

- Click on the "Gallery" link and then open the "April 2011" album
- Click the "NEWIMAGE" button
- Follow the instructions to upload a single image

To view the entries:

- Click on the "Gallery" link and then open the "April 2011" album

You'll be able to edit or delete your entry until 5th May. To do this:

- Select the "Moderate" link at the bottom of the image details
- Take the appropriate action

You will be unable to rate or comment on the image until the competition has been voted on. Comments and constructive critique are very welcome thereafter.

Look forward to seeing the entries roll in , good luck !

Regards Gruditch

[Gruditch]

Voting is now open

Regards Gruditch

[Gruditch]

Congratulations to Fishiee 1st, Nigel kiteley 2nd, and Me third, ( thought I had half a chance with that shot ). And well done to all that entered.

Regards Gruditch

[Goldie M]

I thought the pics that won were great, well done every one really Goldie M

[Denise]

Some fantastic photos this month. Very well done to the winners.
Thanks to those who voted for my effort.

[FISHiEE]

Aargh I forgot to vote until the deadline had passed sorry I should really be 3rd if I had had got my own votes in! I've been having such a great time exploring all these new sites in and around Hampshire that I've not been online so much to remember about the voting.

A cracking set of images this month and didn't think my own would fare to well against them. My favourite was Julian's outstanding egg-laying Brimstone. A really top class shot! Then I'd be hard to put an order to my other favourites which were Nigel, Gary and Susie.

I'll try hard not to forget to vote next month!

[Susie]

Well done to the very worthy winners.

They were excellent photographs this month and I had trouble choosing favourites.

[NickB]

Yep - some nice images and difficult to decide between many of them - but I have to say that Julian's for me was the stand-out from the whole month.
Catching that moment, as well it was executed , deserves praise indeed

[Gruditch]

Aargh I forgot to vote until the deadline had passed sorry I should really be 3rd if I had had got my own votes in!

I'll amend that then Fishiee, Nigel 1st, me second, and you 3rd.

Hopefully Nigel never voted, and I can get him fess up, then perhaps I'll win.

Regards Gruditch

[FISHiEE]

Ah, but then I see all three of us got scores from 18 people so maybe none of us voted

The average is the figure I personally pay most attention to, for my own satisfaction, and looking at that score Julian is on top which is about right IMO.

When I vote (when I remember!) I make a point of voting on every image. It can be a bit time consuming with a high number of entries, but fairer on everyone to vote on all rather than just a select few, as it really can have quite a significant effect when some images get more scores than others. Pity that couldn't be enforced in some way...

But then that'll move you down to 6th Gary so maybe better leave as is eh?

[Gruditch]

Pity that couldn't be enforced in some way

Says he that didn't vote.

I voted, and gave every image a rate. The average rate is pointless, picture A gets 18 rates averaging 8.5, then picture B gets only 1 rate, but its a 10.

Come on Nigel fess up.

Regards Gruditch

[Susie]

I tend to vote on just three or four exceptional images which grab my interest, not every one. I am just lazy.

[NickB]

I tend to vote on just three or four exceptional images which grab my interest, not every one. I am just lazy.

...but, Susie, those other marks you may have given others could make a difference (and make Gary happier too )
(There's no Smilie for "Holier-than-thou" )
All or nothing.....

[FISHiEE]

The average rate is pointless, picture A gets 18 rates averaging 8.5, then picture B gets only 1 rate, but its a 10.

I agree that it is, if that were to happen, however looking back at past competitions, all images get a good number of votes, and so actually it's a pretty good way of ranking the images, and is the figure I have always looked at myself to see what people think of my image. If a few people think it's s***t hot I get more satisfaction tin that than I do if loads of people think it's so-so.

I wasn't originally implying that we should change the scoring system, but to encourage, or enforce everyone to vote in the same way because a great image can end up down the rankings as a result of people not voting in the same way.

Susie's voting methodology is a perfect example of this and is used by a few voters I am sure. If just a couple of people just vote on their top 3-4 images then they are effectively writing off the chances for those they don't give a score to as they have lost out on say 10-15 points against their competition.

I'm probably the worst offender as it can only benefit me by not voting at all. Quite possibly those just behind me have given me scores, say 7 or 8, but I've given them a big fat 0. That gives me a massive advantage over them. Perhaps non-voters should be disqualified, or perhaps be given a 10 point penalty to negate anything they could gain from it? I guess that would require a manual intervention though, and more hassle to run the competition as a result.

Everyone voting the same way would eradicate the above, or Average scores would do the same.

At the end of the day it's only a bit of fun anyway, and I don't mind what way it's scored.

[Pete Eeles]

I'm glad we're having this debate because it's not really working as planned, to be frank. The main reason for this is that folks are only voting for their top 3, 4 or 5. And if your photo isn't in the top 3, 4 or 5 then you become severely disadvantaged. And competitors who don't then vote - shame on you!

Looking at the last few comps, most entries do get a decent amount of votes. And so the "theory" that a photo will get a single vote of 10, and then win, doesn't necessarily stand up.

Any statisticians out there?

Cheers,

- Pete

[Gruditch]

It would make no sense for the highest average rate to win. If A is considered to be worth a rate by 20 people, yet B is only considered to be worth a rate by 10, is it fair that B could win because it had a higher average rate.

We had 34 entry's, yet no image received more than 18 rates. How many people are actually voting ?, and if they are not voting, why. As Fishiee said, it takes a long time to rate a comp with a high entry. It is also not the most straight forward system, I've had many a request asking how to vote.

Although this gallery system is much better for viewing the images, I'm not keen on the voting system, I much preferred the old vote for your top 3. Mind you, I thought that wasn't perfect, being able to vote 1st 2nd 3rd, and perhaps 4th 5th when the numbers of entry's were high, would be great. I know some people did end up with a big fat 0, but it is a competition, and we did have much bigger entry numbers under the old system.

Edit: Just checked, the open season ( April to Sep ) hasn't changed that much, but the entry numbers for the themed comps have dropped of considerably.

Regards Gruditch

[Susie]

I liked the old voting system. It was much easier and I voted more often.

[NickB]

..... I know some people did end up with a big fat 0......
Regards Gruditch

Oh, yes! I count myself amongst illustrious company in the "Nil points" club......

[Gruditch]

Me too

Regards Gruditch

[FISHiEE]

It would make no sense for the highest average rate to win. If A is considered to be worth a rate by 20 people, yet B is only considered to be worth a rate by 10, is it fair that B could win because it had a higher average rate.

If A is the better image, and got the 20 rates it's therefore going to be getting generally higher scores for each of those rates than B will be getting, so it's going to have a higher average than B anyway and will still win.

I did study statistics