Photo ratings?

BB4life
August 2006
Howzit guys,

I was wondering how or what everyone looks for when the rate the photos on this site? Just out of interest. For example, are we rating the surf in the photo, or the actual wave itself, or the person riding the wave?

I'm asking 'cos this one photo of me at Dangers Point was given a 1 by some smart alec, which I thought was pretty swak

Just wondering what everyones opinion is on this.

Much appreciated guys.

Later...

Bodyboarding 742 views

7 Replies

byron777
August 2006
I look at the wave itself,where the rider is on the wave,quality of the photo etc,a 10/10 would be that photo of ian metcalf free falling on a beast of a wave in mexico.Its the most viewed photo on sixty40....that my friend is a 10.
Spy Dude
August 2006
I rate a photo based on the photo, not the surf, not the rider, not the manover performed...
As in any photo competion, things like framing, focus, timing, lighting and angle make a good photo. The surf, rider and trick do add to the rating, 10ft waves look better than 1ft waves.... but they are considerations after the fact.

Frame grabs, although interesting.. i dont rate, well due to the fact that they rarely meet the above criteria but also they dont require the same skill as a photograph.. no disrespect to film boys like peter and that durban kid..sorry name slips past me right now, but... i am a photographer and thus... ya you get my drift, just a little biased.

Also dont be bleak if someone rates yor image poorly, its mearly one persons opinion... something we are constitutionally allowed.. for the time being, SABC withstanding.
BB4life
August 2006
Haha I'm not bleak bru, just a little confused how a person could rate Mike's photos so low? I'm with you fully about what you're saying in connection that it's the photography aspect, not the move or wave in question
SmT
August 2006
My opinion is that this is a Bodyboarding site not a Photography site, hence I rate the Bodyboarding aspect of the pic BUT having said this, if the pic is really kak and the wave's small and poo then I don't rate it!
Obviously it all gets taken into account, but i'm all for what the pic portrays, Bodyboarding!
dcmike
August 2006
Bru, I wouldn't let that stress you out... There's loads of opinions and most not exactly objective when it comes to rating so here's mine... First off, how memorable is the pic, will you want to send it to your land-locked mates in a far away country? I reckon that's the key... Checkout some of those Ship Sterns pics or the crazy Morley airs or Stewart on that perfect Pipe bomb.

I've also been wondering about the rating system but at the end of the day the pics fall into two categories for me. Competitive and casual. Don't get me wrong, a casual shot can still be an awesome photo when it comes to composition, lighting, right timing (not saying that it is but a 1 rating is cheap) but where it falls short is in size and power/action... It wasn't exactly the biggest day and that's where the boys in Keiki have the right idea - even if it isn't smoking you get out onto the bank and shoot 3 foot closeouts but they're 40 meters long and look sick - nobody will say it's the best ride they've had but the image in both rider and photogs mind will stay imprinted.

I generally post for one of two reasons and when I post for both, for me it's a cool shot. It's the same reason I dig taking photos. Stoke sums up both. A crazy sick barrel or air can get the whole community stoked, just like the stoke okes have at seeing themselves having a blast and even if the pic is just for their own enjoyment to see how they ride, what could be better, was the wave as big as you remember and did you really shred it...

As you know there's a load of things that have to be right before you get a sick session: swell, wind, freetime, transport, buddies, gear etc etc and for a good shot you have to double all that and throw in good lighting which makes for a huge portion of the equation.

If I can add one more thing...
There was a set that came through that day that was almost twice the size of the rest and all three guys headed out to sea. Those 3 waves had 'best shot opportunity' written all over them and without suggesting that you should risk your neck, you may have got a 5 just for being there at the right time and if you had just swung into it because it was the most memorable set of the day it might have got a 7 for commitment and stoke.

And finally - let's face it... we were there while the rest were watching F1...

Keep the stoke
dcmike
Kelly
August 2006

dcmike wrote:
If I can add one more thing...
There was a set that came through that day that was almost twice the size of the rest and all three guys headed out to sea. Those 3 waves had 'best shot opportunity' written all over them and without suggesting that you should risk your neck, you may have got a 5 just for being there at the right time and if you had just swung into it because it was the most memorable set of the day it might have got a 7 for commitment and stoke.

For sure!!! If there's a guy shooting then he's putting in the effort behind the camera ... so make sure you're putting the effort in, in the water. Some one shooting should really make you want to step up the game ...

Just commenting on this because I do see guys pulling out of sections or pulling out of the bombs when there is a guy shooting and it grinds me - big time.
dcmike
August 2006
rofl! yo SmT! couldn't agree more - it IS all about bodyboarding but nobody buys FHM for the articles?

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