OT: Follow up to fairness in contests

I've been out of town for a few days and just catching up on emails and one caught my eye and I felt it was worth passing to my friends here.

Just prior to Kalin post about what contests people enter I was in the midst of getting utterly irritated with how social media sites have ruined the quality of these contests. Some moths ago I entered the Macallan Masters of Photography that sounded like fun simply because I REALLY love their fine beverage . But later on I realized my images were getting a minute fraction of the votes (I hate harassing friends for votes) while some really crappy shots had over 9,000 votes putting them at the top of the competition. After glancing through the comments I realized the shots with the most votes got them through social media and not based on the artistic value of the image, more out of social obligation. Out of frustration I ended up writing a long and nasty email to the organizers and here is the response I received two days ago:

Dear Aleks

Unfortunately it has come to our attention that some entrants have been using unfair voting practices to improve their position in The Macallan Masters of Photography Masterclass competition.

As stated clearly on the website, we are constantly monitoring the voting to ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to gain support and votes. Unfortunately a minority of people have been enhancing their number of votes by using multiple voting techniques, which are contrary to the competition rules and do not reflect a genuine level of support.

In order to rectify this situation, we will be adjusting the votes on those entries where we know these rules have been breached. This will ensure that ALL voting is fair and no one entry can benefit from inappropriate voting practices.

We apologise to all entrants that this has happened and want to ensure you that we are continually monitoring the voting system to ensure it will not be abused again.

The Macallan Team

I don't know, and honestly don't care what this means regarding my shot at a trip to Ireland but it made me feel a little better. Now hopefully Outdoor Photographer and the rest of these contests can get a clue and change the voting rules.

I never thought about that type of abuse in voting...glad you brought it to my attention Aleks.

Thank you for sending them that email! Any national photography contest that relies on 'People's Choice' votes solely in this wired day and age simply isn't worth the bother.

*Edit* The preceding comment is not meant as any reflection whatsoever on the annual Autumn Image Contest held by RMNP.

Agreed John! These things have evolved into popularity contests instead of being judged for quality.

I think our Fall Contest is a bit different as it is anonymous and exclusively for members.

What a load of crap that is. It appears that the internets have created popularity (quantitative) instead of merit based on aesthetics and actual artistic merit (qualitative), just like Scott said. Contests are so friggin dumb anymore, geesh

I entered a photo contest early in my photo days, but it was a concert photo contest put on by a local radio station. At the time I was one of the very few people sneaking a camera into concerts (after having camped out in front of May D&F so I could get awesome seats the day they went on sale), and I entered a bevy of breathtaking in-concert portraits. I was a shoo-in! Well, I don't remember if I took second place, third place or nothing at all, I just remember not winning first prize. That honor went to a blurry photo of a bunch of hands raised in unified support for whatever was happening on stage, which was also a big blurry mass of lights and film grain. It wasn't a public vote that determined the winner, but some big shot photo professor, who thought all those blurry hands best represented the concert experience. He was probably right, but man, I was crushed!

It doesn't really matter if it's one judge, a panel of judges, or the public at large voting on photo contest entries, it's a recipe for disappointment in any circumstance.

Thanks for the follow-up Aleks. I agree with the consensus that contests that rely on popular votes to develop rankings are flawed. I think there are still good, juried, contests that can lead to valuable recognition. But they are harder to find. I was interested to see a list of such contests in the latest Photoshelter Buyers guide.

I've run into the same popularity photo contest online and I've stopped wasting my time with them. What really annoyed me the last time was that the (popularity contest) selection method wasn't disclosed during the entry period.

I just went to the gallery page and here is what one of the entrants had to say about his votes...he is currently number 5:

07.01.2011
Posted by Argiris ZafeiridisI would very much like to thank my 4,000 friends on fb who have so kindly contributed with their votes...

Me: I had no idea people were doing that!! I wonder if OP's photo contest has that problem...looks like they use judges except for peoples choice award.

I can't remember the last time I entered a photo contest but I remember one very clearly. Waaaaaaaay back in the early 70's a very well known band was touring and they were soliciting fans for photographs for the liner of their live album that would be recorded during the tour. Well, I spent a month's salary to get seats 3rd row center at the Denver Coliseum, picked up some AGFA 400 slide film, borrowed a friend's 500mm Lentar and headed to the show. Despite the hideous equipment and even more hideous film (connect the dots with a crayon sized grain) I did manage a couple of pretty good shots which I submitted for consideration. I was crushed when the album hit the shelves to see that my images weren't selected (no word either way from the promoters) but I was even more suprised that the majority of the images on the liner were shot by a photographer who at the time was a well known rock star photographer and responsible for probably 50% of all liner photographs on most albums produced in the US. I know this because I was and still am a liner notes geek.

Bottom line: I was never really sure if the contest was legitimate or if it was just a way to pump up ticket sales. Guess I'll never know.