I am so thankful to have such great friends on caedes who are willing to give me constructive criticism and help me improve. I am VERY thankful for all of these people and I lean on their comments, support, advice, and criticism. Those friends tend to be a huge encouragement (be their comments positive or negative) to continue to pursue my dream.

I recently posted an image, Finale that could be the best image in my gallery (in my opinion) and has been spoken of very highly yet is at a 38 c-index. I tend to try and ignore the c-index because in my opinion it's a nearly completely unsuccessful determinant of the quality of an image. And I also know that Finale is only at 10 votes but come on, how much higher can it go from there? It can't surpass Mmmm.. Leaves which is at 71. Can't even surpass Smooth or Water and Rocks both of which are at 68s. Anyways... just thought I'd ask if the image really deserves a 38.. or if it even deserves a 45 which is probably the highest it could even reach now. I truly am open to constructive criticism so any advice will be soaked in and appreciated. My willingness to absorb help though, doesn't change the fact that I'm very pleased with the image as is... I'm just sick of the c-index.

Not trying to sound like a complaining amateur... it's just discouraging. Especially since I have yet to have ONE image in the permanent galleries and have been a member for 2 to three years.

Quick thanks though to Les, Cindy, Chris, Tim, Tom, Hilda, and everyone else who has encouraged and helped me see things I didn't see myself. I am quite thankful for your help.

Emily, Just don't rise to the bait. I have a picture in the perms with a lower CI than that. Quality is seen by the mods and given due attention. this picture, like some of mine, is given good reviews because it is more than a picture. It tells a story, it tells of a game past, the resting athlete, the medals won, it is more than a picture and that is why it is worthy of praise. When it appears in a VB window that does not necessarily come across and so you get a low CI just because it is not that bright or colourful. Anyway if Jan says its good it probably is, and she should know.

I agree with Chris, Emily. To be blunt, if one just takes a passing glance at the post (as I believe many people do in the VB) it looks kind of like a well done snapshot. One has to take the time to study the shot and realize that the composition was carefully set up, the colors are dead on, and the focus amazingly crisp. I suspect the people that left comments viewed the picture long enough to see all this, while people in the VB took a passing glance and decided it was a lucky snapshot.

Rich

this may sound totally weird but how about cropping out the big leg on the left. it would make your image square but possibly more interesting. jmho jen

One more thing to consider, is that many people in the voting booth look at a shot for it suitability as a desktop - and there is a lot of great photography that doesn't make a great desktop. 8•)

:-D Thanks so much guys. I think it can just be nice sometimes to vent, then be reminded to get over it. Which i do... often! haha But again, thanks so much for your input, I appreciate your encouragement and taking the time to respond! You guys are FANTASTIC and I love being a part of this community. :) Thanks thanks thanks!

I honestly think that most people voting in the booths just do it quick and easy and vote good if they like it and vote bad if they don't.

I don't pay attention anymore to the votes I get on my artwork, because I don't think it's really the true vote of being artistic.

Example, for those who don't like Abstract Art always seem to vote it low, where someone who likes it will vote it high.

All art is, is a matter of likes and dislikes and this entire voting system is silly and to me really means nothing.

If I were you, I wouldn't pay any attention to it and just continue posting your art. I thought it was good and worth posting. I personally liked it.

Keep up the good work and don't let the voting system on this site get you down. I just don't think people really take the time to vote artistically.