Could someone explain to me how the "popularity" of a photo is defined and calculated? What does the percentage score, say 60% mean? Thanks!

Hi,

 

The popularity of a photo presented to the curators is the score the photo receives in the member voting. If 100 members vote on your photo a score of 60% means that 60 out of 100 voters have pushed the publish button.

 

The popularity of a photo does not tell you whether or not a photo will be chosen for publishing by the curators.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Luc Vangindertael

Moderator

Thanks very much for the clear explanation! It makes good sense. I am new to 1x and would like to understand more about the system. I was just wondering is there a typical minimum popularity score for a photo to be published? Say, typically a photo would need about 60% popularity or above to get published? I fully understand that it is the curator has the sole right to make the final call, the popularity score just is (or not) part of the consideration, or indicator.

 

Thanks again!

 

Yawen Wu

Yawen,

Here is a link to an interview with two of the 1X Curators.
It's an interesting read . . . .

https://1x.com/blog/permalink/7948

Some photographs with 40% popularity are published, and others with 80% or more are not. I'm sure the Curators consider the popularity score, but in the end they judge the submitted images on their own merits. 'Uniqueness' is a quality they value highly.

Steven

Thanks Steven ! Greatly appreciated!

 

Yawen

 

 

To the best of my knowledge the popularity formula is more complicated than that and it was not reveled exactly in previous discussions with the site founders. Unless it has changed within last year or so. The formula was certainly changing a couple of times in the past.

 

Anna

 

Thanks Anna! Greatly appreciated!

 

Happy shooting,

 

Yawen

Yawen,

 

I will just note that there is a floor of 25% for a popularity score if the popularity to views percentage is anywhere from 0% to 25%. I will repeat two of my thoughts about this which I have brought up before. I think the floor could be lower because it would be helpful to know even what the lower level was. Also 25% votes is a not bad ratio when compared to a system built on likes! 500px is a huge community and the more views a shot gets the lower go the clicks on "like". Some of the best photos with thousands of likes will tens of thousands views with ratios of likes to views of 15%. But you will enjoy have many more substantive relationships. Also when you upload a shot, make a post with the link the appropriate forum committee. As folks get to know you there will be many views beside the ones from the curation process.

 

Rob Corkran

 

Hi Rod, Two of my posts so far got 25% even score. I guessed that might be the floor too. I totally agree with you that this is unnecessary - just show the true score - the aggregative view for your shot from this global photo community. I am here to seek for honest opinions on my work, not to satisfy my ego.

 

Yawen

One thing to keep in mind - the popularity score is frozen at some point, I think when the curation process is completed. After it is set, no matter how many more views you get on a photo the popularity score does not change. It is not a running ratio of likes vs. views.

 

Paul C

 

That's completely right ! And keep in mind that the popularity index is NOT REPRESENTATIVE . It is a random sample in mathematical sense. There are 40 to 50 member votes in most cases nowadays until the image is evaluated by the curators. Imagine you upload the same image twice, with a time lag of one week. The first evaluation by the members and the second evaluation by the members is hardly done by exactly the same members. They vary by accident. So it's possible that you get 40% publish votes in the first evaluation, the next week you get 65% publish votes. Both times there are different voters with different opinions. Cheers, Hans-Martin

Hi - does anyone know how the image you load is presented for the member "Curate" process?

i.e.

Is it "random"? - this implies a software algorithm

 

How long would it take after loading and sending for Curation to get its first member exposure - the same photo seems to be presented in "Curate" for a while before a new one is presented.

 

Is it only paid-up members that can curate (i.e. people with "vested interest")?

Just trying to understand this as I am new.

 

Thanks

Brian

Hi Brian,

Welcome!!

When you submit an image for Curation it goes first to the members who vote on it. After it receives a sufficient number of votes,,and this can vary depending on many factors,it then goes to the Curators - automatically. So, all images have this two stage process.

 

Usually as soon as you upload it for Curation it goes into the line to wait for members to vote.That is automatic. However, how long it stays in member voting will depend upon how many images are in the line and how many members are voting. Generally it is seen within the first 24 hours of submitting.

 

You say, "the same photo seems to be presented in "Curate" for a while before a new one is presented."

 

Some clarification would be helpful here. Are you saying that when you are voting on photos in the Curate area that after voting a new picture does not arrive after your vote? Can you explain a bit further?

 

All members can vote in the Curate area.

 

I hope this is somewhat helpful.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy your time here.

My best,

Phyllis

Forum Moderator

 

Hi Yawen,

I really would not put too much emphasis on the popularity score. Sometimes very popular shots are not chosen. The key is whether or not the Curators find you image to their liking. If you want to have a clearer sense of what they might be looking for I suggest going to the Front Page each day and looking at and commenting when you can on the winner.

 

For the most honest and extensive opinions about your work - the Critique section is probably going to offer you what you are seeking. You can always send an image to curation,but sometimes it is best to go to the Critique first,wait for the suggestions and opinions and then send it to the Curators. You may want to make some changes.Always try to send your best/final image to Curators.

 

I hope you enjoy your time here.

Phyllis

Forum Moderator

Thanks Phyllis.

When I commented "the same photo seems to be presented in "Curate" for a while before a new one is presented." ...what I was thinking is if there were 1000 images in the queue to be member curated it could take a long time for my new image to be seen.

 

My other comment is that the member Curate process only allows for Publish or Reject options. I know it sounds like "sitting on the fence" but sometimes I just don't have strong feelings about a photo but I don't necessarily want to Reject it because its subjective and the image just may not grab me - why should I reject? But then Publishing with really meaning it just to get to the next photo is not helping anyone either!

 

 

Hi Brian,

As far as the images in the queue I don't think you will have any wait time there. They should go through easily unless we are high on photos and short on members voting.

If you are experiencing delays of more than a week, there is a chance that curators are discussing your photo and that would be good news as it has not been rejected..quickly.It is still under consideration. If you submit a photo and do not hear back after two weeks this I would report to a moderator or curator.

We do not have a skip button.Think of it like this. The Curators do not have a skip button..they must make a decision. The idea behind member voting is to give members a sense of what it feels like to see many photos and to choose.

I like what you said about 'not having strong feelings.' about a photo.This is about impact, and at 1x impact is a valuable asset.

Subjective - yes...it is but then it is your vote so if it does not grab you - it suggest perhaps that this not an image you would choose for the front page.It is perfectly okay to reject it. So,what you are really saying is that for 'you' the image is so and so..not your cup of tea.However, for others it might be just the right blend. I would not recommend choosing an image just to get to the next page and I can see you agree with me.

The strange thing is that if you look at the FP on a regular basis you are sure to find photos you truly think are worthy and perhaps some which you wonder why they were published. Clearly one of the curators or more..loved that shot you thought was 'eh'. So try not to be too concerned about a reject choice..perhaps the shot is not a candidate for the FP.

BTW sometimes it is the unusual shots that reach the FP and stump people...they are taken by them and may initially think...what? Yet,the more you look you might just find yourself thinking.....it is quite interesting.

Good light to you,

Phyllis

Forum Mod