I'm curious what reasons people vote for the images. I typically vote for images that grab my attention right away. The ones that stand out for uniqueness, humor, or storyline. I love the surreal images (because I can never conceive these my self). I guess I'm just too right brained.

I guess my real subject is what images you won't vote for. I don't like perspective issues. If the perspective is wrong I won't vote for it. Shadows on the other hand don't have to be perfect. Close is good enough for me. Shadows in life are everywhere and can be forgiving to a degree. I also don't like contrast or saturation differences that stand out. I like good ideas and composition but they don't have to be "all source" chops to get my vote. Please share!

It simply has to be well done.

If its meant to be realistic, it has to convince me and all aspects, perspective, contrast, extraction, color, shadow, everything has to work. Anything off is just jarring to me. Composition is important also, but to a lesser degree generally since if we are supposed to be looking at a slice of life not all photos are works of art.

If it is meant to be mad or far fetched, out of the bounds of reality, most of the above still applies, but idea and concept now become more important as does composition.

Making a funny chop is dangerous because what is funny to one is often NOT funny to another. Sometimes I'll pass on a decent chop because this just isn't funny although the author intended it to be.

"All source" chops don't automatically register higher with me as they seem to with a lot of people. Its just as tough to find and match separate images as it is to make something out of one image. If anyone wishes to dispute this we can talk.

I know I make mistakes too, but there's an old adage in the graphic arts field that you should never proof read your own work. Same goes here. I miss stuff too so am not trying to set myself up as an "expert". I am just trying to explain how I feel and open the floor to civilized discussion.

I've posted this before in Mir's thread.
For me a good chop is often about that fantastic idea that stands out and makes me say "Why didn't I think of that!"
Some of may faves....

I love a bit of blisteringly good execution....


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/109186/stepping-up.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/135535/green-seat-part-8.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/132404/sea-nymph-updated.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/104302/demon.html

and a good all source manip...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/133084/easy-escape.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/tournament/view/501/display.html

breaking the laws of physics is always good...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/90546/moving-in.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/88126/gravity.html

a good switcheroo.....


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/115219/golf-switcheroo.html

a funny story...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/76937/display.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/103855/turtle-crossing.html

a clever use of source...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/95381/happy-sweet-16-darling.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/89669/shamouse.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/93731/twister-incoming.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/67664/display.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/tournament/view/616/display.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/117717/nighthawks.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/81263/the-hunt.html

a bit of cloning brilliance....


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/95190/friday-staff-meeting.html

some seamless giffy magic...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/128240/rock-star-gif.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/115086/migration-loop-gif.html

and brilliantly seeing something in an image that others may not...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/66647/display.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/107312/exploring.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/134123/impressions-updated.html

and lastly, a bit of pi55 funny humour...


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/69796/display.html


http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/69815/display.html

I'll vote on things that catch my eye straight away, i dont give preferance to all source chops and it also dont matter who the person is thats chopped it, i'll vote for newbies as much as established members.

I suppose i really dont like to see things that look as if they are floating when they are meant to be on the ground, i know sometimes its hard to get it wright but when its done badly it looks really bad.
Also i have a bit of a thing about over contrasty or over satuated colour in images, it just looks horrible.

I have a problem sometimes with thinking outside the box when it comes to thinking of ideas for a chop, so when someone comes up with an idea that does just that it will get my vote.

I also hardly ever vote on the first day and hardly ever use up all my 25 votes.

I look at an image, trying to see what the chopper have tried to achive, and if I think they have done a good job achiving that; I'll vote.

I can overlook a bad shadow.

wow, just had my premiere here: I couldnt give even one vote for the entries in the actual lion-contest. unbelievable...

i gave 4 votes in that contest

hard to say i think i'll vote if something has a story behind it or if it's wel executed...
sometimes i vote for someting i do not really like cause it's not my style...but if it's good its only fair they get a vote for it
i almost never vote for a gif except if it's a verry good one...
and i never vote for myself either

If it is a very creative idea it will get my vote even it is not perfactly executed. Newbies will get my vote if I like their idea even if skills are still lacking a good try is as good as any of the great chops for me, if there are many of the same idea in one contest, the best one chopped or the one tackled differently will get my vote. thinking outside the box will always get my vote, one who has his own style will usually get my vote, like micose, anabe and others who have their own style, I usually end up voting for their work, it amazes me how they can think up so many new ways of doing so many daily contests and still keep their own style. Great skills will get my vote. i have missed many obvious mistakes on images I have voted for just because I liked their idea. I do not like gifs much unless they are very original or very well executed. When I have finished voting I seem to have voted on a carve, the very best execution,idea and theme, take first preferance, the ones who have done a really good chop taking care of detail even if the idea is not so original and the newbies, who have increased the skill, come up with a good idea or a funny theme. I really like surreal and fantasy work so those are more than likely to get my vote. I would love to leave a comment every time I vote saying why I like the image but this is not always possible depending on the available time.

funny, clarity and not using someone else's image to make your piss poor image look better