Reasons why I "like" a photograph.

Looking at photos throughout these forums for almost the past 2 years, I clicked the "like" button many times. At first I would click it because most of the shots were much better then mine having just started out.
After a while I would get to know a few people and would click "like" on their shots just because I liked them personally. Even if they put up a shot I really didn't like at all.

Lately I have quit doing that. I still do it when I see improvement in people's shots, but no longer just because I like them on a personal level.

Here are a few things that make me go for the "like" button in order of importance.

1. Emotion. This is the main thing for me. Does the photograph do anything for me when I first look at it? For me this is much more important than anything else.

2. Subject matter. Landscapes, wildlife are on the top of the list. Especially wildlife actually doing something other than just standing there. (This one is tough to get but it is one of my favorite subjects)

3. Composition. Very important IMO. You can ruin a perfectly executed shot with great subject matter with a badly composed shot.

4. Execution.
Most important for me would be in focus. You have an out of focus shot, you may as well toss it. Nothing worse than seeing a perfectly composed shot with great subject matter doing interesting stuff, and the shot or some critical part of the shot, like the eyes be out of focus.
Execution would also involve getting the right settings as far as exposure is concerned.

These are the main things that I like to see in photographs that I'm viewing whether here on the forums or anywhere else for that matter. I also strive to achieve these very things in my own photos.

I click if i like a picture,the clue is in the word like,it doesn't have to be perfect ime not saying its the best depiction i have seen ime just saying there is something about it i like,i do tend to click like with new posters sometimes to offer encouragement,we also have to remember its a like/thanks button.

I just click whatever speaks to me.


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All the above for me. What I really enjoy is watching newbies, like me, gradually build up their skills and start to enjoy the results of their efforts.

For me, I agree with @Blacktop for the most part, however... (here it comes) it depends on the thread. Some I am more inclined to punch a Thanks/Like than other threads. "Thanks" for participating is one area. "Like" for good and better photos that speak out. Maybe the Thanks/Like could be separated in the future to clear up the blurring between the two. To distinguish for now, I will try to comment on a photo that really stands out to me.

I think sometimes that button is clicked to let people know they stopped by.

I think Grizz has a good point , the thanks / like should be separate , you may get a reply to a post with a shot
relevent to the post , but you don't necessarily like the shot , but thank them for them for posting an opinion
just my thoughts

I think everyone has good points.

Just being very honest, sometimes I would "like" a photo but don't. Some poster's are a little stingy with likes given vs. Received so I may hold back. Probably not right but it's honest....

hi Chris, I'm not sure that's right , if I was given a million likes , I still wouldn't give one back if I didn't like it ,
its no reflection of what I think of the person posting , shit I've never met any of them , if I like, I click, if indifferent
i don't,
It doesn't mean I think any less of any of the members it's just my opinion

I'm ever changing as a photographer so things change over time.

Skwaz said:

hi Chris, I'm not sure that's right , if I was given a million likes , I still wouldn't give one back if I didn't like it ,
its no reflection of what I think of the person posting , shit I've never met any of them , if I like, I click, if indifferent
i don't,
It doesn't mean I think any less of any of the members it's just my opinion

Click to expand...

Perhaps I'm a little jaded...
It bugs me that some people in life enjoy receiving accolades but don't find others efforts worthy.

For sure a generalization, but I deal with the public 5 days a week!

Being nice and finding beauty in the efforts of other costs nothing...

Not calling anyone out or criticizing anyone just saying I am more willing to compliment someone I think is nice based on my limited knowledge.

Probably not right...

Sorry was in a bad mood yesterday my Grandfather died

I click like cos I appreciate when members took a picture and show them to us. When just someone started to get into photography and show us his first shot that is a huge step to get himself in an improving way, that is a like worth fir sure. I can remember my first likes and they made me digging deeper in photography. (Thanks Pat, Marilynne, Mike, Don and Ted.) Your likes inspired me to try to get better shots.

When I know someone longer and I know him for a long time of period a like is him for sure cos that he still takes good photos which he feels is great to show, it is great for me too. When someone get a great shot an it speaks right away to me I like it as well and give a comment as well.

If someone is posting in the section of critic forum that is when I maybe tell what is great and where is a space for improvement.

At the end of the day everyone must live with his postings, photos and criticism he did or not.

What's your post trying to say Kevin ? Your link goes back to a post about my trip to Singapore
Scott Murry replied with help and I thanked him with a reply and not a click , as I felt he had taken
the time to help I should respond with a message and not just a click

I click 'like' for different reasons. Sometimes it is to acknowledge a response that another member took the time to write. Other times, it is because someone new tried very hard to do the best he/she was capable of doing at that moment in time. And sometimes it is because there are certain people I enjoy interacting with. Lastly, there are times I click 'like' because the photo is brilliantly executed. I tend to be a little more selective when it comes to people whose ability is higher than the average Nikonite.

In the past I believe it was asked for separate buttons...one for liking a photo and a different one to acknowledge comments. That suggestion was never implemented so 'likes' can mean a whole lot of different things. Just because someone has a lot of likes doesn't mean their photography is among the best of the members--it can but it doesn't always mean that.

I tend to like the ones that get my attention. It can be a strange thing that jogs a memory or a beautiful landscape or those shots I wish I could capture like the birds that seem to be just out of my reach when I try to capture them.

I enjoy hitting the like button. Maybe it's the educator in me, but I know encouragement is always helpful to people's continuing development and improvement. I don't click like for everything under the sun, but I certainly want to send a lot more likes than I receive. I hit like for a lot of the reasons @Blacktop mentioned. I especially look for good composition.

Maybe I need to rewrite my original post. It wasn't as much about hitting the like button per say, but more about why I like a photograph . Things like what jumps out at me and grabs my attention.
The list I made was in order of importance for me. They are all important and I may enjoy a photo for any of those reasons, but there is a hierarchy of reasons for me.

I don't know that there's any reason rewrite what was written...there's no need to have to rationalize a reason. The reasons written gives the critical thinking and analysis that goes into appreciating art, and doing so on an artistic level versus a popularity level.

It might be having like in quotes that had people thinking it was specific to the like button, but still good points on how to evaluate any image. Photography is about training the eye...same thing here.


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RocketCowboy said:

I don't know that there's any reason rewrite what was written...there's no need to have to rationalize a reason. The reasons written gives the critical thinking and analysis that goes into appreciating art, and doing so on an artistic level versus a popularity level.

It might be having like in quotes that had people thinking it was specific to the like button, but still good points on how to evaluate any image. Photography is about training the eye...same thing here.


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Click to expand...

You're right Charlie. After thinking about it some, I agree. Perhaps I shouldn't have put "like" in quotes . (for this, I award you your 16th "best answer"):encouragement: