Unbiased Voting Needed

I really don't think non-members take much interest in the contests at all.

- Richard Reeve
reevephotos.com

You are correct Richard

there is no such thing as "unbiased" voting - that is what voting is - it's choosing - and you have either one bias towards the one you like and those you dislike or think less of. And human's just aren't built to be unbiased.

I think contests are a completely internal animal. I have no idea if they impact your ranking or any other facet of your standings at FAA.

there would be very, very, very little incentive for strangers to spend a lot of time going through things just to vote in a contest that has no prizes and very little glory. and a system like that would be cheated in, even more than it is now.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

It would be little less biased, but why would anyone come here to vote. The same would have their friends and family that aren't members vote for them.

What would be the incentive for non-members?
If voting is open to non-members, it seems to become a popularity contest to see who has the most friends in many cases.
Additionally, at least when members are voting, you know that most of them have some sort of knowledge or understanding of the principles of art.

Yes - if it is open to non-members - popularity is part of the reason to be - think about it - all those non-members might see other artist/photographers work - and ask their friends if they saw it - and the word could spread. This is why "juried by other FAA aritist/photographers" or just open to FAA members truly makes the contests - what - an ego trip - an image dump - what?

Perhaps many are correct. But there must be a way of obtaining unbiased votes. Perhaps FAA can select one category for each medium every month. Example: The month of January would be open to all oils,. February would be open to all acrylics. March for all photos. April for all digital art. Etc. Do not let the artists determine the categories or mediums.. Judging would be performed by volunteer galley owners. The gallery owners would receive recognition on FAA.Winners would receive a certificate of merit.

Any input?

I like the contests as they are -- able to be created by any member with as much or as little thought as they want to give with the understanding that contests should be viewed as a little fun and not much else.

This is a case of trying to reinvent the wheel. They are what they are, no more , no less.
Certificates?? really? lol.
Come on, next people will be putting our little contests on their resumes!

Well It would be nice to know what the public thinks of the images, You have a point about getting the Public to vote, after all we do want the public to buy our work and that is one way to get them involved. get then interested in opening the site more often, and telling others about the site also. Yes once a month or something like that.