Which images show up in map - there must be a better way!

[pseudopanax]

I'm the first to admit that quite a few of my pictures are just average, but I just happened to have a look at the area of the Captain Cook memorial at the landing site in Gisborne and my photo wasn't even showing up at the highest zoom level. Instead, (only!) an inferior shot of it was showing up just because it has more views. (no offence to that other picture, but if the top of the memorial is cut off and the car window frame is in the picture, it's not really ideal To top it off, that picture's title is "Untitled", whereas mine has a meaningful description "Captain Cook memorial at the landing site, Gisborne".

Location:
http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt%3D-38.675656%26ln%3D178.026028%26z%3D-1
My picture:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39025862

Don't get me wrong, I don't care if my pictures aren't showing because they're only average, I don't need the ego boost, but in the interest of how valuable and good Panoramio is, there surely must be a better way to decide which pictures are showing up on the map than purely view numbers?!?!

Any thoughts? At least show more pictures at the max. zoom level, esp. if there is enough space (in the above case, the only picture showing at all in the zoomed in area is that one single picture, so the viewer doesn't even know there are other pictures)

[Draken]

Quote pseudopanax:

Views depend on popularity and there are 20 factors, the majority of which are not disclose. So , there are several ways to decide where to show pictures other than only views.

Have a look here: http://www.panoramio.com/help/understanding_popularity

[Galatas ©]

With millions of photos all over the world it would be an enormous task needing thousands of reviewers with local knowledge to weed out the bad photos.
Of course the real problems start when it's yours (or mine) that are deemed not good enough.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Quote pseudopanax:

...my photo wasn't even showing up at the highest zoom level. Instead, (only!) an inferior shot of it was showing up just because it has more views.

Don't get me wrong, I don't care if my pictures aren't showing because they're only average, I don't need the ego boost, but in the interest of how valuable and good Panoramio is, there surely must be a better way to decide which pictures are showing up on the map than purely view numbers?!?!

Any thoughts? At least show more pictures at the max. zoom level, esp. if there is enough space (in the above case, the only picture showing at all in the zoomed in area is that one single picture, so the viewer doesn't even know there are other pictures)

Yes, you are right. You photo (although at least technically better than its competitor) does not show up on Google Maps and Panoramio Map due to a limitation of this view (map view does not show less popular photos when they are "obscured" by more popular photos at almost the same location).

Need to say: your photo is visible in Google Maps Streetview and in Google Earth (from altitude of 10 km).

More to say: You photo is relatively fresh (comparing to its competitor). Popularity ranking works mostly fine in long terms - so hopefully after some time, your photo will be visible and mentioned competitor not.

If you want to get better chance to your photo, I suggest you to move it slightly out of "shadow" of its competitor. And even better hint is to upload stunning photo of this subject (some extraordinary light conditions, unusual view angle may help... I know, difficult with theme like monument placed beside harbour storage facility).

[davidcmc58]

pseudopanax, since this forum section is all about the "tips" for Panoramio. I will give you the "real street tip" to get ahead of your competition. I do agree that your shot is better but his older shot has 910 views and your newer one only has 150 views. Not to worry my friend. Since both shots do not have any likes / favorites, all you need to do is to get a few likes and your shot will be way ahead of his (I am willing to bet anybody $US 10 on this). You can beg, buy or do whatever it takes to get these likes and they do help your shot's popularity a lot. Unfortunately this is the sad reality of Panoramio. Here, for the 100th time I am urging to the team that the "likes" should not be factored in popularity rating what so ever.

[Galatas ©]

Quote davidcmc58:

pseudopanax, since this forum section is all about the "tips" for Panoramio. I will give you the "real street tip" to get ahead of your competition. I do agree that your shot is better but his older shot has 910 views and your newer one only has 150 views. Not to worry my friend. Since both shots do not have any likes / favorites, all you need to do is to get a few likes and your shot will be way ahead of his (I am willing to bet anybody $US 10 on this). You can beg, buy or do whatever it takes to get these likes and they do help your shot's popularity a lot. Unfortunately this is the sad reality of Panoramio. Here, for the 100th time I am urging to the team that the "likes" should not be factored in popularity rating what so ever.

That sounds suspiciously as if you are advocating and encouraging insincere comments , "like" swopping , and maybe even Spamming. The very type of behaviour that ruined the contest until it was eradicated a couple of months ago , and is still prevalent elsewhere.

[Tomas K☼h☼ut]

Quote davidcmc58:

...all you need to do is to get a few likes and your shot will be way ahead of his (I am willing to bet anybody $US 10 on this). You can beg, buy or do whatever it takes to get these likes...

David, David... not the best and most modest hint, don't you think?

[davidcmc58]

Guys, I speak of reality. I am not promoting it but I feel Panoramio is. The site is a "photo sharing" site and it seems to promote the best sharers' photos more than the best photographers' photos. I am sorry, but this "like" business gets on my nerves every time I come across it. It is the worst change since I joined. People can like each other's photos all they want and chat among themselves all day long. Just please don't weight this like thing so heavily for the popularity ratings (if it should carry any weight at all). I have seen photos with a few more likes beat out competing photos with many many more views in terms of popularity. Utterly ridiculous IMHO, but this is Panoramio!

[Galatas ©]

Quote davidcmc58:

Guys, I speak of reality. I am not promoting it but I feel Panoramio is. The site is a "photo sharing" site and it seems to promote the best sharers' photos more than the best photographers' photos. I am sorry, but this "like" business gets on my nerves every time I come across it. It is the worst change since I joined. People can like each other's photos all they want and chat among themselves all day long. Just please don't weight this like thing so heavily for the popularity ratings (if it should carry any weight at all). I have seen photos with a few more likes beat out competing photos with many many more views in terms of popularity. Utterly ridiculous IMHO, but this is Panoramio!

If it galls you so much don't participate in it and reciprocate ... unless your own popularity is paramount. Ignore those who comment with <<<<LIKE>>>> in large bold letters. Look at their conversation list , if it's full of that stuff , ignore them. Don't become another link in their chain.

[Draken]

In the Panoramio food chain "likers" are only close behind spammers (again, definition of spam in the Help File). If they add a "like" (bold, capital letters) I don't reciprocate. As a result I get a visit (and perhaps a "like" if they are not lying) and they get naught.

[davidcmc58]

Quote:

[Galatas ©]

Quote davidcmc58:

Quote:

People can like each other's photos all they want and chat among themselves all day long. Just please don't weight this like thing so heavily for the popularity ratings (if it should carry any weight at all).

The point is , as you yourself stated earlier , people do engage in this because they know it carries weight. Crying "foul" whilst engaging in it doesn't change anything.

[mwr]

I'm new to Panoramio and don't understand which photos show up on Google maps. My photos have all been accepted in Google Earth, but some of them don't appear even in the most-close-up view. There are no other photos "blocking" mine in the close-up view, either. However, they are getting some views (some in the 40s after 1 1/2 months) and I don't understand how because I never see (some) of them.

[Terje Sannum]

Quote mwr:

I'm new to Panoramio and don't understand which photos show up on Google maps. My photos have all been accepted in Google Earth, but some of them don't appear even in the most-close-up view. There are no other photos "blocking" mine in the close-up view, either. However, they are getting some views (some in the 40s after 1 1/2 months) and I don't understand how because I never see (some) of them.

You can search photos by tags, that even displays photos not selected for Google Earth.

[AustinMN]

Quote mwr:

I'm new to Panoramio and don't understand which photos show up on Google maps.

Don't confuse Google Maps (GM - a mapping web site) with Google Earth (GE - a stand-alone application that starts by showing the globe).

Photos are shown in Google Maps based on a formula that nobody knows, and some of us suspect changes frequently. It may include photos not selected for GE, and includes all mapped photos that can be searched by tag - if you search by the correct tag.

Photos are shown in GE based on "popularity" (the formula for popularity is not known and contains at least 20 factors). The altitude where the photo appears used to be relatively simple - the higher the popularity rating, the higher the visibility. But two factors have changed this. First is that occasionally, random new photos will get a temporary very large boost in popularity in order to gice them a chance to get started against long-running photos. Second is the introduction of photo "clusters" to try to help de-clutter the photo layers in GE. Your photo may be on GE, but in a cluster with other nearby photos, and probably not exactly where it is mapped.

In theory, there is an altitude at which it comes out of the cluster and appears by itself at the exact spot it was mapped, but I am not sure this always happens. I think sometimes a photo bounces between different clusters as you zoom in, and may never be displayed by itself.
This seems to be worst in areas with very many closely placed photos.

Austin

[Draken]

As Austin says this is Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/ i.e., a website.

[neil.gilmour]

I have recently noticed that some of my pictures show at high altitudes. THis cannot be due to popularity as at least one has fewer than ten views and is in a pretty popular area. It is a pleasure to find my photographs easily. I just wish others would find them, too.

[Hans Sterkendries]

Neil, I don't use Google Earth so someone will have to back up my assumptions but I believe I read somewhere on the forum that new pictures are displayed a few days at high altitude, then drop to the level that corresponds with their popularity...

[Draken]

It is exactly as Hans describes and most probably the reason why your photos were shown at a high altitude.

[neil.gilmour]

Quote Hans Sterkendries:

Neil, I don't use Google Earth so someone will have to back up my assumptions but I believe I read somewhere on the forum that new pictures are displayed a few days at high altitude, then drop to the level that corresponds with their popularity...

That makes sense. Too bad it does not last!

[the disco kid]

What bothers me as much as 'what shows' is 'What is selected' .. I have a bar interior selected for GE, and a view of a derelict holiday resort resort on the Isle of Man refused even after reconsideration. Not a 'Great Photo' by any means, but fits the GE idea of showing the places on earth.

 

 

[Draken]

Yes, reviewers like any other human being (you and me included, of course) make mistakes. As a consequence, there were, there are and there always be wrongly selected and wrongly rejected photos. Due to the fact the Team are aware of the fallible nature of human beings users have three different instances to ask for a re-review. Many forum regulars can attest this has been said and discussed over ad nauseam. We all have to learn to live with it until the "perfect human being" who makes no mistakes is found somewhere.  ;–)

[Hans Sterkendries]

On Thursday, February 9, 2012 9:46:18 AM UTC+1, the disco kid wrote:

What bothers me as much as 'what shows' is 'What is selected' .. I have a bar interior selected for GE, and a view of a derelict holiday resort resort on the Isle of Man refused even after reconsideration. Not a 'Great Photo' by any means, but fits the GE idea of showing the places on earth.

Please be fair with yourself. Your picture of the derelict holiday resort has someone's head in the lower right corner. 

You may call it "not a great photo" but you can hardly call the back of someon's head " an unavoidable part of the place", as mentioned in the selection criteria for GE (see http://www.panoramio.com/help/acceptance_policy#acceptance_ge). 

 

 

 

[the disco kid]

As I read the rules .. "Portraits of people, or photos of people posing" are not permitted ..

 

 I would suggest that the back of my wife's head in the corner is neither "Portrait" nor a "Pose"!

 

Cars also are not permitted, there are plenty of pictures where a car is the obvious subject, but two of my photos from a car park to the Calf of Man which show the bonnet of a parked car were rejected ..

 

There have to be rules, but even the inconsistencies are inconsistant.

[Draken]

Disco kid

I wonder if you have already done all the reading that may help you understand a few things around here: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/panoramio-questions-support/9zfo3pxk5iA

[Hans Sterkendries]

On Sunday, February 12, 2012 11:59:39 PM UTC+1, the disco kid wrote:

 

There have to be rules, but even the inconsistencies are inconsistant.

To me your so-called inconsistencies are perfectly consistent. It's hard to take a picture of -let's say- Fifth Avenue in New York without cars or people. They are an "unavoidable part of the place".

But how hard is it to keep the back of your wife's head out of the frame? 

The same goes for the bonnet of a parked car...

Don't blame the rules or the team, blame yourself. 

[Draken]

It doesn't take to be a super photographer to avoid an unwanted object to enter your frame, does it?

[the disco kid]

Draken et al .. 

Nothing will change your views, nor will change mine .. this will be my last word on the subject .. you of course may answer ..

I believe(d) that representation on GE was to show a prospective visitor the sort of thing(s) that visitor may expect to see, were that place visited .. if a photo is taken from a car park, then I would expect some indication of the fact .. if  it is a view where people may be expected, then people should be in that view .. 

That should apply unless the main object of the picture is the vehicle, person or whatever .. 

I am aware  that the Port Soderick view is not a 'Good Photograph' .. I could have tweaked the picture to remove the offending item, as I have done now with the Calf of Man shots .. but then it would have been, like the Calf photos, less than honest., 

You all will disagree but  that is your privilege.

[Hans Sterkendries]

On Monday, February 13, 2012 10:16:51 AM UTC+1, the disco kid wrote:

I believe(d) that representation on GE was to show a prospective visitor the sort of thing(s) that visitor may expect to see, were that place visited .. if a photo is taken from a car park, then I would expect some indication of the fact .. if  it is a view where people may be expected, then people should be in that view .. 

That is your photographic philosophy. Fine by me. Just don't demand that those pictures are included in GE. The GE selection critareia are what they are... But because your pictures don't meet the criteria you call the selection inconsistent. Not really fair but, yeah, that is your privilige.

[the disco kid]

I said I wasn't going to post any more .. this time I really mean it .. but Hey .. see http://www.panoramio.com/photo/66689300 ..

[Draken]

It goes to show:

a) reviewers make mistakes

b) you have an amazing aesthetic taste.

[Hans Sterkendries]

On Monday, February 13, 2012 3:56:07 PM UTC+1, the disco kid wrote:

I said I wasn't going to post any more .. this time I really mean it .. but Hey .. see http://www.panoramio.com/photo/66689300 ..

I honestly don't see why you insist on acting out the way that you do. 

Please note that selections for GE are regularly checked so don't be suprised if your picture suddenly is no longer selected.

And plase find two decent options here:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/66708906 

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/66708902 

I took the liberty of doing your work. You are free to download these pictures and upload them to your own gallery. I will remove them as soon as I hear from you.

 

[the disco kid]

It seems I must reply, despite my intentions ..

 

I have done what I have done to illustrate the arbitrary and seemingly strange decisions taken by those who decide which do and which do not meet the requirements ..

 

I lay no claim to taking to 'good photographs' as is perfectly obvious, my intentions are only to illustrate a location as it is (or in some cases, as it was years ago) to anyone who may care to look.

 

I am perfectly aware that I could have removed the offending head by cropping the photo, but what would that prove? and would it have given a clearer idea of the place.

 

Please remove your doctored copies of my picture as soon as you can, and perhaps you should look at some of your works of art which are selected and see if they meet the rules, (66158652 for instance (there are others)) and if not, why not get them removed from selection for GE

 

PS

 

Congratulaions on your command of English ..  

[Hans Sterkendries]

On Monday, February 13, 2012 10:06:12 PM UTC+1, the disco kid wrote:

 

I am perfectly aware that I could have removed the offending head by cropping the photo, but what would that prove? and would it have given a clearer idea of the place.

Well, the only thing your proved now is exactly what Draken pointed out: the reviewers make mistakes. Big news. That's probably the one thing all the regular forum visitors agree on. ;-)

A cropped picture would't have given "a clearer idea of the place" but you could have saved yourself and others a lot of time and energy.

On Monday, February 13, 2012 10:06:12 PM UTC+1, the disco kid wrote:

 

and perhaps you should look at some of your works of art which are selected and see if they meet the rules, (66158652 for instance (there are others)) and if not, why not get them removed from selection for GE

I have over 43,000 pictures on Panoramio. 30,000 of them are selected. There are bound to be mistakes in both directions. 

Like many other users, I don't agree with some of the selection criteria. But I don't have the time to check every single picture. Nor do I waste the reviewers' time by asking second or even third reviews of picture that obviously don't comply with the GE acceptance policy...

GE is on the cherry on the Panoramio pie. In the end I'm glad to have Panoramio that goes well beyond GE's limited focus...