Voting for ART Gallery

The page brings together up to 15 candidate photographs from the Featured selection. The process remains open and dynamic until the editorial team makes its decision.

Publication requires reaching 100% and passing the final quality assessment. The current reference threshold is 40 points. Ranking and score contribute to the assessment but do not guarantee publication on their own.

1. How to vote and view the results

On the selection page, on any device, only pressing VOTE records a vote. Opening a photograph does not add a Like. If you have already voted on the original page, your vote is recognised and is not counted again. Votes cannot be withdrawn from this section.

On a computer, clicking a photograph opens a preview with details of votes, valid comments, points attributed to individual commenters, bonuses, the total score, and the percentage reached. On smartphones and tablets, the photograph opens on its original page.

Percentages and progress bars appear when the data is ready. A loading indicator is displayed during processing; once it is complete, the six highest-scoring photographs appear in the ranking.

2. How much Likes are worth

Likes have a progressive value. Each rate applies only to Likes within its own band, without recalculating earlier Likes.

• 1st through 15th: 0.90 points each.
• 16th through 20th: 1.10 points each.
• 21st onwards: 1.20 points each.

A progressive, cumulative bonus is added to these points:

• Up to the 9th Like: no bonus.
• 10th through 13th: +0.50 points each.
• 14th through 16th: +0.70 points each.
• 17th through 18th: +1.80 points each.
• 19th through 25th: +1.50 points each.
• 26th onwards: +1 point each.

3. Even a simple comment counts

When a photograph moves you, add a comment as well as a Like. A short sentence such as “I love this light,” “I like the composition,” or “This image makes me feel peaceful” is enough. You do not need photographic expertise or a long text: even a simple comment expresses appreciation that helps assess images for ART Gallery.

For each photograph, each commenter other than the photographer is counted only once. Writing several comments on the same image does not increase the score or the number of valid comments. Deleted comments and the photographer’s comments on their own work are excluded.

• Member and other categories: 0.30 points.
• Collaborative: 0.40 points.
• Curator: 0.70 points.

If a commenter belongs to more than one recognised category, the highest value applies. Roles are checked when the page opens. The count covers the first two pages of comments, when a second page exists; later pages are not included.

The valid count therefore corresponds to the number of distinct commenters, excluding the photographer, found on the pages analysed. A thoughtful comment is a valuable contribution to the discussion. Points are assigned according to the commenter’s role, with no automatic extra points for a longer text.

4. Participation and additional contributions

A photograph receives +2 points when it reaches both at least 17 Likes and 7 valid comments from different authors. Meeting just one condition is not enough. This contribution is awarded once and does not multiply as the counts increase.

The initial assessment may add +2 or +4 points. These are alternatives: when 4 points apply, the 2 points are not added as well.

Meaningful user participation may receive a further, independent contribution of +2 points.

5. Editorial bonuses: how much they add

• +40% or +20% of the photograph’s base score. These percentages are alternatives and are not added together. If both are present, +40% applies.
• +40% of comment points only. This increase can apply on its own or alongside either of the percentages above. It does not directly change Like points or other contributions.

The base score includes Like points, the progressive bonus, comment points, the contribution for reaching 17 Likes and 7 commenters, the initial assessment, and the user activity contribution.

Any 40% increase on comments is calculated before the percentage bonus on the base score. The increased comment points therefore also form part of the base used to calculate the overall +40% or +20%.

6. Possible editorial adjustments

A lower initial assessment may subtract 1 point from the base Like value, without taking it below zero.

When a negative editorial adjustment applies, Like points, the progressive bonus, and the contributions described in section 4 are reduced by 25%. Comment points retain their full value, including any 40% increase on comments.

The +40% or +20% bonus on the base score is calculated using the already-adjusted base; the resulting bonus amount is then also reduced by 25%. Reductions are incorporated into the displayed figures and do not appear as a separate negative entry.

7. Ranking and percentage

The six candidate photographs with the highest total scores are displayed. Ties are resolved, in order, by the higher number of Likes, the higher number of valid commenters, and finally the original position in the selection.

The percentage is calculated by dividing the total score by 40 and multiplying by 100: 10 points = 25%, 20 = 50%, 30 = 75%, 40 = 100%. The displayed result is rounded to the nearest whole number and never exceeds 100%.

Under the current rounding rule, 39.80 points also display as 100%. The calculation still uses 40 points as its reference. The percentage shows score progress, rather than a statistical probability of publication.

The ranking may change as votes, comments, and assessments are updated. Scores, weights, and criteria may be recalibrated during the selection according to the quality of the work, participation, and editorial priorities.

ARTFreeLife · Independent fine art photography