Since this thread has resurfaced, I want to rephrase my original question. I was never really referring to my own work; my curiosity is arroused by the work of others. Sometimes here on this forum or elsewhere, there will be an image that recieves a lot of views and comments and I can't find anything spectacular about the image.
For me, that occurring in the RFF gallery, is far more perplexing than elsewhere; like other places, the naked or pseudo-naked photos get more clicks, but then there are others that (
to me) get inexplicable praise when it's a very banal shot right next to another that I find visually and technically far more superiorer (Dubyism).
There are so many factors (mate-commenting, anti-mate ignoring, jealousy in the extreme cases, or just plain "who cares!"-ism) and one could only answer this "mystery" if we could all look into everybody's head at all times and sift out the observations. Since that's impossible (at least with present-day technology and interest), we of course can only speculate based on educated guesses.
I am also not talking about like/ dislike. It is one thing to understand why someone enjoys an image even if you do not; I just wonder if anyone else here is at a loss at times to "see" why others like an image that you may find plain and - boring - for lack of a better word.
I am curious if anyone else thinks it is a valid exercise to try to see a photo from someone else's point of view.
Usually, there's some sort of emotional investment which is reflected in an image for the viewer. This explains why "personal favorites" of one's own work are often at odds with "others' favorites" of one's own work.
I often see a Weakest Link/Survivor/[insert favorite "reality" TV show's name here]-like behavior: people who identify more with either the photographer or that photographer's skills praise their work more than those who think they merit it, either in an innate and subconscious desire to "get rid of the competition", rendering the winner not the "best" winner, but a "winner" who can give you a sense of hope and meaning to your own struggle.
Anyway, I'm not a psychologist nor do I pretend to be one. I can only speak from experience and personal observation. People who strongly disagree with one's views, even when they have concrete evidence, will be challenged because they themselves challenge their deep-rooted views.
If we all followed the exact same rules of life, and were honest, and life were fair and everybody were all-knowing, then in that Kumbaya world nothing would be much of a mystery and we would not seek out answers and work and live in perfect ant-farm harmony.
Since it's not that way, some people behave and react in ways we may never understand. Their choices, including those for "best photo ever" (and some including one or more --many more-- exclamation points), will always make our heads scratch. If you're into that sort of thing. Head-scratching, that is.
