glottz (12/14/2007)
How does archiving occur ? Does the system do it, or the photographers themselves ?.
Both. I feel the best option is to do it yourself. Then, you as the photographer are in control and unnecessary votes are not accumulated on images that are NOT competitive for the advanced awards.
.
Various awards require a certain number of qualifying (RAW) votes in order to be eligible for a win. Category and Daily Awards require 15 raw votes, Weekly require 30, Monthly 60 and Annual 80. Both types of awards (standard and signature) require the same number of RAW votes. Generally, signature votes come at a little slower rate than regular votes so if you just monitor SIGNATURE VOTES you will be covered for both types of awards.
.
The theory on archiving is to get a fair mix of votes (opinions) on an images then based on that rating achieved archive it or allow it to continue to collect additional votes.
.
If an image is rating highly after 15 Raw Signature votes, it is likely to be competitive for additional awards (Weekly, Monthly, Annual) and should continue to collect votes to qualify for those award levels.
.
If an image is not rated highly (you could almost rule-of-thumb say anything below an 8 - though that is a personal choice) then it is unlikely to be competitive for the more advanced awards and everyone would be better served if the image was archived.
.
Archiving locks in the current rating and removes the image from the voting pool. The image continues in any competition in which it is RAW vote qualified but it no longer counts as an occupied voting slot for the photographer allowing them to add another entry.
.
The system also checks image's ratings and AUTO ARCHIVES many images that rate as noncompetitive beyond their current raw vote level. Example: An image is rated at 6.5xx after 15 signature votes. It is very unlikely to earn any award beyond those requiring 15 raw votes so the site Auto Archives the image to make room for another entry in the voting pool.
.
The site's Auto Archive is pretty generous in allowing images to proceed into the next level of voting. I think everyone would receive votes a a greater pace if we all more actively managed our contest entries through the Archive Function. WE
