So i had some free time and was rating freshwater fish pictures (not tank pictures, to clarify). After all, rating pictures is how the site was born. So I've taken some time to explain how I personally rate those pictures, not to set a benchmark, or to educate, but rather to explain my own point of view in terms of a good (or bad) rating. This is purely my opinion, and in no way meant to offend (or compliment) anyone in particular. I already know it will receive some praise and definitely some criticism... which is great as this is a forum. More than anything I hope this is a good read and gets people thinking more about how they assess their own rating scale.

0 - no fish pictured, or if it is i can't find it.

1 - either a very very blurry picture of fish or a super super tiny picture of fish... either way i can't make out what kind of fish it is.

2 - a jumble of color where its difficult to make out the fish from the background, either due to too many colors or foggy water or foggy tank glass, but some effort was made and i can see what kind of fish it is.

3 - a semi-decent shot of the fish, but the setting behind the fish is so distracting or ugly that i forget about the fish pretty quickly.

4 - a decent shot of the fish and a decent shot of the background (normally this would be a 5, but since there is a leap in skill to taking a really good shot, i put the average at a 4).

5 - an above average shot of a fish, where it shows effort was put, and some luck in getting the shot... nothing distracting to the eye, and the composition is there.

6 - i'm beginning to really like the shot. Bold beautiful colors, sharp focus, and some personality captured.

7 - this shot is starting to turn into an admirable shot, something you'd want your own fish captured in. I almost feel like I know something about the tank owner from the shot.

8 - this shot misses nothing in terms of composition or style... vibrant color, crisp focus, breathtaking setting, and lots of personality of the fish. I also save this category for hard to capture fish, since it takes much more skill to pull this off than with regular fish.

9 - the mother of all shots. The shot is not only pure skill, but a considerable amount of luck or patience went into this shot. It makes me proud to be a fish owner and proud to be a photographer. The shot has just about everything... i underline "just about"

10 - if after reading 1-9 you still don't know what belongs here, please go back and read, as not many people get a 10. Its perfect... its stunning... its a ten.


Now go do a water change and take some pics!! Take care all, Spongebob.

thanks, spongebob. nice post.

agreed........i think its important that there a reasonable standard, not that your setting it or even trying to set it...but when you take a test in school or something we are all held to the same standard..but more so that everyone is kind of rateing in the same ballfield.....I like the standards you have set for yourself and will rate basically in the same fashion ....of course you get a 10 man ....lol..good post..snowboss

P.S. for those of you who may be concerned about expierience levels and compeating with others of a much higher caliber {basically everyone other than me...lol} don't worry about it....it is very easy to see a tank that has been cared for and is a priority in ones life.....reguadless of whether it has 5000 dollars in it or 50.............

Nice post spongebob. I don't usually rate fish pictures maybe once in a while but I do usually rate tank pictures whenever i come on the site. Freshwater and Saltwater.

I never usually rate on the quality of a picture as some people do not have expensive cameras to take good quality pictures. And I only give someone a zero if there tank shows no signs of effort.
After looking at the effort they put in then I rate them on their aquascape and fish.

thanks everyone :)

Honestly I think your rating system is pretty harsh lol. I know that I try hard to get a good shot of my tank but I can never get it just right. Usually If I get a fish in focus everything else sucks, and when I get a crisp picture all my fish are blurs. My rating system goes the same way is if I were to rate a girl that I get a glance at walking down the street. If the setup is average its a 6 if theres no effort its in the 3 ish range and if they look like the tank looks cared for and some thought into it, it will get about an 8. I hope that made sense.