I've found over the years ( with art events ), that when it comes to a public vote, sometimes it's not about the Art, but more of a popularity contest. I don't know if I've ever made the top 20, because I've never checked. Personally I don't care. I quit posting in the various public galleries to. I've won numerous awards, but that just doesn't appeal to me anymore. I will still enter contest with the sole intention of trying to win the software prize their giving out. But other than that, the challenge we do here is the only place I post pictures anymore ( beside my web site ) And it means more to me when 1 or 2 people vote for my image in the challenge than winning awards or software. Why? because those votes are coming directly from people who I consider to be my peers. And their opinions mean more to me than what any of the so called art critics have to say.

Stephen Ray