I don't get it

[switch842]

The winners were announced over at sg_lyrical for the latest challenge. For Atlantis, two of my icons got 1st, 3rd and Best Application. Yay, cool, right? Well, here's the thing: for the Atlantis icons, I really just kinda threw some stuff together so there would be more entries. But for the SG1 side, I spent several hours trying to get the icons together and I loved them. I thought they turned out amazing. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. If you go here I made 2, 8, 13. I LOVED 2 & 13. Seriously. I love how they turned out and thought for sure they would get something. But no. #3 got first, 15 2nd, 1 & 14 tied for 3rd and 16 got Best Application.

So, here's what I want to know: What is wrong with the ones I made? Do they just totally look like crap and I have no idea what I'm doing? Should I stop spending the hours I'm putting into my icons and just slap some crap together each week cos that seems to be what gets me winning icons?

I'm just confused and upset and I don't get it.

Comments

[mazzmatazz.livejournal.com]

Ok, this is just personal opinion here, I'm very funny about how LJ icons look, so don't take it personally.

However, I think the fonts in 2 and 13 don't go so well with the images. In icon 13, I don't like the fact that it animates, and in icon 2, I think the font is too 'square'. Something more flowing and handwriting like would have been better.

I would have actually said the best icons were the two that got third place. I think it just depends on the people voting. It's down to their tastes.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know it's all about personal taste and everything. I think I get what you mean about the flowy script thing.

I guess it's also a little difficult cos what I think is good, apparently isn't and sometimes you don't always know how to change it, ya know?

[mazzmatazz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and things I really like, other people hate. You can't please all the people all of the time.

[brihana25.livejournal.com]

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. When it comes to things like this, the voting public - in general - are... well, to be polite, they're unpredictable. To be blunt and rude, they're morons.

They neither know nor care how much time you put in to what you've made and they're just as likely to clamor over crap like it's the greatest thing ever as they are to respond to the stuff that's actually good. It's not just icons, either, it's everything - you see it in fic, in vidding, in wallpaper making... everywhere.

And sometimes - actually, a lot of times - the really good stuff will sink below the crap because (and I really hate to say this, but it's true) the people who make the crap have more friends than the people who actually care about the art they produce.

And to answer your question - there's nothing wrong with the icons you made. Personally, I like the Felger one, and I don't even like Felger. :)

And look at the subject matter that won - Daniel, Daniel, Daniel/Vala, and Jack/Daniel.

I've got some experience with this, and it sucks, but it's true. No matter how hard you work, or how great it looks, or how perfect it is... if it's not the "right" subject, most people aren't going to notice. Some of my personal favorites of my vids, the ones that I spent the most time on and think do the best job of expressing what I wanted to say, sit at the bottom of the list in general popularity because they're about Teal'c, or Sam/Pete, or Lindsay Novak.

Your icons are really good, and the more you work at them, the better you'll get. I think you've just hit that point that we all hit at some point or other, when you look at the general crap floating around you and say, "What's the point of even trying?"

The point is that you're better than most of them, and can be better than the rest, if you keep learning. And it doesn't really matter if they know it or not.

*hug*

[switch842.livejournal.com]

OK, for some reason, I can't reply directly to your comment. But anyway...

Thanks, bri. I have noticed that the in fics there's all these "OMG!!11!! You fic is soooo good!!1!11" when it's so filled with typos and horrible grammatic errors, it makes me sick, really. Because, like you said, you almost get to the point of why bother trying any more. But I won't let them get me down! :-D I'll keep going and I'll make them better and better. And soon, they won't be able to deny my genius! Mwa hahaha! :-P

[nikki-dichotomy.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I can tell you that may favorite is #3.
Why?
Because it's Daniel/Vala and I adore them, and because it expresses an emotion that I like. It makes me feel warm and gooey (either that or I need diapers).

I don't think it's how much time you spent as much as who is voting and what speaks to them.