A or B - Which photo has the most views #01?

[AdamGT]

@tony_b

One thing to acknowledge - this is the time of month that @AdamGT posts the well loved Leaderboards, so maybe we should let him focus on that, and not be distracted by this small teaser puzzle.

Thank you @tony_b you have summed it up perfectly. I’m ready to roll but just have some issues on the March Video leaderboards and also, Dexter is a little unwell at the moment and both these issues must be given first priority. Not long now. Thanks everyone for your patience and understanding.

Oh look I’m feeling really terrible about the delay so in the meantime while you’re waiting you might like to have a go at the twist

[AT_Rome]

I thought about it, and in my hesitation (I agree with the unpredictability of GMaps) I turned to Gemini for advice.
Gemini too seemed initially undecided, but then, at my urging, he broke the ice and decided to vote for the photo taken from the side of three-quarters.
And it is choice B that I would have made in the end, and that I voted for.
These are the reasons:

• More informative and contextual: A three-quarter perspective shows not only the main facade, but also lateral elements of the building and potentially a bit of the surrounding environment (sidewalk, side signs, windows). This gives users a more complete idea of ​​the appearance of the store and its context.

• More visually interesting: Compared to a purely frontal photo, a three-quarter perspective can be more dynamic and capture the attention of the user who is browsing on Google Maps.

• Potential to show details: The angle can allow you to include important details such as the main entrance, storefronts, or distinctive architectural elements.

While a frontal shot can be useful to clearly identify the building, a three-quarter perspective is more likely to be more informative and visually engaging for users, potentially leading to more views.

And that’s all…
Greetings from Rome, Italy.

[AdamGT]

@AT_Rome

Gemini too seemed initially undecided, but then, at my urging, he broke the ice and decided to vote for the photo taken from the side of three-quarters.

Your reply including the reasons of your choice together with the strategy that you adopted to confirm it @AT_Rome are very interesting. I, and I am certain now that everyone else look forward to your votes and reasoning in poll #2 and poll #3.

[WilfriedB]

@AT_Rome

While a frontal shot can be useful to clearly identify the building, a three-quarter perspective is more likely to be more informative and visually engaging for users, potentially leading to more views.

A very good reasoning, I agree with, @AT_Rome!

I think, the advice to shoot a store front in an right angle applies very well to any store which as a part of a longer facade of front of buildings. However, if we are talking about a standalone building, as in this case, an angled view always provides more attractive information, which can draw the attention of a reader much more quickly.

[Yaryman]

@WilfriedB

I think, the advice to shoot a store front in an right angle applies very well to any store which as a part of a longer facade of front of buildings. However, if we are talking about a standalone building, as in this case, an angled view always provides more attractive information, which can draw the attention of a reader much more quickly.

Just looked at my most visited photos. Only two of the top 15 were NOT straight on.
Now of course the reason for that could be I mostly shoot straight on.

[AdamGT]

Out of interest @Yaryman, how do the views of those two compare to the other most viewed photos that you looked at?

[Yaryman]

Here are my top 30 photos. I always shoot straight on, unless I can’t.
When given the option, I will photograph a venue that serves food, and skip others in same location.
ONLY ONE of those photos was posted after Feb. 7th, 2024. ( 28th highest with 239K views)
Only ONE of those top 30 were posted before 2023. ( Greek church )
I started uploading more seriously in June 2023.
My Number one photo was posted in Aug. 2023 with 1.66M views. But the “takeout” number for the photo was 4.68 million in Feb of this year.

[AdamGT]

Interesting analysis @Yaryman. Am I right that there’s 2 or 3 non storefronts in your top 30? Also, how do you explain the discrepancy between the 1.66M views for your star photo and takeout 4.68m in Feb?

[shunsader]

Completely missed this poll…and there are a lot of comments I won’t have time to read. After having shot over 28,000 photos of more than 8,500 businesses, I’ve recognized that ONLY Google knows which one is going to get better views. I’ve submitted ugly and really nice photos of businesses, and Google often chooses the one that makes no sense to me. WHY A? Because the lettering on the building is marked through, there isn’t a license plate showing in A that anyone can read, and the name of the store represents a larger percentage of pixels. - Steve

[Yaryman]

Correct, just three of my top thirty are non-storefront. (All three of those were taken while on vacation before I started uploading with no intention of uploading them to anything. )
The other 27 store front pics are straight on. ( pretty much the only way I photograph them )

As for the difference between displayed views and takeout views, ALL my photos
uploaded before the Feb. 7th, 2024 change were counted at at MUCH higher rate. ( the old method which I estimate was 95% higher )

So using the old method, my number one photo has 4.68 million views.
BUT, using the takeout method on photos uploaded after Feb. 7th doesn’t give you that
giant difference between views, and in fact some photos uploaded after Feb. 7th show lower views on takeout. ( but still 95% lower than the “good old days” )

[AdamGT]

Hello everyone

Here is my plan. I thought that it would be useful to try and collate and summarise the discussion on this part of the trilogy:

I’m sure that you will all agree that this discussion has been incredibly insightful, revealing a diverse range of perspectives on which of the two night time photos has the most views.

Subjectivity of Appearance:

• As highlighted by @Annaelisa, @PrasadVR, @NituSingh and @JohanLee, the aesthetic appeal of a photo is highly subjective. While Prasad and Nitu found Photo A more appealing, Johan was drawn to Photo B.
• @StevenBerlin’s comment, “neither photo is great,” underscores the subjective nature of visual appeal.
• Prasad added that photo A caught his attention more, but that he could not explain why.

Angle vs. Straight-on:

• @tony_b and @Ssiddharth2000 strongly advocate for the angled perspective of Photo B, believing it provides a more informative and useful view for navigation. @AT_Rome and @WilfriedB also supported this view, suggesting a three-quarter or angled view can be more informative and visually engaging for standalone buildings.
• @Rahul001 and @Annaelisa, however, suggest that straight-on storefront photos (like Photo A) tend to attract more views.
• @Kumaarsantosh also agreed that straight on shots, show the shop front best.
• @Yaryman initially indicated a preference for straight-on shots but later analysis of his top photos showed only two out of fifteen were not straight-on. He clarified that he mostly shoots straight-on unless impossible.

Uninterrupted View and Clarity:

• @Manishhh, @Mohdmohdaljaman, @Peadar, @KetanChhaniyara and @WilfriedB emphasize the importance of an unobstructed view. They argue that Photo B’s lack of distractions and clear presentation of the store’s details make it more appealing.
• Wilfried also notes that the angled view of photo B, shows more details of the entrance, and less noise from the carpark.

License Plate Concern:

• @StevenBerlin and @Ssiddharth2000 raise concerns about the license plate in Photo B, highlighting potential privacy issues and Google Maps’ policy guidelines.
• The general consensus is that this should be avoided, but there is debate about how much the AI cares about this.

Algorithm’s Preferences:

• Many participants in the detailed discussion of Poll #1, including @tony_b and late participant @shunsader (Steve), express the belief that the algorithm’s preferences, rather than human opinions, ultimately determine photo ranking. Based on extensive experience, Steve states that “ONLY Google knows which one is going to get better views” but goes on to suggest that Photo A might be favored due to clearer lettering and no readable license plate.
• @Rednewt74 suggests that Photo A will be more appealing to the algorithm.
• @StevenBerlin has changed his vote to photo B, based on his theory that the algorithm may prefer photos that show multiple signs of the business.
• There is much discussion about how the algorithm works, and if it is consistent, or if it changes depending on POI, or geographical location.

Usefulness vs. Aesthetics:

• Together with a number of others I emphasize the importance of creating photos that are useful and informative for Maps users, even if they aren’t necessarily “great” from a purely aesthetic standpoint.
• I also indicated that the purpose of being a Local Guide, is to share knowledge and experiences, to help others.

The “Twist” and Ongoing Mystery:

• The ongoing hints about a “twist” and a follow-up discussion adds a layer of mystery and intrigue, highlighting the ongoing effort to understand Google Maps’ algorithm.
• @Peadar puts forward a theory that I’m in the photos, and that this could be a factor

Local Guide Motivations and Impact:

• @tony_b highlights the importance of contributing to places with few or no photos, emphasizing one of the core purpose of being a Local Guide.
• Tony acknowledges the challenge of balancing the desire for points and views with the goal of providing useful information.
• @Yaryman expresses a shift in motivation, moving from prioritizing views to focusing on map completeness due to changes in view metrics and feeling undercompensated for view generation.
• In response, I acknowledge that the gamification of the Local Guides program, is a large motivator for many.

Visibility in Geographic Searches:

• @tony_b shares his surprise at finding his photos in broader geographic searches (country level), highlighting the potential for wider visibility.
• @WilfriedB indicated that he has not had the same luck. On this, please see Wilfried’s comment here.

Driving vs. Walking photo taking:

• @Yaryman indicated that his photo taking angle, is dependant on if he is walking, or driving.
• @tony_b indicated that his driving photos are dependant on his location in traffic.

External AI Consultation:

• @AT_Rome’s approach of consulting Gemini (Google’s AI) for advice adds a meta-level to the discussion, further highlighting the perceived unpredictability of the Maps algorithm. Gemini favored the three-quarter view (Photo B).

Algorithm’s Inscrutability:

• @shunsader’s experienced perspective reinforces the idea that the algorithm’s logic is often opaque to contributors.

In summary, the discussion clearly demonstrate the diverse and often conflicting opinions among Local Guides regarding photo preferences and the Google Maps algorithm. It underscores the challenges of predicting algorithm behavior, the importance of considering both aesthetic appeal and practical usefulness when contributing photos to Maps, the variety of motivations that drive Local Guide contributions, and the ongoing quest to decipher the seemingly enigmatic logic of Google’s photo ranking system.

I next want to summarize the discussion in Poll #2 and Poll #3, and then after closing the polls, I will revel all in topic #4. Oh we’re close now

[WilfriedB]

A great summary of a long discussion, @AdamGT. I really appreciate it!

A little clarification:

@AdamGT

@WilfriedB indicated that he has not had the same luck.

“not had same luck” was referring to finding one of my photos as the banner or among the top ten of a geographical feature (city, region, country …). I do see many of mine when I open the “By Me” tab and I am still convinced that my “star photo” gained all its 1.9 million views at such a pin, but I just don’t know which one and at which position it was at the time when it was gaining thousands of use daily versus dozens or less later on.
I can only recommend to everybody to not only watch the listings where they uploaded photos or videos to, but also at least the pin of the city, where those places are.

[Annaelisa]

Danke für diese Übersicht der unterschiedlichen Meinungen @AdamGT

[Yaryman]

@AdamGT

@StevenBerlin and @Ssiddharth2000 raise concerns about the license plate in Photo B, highlighting potential privacy issues and Google Maps’ policy guidelines.

I maybe the only person uploading photos to Google that runs EVERY photo through Photoshop, but in the very rare photo of mine that includes a car with a license plate visible, I just blur, or paint out the number. It’s just a 10 second operation.

This enlargement of an uploaded picture shows the technique.

Just two general info bits.
I down size all my uploads to 1800 pixels wide.
I only upload one photo from a location.

[AdamGT]

Thanks for the clarification @WilfriedB. I know that you will appreciate that in a very long discussion like this, with so many commenters and back and forth comments, it isn’t easy to collate and summarize everything 100% correctly. I’ve edited my summary.

[Mohdmohdaljaman]

@AdamGT تحياتي لك. الحقيقه شكرا ابدعت وشوقت وحفزت.اعانك الله على عظم المجهود حول الردود.ننتظر جديدك الرائع شكرا مره ثانيه لك ولجميع الاخوه المشاركين

[Peadar]

@AdamGT

• @Peadar puts forward a theory that I’m in the photos, and that this could be a factor

but you equally forgot to say I believe in ghosts along with another LG you mentioned saying the same thing, we see ghosts
Maybe only we both see them in your pics & god help the AI @ this juncture,
even AI has to believe half of what it see’s surly, & to recognise that visual content can be manipulated or presented in various forms, with this said I’m not overly concerned about AI yet, another interesting point from another LG was: take 3 pics & let the gods be & in time delete the 2 non performers is a good idea, getting back to topic I don’t care when you publish the results as I believe we are only scratching the surface on this topic, as all good things come for those who can wait,

Full rights to this picture belong to @AdamGT,
once bitten twice shy

Hi to all
P