dieseldave Loc: Davenport,IA

ViewBug is a contest website. Does anyone know how legit this site is? I just wonder who has time to go through thousands of photos submitted to their contests?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've signed up for that site a while back. It seems to have collected web rot in my address book. If nothing else, it can serve as inspiration.
--Bob

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I also signed up. Not really impressed. (I did not sign up for paid version, however.)

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I use the free version and enter the contests about once a month...Closest I've gotten is 50%...I was contacted by them for a short blog on one of my images, but nothing ever came of it.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

It's voted on by the members.. For voting you basically you sign on to an existing contest where your shown 3 photos at a time, you pick the best one and second best then a new group appears then repeat. You don't have to vote on any of the 3 or just pick 1 then move to next group. This weeds the weaker photos out and eventually gets down to the best. Voting lasts a week or so per contest. I've won peoples choice, top 10% and other top awards but not the contest themselves. There are over a thousand photos per hour loaded on the site, different categories of coarse. If you want honest feedback, just load a photo. If it's not above average you won't even get 1 look. If you get any comments then you can check out the profile of the person that left the comment. If their profile is much stronger than yours, then you know your headed in the right direction. If you like stiff competition, it's fun......

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

The viewbug site can be used to give you a good idea about where your photography is at, relative to the world. Keep in mind that you are competing against some of the best images in the world. This is not like your local photography contest. The likely hood of you winning is very small. Some of the judges are very good photographers and well known....some not so good and not so well known.
Martin summed things up pretty well. If you get featured or make finalist you can pat yourself on the back, your image will be one of the best of the best.
Note
I am a certified viewbug editor.( I only know of two other..,Jessica Drossin and Lisa Holloway)
I have won two contest.
Been featured 9 times.
Won people's choice award.
Recieved editors choice multiple times.
Have around 20 finalist entries.
Multiple runner up awards and an honorable mention.
The contest I won were judged by Martin Evening and the chief photographer at OnOne software( I forget his name)
There are a couple of photographers here on the UHH that have done well.
Shine Gonzalez..
Randy B.
Joe Ehlen.
Keep your expectations low at first. Your images even when you think they are good are probably not good enough to make the finalist list. First step is to just shoot for a top 10 class.(that's top ten percent of photos in a given contest.
There can be upwards of 10,000 images. From my experience only the top ten percent will get looked at for finalist selection.
My profile images are here..
http://www.viewbug.com/member/RussElkins

Here is an example of One of my wins......best of luck.

Jim Bob

Legit. But after a few freebies they hound you to become a paying customer.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I'm not a paying customer and all I get hounded/request, for is to enter more contest. It's totally different than the hogg, it's all about photography and sharing your photos, no talking just participation....

Jim Bob

Good for you. They constantly hound me about joining for a fee.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

That has been my experience as well.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Go to your account settings an then email preferences. The emails you receive are highly customizable. You can unsubscribe there if you don't care to have emails sent to you.
I am no longer a paying customer and only receive emails when I get a message.
That's how I have my preferences configured.