Annette F.

I have put much effort into my gallery and some challenges, community interaction and, guess what my photos. Been a paying member for 7 years.

First of all, they lure you into making points... even promising you a 'swag' after 500.000 points. I can assure you if you dreamt of an Aussie swag, there isn't even one for your beer tinnie coming up. Nothing. It's a lie.

There was a good forum where you could tell them about flaws, quirks and (View)bugs. Not anymore, it has been cancelled.
Challenges used to get a meaningful description. Not anymore.

Contests should differentiate between photos and digital artwork. Nope, a photo contest is won by a clearly fake, composite image.
In the middle of the pandemic, they do contests like 'haute couture' fashion in the city or Wedding moments which must have recent photos! That really tops it, weddings being limited to 4 guests and no reception.

Why not do a contest like 'health service at work? Heroes of the pandemic, enjoying at a distance, keeping safe, making the best of it. Might be more appropriate.

Which gets me to prizes. Win a podcast interview? The ' possibility' to get your photo published? Are you kidding? Why not donate a computer to poor kids who need to follow courses online if you don't want to give anything to the photographer?
Another good one
Get Your Photos Exhibited
As part of our mission to empower photographers Worldwide, we are running the first-ever ViewBug Virtual Exhibition Project with the goal to showcase unique images and feature the best creators of the community.

Now how is this a 1000 bucks prize value?

I wish I never had put all the effort in it.

Last but not least.
Now they want a GeoTag OK. Fair enough you should think...
Now WHY does San Carlos de Rio San Juan (Nicaragua) create a common tag with all the San Carlos in the world? Why does a very well know landmark in Australia not come up in the search abnd you have to use a town 200 kms away?
Why bother, let's use coordinates as in 9.45 N 91.23 W as in google.