My first nomination got through ML, but was eventually rejected by the community due to car license plates being visible in the main photo and the ubiquitous not distinct.
I took a new photo for the resubmission at an angle to avoid the cars in the background and added some more information about the social importance of the picnic area in this commercial area. However, this time it was rejected by ML. As usual, the reason is imprecise and unhelpful. Does anyone have any ideas what might be the issue?
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I find that ML is easily confused. I think showing the whole area confused it. I would get lower and focus the main photo on the picnic table in the middle with one of the benches in the background since you are submitting the picnic area.
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I saw a comment elsewhere that you are struggling with getting past ML. I find that if I think about trying to submit a photo that could be used in a catalog or guidebook, it helps me to frame it. I am not saying that you have to be a professional photographer, just think about making it as simple and easy as possible for ML to detect what you are submitting.
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This was my original photo, also with bench in foreground of picnic table, which got past ML. I can try what you suggest, although then that makes the area look smaller, which could be a problem further down the line in convincing the community that the size of the picnic area encourages social interaction.
Avoiding the cars was the priority with the second photo!
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A picnic area at a business would be a harder sell for me than one at a park for sure. But I see why the first one got past. I wish there were street view so I could mock up what I am thinking of. Take a lot of photos and look at them on your phone, and hopefully one will make you go, “That’s it!”
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I personally would just focus on the picnic table for the main photo and not include any of the benches, since regular seating benches do not meet criteria. You can then include a supporting photo showing the benches and a wider area.
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It isn’t the same kind of nomination, but this close up of the table with enough background for context, but not too much is the idea I have in my mind.
You show the entire area in the supporting photo.
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My thoughts are that features like these which meet criteria appear more distinctive and interesting when located in otherwise mundane / nondescript areas and therefore there should be a greater case for them to be accepted as POIs, but sadly that viewpoint seems to be a minority one.
I think you can make that case! It is easier in a park, because everyone automatically understands that the park is a great setting people will go to be social. But an unexpected find can be a great place for exploration. If the community doesn’t get it, maybe the appeals reviewers will.
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I think the photo really does need to focus on the social aspect - the tables.
Obviously they are poor because of source etc but there is now no doubt as to what this about.
Try to get it so the picnic table is in the centre of the photo, crop so it is square and ensure the table is in the middle “third” of the photo.
I think these are social spaces.
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@Liverlouike15 locally I tried to submit a picnic area at a business and it went into community voting and was rejected for generic business. It was in a large green open area next to the river with multiple tables, but the community didnt like it either!
It wasnt until someone else nominated it as just a picnic area by the river, omitting any mention of the business, that it was accepted.
So you can also try that - using the more general area name rather than linking it to a business. Then maybe add further detail in an edit down the line?
I agree this is a social space which is great for that working community.
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I like the phrases “working community” and “social space”, so I will have to work those into the description as well.
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Two cents worth - the original photo has a better composition. Try using a coarse pixellation or blur over the number plates so that they can’t be read. You can either do this on whatever app you have on your phone and then submit an existing photo, or transfer it to a desktop/laptop and edit the photo there, and then transfer it back to the phone.
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I considered doing that rather than taking a new photo, but I thought that might be detected or frowned upon as doctoring of images (even if for valid reasons)?
I’ll try and go there at the weekend when hopefully there will be less cars in the way. I was planning to do that, but of course it was torrential rain all weekend and same again tomorrow I believe!
The rejection reasons for photos include:
I would not recommend you blur the plates.
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Yes blurring the plates is not a good path to go down….and there are amber warnings around for the weather 
The spot is in Lancaster, PA. It says it is currently in voting. I appreciate the quick response and feedback.
