the Four Stars
I place the four stars next to images that particularly appeal to me. The process is highly biased and undemocratic, and certainly legions of good pictures are going to be left out and maybe a few borderline ones will be included. I will try to be rather selective with my dispensation of the four stars, perhaps trying to limit it to less than two or three percent of the total number of pictures.
For what it's worth, my preferences in pictures are perhaps different than those of others. Namely, I like black and white images that show plentty of detail and are well framed. Also, I tend to prefer world war two single engine subjects.