For the longest time I didn't really kick around faving or even looking at photos on DA. To be honest I didn't like most of them. It turned out that when I see a list other than the favorites list (like kkart's collection of submitted best pictures) there are actually quite a few I like. I've decided it's my little duty to actually do some faving so if nothing else someone can bounce from my user page to other photographers who I think have the right idea.

The short of the rule: If I would have posted it my self I'll fav it.

The long:
The image should be technically good, no shutter blur, no excessive sensor bloom or glare from pointing the lens toward the sun, no bad color balance, and contrast should be properly adjusted.
The image should have interesting composition and subject matter.
The image should NOT be cliche and overprocessed, it should resemble the scene as the eye sees it. Contrast and saturation should be rational. Skies should look like skies and I'd really prefer if your water didn't look like a boring bed of mist. Anything with a solid background is probably right out. No nudes real soon either.