New Competition Replacing Subject Of The Month [Archive]

BarryM

13th June 2007, 07:51 PM

We have decided to replace subject of the month with a new monthly competition so as they say in the business, itsssssssssssssssssssss

COMPETITION TIME...

The forum is proud to announce that our new competition sponsored by Ashton Photographics from Bury (http://www.photography-forum.org/showthread.php?t=9584 ) will be starting this month.

The prize for the best picture of the month will be a 16x12 print of the winning image sent to the winner, and best of all, to anywhere in the world so everyone is included.

You will be given the subject matter and have 3 weeks to go and find that winning shot, the moderators will then determine the best photo with regards to composition, lighting etc and notified at bottom of each months thread.

Rules

1. No members of staff are eligible for entry, this includes, Moderators and Mentors

2. Members with a post count of 100 or over can enter, so those with less GET POSTING NOW!!!.

3. The image must be unique to the competition, the exif MUST be included to verify date, most images have an exif file, if unsure, just pm a mod or ask on forum about exifs.

4. Images will be judged on composition, lighting, subject matter, and the other general rules of photography.

5. The winning full sized image will need to be sent via ftp to Ashton photographics (please contact Stemmy for details to be added to ftp server along with the postal address to send winning print to.

6. Please only post the picture, no explanation as to where it came from, how you got it, purely to keep the images as the important part of the thread.

7. One entry per member, the original entry posted is the one entered, this cannot be changed.

8. The moderators will gather to discuss all the entries and make a vote on the best image of each competition

9. Bribing, monies, and i can only imagine the offerings to Bindii will not be tolerated :Dm

We will start a new thread for each competition in this room, and make this a sticky at top, any questions and please ask in here below this post.
Each new competition will be called " Competition 1, Competition 2 and so on. So look out for Competition 1 starting in a day or so.

Remember, any queries or questions please post here.

chortler

13th June 2007, 08:00 PM

Why have you decided that someone needs 100 posts before entering the competition??

BarryM

13th June 2007, 08:05 PM

because we felt 500 was a bit heavy :Dm

Seriously, it is so that members have become established members on the forum, and avoid perhaps someone signing up, one post, and winning. We did not think this fair to the members who are on the forum for the long haul.

Getting 100 posts isnt that big a deal, I know Bindii can average that in an hour :Dm, but seriously, the time you welcome people, post your thoughts on images on the forum, these will shoot by.

olivia

13th June 2007, 08:08 PM

Have not yet entered subject of the month as not yet that confident but like to look at the entries and learn from them.
So you mean it remains the same except the winner receives a prize of their own photo?

BarryM

13th June 2007, 08:11 PM

No this is exactly the same, each member posts their image for that month based on a decision to a title that the mods will come up with, same thing happens at the moment with subject of the month, except there are a few subjects to vote on but here there is a prize or rather the winning picture printed large for winner, only difference is the post count to enter, and a prize for the winner rather than just announcing next months choices.

olivia

13th June 2007, 08:36 PM

oh, okay .. thanx Barry for the clarification about that, for future reference..

george.monaghan

14th June 2007, 12:38 AM

Hi Barry,

Why is it that the ordinary members are not being allowed to vote on the favourite image?

StagePhotography.co.uk

14th June 2007, 09:09 AM

I would guess that it means judging is fair,
and lets say someone builds up 100 posts
and enters, then gets 100 of his/her mates
to vote for them.

Restricting voting to only those with over
100 posts would be a major pain in the ass.

@dave

14th June 2007, 09:19 AM

Sheesh! ?.. and I?d just managed to get my 52yo wine soaked brain to understand the SOTM thingy-bob ;)

All sounds fairly good to me. The 100 posts qualification is good ?.. I?m new, you don?t know me, without the 100 posts requirement I could have joined & posted once every month just to enter the competition and take no other part in the forum (which would be very unfair).

Re rule 6 ?? can we include a title or are the images to be identified by member name.

Re rule 3 ?? ?The image must be unique to the competition, exif MUST be included to verify date?? ??. I?m confused by the term ?unique? and have two posible interpretations

1. Is this unique in global terms i.e. used for no other purpose whatsoever -or- unique within the confines of the Photography Forum (not posted in any thread or entered in IOTM etc).

-or-

2. Are you intending for this statement to cover the ?must be shot for the competition? requirement. If so then IMHO better wording would be something alone the lines of ?The submitted image must be shot for the competition, within the time frame given for the competition and cannot be used for any other purpose within The Photography Forum as long as the competition lasts. Exif MUST be included to verify date? etc

Just trying to help. If I can misinterpret then others could as well.

Lastly, can the winner decline the prize, choose another size of print or offer the prize up (e.g. to the PF management team to use in some manner beneficial to PF) ? You see, I?m attracted by the challenge of the competition however for me the actual prize is incidental. Also a heavily cropped image or an image from a compact camera my make a winner but may not stand up to 16x12 printing.

Bet you thought this was going to be easy :grin:

Dave

StagePhotography.co.uk

14th June 2007, 09:28 AM

Hi Barry,

Why is it that the ordinary members are not being allowed to vote on the favourite image?

OH and also....

I guess that's why it's called "The Moderators Challenge Competition" so that Moderators can judge it..

Bindii

14th June 2007, 10:33 AM

Hi Barry,

Why is it that the ordinary members are not being allowed to vote on the favourite image?

Cause we are special and stuff...:woot:

Bindii

14th June 2007, 10:36 AM

actually Dave you have some valid points there for the wording..

I haven't checked with Barry but I would assume that when he say's Unique he means that it hasn't been posted anywhere else on the forum...

Reickert

14th June 2007, 10:46 AM

All I can say is it's a good thing I'm just here for the beer. :icon_nice

StuG

14th June 2007, 10:51 AM

Sounds like a bit of fun to me :icon_nice

BarryM

14th June 2007, 10:53 AM

oh god sanity at last there is hope. :bum1:

Unique photos= created specifically for competition, if you wish to sell image, have it advertised on a bill board, or even the space shuttle, no problem just aslong as it was created and actioned for the competition, no old photos.

Good point about image size, if ur weary about getting ur images to 16x12 then you can state if you would like them smaller. Not a problem.

Reickert

14th June 2007, 11:08 AM

Well, not to muddy the water, but when someone wins, could they not arrange to send you a higher-res copy of the low-res contest entry for printing?

Or has that already been explained? (it's just 6 am here and I am only on coffee #1)

george.monaghan

14th June 2007, 11:36 AM

I would guess that it means judging is fair,
and lets say someone builds up 100 posts
and enters, then gets 100 of his/her mates
to vote for them.

.

Hi George,

It that likely for a "print" of your own work? That scenario looks like far too much trouble for one person to go to and only those with over a 100 posts can enter. Not that I would like to downplay the offer of the print/prize, as I use that printer myself.

Who ever said "judging is fair"; never entered a competition.

I always believed that through a voting system of many peole you usually end up with the "right" winner - just a thought though.

Thanks for replying.

Reickert

14th June 2007, 11:50 AM

George, to tell the truth, I have been an active member on numerous photo sites were the membership voted in contests and never found a system that works. People will form groups and coteries to vote for one another's work even if there is no prize at all and I have had voters leave complaints that my work was too dark AND too light on the same damned entry.

I am comfy with this being a moderator's choice myself.

StagePhotography.co.uk

14th June 2007, 11:53 AM

Yup.. I'd agree with that...

and George,s all it takes is one idiot with a
load of friends to spoil it for everyone.. Trolls
will do it just for a laugh never mind the print..

I also feel that there should be a bit by the
voting moderators on the image and why
they picked it..

blindabyss

14th June 2007, 11:54 AM

My turn for a daft question. :stupid:

My sharpening software strips all Exif data from my pics, so if I enter could I upload a small unsharpened thumbnail of the image complete with Exif info too?

Bindii

14th June 2007, 11:58 AM

Hi George,

It that likely for a "print" of your own work? That scenario looks like far too much trouble for one person to go to and only those with over a 100 posts can enter. Not that I would like to downplay the offer of the print/prize, as I use that printer myself.

Who ever said "judging is fair"; never entered a competition.

I always believed that through a voting system of many peole you usually end up with the "right" winner - just a thought though.

Thanks for replying.

But yet...is there ever a 'right' winner Geo.. I mean specially with photography....its an art and everyone seems to have different tastes...some of us will religiously follow the rules and others will break every damn one of them and still come up with a cracking image...beauty is in the eye of the beholder I think...and I doubt that we will please everyone all the time when it comes to selecting a 'winner'...but I am sure that we will have a method on how the 'winner' is selected...we certainly won't be selecting anyone on their popularity etc if thats what your thinking...

BarryM

14th June 2007, 12:05 PM

StagePhotography.co.uk

14th June 2007, 12:08 PM

My turn for a daft question. :stupid:

My sharpening software strips all Exif data from my pics, so if I enter could I upload a small unsharpened thumbnail of the image complete with Exif info too?

Isn't one of the rules that Ross is banned from it anyway? :)

What software do you use?

Could you just use something like IrfanView to resize?

I must say if I judge, a image won't get picked up on sharpeness
or the likes... Loads of icon images can be technically terrible,
but it's the "moment" and does that image capture that moment
well is what I'll be looking at..

george.monaghan

14th June 2007, 12:14 PM

Hi,

I might be wrong!!! Can you see "many" people in "THIS FORUM" conspiring together to win a compo?

I agree with you George regarding giving the reasoning behind why a picture won. Will there be a clearly laid out scoring system?

If I was going to go to all the trouble to get many friends to vote for one of my images to win then I would also replace the exif data to suit the subject date and times. Any compo is open to "cheating", but I hope that it's not naive of me to think that this is remote on theis Forum?

Sue, have just seen you post in my e-mail - I never thought for a minute you (or anyone else) would select anyone based on their popularity.

Competitions need rules and rules need to be explained to those entering. I have now seen a raft of questions never used on IOTM - why is that?

Juding competitions is a quick way to make yourself very unpopular - especially in photography - as you say Sue, beauty may be in the eye of the beholder - but pity those who do the judging of that.

Suspect a nice good going debate is in the offing.

george.monaghan

14th June 2007, 12:20 PM

StagePhotography.co.uk

14th June 2007, 12:29 PM

Any compo is open to "cheating", but I hope that it's not naive of me to think that this is remote on theis Forum?

Exactly...

So why all the waffle about it?

I could log in as an "new person" add 100 posts,
get some on my own images in the comp and then win..

Yes I could just spend 5 quid and get my image
printed anyway... But that's not in the spirit
of the thing..

Yes there are members out there who are better
"qualified" shall we say, to judge others, but then
again, are they? This is "our" forum, all the members
and if they are here because they like the feeling of it
that feeling is generated by the control of the moderators
and other members in general who do post.

Trusting the moderators is the start...

Yes I could just sit at home in my boxers
on web cam all day and not really look at
these images and vote for anyone I like.
But I don't think most people on the forum
would believe that...

I think we're taking this a little personal and a little deep..

It's only a bit of fun..

Bindii

14th June 2007, 12:41 PM

Yes I could just sit at home in my boxers
on web cam all day and not really look at
these images and vote for anyone I like.
But I don't think most people on the forum
would believe that...

Funniest looking boxers I ever did see...;)c

and I had this long reply all typed out...but have thought twice about posting it cause I think that this should all be about a bit of fun and encouraging members to participate on the forum...

Btw...that rule that Barry said in his first post...rule # 9 "Bribing, monies, and i can only imagine the offerings to Bindii will not be tolerated"....

soooooo not true.....:grin:

Reickert

14th June 2007, 01:14 PM

On the other hand, George, we'll know who to blame. :hissyfit:

Bindii

14th June 2007, 01:29 PM

On the other hand, George, we'll know who to blame. :hissyfit:

Yeah everyone but me...

:)

tonymidd

14th June 2007, 03:30 PM

The Rules are set, thats it, Mods will vote as said, on composition, lighting, subject matter and other general rules of photography, the mods will gather to discuss the images and a decision made on the winning shot.

Baz there are no rules in photography, well not as far as I and many others are concerned, tho a lot of people (including some mods) try applying them when it's obvious that the author was deliberately breaking said 'rules'.
Remember 'rules are for the instruction of fools and the guidance of wise men (and women)'.
Having been on many 'judging' panels I know an anonymous vote is far fairer to the entrants than a discussion. In a discussion it only takes a dominant type with a persistent loud voice to over ride the others and it can take ages to reach a verdict. One mod one vote....quicker and the only fair way. By all means have say two or three mods(different ones each month) give their opinion on the winer after the result is known.

PS I suppose you could have each mod giving 1st, 2nd, 3rd and then use a propotional representation system but then it's getting a bit complex.

pps S'pose we could use a variation on the club world system, each 'judge' gives the image a mark out of 5 and then total the marks. Any work getting max points goes into round two and the proceedure is repeated until there is an outright winner. This system means that the standard is raised in each round.

pps not too sure about 100 posts, they could be 100 one liners. How about after they have posted 10 images or how ever many Martin feels is right? Seems more pertinent than 100 miscellaneous posts.

paul t

14th June 2007, 03:57 PM

Hi Barry, just a thought, what happens if someone is only using film, there's no date or anything to say when it's taken!!!!

tonymidd

14th June 2007, 04:07 PM

Hi Barry, just a thought, what happens if someone is only using film, there's no date or anything to say when it's taken!!!!

Ha Ha and don't forget exif data can be altered when you know how :clapping: :clapping:

Stemmy

14th June 2007, 04:36 PM

george.monaghan

14th June 2007, 04:50 PM

Hi,

Many good points raised there Tony.

Presume you will also be one of the judges?

Good luck to you all.

Bindii

17th June 2007, 12:30 AM

StagePhotography.co.uk

17th June 2007, 01:11 AM

pps not too sure about 100 posts, they could be 100 one liners. How about after they have posted 10 images or how ever many Martin feels is right? Seems more pertinent than 100 miscellaneous posts.

Hmmmmmm like Martin and Bindii?

Actually Martin doesn't even do one liners...

It's great all this debate... But 100 posts we can "see"...
Who's going to count the number if images they post?????

but there's one thing that everyone who's picked at it
hasn't done.... OFFERED SOLUTIONS.....

Don't bring me problems... Bring me solutions....
And if you can't give me a solution don't bother
with the problem...

Christ.... It's only a bit of fun....

And as soon as someone has the balls to bring the
idea to life, everyone gets on the band wagon and
shoots it down....

Life has rules... They may not be perfect, they may
not be fair, but they are the only ones we got...

Just bring solutions if it bothers you that much...

*moan over with* yeah I've been drinking...

StagePhotography.co.uk

17th June 2007, 01:14 AM

Ohhhhh and as toss pot amateur moderator photograper here...

I'm going to suggest the FIRST competition theme...

"Team Work"...

*grump*

george.monaghan

17th June 2007, 01:33 AM

Hi George - you old toss pot!!

here is a solution, or a possible one.

The compo is being sponsored by a photographer (as well as a being a fine printer) so why not let him judge the images?

That way all Forum members could enter and "HE" could name the themes each month.

All the organising, rules for posting would be done by the "Moderators" and their word on interpreting the rules would be final.

Now never, ever, ever, drink and post - you'll only spill it - you old grump you!!

StagePhotography.co.uk

17th June 2007, 01:41 AM

hmmmm but that's putting the hands on the judging
into one person....

And people have preferences, with several judges
at least it's a wider range of "view points" and
experience...

Example, (not say it is of course but) the single
judge might not like monos... Or landscapes..
and there for might not ever pick them..

george.monaghan

17th June 2007, 02:00 AM

Hi,

All that is possible, but equally if you have more judges, you have a committee with possibly a fudge, if no one images is liked by all.

It is never easy George, but I thought that the prize giver having printed many, many, many images might have a good eye for a good image - no matter how presented. At least in this case/situation.

You also have the added bonus that he does not know the membership and can judge on merit alone - we can all be swayed by reputations, experience etc.

Just a thought which might have offered a solution to some points raised. I don't think anyone was knocking the compo but if you have "rules" of entry that opened the door for a raft of other questions.

As Tony stated, photography does not have rules but it is clearly stated that images will be "judged" by them?

I am sure it will all iron out in the end.

StagePhotography.co.uk

17th June 2007, 02:19 AM

Just a thought which might have offered a solution to some points raised. I don't think anyone was knocking the compo but if you have "rules" of entry that opened the door for a raft of other questions.

One possible solution is that we just accept the rules
and live by them the best we can... :)

As Tony stated, photography does not have rules but it is clearly stated that images will be "judged" by them?

Blarg.... Everything on this earth is governed by rules in one
way or an other...

If someone posts a blured, dark, image of a washing line,
then of course it more than likely won't win, (only because
moderators aren't allowed to post images) so barry's shot
would be discounted... :) LOL.... (sorry barry)...

Images will be judged as singular images and for what
they are...

Perhaps what might be fairer would be a "blank"
canvas and people just ftp their image to a location
to be put up... With no identifying marks or names
on them and the judges have to judge the image without
knowing who took it..

I also understand that some people's noses might be
put out of joint if they don't win... (yeah cool, deal with it
and move on....) Or not being asked to be judges...

It's a mine field...

Earl53

17th June 2007, 03:33 AM

Bindii

17th June 2007, 10:45 AM

Ok...I haven't said anything...but now I just have to as its really starting to drive me nuts here...and no not nuts in a good way neither...it seems that one or two of us...and by 'us' I soooo don't mean me...just can't let this issue rest...

What problem exactly do some of you...not mentioning any names but we all know who we are don't we...have with the moderators voting for the winner of this competition?

I've had enough of this childish bickering over a little forum comp that was organised out the goodness of someones heart so that the forum members could perhaps have a chance to practice some photography and maybe win something small...it was meant as a bit of fun but certain spoilsports have insisted on turning it into something bigger than the National Georgographic Photographic Awards...

For gods sakes...if you don't like it...then don't enter the comp...in fact stay out of the godamn thread if it bothers you that much...

Nuff said...:butcher:

BarryM

17th June 2007, 10:50 AM

Wow, the first sensible thing said in this thread.

Fun, nice to see an amateur member get their picture in print, thats all it was about. Nothing more, nothing less.

Newvalehouse

17th June 2007, 11:35 AM

Well spoken Bindii.
My view is that if someone organises a competition and states a set of rules for their competition, then we enter or we don't enter it.
What we don't do is tell the organiser to alter his/her rules to suit us.
If you don't like it then don't enter it.
Lets have the first monthly theme and get on with it.
Thank you to the Bury photographer for sponsoring the competition!!!!
Cheers,
Jim....:stir:

england1965

17th June 2007, 12:51 PM

Wow, the first sensible thing said in this thread.

Here Here

Stemmy

17th June 2007, 02:12 PM

I agree if you dont like the rules dont play.

Sorry if this offends but we are only playing for a print after all.

We are never going to please everybody.

Please lets just get going.

Reickert

17th June 2007, 02:18 PM

I agree.

Let's at least run one of these things to see how it all shakes out. Many of these objection might turn out to be imaterial in the fact once this is running. The mods are kind enough to offer this to us, I say let's take it and run and see what happens.

After all, there is time enough after the fact for bitching and comlaining. **sarcasm2**

Stemmy

17th June 2007, 02:28 PM

We had a big competition at the end of last year and it went smooth as you like.

WHY ???

Because I just did it and asked nobody.

Im regreting not doing that now.

With over 1600 members not everybody is going to be happy.

Im sorry for that but it has to happen one way or we might as well forget about it. If you dont agree dont play - EASY !!

Mal

18th June 2007, 08:52 PM

Lol....

I so hate to rain your parades Earl and Mal...but me thinks that you guys didnt read the whole thread before you posted your shots did ya...:grin:

We still have to post a subject for this comp...and while it isnt set in concrete as yet I thinks I can safely say that castles and flowers aint it...;)c

Watch this space over the next couple of day's for his comp to start...:)

HI Sue I think both Earl and myself just wanted to get on with it and hopefully this bickering would stop and we could get on with having a fun time taking photos and looking at other people's efforts wether they are good or bad as in previous, posts or competitions.

Stemmy

18th June 2007, 10:55 PM

HI Sue I think both Earl and myself just wanted to get on with it and hopefully this bickering would stop and we could get on with having a fun time taking photos and looking at other people's efforts wether they are good or bad as in previous, posts or competitions.

Good effort you two.

You will find the first comp has now been posted for you.

have fun.

BiNg

18th June 2007, 11:13 PM

Well I think it's a great idea and prize or not I'd still enter....afterall it's just a bit of fun innit? :grin:

MTAL

21st June 2007, 05:27 PM

Oh my god I have never seen such a long winded debate (or should I say moan from some) in response to the rules of a set competiton.... :lazy2::lazy2:

I think its a great idea and will def enter when I feel I have an image suitable....

Jeez there is far more in the world to be worrying about that the ins and outs of some basic competiton rules!

Oh and so what if moderators are judging someone has to so it might as well be them!
XXsharkXX