Bi-Weekly Photo Contest?

[M38A1]

Hey all,
I'm on another board that has a bi-weekly Photo Contest. Contained within that community are some top-notch professional photographers who are willing to share their experiences and knowledge.

They have a general set of rules which are fairly simple. In a nutshell, a contest runs for two weeks meaning you must have shot the picture in that alloted two week time period and if requested, post the EXIF data. There is a topic for the assignment such as "Sound", "Joy", "Fear". "Nature" and so forth.

The contests are numbered sequentially starting with #1. There are two threads for each contest to include 'prep' shots, test shots, general pictures of the topic that can be out of the time frame for the contest, discussion and so forth. The second thread is opened to post the actual submissions. One submission per person with a closing date/time.

The person who 'controls' the thread is the judge of the entries for THAT contest. Based on THEIR impression of the assignment entries, THEY choose a winner. That winner then decides the next contest topic and judges the entries in two weeks. The process continues. Oh, the person judging can submit, but can't pick their own picture.

Most folks who submit also ask for a critique of their shot. Some are provided, sometimes not.

It's a good way to really force you to think about your shots and see what you can bring to the table with like minded folks.

Does this sound like something we want to try? I'd get the ball rolling and administer it if you want.

Thoughts please.......

[poser]

that does sound cool, and while I'm not a real photog I would like the practice and the critique

[Jerry]

I'm in.

I would love to get knowledgeable feedback on photos that "I think" are good.
excellent idea :thumb:

[poser]

what are the rules on post production?
only cropping allowed? effects? or just post your unedited pic?

[Calgary-Yogi]

that does sound cool, and while I'm not a real photog I would like the practice and the critique

you need a hair cut :-P

[Voni]

What fun! I learned so much from a similar group of threads on the BMW forum. We had a theme each time and it was fun to see the different interpretations . . .

We couldn't post process so we had to get much better at framing the shot when we took it.

Voni
sMiling

[poser]

you need a hair cut :-P

every body is a comedian :doh:
and I'm getting that done today :mrgreen:

[atlas750]

I think it's a great idea.

[BexarWolf]

I'd play along. :sun: It'd give me a reason to go on photo safaris more often. All the stuff I have that I'd like to submit is old. :(

[ToroGuy]

Scott, this does sound interesting. From your experience on the other board, can folks like me play who are not photo equipment junkies, but sometimes get lucky (like that blind squirrel finding a nut) and snap a nice shop? My camera is six year old Olympic point-and-shoot that's had extensive exposure to the micro-fine dust of two middle east deserts, but works fine to record my goings and comings.

[StarWatcher]

Sounds like a neat idea. I'd even go so far as to allow all the post processing you want as long as any questions about the post processing are open to discussion. That way, all aspects of the photograph are taken into account and there might be neat post processing techniques as well as photo taking techniques that are worth exploring. Are there any bandwidth issues that need to bounced off Scott first?

--Mike

[poser]

Sounds like a neat idea. I'd even go so far as to allow all the post processing you want as long as any questions about the post processing are open to discussion. That way, all aspects of the photograph are taken into account and there might be neat post processing techniques as well as photo taking techniques that are worth exploring. Are there any bandwidth issues that need to bounced off Scott first?

--Mike

I say everyone use photobucket or something so we don't kill the site's storage and bandwidth

[dixonduke]

in!

[dixonduke]

I say everyone use photobucket or something so we don't kill the site's storage and bandwidth

I sooooo agree with this. Smugmug, Picassa, Photobucket, Webshots, Flicker, you name it, any other means but simply attaching the pictures. This is just my opinion, and I can be wrong, but I really don't care for the thumbnailed attachments.

[Tracker]

I'm game.

[M38A1]

what are the rules on post production?
only cropping allowed? effects? or just post your unedited pic?

I've sort of been a fan of just posting the image that came out of the camera. But after a while of seeing what can be done with a few tweaks, I'm in favor of allowing post-processing under the guise of full disclosure if folks ask.




I say everyone use photobucket or something so we don't kill the site's storage and bandwidth

Excellent idea.



I sooooo agree with this. Smugmug, Picassa, Photobucket, Webshots, Flicker, you name it, any other means but simply attaching the pictures. This is just my opinion, and I can be wrong, but I really don't care for the thumbnailed attachments.

Again, excellent idea. I'm not a big fan of the attachments.




Now, on to some rules. Hows this for a DRAFT start? (these came from texasbowhunter.com and tweaked a bit by me) Read it twice, then comment...... The Cliff notes version is like the "Where Am I" thread. Someone starts, people post an entry based on a common assignment, a winner is chosen, the winner decides the next assignment topic, people post an entry, a winner is chosen, they decide the next assignment topic and so forth. Once we get a few contests out of the way, everyone will see how it works. Thoughts?

1. We will have 1 new thread, located in the Photography Forum for each photo contest. An alternate thread will be related to the contest for conceptual shots, discussion, prior work related to the current assignment etc. Contests will be sequentially numbered to keep track.

2. Entries are restricted to 1 per participant per contest. If you post more than 1 on the contest thread you are automatically disqualified for that round of competition.

3. I'll start it off by picking a theme for the first contest. Pictures must be submitted by midnight the last day of the contest which will run just shy of two weeks. (Deadlines to have your pic posted will be midnight on Sundays of the day the contest closes)

4. The day after contest closure (Monday), a winner will be chosen by the the one controlling the contest.

5. The person whose picture is chosen will then select a topic for the following assignment and post that assignment when they learn they have won (usually that Monday or Tuesday). The contest will then run about 12 days to the next Sunday midnight deadline, and so forth.

6. The winner of that contest will then select a topic for the next contest and post it. We will repeat this rotation. The one in control also can NOT select their own submission for that time period as a winner, but they can submit in order to participate.

7. Critiques on ways to use lighting, shutter speed, composition and other factors to improve photo quality are accepted and encouraged. Hopefully participants will be open to constructive criticism and suggestions.

8. If someone wants to use photoshop it is allowed, to the point the original subject and content has not been altered beyond reality.

9. Lobbying for one's own photo is not necessary. Just post the pic and perhaps the EXIF information if requested.

10. Creative interpretation of topics is encouraged. All forum rules apply regarding how appropriate a picture can be.

[sparkyphotog]

I'm in! So when do we start?

[xtnomad]

I like the idea. But is this going to please everyone? Not all ways. Most photo forums start with dogs, flowers and kids. Or is there going to be some moto themes too? Just asking. :rider:

[M38A1]

I'm in! So when do we start?

Let's see what comments come back on some general guidelines and maybe tomorrow (wed) I'll post up the first assignment to end Sun Mar 22 midnight. Deal?

[Tracker]

Maybe we could get the rules in a sticky?

[poser]

I like it, but those who are good at photoshop may get a slight advantage. I am not a PS wiz, but I really enjoy seeing what people can do with it.

IMO we don't have to do moto themes on this one.

Should we keep the contest thread free of un-needed banter and such and have it be just the pics and maybe the person taking it can give a brief write up on it. Keeping all the chatter and questions ans such will keep the main thread from getting cluttered and would help the HPIC (Head Photog In Charge) easily see all entrants and pic one.

Should we stay away from subject not easily found in Texas, since the pics need to be taken within that two weeks? for example, snow capped mountains or something

[NUTT]

that does sound cool, and while I'm not a real photog I would like the practice and the critique

Ditto.

I'll play.

[sparkyphotog]

My personal opinion about photoshop or other image editing programs are that they are part of the process of good digital photography, with the exception of photojournalism perhaps. I liken it to working in the darkroom to produce a good print. I used to spend hours in the darkroom really working hard to get my prints looking just so, with just the right contrast, this highlight toned down a bit here, detail in these shadows brought out there, cropped just so, etc. Even did some retouching with dyes to remove spots on the prints.

I see digital post processing the same way, it is part of the craft of producing a good photograph. Digital cameras give you a pretty good "negative" to start with, and in some cases very little if anything needs to be done to it. That said, once I pick the images from a shoot that I like and want to publish on-line or print, I go through and tweak them by adjusting the white balance, contrast, saturation or vibrancy, shadow and highlight detail, and sharpening. If there are spots in the picture from dust on the image sensor, then I will do some retouching to remove the spots.

I recently did some testing of a camera for a friend, and I posted a gallery of images (http://sparkyphotog.smugmug.com/gallery/7550901_DGmrR/1/487841822_gSTyH) on SmugMug to show him what came out of his camera, and what the pictures looked like after I applied my standard editing process. I think these types of edits are perfectly acceptible in a contest such as this.

Also keep in mind that image manipulation has been part of the photographic process from the very beginning. You manipulate an image just by deciding what to point your camera at when you click the shutter. You manipulate the image by selecting what to focus on and how much depth of field you will use. You manipulate the image by choosing the shutter speed to blur or freeze motion. I see nothing wrong with a few tweaks in post-production to achieve the result of what was in your minds eye when you click the shutter release.

[Gilk51]

Maybe we could get the rules in a sticky?

Let's see if Mr. M38 can handle that with his new powers... :trust:

[poser]

Let's see if Mr. M38 can handle that with his new powers... :trust:

woh, scarry :lol2: when did that happen?

[Gilk51]

woh, scarry :lol2: when did that happen?

I probably shouldn't have leaked TWT classified information... :doh:

but I'll let M38 Scott (too many Scotts around here!) provide the details.

[M38A1]

IMO we don't have to do moto themes on this one.

Should we keep the contest thread free of un-needed banter and such

Should we stay away from subject not easily found in Texas, since the pics need to be taken within that two weeks? for example, snow capped mountains or something

Re: moto themes, these contests are much larger than that. For example, if someone posted "Fear" as the topic, some might post a picture of a syringe, a gun, a snake, a drag-bike. Moto pics can be submitted, but the assignments are much more grand.

I propose whoever controls the thread (HPIC - Head Photographer In Charge) determines the assignment. Topics can be whatever they want, but has to be in the best of interest of the majority of folks. Snow capped mountains might not be the best one, but "landscapes" would be totally appropriate which might include a snow capped mountain shot taken in the assignment period. Shots do NOT have to be from Texas, only in the specified time frame.

As for cluttering up the threads with talk, the pre-contest thread is what that's all about. Talk it up, ask questions, post prior work and so forth. When the actual thread for posting your submission is open, the photo should stand on it's own with the title of the assignment. That way the picture speaks to the assignment, not your writing ability.






Let's see if Mr. M38 can handle that with his new powers... :trust:

Yes. I plan on a sticky for the rules and most probably the actual submission thread. Once a winner is determined, we'll start a Winners sticky to record the history and that contests submission sticky will fall off until the next one.




woh, scarry :lol2: when did that happen?

I was invited a day or so ago but unknown to me I think it's been in the works for a bit longer.



So, is everyone good with the rules and ready to get this started? If so, look for the topic soon and I'll guide the process until we all get a good feeling for it.

[silvElise]

I guess I can dust of my camera and give this a go!

[Skillet]

My personal opinion about photoshop or other image editing programs are that they are part of the process of good digital photography ...

I completely agree with Sparky on this. I very, very rarely get something out of my camera that can't be improved with some post processing. I am not talking about weird special effects or distortions or that kind of stuff, just the same kind of stuff I did with film (adjust contrast, hue, saturation, burn/dodge, sharpen etc). Like Sparky, I used to spend hours in the darkroom or pay big $$ at the lab to get the results I wanted.

Also, what comes out the camera is certainly not "unprocessed" (unless perhaps you shoot RAW). There are a 100s of different combinations of settings on even the most basic digital camera that in some way impact the stored imaged.

I would bet that virtually any digital image that you see today that inspires a "wow" had some kind of post processing done on it.

Cheers,

Ben

[silvElise]

Photoshop is the 21st century dark room....

Anyone that claims PS is cheating has never had a true understanding of photography. Even Masters back in the day realized that darkroom post processing is 50% of the art behind photography. We just have technology today that lets you get it done faster and cleaner... or even make the image completely hideous through absurd filters.

yeah I said it.

[dixonduke]

So, is everyone good with the rules and ready to get this started? If so, look for the topic soon and I'll guide the process until we all get a good feeling for it.

I am, and I will add that I love TM's suggestion of putting the voting to a poll once the submission thread is locked. They do it that way over on DGRIN.

For the uninitiated, check out their contests here (http://www.dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7)

[M38A1]

I am, and I will add that I love TM's suggestion of putting the voting to a poll once the submission thread is locked. They do it that way over on DGRIN.

For the uninitiated, check out their contests here (http://www.dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7)

I'll have to look into how many voting options you can have. If we have 30 people submit, we need 30 options etc. I looked at dgrin and there's some really nice shots there. In fact, I've come to the conclusion all I do is 'snapshots' compared to those guys.

[silvElise]

M38 you going to start a discussion thread? Or is that one the discussion and youll make an entry thread later?

[M38A1]

M38 you going to start a discussion thread? Or is that one the discussion and youll make an entry thread later?

Yes, the first assignment #01 is Spring and is available for Spring related pictures, discussion, questions etc.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37686


The actual contest thread will come a few days before the deadline. That allows everyone to work on their shots and all post about the same time for the actual contest.

[M38A1]

Hey, I was thinking about the Sunday deadline and wanted to toss this out there for consideration. I had said a Sunday midnight deadline but would Monday midnight be better for everyone?

I know how weekends are a scramble to cram everything in and the last thing someone needs to remember is to post up before midnight. So, would a Monday midnight be better? Even with a Monday deadline the winner would be chosen Tues/Wed with the new assignment coming out Wed/Thur.

Thoughts/Comments?

[dixonduke]

Hey, I was thinking about the Sunday deadline and wanted to toss this out there for consideration. I had said a Sunday midnight deadline but would Monday midnight be better for everyone?

I know how weekends are a scramble to cram everything in and the last thing someone needs to remember is to post up before midnight. So, would a Monday midnight be better? Even with a Monday deadline the winner would be chosen Tues/Wed with the new assignment coming out Wed/Thur.

Thoughts/Comments?

Considering how I just got home this evening, and saw the contest entry post for the first time this eventing. I think that Monday Midnight is a fair deadline.

I still have chores to do around the house and I am lucky that I popped on to check out the goings on, and just happened to see the posting. Typically I would have logged on after I did my chores and I most likely would have missed it.

[poser]

Sundays tend to be really busy for me, so having monday at work to post, or if I forget about it I'm sure to come across at work on Monday

[poser]

One suggestion, have the new assignment be given when the winner is announced, maybe we can all be thinking of what we'd like to use if we win, that way when/if the time comes you don't have to put a lot of thought into it. I've already got an idea picked out, though I doubt I'll ever win :rofl:

[StarWatcher]

So, would a Monday midnight be better?

I'm all for doing whatever will give the most people an opportunity to play even if it means extending the time from two weeks to three or four between each assignment. As we go along we'll get a feel for what will work best for the majority as long as we're open to fine tuning the assignment schedules.

--Mike

[Voni]

Hey, I was thinking about the Sunday deadline and wanted to toss this out there for consideration. I had said a Sunday midnight deadline but would Monday midnight be better for everyone?

I know how weekends are a scramble to cram everything in and the last thing someone needs to remember is to post up before midnight. So, would a Monday midnight be better? Even with a Monday deadline the winner would be chosen Tues/Wed with the new assignment coming out Wed/Thur.

Thoughts/Comments?

LOL!

I'm thinking that's unfair to me since I'm retired and don't have "work" to go to on Monday to post my submission . . .

Voni
sMiling

[M38A1]

OK, let's run the NEXT one (#02) till the Monday midnight deadline. That will open it up for all those who come in late on the weekend and still have to deal with life, kids etc. before the week starts again. Deal? (I'll update the rules in a day or so)

[M38A1]

Participation?????

I see we have lots of interest in the initial threads identifying the assignment for the next period. Yet we only have a handful of entries when the actual assignment closes. Does anyone have thoughts on why this might be happening, and are there any suggestions to increase the number of folks involved in the actual submission of an entry? Are the timeframes acceptable?

I know I am learning from others shots, composition, exposure and such.

[poser]

for me, I may have something in my "archives" that fits the subject, and so I'll throw it out there in the initial thread.
I've been really busy on the weekends lately and haven't really had the time to go out and shoot, to get a pic taken in the 2 weeks.

[Tracker]

It's one thing to shoot on the fly, on trips, etc. It's another thing to consciously take a subject and shoot for it. I've had to make a concerted effort on a couple to participate in the actual contests because it's not just going to happen accidentally.

My 2 cents. I like the way it is--I think it's challenging my photography skills.

[poser]

also, we haven't been running these all that long. I imagine its something that will build steam slowly

[M38A1]

Good points so far.....

What got me wondering about this was there were around 22 different posters to this assignment, about 17 of them posting pictures from archives yet only five entries.

Like tracker, I force myself to go make the picture. Usually by having my camera with me most of the time I can make it happen. This one was stretching it for time.

What's also interesting is if you do a search on "365 pictures" or "picture a day" with a google, you'd be amazed at how many people force themselves to take a good shot every day. I made it about a week and missed one. :doh:

Anyway, summertime is fast approaching so I hope those who post archives will take the assignments to heart and make it happen! ;-)

[Tracker]

I tried the pic a day once (and failed) and might be inspired to do it again. It's a real challenge to find and compose a shot every day.

[ed29]

For my part in the most recent contest I simply ran out of days to try to get a good subject in front of my lens. I never got to the Water Gardens for a shoot. As summer trips approach, and prep work gobbles time it would be natural to have participation wane.

Like others I had a couple of trip photos that could be tossed into the discussion thread, but nothing qualified for the contest itself. Maybe next time. I will be on a trip this weekend, so if the contest gets announced I will explore shooting it from the road.

[Tourmeister]

:tab I have lots of archive shots, but making time for a shot in the time frame for the contest is tough. There are just too many other things that demand my time and make it hard to set aside time for something I don't HAVE to do.

[BexarWolf]

The time frame is more than acceptable in my opinion. The wife has even gotten into the spirit of it when time allows. The night shot was the only one we actually went looking for subject matter. The liquid motion I submitted was poor quality (again, in my opinion) but I wanted to enter something. I had grander plans but like most others, ran out of time to work with it.

Photography can work two ways: Either you get really lucky when a shot comes out right or you work really hard to make a good shot. For me, it's more the former than the latter. The P&S digital I'm using is still real new to me but as these contests come up, I'm forced to learn something new about it (like, how to do a long exposure for the night shot).

As everyone else has said, I have tons in archives and seeing what some folks post from their archives gives me ideas to work with. Like the one StarWatcher won the night entry with.........I worked for 3 nights in my backyard trying to duplicate the shot (which I failed miserably at) but learned a ton about my camera, composition, timing, lighting, etc.

It's been fun for me.

[dixonduke]

I agree as well, the time frame is more than adequate. The only thing that I think I would change, is that the entry thread is started earlier. I see a benefit to having the official entry thread running concurrently with the "theme" thread. Doing this may permit more of us to enter a shot.

[M38A1]

I agree as well, the time frame is more than adequate. The only thing that I think I would change, is that the entry thread is started earlier. I see a benefit to having the official entry thread running concurrently with the "theme" thread. Doing this may permit more of us to enter a shot.

Tracker has posted the ENTRY thread concurrently with the ASSIGNMENT thread so we'll see how this plays out.

[RASZ]

I just have a Kodak Easyshare 1015. I guess that keeps me out of the competition because I cannot adjust the settings. I like the pictures that this camera takes but I do not know anything about settings and such.

[Tracker]

I just have a Kodak Easyshare 1015. I guess that keeps me out of the competition because I cannot adjust the settings. I like the pictures that this camera takes but I do not know anything about settings and such.

Not at all!!! It's about the eye behind the equipment way more than the equipment itself. A good photographer (and this doesn't mean a professional) can shoot way better pictures with a point & shoot than a noob with a SLR. Its as much or more about framing, lighting and knowing the limits of your equipment. Matter of fact, that would be a great assignment--Point & shoot only cameras!.

[BexarWolf]

I just have a Kodak Easyshare 1015. I guess that keeps me out of the competition because I cannot adjust the settings. I like the pictures that this camera takes but I do not know anything about settings and such.

What Tracker said +!

The 1015 does have some settings (according to a quick online search) that are settable by the user. If you don't have a manual, you can probably find one online. Read it, research it and then shoot shoot shoot shoot until you're tired of shooting. To take one picture that I'm trying to "capture" something, I'll take on average 10 different shots of it, changing the settings each time.

That's the beauty of digital. I did the same with film and paid out WAY too much money in processing.

And ask here for critiques. These folks are thorough and gentle with their critigue (as long as you're using the correct beverage.......long story :lol2:).