2007 photo comp...changes?

morgan · 22 Dec 2006 at 14:38

Wondering if the format/rules etc may evolve a bit for next year? poss judge changes/voting system improvements?

I'd love to see the comp be a bit more competitive with comps on other forums...my suggestions would be:

Voting system where all registered forum members can vote for a/top 3 shots - I think the 3 judge system is very subjective. I think this is a real problem.

Relax some of the rules on processing, borders

etc its the digital age...if it helps a shot post processing shouldnt be limited?

Think entries must be taken after the comp start date?

Think this forum is great due to the good core of visitors. we have so many people on here that are great on computers. Maybe we could have a system where shots are hosted and people can vote etc...would be pretty sweet. (would also stop the delay where judges are marking etc)
Also maybe the theme for the next round could be decided by vote too?...will allow less 'cusine' scenarios (sorry mrk!

)

I personally only entered one theme this season and my shot was dq'd due to a border. this put me off a little. I Also feel others my be put off due to the voting methods etc. Be great to mix it up a bit for 07...could also attract more members to the forums...

please dont flame me for these suggestions. I want to see ocuk comp back on the map so to speak

boycee · 22 Dec 2006 at 14:54

Have a division between compact and SLR.

I defo agree that pics should be taken between start and end date. That way it gets people out taking pics, rather htan just sifting through archives.

cyKey · 22 Dec 2006 at 15:13

boycee said:
Have a division between compact and SLR.

I defo agree that pics should be taken between start and end date. That way it gets people out taking pics, rather htan just sifting through archives.

That implies that people with SLR's take better pictures than people with compacts. I assure you, that isn't true.

boycee · 22 Dec 2006 at 15:29

cyKey said:
That implies that people with SLR's take better pictures than people with compacts. I assure you, that isn't true.

No i totally agree with you. However in some situations compacts lack the features to match some shots that slr cameras can achieve. Ie, clarity/zoom/exposure/aperture/ISO.

That said, the line isn't as simple as being between SLR/Compact, as some non-slr share slr features, Hmm, Perhaps a handicap for less good cameras?

Chris
(merely speculating)

cyKey · 22 Dec 2006 at 15:33

That is why the judges ask for exif info so they can take the camera into account. Is the photo noisy because the camera is noisy or has it been added? Things like that. Oh and before I forget, *releases border collies at Morgan*

morgan · 22 Dec 2006 at 15:36

think the slr/p&s thing is going a bit ot?

cykey i was hoping as a mod you may have some constructive suggestions?

Puz · 22 Dec 2006 at 15:59

cyKey said:
That implies that people with SLR's take better pictures than people with compacts. I assure you, that isn't true.

I heartily agree with cyKey. It's not what you've got, it's what you do with it. It might be interesting for someone in here to go through the back catalog of top 5 winners per month and see what was used to take the photo. cyKey himself was taking better photographs with his compact at the time when ppl on here had SLR's. It's a talented photographer and location and timing that gets a photo, not the equipment. An SLR can give better options for a photograph but you need to know how to use it ! Anyways that's a tired old scenario so no flaming !

As for suggestions for the comp,

I don't think a distinction between equipment should be in there.
I do think that photos should be taken between certain dates, start and end of the comp period
I do think we need judges to make the comp work although as Morgan suggests maybe we should have a forum voted winner too.
I do think that some of the comp rules be relaxed, borders etc.
As for comp suggestions, I would rather have a voting system for the next topic rather than it be chosen by the winner.
Maybe we could try a topic from yrs ago that ppl on here have never tried and also to see how the oldtimers have progressed since their original shot ?

I'm sure I'll think of more once I stop sampling the xmas spirit (hic)

Sleepyd · 22 Dec 2006 at 16:00

I personally think the judging takes too long in all of these competitions.

What I would suggest is a poll where people vote..seems a much fairer way of judging a photo rather than allowing a few to decide.

Jotun · 22 Dec 2006 at 16:52

Sleepyd said:
I personally think the judging takes too long in all of these competitions.

What I would suggest is a poll where people vote..seems a much fairer way of judging a photo rather than allowing a few to decide.

I disagree, it could just turn in to more of a popularity contest than a photo competition.

Sleepyd · 22 Dec 2006 at 17:21

Evil-Penguin said:
I disagree, it could just turn in to more of a popularity contest than a photo competition.

I think it's a popularity contest as it is.

jezsoup · 22 Dec 2006 at 17:29

Sleepyd said:
I think it's a popularity contest as it is.

Someone a bit bitter there! Ive not entered many but most of the results I have totally agreed in, yes itmay take a while but the judges they are doing in their spare time.

cyKey · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:26

morgan said:
think the slr/p&s thing is going a bit ot?

cykey i was hoping as a mod you may have some constructive suggestions?

I think we're still on topic

Unfortunately I'm no longer a mod. The mod team was dissolved in acid and replaced with what we have now.

Colin_da_Killer · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:33

Sleepyd said:
I personally think the judging takes too long in all of these competitions.

What I would suggest is a poll where people vote..seems a much fairer way of judging a photo rather than allowing a few to decide.

Seconded.

ChroniC · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:37

I stopped entering because the comps are judged solely on subjectivity.
Photography is an art form, its not all about just being technical and following the rules of third.
A good way of learning more about photography as an art could be maybe a copy a famous photographers style, and re-present your work in that way.
This doesnt mean copy exactly what they did, but learn how and why they did it, and let that inform the way you take your comp photo.
Possibly an added explaination underneath about why you took the shot, and what it represents.

I doubt this will happen though, its rather time consuming, and much harder, but its worth mentioning.

cyKey · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:44

ChroniC said:
I stopped entering because the comps are judged solely on subjectivity.
Photography is an art form, its not all about just being technical and following the rules of third.

Hence impact and theme marks. The comps are judged on theme relevance, impact and technical ability. You could have a photo thats stunning and breaks every rule in the book. You could have another photo that fits the theme perfect but the judge felt the noisy and lack of a focal point didn't fit. Its why we have the 3 scores, so people can see where they're going wrong and improve.

Joe T · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:36

ChroniC said:
I stopped entering because the comps are judged solely on subjectivity.
Photography is an art form

Surely that has to be the case? Art is subjective by its nature. You cannot be objective about art imo.

morgan · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:57

I'm getting the feeling that some people are comfortable with the current setup as they get the big fish in small pond feeling. Thats fine, but I think its heathly for change.
I do agree that at the moment it is a bit of a popularity contest which is strange for photo comp.

Joe T · 22 Dec 2006 at 20:01

morgan said:
I do agree that at the moment it is a bit of a popularity contest which is strange for photo comp.

Would you care to elaborate on this?

Thanks

xolotl · 22 Dec 2006 at 20:10

I agree about the start date. Getting people out taking new pictures is the idea.

I don't like the idea of the public voting, as well as putting me out of a job it also produces some odd results. For example the ***** (that word is probably filtered) competition. Sometimes photos have won when personally I think they're abit naff. I put this down to people who don't have a keen interest in the subject seeing a cool effect (HDR, Light Trails, Depth of Field etc) and voting purely on that, not on the individual merits of the photo.

I also heartily agree with Mohain's earlier point which is copied here for your convenience.

Suggestion: When the winner of round 7 chooses the theme for round 8, the judges (for one round only) also chooses the theme for round 1 of Season 6 at the same time (or within a day or two).

When round 8 finishes we can crack straight on with round 1 of the new season.

The winner of round 8 should be announced about a week before the end of round 1 and as long as the winner chooses the theme within a week we can crack straight on with the next theme.

The photographers will have a round a month and the pressure will be off for the judges as they will have 3 weeks to judge a round as one is in progress.

It might sound bit long winded but it's actually pretty straight forward. Everyone's a winner

morgan · 22 Dec 2006 at 20:54

Joe T said:
Would you care to elaborate on this?

Thanks

i'm not saying that its fixed or anything stupid like that, but I do feel that some people instantly recognise a persons style (especially if they have a customised border or sig overlayed ) etc and that seems to influence results imo

3 judges is so subjective. I know it would but you out of a 'job' judges but surely the point is to help everyone improve and display thier talents...surely this is helped by seeing how popular your work is when its voted on by many people.

eg, whats better?..coming in 12th place or knowing that 5 people thought your shot was the best of the lot.

That can inspire more imo.

not offence to the judges but how are they any more qualified than anyone else?

2007 photo comp...changes?

Man of Honour