2007 photo comp...changes?

[Jotun]

If people were able to vote and there were no set judges, surely that also means that everyone who votes should provide feedback on the photograph and why they ranked it as they did?

By having set judges they can offer critique on individual images and offer insight to why they gave it the ranking they did, so anyone would have areas they could consider for improvement. Compared with letting anyone vote, they would need to justify why they voted for a certain picture, and why they didn't for all the others, surely?

If you get no votes in one round and want feedback, but it's just a poll, then it won't be much use other than knowing people don't like your photograph.

 

[cyKey]

If its truly a popularity contest then how come I sucked last year scoring in the 30's for some rounds? If anyone says its because I'm unpopular I will kill you

 

[ChroniC]

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

Dont worry about it, its was a redundant comment, and i dont want to have to go into 2 years of studying on art, photography and aesthetics, i will just sound like im being pedantic, maybe subjective was the wrong word to describe what i ment.
Its only a forum competition, keep its simple.

 

[Darryn]

If people were able to vote and there were no set judges, surely that also means that everyone who votes should provide feedback on the photograph and why they ranked it as they did?

By having set judges they can offer critique on individual images and offer insight to why they gave it the ranking they did, so anyone would have areas they could consider for improvement. Compared with letting anyone vote, they would need to justify why they voted for a certain picture, and why they didn't for all the others, surely?

If you get no votes in one round and want feedback, but it's just a poll, then it won't be much use other than knowing people don't like your photograph.

I think you may be on to something here, maybe instead of having a set judging panel we could all vote for the winner... as below.

After the entries are in we have a week for judging, in that time everyone who entered has to select the top 3 and bottom 3 entries with a comment for each... the winner being the entrant with the most positives. Anyone not submitting a post with the 6 comments gets disqualified.

 

[cyKey]

If having the current judges is seen as a popularity contest then what on earth would having public voting be like? As far as I'm concerned scoring in the low 20's and 30's when my best mate was a judge rules out any hint of a popularity contest for me. Also having public voting may mean that no-one is allowed to comment on your work as you'll know whether the "judges" like it or not. However if everyone's work is commented on and everyone knows their image is good then its theoretically possible that the best image would still win.

 

[xolotl]

Another problem with public voting is that its very disheartening. Take an average competition of around 40 entries.

5 will be very good. 5 will be very bad.

Now, the top five will get most of the votes. Also, using Dreeder's system the bottom 5 would also get the most of the bad votes.

Where does this leave the 30 photos which ain't terrible but wont win the competition?

No votes, No feedback, No reason to enter.

 

[Colin_da_Killer]

How about only letting people who entered, vote. Each getting 2 votes, becuase lets be honest, a lot, if not all are going to want to vote for their own, so give them one vote for themselves, then antoher one to pick someone else.

I think some compromise needs to be met becuase obviously not everyone is happy with the current system.

 

[Jotun]

How about only letting people who entered, vote. Each getting 2 votes, becuase lets be honest, a lot, if not all are going to want to vote for their own, so give them one vote for themselves, then antoher one to pick someone else.

But then where does the feedback come from?

 

[sproutpunx]

what are people's problems with the current system? I think it works well, and maybe it is a little slow, but nobody is paying the judges!

 

[ElDude]

I personally think there should be two sections in one competition for the cameras, or even two separate competitions.

I don't for one minute think that the camera is the be all and the end all of photography. Only an idiot would think that.

The trouble is, if you're going to take into consideration the fact that other non SLR cameras have less features/are incapable of doing certain things, then it is NOT a balanced competition. You're instantly adding a personal taste equation into the decision. Without set rules on that sort of thing you're effectively saying "well okay, he had to stand 20ft nearer that bull in the field to get that shot, rather than the SLR user with his/her 400L"

As it stands the compo is okay, but is very flawed in that respect.

That's just a basic glance at the competitions, and maybe a slightly sarcastic one at that, but you get my point. You cannot have anything set in stone when it comes to this as it's wide open to speculation at how you came to the conclusion. In my opinion, the people taking part have already got doubt in their minds as to how their shots are judged due to this.

(and no that's not why I've only ever posted one shot, I just suck)

 

[cyKey]

I personally think there should be two sections in one competition for the cameras, or even two separate competitions.

I don't for one minute think that the camera is the be all and the end all of photography. Only an idiot would think that.

The trouble is, if you're going to take into consideration the fact that other non SLR cameras have less features/are incapable of doing certain things, then it is NOT a balanced competition. You're instantly adding a personal taste equation into the decision. Without set rules on that sort of thing you're effectively saying "well okay, he had to stand 20ft nearer that bull in the field to get that shot, rather than the SLR user with his/her 400L"

I'm not really sure it was to that depth. From what TerraS told me it was mainly for noise. Does the noise add to the shot or not, if not then why did they add it on a 30D? If they shot it with a A70 then its just a camera issue and fair do.

 

[morgan]

If its truly a popularity contest then how come I sucked last year scoring in the 30's for some rounds? If anyone says its because I'm unpopular I will kill you

nobody has even mentioned you...relax the ego pls

I have an idea:

Maybe a system - which may be individual is that every entrant can score everyone elses work, on the current 3 criteria.
An individuals score is then an average of thier marks...

I think that would work really well. I'm sure we'd all like an opportunity to play judge, and this way every entrant gets a well rounded result.

For critique there could be a comments field along with the vote, so if anyone hd any suggestions they could let the entrnt know.

I know this is a custom system but I think it would be well worth the work. If I could code i would give it a pop (but sadly i suck at php/asp etc)

 

[ichabod crane]

what about a split system like used on television shows, where judges pick a select few finalists who are then voted for by the whole group of entrants to decide a final winner, or vise versa votes to get finalists then judges choose the winner both rounds with feedback for every vote and from judges to all finalists.

 

[cyKey]

nobody has even mentioned you...relax the ego pls

Nothing to do with ego. Simple fact was that my best mate of nearly 20 years was a judge and I scored badly on some rounds. Thats proof enough for me that its not popularity and that the judges are fair.

 

[xolotl]

nobody has even mentioned you...relax the ego pls

I have an idea:

Maybe a system - which may be individual is that every entrant can score everyone elses work, on the current 3 criteria.
An individuals score is then an average of thier marks...

I think that would work really well. I'm sure we'd all like an opportunity to play judge, and this way every entrant gets a well rounded result.

For critique there could be a comments field along with the vote, so if anyone hd any suggestions they could let the entrnt know.

I know this is a custom system but I think it would be well worth the work. If I could code i would give it a pop (but sadly i suck at php/asp etc)

Think about the length of time it takes 3 people to submit results. Then, think how long its going to take to get 40+ people judge everything. In theory a nice system but I doubt it would work.

 

[Mister_Pister]

The trouble is, if you're going to take into consideration the fact that other non SLR cameras have less features/are incapable of doing certain things, then it is NOT a balanced competition. You're instantly adding a personal taste equation into the decision. Without set rules on that sort of thing you're effectively saying "well okay, he had to stand 20ft nearer that bull in the field to get that shot, rather than the SLR user with his/her 400L"

just on that point, there can also be big differences between SLR users, some people might just have their 18-55mm kit lens and some might have some 800mm lens to get a pic of a rare Siberian midget tiger mating for the first time in 740years or something - there will always be differences in equipment with this sort of thing, it's the photo that counts

 

[Richard T]

some people might just have their 18-55mm kit lens and some might have some 800mm lens to get a pic of a rare Siberian midget tiger mating for the first time in 740years or something

lol

I dont see this making a huge difference

I like having the three judges myself

 

[stuart38]

Think about the length of time it takes 3 people to submit results. Then, think how long its going to take to get 40+ people judge everything. In theory a nice system but I doubt it would work.

If you dont vote for all entrants then your pics points dont count?... my personal opinion is that I get more out of looking at other peoples photos than from the critique I receive when I post my own. For someone to go through all the 40+ entries and scrore based on technical, impact and theme can only be a good thing!

Change is good as I don't like the current system