Monthly Photo contest?

[timmciglobal]

Would anyone here like a canon forum month photo contest? Something with an aim we could go out and shoot, post, get feedback, say we won maybe :p

What ya think?

Tim

[cdifoto]

I don't like to play anything I'd never win. :mad: :rolleyes:

[kvdnberg]

I've participated in photo hunts/contents before and it can be a lot of fun, win or no. So I'd be up for it.

[coldrain]

Who would judge them? Not everyone has an eye for quality (technique, composition, lighting, contrast, what have you not).
And how would you keep voting unbiased? How to prevent voting to be messed up by people joining to vote for some buddy of theirs?
The pics should be presented anonymously too...

It could be fun but only if it stays fun, and you would have to have answers/solutions to above problems to keep it fun in the first place...
Nice idea but hard to implement!

[cdifoto]

A friend and I over on POTN decided to have a theme for the weekend and leave the entries open for interpretation...but it's not a contest. It's just a challenge to see who comes up with what when given a vague topic. Not unlike photo assignments in classes...however those assignments are judged as well (by the teacher). These are just for the fun of it. With no winners and no losers, no one is elated and no one is berated. Seems to work so far. We're on our 7th week straight and interest has yet to die down. It's actually growing.

[te1221]

I think its all in good fun. There wouldnt be a winner or a loser but we at least get to see everyone's creative interpretation of a theme.

[24Peter]

I'm in however we decide to do it. :)

[aparmley]

I like the idea.

I will say I am wondering if this should be open to all DSLR users.

I like the idea of having a contest but since everyone hosts their own photos and we've all become familiar with the others URLs it would be hard to stay anonymous. Unless we all agree to uploading which some of us don't like doing because of compression. . . .??? Plus that would just be more storage used up on Jeff's servers than is necessary.

I like the idea lets refine it some more. . .

I like the sound of a weekly assignment - perhaps a series of photos per topic. . . . IDK??

[cdifoto]

I like the idea.

I will say I am wondering if this should be open to all DSLR users.

I like the idea of having a contest but since everyone hosts their own photos and we've all become familiar with the others URLs it would be hard to stay anonymous. Unless we all agree to uploading which some of us don't like doing because of compression. . . .??? Plus that would just be more storage used up on Jeff's servers than is necessary.

I like the idea lets refine it some more. . .

I like the sound of a weekly assignment - perhaps a series of photos per topic. . . . IDK??

You should join the "POTN WORLDWIDE PHOTO DAY" threads Andy...and anyone else who owns Canon.

[jwhite]

Who would judge them? Not everyone has an eye for quality (technique, composition, lighting, contrast, what have you not).
And how would you keep voting unbiased? How to prevent voting to be messed up by people joining to vote for some buddy of theirs?
The pics should be presented anonymously too...

It could be fun but only if it stays fun, and you would have to have answers/solutions to above problems to keep it fun in the first place...
Nice idea but hard to implement!

I would say have someone to judge that is experienced (professionally trained?) and that has been taking pictures for a long time. Probably no more than a couple of judges as well.

[cdifoto]

I don't like the idea of someone who doesn't know me, my style, or my gear judging the photos I post on a forum to be chosen as "better" than someone else's photos who is shooting in a different style with different gear. I've never been into these kinds of competitions because in my opinion it only serves to discourage those who do not "win". It's also not fair to choose someone as a winner just because they hardly ever win to make them feel better.

If it's to be truly fun and inspiring...it shouldn't be a competition at all. Just a simple challenge. Not a challenge for a prize or recognition, just a challenge to one's own creativity.

Just my 2 cents.

[coldrain]

Just my 2 cents.
Nah, just your 2 XTs. :D

[Rhys]

There are weekly and monthly competitions on www.fredmiranda.com
and weekly competitions on www.scphotogs.com (although they're entitled bi-monthly).

[DonSchap]

TAMRON is having its OWN photo contest, based on monthly themes (It's "circles" for April)... so get out there and get several TAMRON lenses... to qualify. Rebates are available on most lenses. LOL :D

I got mine... ye-haa! :eek: Now, where are those flying saucers...?

http://www.porters.com/images/tamron_entries/gallery/?cat=26

Good luck, hot shots! :cool:

[JTL]

If it's to be truly fun and inspiring...it shouldn't be a competition at all. Just a simple challenge. Not a challenge for a prize or recognition, just a challenge to one's own creativity.

Just my 2 cents.This is a good idea. To get started people submitt subjects. We all vote on the subject matter catagories...one for each month (maybe if three or four people like a particular subject, it's in or better yet after have a list of subjects, we can set up a poll). We all agree on a day (like the 15th) of each month to start posting and explaining our appraoch to the subject and commenting on others approach to the subject.

It's takes a little to set up, but once the subject schedule is published, it should run itself (I'm not volunteering, BTW! :D :D :D ...I nominate Tim, since he started the idea!)

I like this type of idea because it takes our shooting styles into consideration and we can learn from each other rather than trying to "beat" each other.

[D Thompson]

There are weekly and monthly competitions on www.fredmiranda.com
and weekly competitions on www.scphotogs.com (although they're entitled bi-monthly).
You could also add http://www.dpchallenge.com/ .

This could be interesting, but as far as a winner/loser it would be difficult to manage the way the threads are set up. There is no way to post one anonymously and there are probably certain shots you know who took anyway. This could be posted in the photo gallery thread with a topic and then whoever can post or not. I'd still like to see a critique forum set up myself, but have long given up on that. Just my 20D worth ;).

[Vich]

I'd post 'em, but do we have the population for it? We also have a large mix of DSLR and digicams.

I wouldn't mind a panel of judges and maybe a prerequisite for panel members to be at least simi-pro (ie: makes at least SOME money at photography, or is at least published, each year) that would work. If we could also have an "ameture voting" section that would be nice.

Shooting to themes is a lot of fun! What's it take to do it?

We should also be anonomous (except the winners). That way we aren't marked down for being personally disliked by a judge. Maybe a panel-winner and a vote-winner.

After the competition, if we could reveal the authors that would be OK too, and would make it more fun for the regulars.

[aparmley]

I don't like the idea of someone who doesn't know me, my style, or my gear judging the photos I post on a forum to be chosen as "better" than someone else's photos who is shooting in a different style with different gear. I've never been into these kinds of competitions because in my opinion it only serves to discourage those who do not "win". It's also not fair to choose someone as a winner just because they hardly ever win to make them feel better.

If it's to be truly fun and inspiring...it shouldn't be a competition at all. Just a simple challenge. Not a challenge for a prize or recognition, just a challenge to one's own creativity.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree with this - I don't think it should be a "defined winner" competition. Rather, lets have like a weekly assignment and all who choose to partake must abide by the rules - perhaps its a restriction on gear or just adhere to topic and then everyone presents their work that week - like an egallery, those who wish to see what others have come up with given that weeks assigments can look at the photos and provide comments and contruction criticism if the photographer requests it. . . I think that would be a good learning experience and no one is declared a winner or loser. . . ???

No judges. No mess.

[cdifoto]

The beaurocracy of selecting judges would destroy the intent and purpose of the challenge in the first place.

[timmciglobal]

Who said select a judge? We'll all vote for our own and declare a 17 way tie :p

Tim

[DonSchap]

"Communistic" if you ask me.

I know... who asked you?

Just start it up... and refine it later on. See what kind of participation you can expect. It's a "trial balloon"... let 'er fly... without all the hooplah of rules and regulations. :D

[Vich]

Hmmm, it's starting to sound a lot a critique forum would satisfy us. Jeff?

[ReF]

any chance at all that those us who don't care to participate or are busy doing their own things won't start to look bad?


btw i think judging them is a stupid idea. like others pointed out, it's for fun and having winners, which creates "losers" (harsh term for photogs, eh?) is seriously gonna take away from that.

think we should ask jeff first if it's alright with him to add loads more pictures to this site?

[aparmley]

A critique forum is not the idea. I mean - everytime I post picks I welcome C&C maybe I don't always type it but I do - no need for a seperate forum just for that. a critique forum would be more like shoot whatever, post whenever . . . sounds like how those of us that do post stuff use this forum already. ;)

what the idea is about really is having an organized assignment, an equal lenght of time to create your images, and then a time/place to post your results then a time that is allowed for viewing and comments - photographic growth together and in an organized way. . . .

Lets get this rocking. . .

Since we aren't judging will just have to have those that contribute join photobucket or some other free hoster if they don't want to pay for their own. no image uploads to the DCRP so Jeff doesn't have to worry about it - He shouldn't have to worry about it. ;) I think it would be appropriate for him to be involved in this decision and OK it first though. So maybe we need to refine our idea now, get a solid game plan so that way we can present him with the concept and see what he thinks about it. It'd be difficult for him to ok a rough idea - but a well thought out, agreed upon format/rules should be in place first.

[Vich]

A critique forum is not the idea. I mean - everytime I post picks I welcome C&C maybe I don't always type it but I do - no need for a seperate forum just for that. a critique forum would be more like shoot whatever, post whenever . . . sounds like how those of us that do post stuff use this forum already. ;)

what the idea is about really is having an organized assignment, an equal lenght of time to create your images, and then a time/place to post your results then a time that is allowed for viewing and comments - photographic growth together and in an organized way. . . .

Lets get this rocking. . .

Since we aren't judging will just have to have those that contribute join photobucket or some other free hoster if they don't want to pay for their own. no image uploads to the DCRP so Jeff doesn't have to worry about it - He shouldn't have to worry about it. ;) I think it would be appropriate for him to be involved in this decision and OK it first though. So maybe we need to refine our idea now, get a solid game plan so that way we can present him with the concept and see what he thinks about it. It'd be difficult for him to ok a rough idea - but a well thought out, agreed upon format/rules should be in place first.
OK Then, what's the first assignment / deadline? What forum? All in 1 thread or separate threads for each person posting? If the latter, we should have a naming convention that'll separate it out.

What might work is if we have a common posting area and all post to the same spot. Then we could get critiques.

For example:

Assignment: Depth Of Field. Post no more than 5 total.
Deadline: May 10.
Convention: Label it with your name and ordinal (ie: Vich-1, Vich-2, etc). Post them as you get them.
Feedback: Post critiques with a link to the photo being critiqued within the same thread as the assignment.
Hosting Site: forexample.smugmug.com Password: dcrpdcrp

Only catch is; its against photobucket's rules and handing out a password like that opens the door to abuse (and liability). Hmmmm


So then, lets say we get 25 photos posted. Someone decides to critique a few, they say:

http://2aa311.forexample.smugmug.com (the photo link) ......... (comments)

http://2aa3aa1.forexample.smugmug.com (the photo link) ......... (comments)

Is this getting close?



A little more cumbersome than a straight vote.


I don't quite understand everyone's reluctance to having simple voting, but it seems to be strong. I don't think "losing" is any more than simply "not winning".

If modeled after the POTN contests, we would see the number of votes.

[D Thompson]

A critique forum is not the idea. I mean - everytime I post picks I welcome C&C maybe I don't always type it but I do - no need for a seperate forum just for that. a critique forum would be more like shoot whatever, post whenever . . . sounds like how those of us that do post stuff use this forum already. ;)
See this thread http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11611 and you'll see several of us showed interest in the critique forum. I always welcome C&C too, but you very rarely get much other than nice shot, etc. in the photo gallery which, IMO, is for the sharing & enjoyment of each others shots. I've got the occasional shot that I'd like a little harder look at.

what the idea is about really is having an organized assignment, an equal lenght of time to create your images, and then a time/place to post your results then a time that is allowed for viewing and comments - photographic growth together and in an organized way. . . .

Lets get this rocking. . .
I think this is a good ideal as well that could have its own forum. I agree about the no winner/loser idea. This would indeed be a learning experience that would show how each of us would interpret a particular subject.

Just my .02.

[aparmley]

See this thread http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11611 and you'll see several of us showed interest in the critique forum.


D - I'm not doubting anyones desire for a critique forum, I've read all about it. I was just trying to make the point that with the "photo assignment" idea in mind, simply creating a critique forum is not a suitable solution.

[D Thompson]

D - I'm not doubting anyones desire for a critique forum, I've read all about it. I was just trying to make the point that with the "photo assignment" idea in mind, simply creating a critique forum is not a suitable solution.
Andy - I didn't think you were doubting the desire for the critique forum. I still believe that both of these forums could exist for different reasons. It looks as if the "photo assignment" will be limited to us Canon users (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19367) and that's fine, but anyone could submit a photo to the critique forum. The topic for the month may have absolutely nothing to do with a shot someone wants critiqued. I think both of these ideas are great and could serve their own purpose, but that's just me. Now all I gotta do is try to come up with a shot for the "judging" theme.

[kvdnberg]

Just my 2c, I find that a challenge (whether judged or not, though I fully agree that judging is not the best idea if you want to keep it fun & friendly) assignment can be very educational and fun. It keeps you looking for new subjects and new ways to photograph something. It is a challenge in itself though to come up with the assignment. It needs some creativity. Try not to fall back on the standard ideas that everyone has already done anyway, the challenge should be to try something new. Only way to learn!

I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in a weekly photo hunt on a photographic community website that has unfortunately been taken offline. Would love to see it happen here, to get going again.

[aparmley]

Andy - I didn't think you were doubting the desire for the critique forum. I still believe that both of these forums could exist for different reasons. It looks as if the "photo assignment" will be limited to us Canon users (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19367) and that's fine, but anyone could submit a photo to the critique forum. The topic for the month may have absolutely nothing to do with a shot someone wants critiqued. I think both of these ideas are great and could serve their own purpose, but that's just me. Now all I gotta do is try to come up with a shot for the "judging" theme.

Agreed Dennis! ;)

[timmciglobal]

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19367

Here is first one, post your comments on the rules there and pictures starting may 1st!

Tim