Photo Comp Rules Discussion

[bmer]

Photo Competitions Suggestions & Comments thread

Recently there was a lot of discussion about the rules of our photo competitions. Therefore a thread for further discussion is probably justified. Suggestions on how the photo competitions (both General and Automotive) can be improved are more than welcome. The opinions of members who regularly participate in the competitions will be appreciated especially. It would also be good to know if there are members who don't take part in the competitions for certain reason.

Please let us know if you are you not satisfied with the current rules. What should be allowed in terms of picture editing and what not? Should any of the rules be made more specific or do some of them unnecessarily restrict the type of entries? Should there be separate competitions for point&shoot cameras and DSLRs? Or another competition where more picture editing (i.e. HDR) would be allowed?

 

[GasInMyVeins]

Since my minor changes were rather harshly (and understandably) taken last week, let's make a discussion.

First:
The slight changes in time are to fit my schedule. If this is that big of a problem, someone else will need to volunteer to run these. The new times will be: submission from Sunday night to Friday night. Voting from Friday night to Sunday night. That ok?

Second:
The one that really got me in trouble: selective coloring. I'm in favor of allowing because it is possible with traditional film and printing. But, what do y'all think, yes or no?

Third:
Is anyone open to the idea of themed comps? Like one week is Audi week, another Engine Shots week, etc. Y'all could suggest themes for upcoming weeks and I'll pick one of you suggestions, or I can do it on my own. What do you think?

 

[Choleric]

1) You have to specify where you are. Friday night in Jakarta is a lot different from Friday night in Nebraska. The best way is to use GMT. Also, I don't think it has to be exact as long as somewhat consistent as it has been.

2) Selective Colouring has been voted on and is allowed: http://www.germancarforum.com/photography/26316-selective-colouring-photo-comps.html

3)Themes we can talk about, but I am strongly against them since they will limit the entries and overall the quality since people will be limited in what they can upload.

 

[cawimmer430]

Themed shots are going to severely limit the entries and participants.

Most of my pictures are simply taken by wandering around and spotting something interesting in the heat of the moment. Walking around trying to find that "perfect Audi shot" for a themed competition is honestly going to be a waste of time. Or what about the people that have no car? They can't just walk up to a broken-down Toyota at the side of the road asking the pissed owner if they can take a photo of the engine!


I would like to suggest that we allow HDR Photography or at least have an HDR Photo Competition. What do you guys think about that?

 

[Choleric]

I would like to suggest that we allow HDR Photography or at least have an HDR Photo Competition. What do you guys think about that?

They would absolutely have to be a separate competition.

 

[Giannis]

I'm totaly against the themed competitions, for the reasons Wimmer already stated!

We are not a photography forum, that we spend our days trying to find the perfect shot. Instead we are a bunch of car fan and some of as are interested in photography, so it should not get so professional!

It has a theme after all! Automotive

 

[GasInMyVeins]

1)I forgot to think of time differences, sorry. I'm in the Eastern US. So 10 or 11 my time on Friday to end submission, 10 or 11 Sunday to end voting. So I think that's 4 or 5 am Saturday to end submission, and 4 or 5 am Monday to end voting, GMT. Correct me if that's wrong. But five days to enter, two to vote.

2)So, if it's already been accepted, why'd everyone get so upset?

3)Ok, I understand your objections to themes. Cool, 'twas just an idle thought.

HDR: That would definatlely have to be a totally different comp. Perhaps you'd like to take it up and start one, cawimmer?

 

[VroomVroom]

Themed competitions have already been suggested by myself over at CZ to admin but it fell through

 

[GasInMyVeins]

So can I amend the rules for next week to allow Selective Coloring? And I'm dropping the themes idea.

Also, can anyone point me to a free software to do that? I have some photos of obnoxiously colored Lamborghinis that would do well with Selective.

 

[Giannis]

cawimmer430 or Beemer are the best members here to give you some proper advice!

Actually i'd love to read some tips guys!

 

[cawimmer430]

Perhaps you'd like to take it up and start one, cawimmer?

Definitely. I'll probbaly poll the forum first though to see what they think.

 

[cawimmer430]

So can I amend the rules for next week to allow Selective Coloring? And I'm dropping the themes idea.

Yep. Do it.

Also, can anyone point me to a free software to do that? I have some photos of obnoxiously colored Lamborghinis that would do well with Selective.

I use Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or ArcSoft Photostudio 2008 to selective color my images. Any semi-professional or professional photo editing software will enable you to do this.

 

[GasInMyVeins]

I use Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or ArcSoft Photostudio 2008 to selective color my images. Any semi-professional or professional photo editing software will enable you to do this.

Yeah, I knew those, but those are expensive and I'm a broke college student. Do you know of any free ones?

Also, Mike J suggested we make the polls public. I'd be ok with this, what do y'all think?

Also, who should I PM about getting this sticky'd so we can keep using it?

 

[Choleric]

Polls have always been public and should always be. That is how we ensure people do not vote for themselves.

And there is already a thread for this stickied, so I will merge this with that.

 

[GasInMyVeins]

And I'll make future polls public, I was just doing that because I never saw the last guy make 'em public.

Hmm, somehow I didn't notice that. Thanks.

 

[Zonda]

Also, can anyone point me to a free software to do that? I have some photos of obnoxiously colored Lamborghinis that would do well with Selective.

If you don't have Photoshop, try this
FotoFlexer - The world's most advanced online photo editor

 

[GasInMyVeins]

Thanks loads, Zonda. I'll give that a try.

EDIT: I tried it out and that's pretty good. Expect some Selective Coloring photos from me in the near future!

 

[cawimmer430]

Yeah, I knew those, but those are expensive and I'm a broke college student. Do you know of any free ones?

I never bought my copy of Photoshop. A Russian friend of mine gave me an illegal copy.

And ArcSoft Photostudio isn't that good but it comes along when you buy a Canon scanner.

 

[GasInMyVeins]

Nice, cawimmer. Too bad I don't know any Russians. I'll probably just used lesser editing software until I get into digital photography classes in college next year, then I'll just have to cough up some money.

 

[cawimmer430]

Nice, cawimmer. Too bad I don't know any Russians. I'll probably just used lesser editing software until I get into digital photography classes in college next year, then I'll just have to cough up some money.

LOL

You can pick up some older versions of Photoshop for less than $100 I believe. Just be on the lookout.