Extra competitions

Well, not much response. So I guess no-one is really bothered or they are happy with what the site already has.

I voted 'No', but to be honest it's a little odd when someone who rarely (if ever?) enters the two existing competitions then puts up a poll about adding more of them.

I enter when I can, however I dont have the time I would like to go out and take shots suitable for most competitions so rely on back catalogues for entries.

I replied to this post. I don't enter because I don't want to win. No point in entering if you don't want to win.

A competition where the "prize" is a bit less onerous and intimidating would perhaps get me entering.

Agree with Gwyn re 'prize' there have been a couple of occaisions when I would have put something up for the Weekly Comp, but realised, if by fluke I had won, I wouldn't be around to get the judgement out on Sunday.

Thought i would give this a bump as competitions are on alot of minds this morning !

Glad you raised the issue again. It would be good if the Forum gave more/reasoned consideration to comp format (& I don't necessarily mean EXTRA Comps), instead of just blagging off those who don't currrently enter.

There were some suggestion brought up in this thread that were not developed and which might make participation more INCLUSIVE. After all even John R used the word 'niche' (could be interpreted as cliquish).

I don`t understand what you mean by more INCLUSIVE, ISO - when I joined I was terrified of being looked down upon or ridiculed for my "poor snaps" - as I grew in confidence and contributed I realised what a great bunch of disparate Pentax users there were around the world,across the age spectrum and with various degrees of expertise.
Having won one,come second,and had an HC and a commended I am now more than happy to submit to the two competitions knowing that I will get a fair judgement based in most cases on the things that attract me to other people`s shots - colour,impact,style,subject matter,vision and occasionally some technical stuff as well.
I have photographed with Pentax since 1990 and will continue to do so regardless of my membership here - this is just a bonus and a chance to have a lively,sometimes witty,and often polarized view of the rest of my peers.
As a cook I preferred to compete in the kitchen and please the customer ( although the odd accolade was welcome,I did not actively seek it out ) as a golfer I am happy to play 9 or 18 holes for enjoyment and excercise,and as a picture taker I will continue to shoot for MY benefit primarily and the occasional compliment from Mrs.T or my family and friends.
The niche , surely , is that we all use Pentax/Samsung gear primarily , I don`t see that that makes us cliquish and I really do not see the "blagging off" of "those who do not currently enter" as terribly constructive or even apparent - either you do enter or you don`t - the choice is yours alone - especially when you see how many members are active on the site.
IMHO

Tony

I don't understand how the existing competitions can be considered to be 'not inclusive'.

For the Weekly Competition, the only exclusion is photographs not taken on Pentax cameras or the equivalent Samsung clone.

For the Fortnightly Competition, the only exclusions are photographs not taken on Pentax cameras or the equivalent Samsung clone and photographs not taken within the qualifying period.

Err - I think people are misunderstanding the term Inclusive.

Also Tony I agree with everything you say about why we are involved in photography and this Forum.(Except you need to read Tim's post above re 'blagging off')

My point is that Comp formats should make it easyfor many people to enter, and my query was whether the current structures do that?

Here, Here Hyram. To be included all you have to do is enter an image.

Just look at the range of subjects that have been used. I don't think people are trying, at all, if they could not find something of interest every now and again. On the other hand you could say "I'll have a go at that I've never tried it before."

The aesthetic of the competitions is self selecting. Those who win pick the subject and do the next judging. So there is a problem in that the "genetic makeup" of the judges is tuned to a mediocrity of sameness. If you win, your style is selected by the last judge, you then pick the next winner, so the similar aesthetic continues. Repeating winners resets the aesthetic to the norm.

Looking though the gallery of the creme-de-la creme of weekly shots, where people are picking their best shots and crowbarring them into the subject, there are some really dull images. Technically fine and on topic but dull.

It might be more interesting to pick a judge randomly from the entrants. Bringing in new aesthetic values breaking the circle of inclusive similarity. Or is it cliquey back slapping?

I don't enter the competitions any more.
Why?
because I don't want to win one. I don't want to judge. Now I know the chances of me winning are small, but I don't want to take that chance.

But the competitions are open to all, regardless. People generally get an constructive review of their photo, and learn from that.
They are easy to enter. Many people enter the weekly comp and win, yet never contribute to the forum, so it cannot be cliquey.

But to suggest they are hard for people to enter - well everything is hard the first time you try it, including posting a photo here on the forum or in the gallery. You are proud of your photo and scared of responses. But you learn from them. The same with the comps. You learn from them, not only from the comments on your own photo but by looking at others efforts, and yes, by winning and learning how to judge and criticize in a constructive way.

Gwyn - you have just proven my point - people don't enter because the consequences of winning are in fact a put off..................

Doug,
A very good point. Hadn't seen that - the weekly could just be a a self fulfilling prophecy (exc spelling).