Fortnightly Competition - Do we want it?

Note the word "nominally". My thinking was to indicate it's not a 4 week comp. or a 3 week comp. but a comp. covered by a calender month. Also note the premise of the comp, "This monthly competition is designed to encourage forum members to go out and capture new images relating to a set theme" My way of looking at it is, you can not go out and take NEW images before the theme is set. I hope that brings clarity to things and we can move on.

I cannot see that it really matters if by coincidence an ideal entry was taken just before the competition title was announced. It might be exceptional but given some people's issues finding time to take any photos at all such as those caring for disabled relatives or those who have personal health issues, why debar those entries for the sake a few hours?

I'd say a July 2012 entry has to be taken in July 2012, period. It's a monthly competition and you have a whole month to select the photographs for it. If I'm alone in this thought then that'll be fine, no issue, but maybe others think as I do.

I'm curious to know why anyone would object to that.

John

In the unlikely event that somebody has such a circumstance they can apply to the judge for special dispensation.

Barrier, thanks for the hard work. Can we run the next comp as a pilot and see what happens?

I do see your point John but I believe you have to define the starting point in line with the original idea of the competition. Which is, new images to a theme. If you allow your interpretation to hold sway I can see where someone could ask for an image taken at 23.59 30th June to be included in the July event and so it could go on.

The reason I included a start date was to try and indicate, to judges, setting the theme promptly is important. By doing so they ensure that entrants have the maximum time within the competition to capture their images.

I agree with Barrie that the picture must be taken after the judge has set the theme. I'm glad its moving to the gallery as it makes it easier to enter. The easier it is to enter the more images we should hopefully get. I find it a nuisance to have to manually find the exif data and add it. At least in the gallery its all there.
Thanks for prompting this discussion Barrie and your efforts in setting down some rules.

Then I certainly won't be entering, or probably even looking. Shame.

I can't see why loading a photo to a hosting site is so difficult.

Gwyn, If you like looking at the pictures why don't you click on the Gallery/Competitions menu button and look at the ones in the weekly comp? There are more there every week than there are in the forum area.

I just don't have the time or inclination to go there that often. In fact I actually forget completely about the gallery most of the time. I go through the forum but can't be bothered with the gallery normally, neither the competition section nor the main gallery. I do occasionally go there when I have more time but it just doesn't do anything for me.

I think it is a huge shame that so many people contribute only to the gallery and never come to the forum. I know I am guilty of the reverse, but this is (or was) primarily a forum site.

I also wonder whether having two competitions running in the gallery will end up confusing people. Too easy to post your entry in the wrong competition.

The ideas here for a monthly comp sound good to me.
Monthly sounds good as longer to get thoughts and act together.
Images taken within the time limits good as it then sets a challenge.
I don't see how entries made the day before the theme were set could be accepted. For the tree one be coincidence I did take a suitable image that I couldn't replicate but it was mentioned more in the spirit of it being sods law than any desire to enter it . Unless PEntax do a crystal ball attachment entrants should be after comp is set.
As for the judging bit although I find the idea daunting as long as people understand that any comments made are not expert opinions thats ok in my view.
The rule list as suggested looks fine but perhaps any probs would be ironed out with the first comp

One question or two.

If this new competition is held in the Gallery how do you make clear what the rules are? Does the person setting the competition have to list them every time they set the comp, or can they be listed at the top of the section for this competition and merely be referred to. As I said many posters in the gallery never visit the forum so unless the rules are listed there somewhere it will be unclear to them how this new competition will work.

The rules are set out in a locked thread in the Competitions Forum.link

I know they are there - but how many people who only post in the gallery actually bother to read them?
I think initially it could be confusing and people may post ineligible entries in the new competition unless the rules are there, in the gallery for them to read.

Anyway, I am now backing out of this discussion since as I said I shan't be entering any gallery based comps.

I don't know if I've missed some of your posts and am getting the wrong end of the stick here.

To view the current weekly comp entries all you do is go Gallery> Competitions> and click on Current Competition title marked in red. This brings up only, but all of, the entries. You don't have to Sort through the main Gallery?

your second point regarding confusion may well be right. As so far I don't know how the Entry page will look when a second competition is added to the Gallery>Competitions page. I'm assuming there will be two titles listed and you select the one you want then upload your image using the "Enter Competition" button near the top of the page.

When you win, and are asked to set up a new competition in the Weeklies, John sends a PM with brief instructions what to do. He could easily include a brief resume of the rules to post along with your new subject, or the link to the full rules.

I like the idea of a monthly 'challenge' comp.

Howabout a chance to vote on all the winning entries at the end of the year, winner gets a fabulous prize?

Vote can run parallel, compiled by an-other and rank order published after judges verdict.