How is the photo of the week chosen?

I don't know if this is the right place for this and I hope I don't offend anyone, but I'd like to know how the photo of the week is chosen? Is it one person's choice? A panel of members? Some statistical calculation based on views or something?

It's just gotten to the point where I have to question where it comes from.

It doesn't seem that the rule the photo has to be taken on a Pentax applies. Think the photo is selected by lucky dip!?

There is a panel of photographers who take it in turn to choose the POTW.

All images posted to PU should be Pentax images, that's a given. Having said that, it's taken on trust, otherwise endless checking would be needed.

If you check the gallery of the current POTW holder you'll find a number of them are Fuji FinePix S9500 images. It's clear enough for all to see. Clearly some don't understand or simply ignore the site's Pentax only requirement.

When I joined I, without realising it, sent a photo taken with a Fuji.
Within a day I received an email pointing out my error an advising it would not be displayed on the site. Perhaps newer members are unaware of the requirement

Many thanks for pointing this out, I'll look into it and send a reminder.

With the ease of mounting a myriad of lenses onto many cameras especially with the increase in mirrorless models, it may also be worth claryfying what constitutes "taken with Pentax" do we only take into account the camera body or the lens as well, what if sometakes a stunning shot using the rather expensive DA 560 mounted on an OMd

First of all, the reminders have been sent and acknowldedged, although I'm reminded that sometimes scanners may be used and these could show EXIF data that is misleading. I'm also receiving comments that always some comments on images would be appreciated as feedback is very helpful.

Taken with Pentax kit means just that, but let's not over-think it! The more things get defined, the worse it gets.

Now if you can get the Pentax 560mm onto your Olympus body, then we'll be happy with that. It might just be a heck of a lot easier to just use a Pentax body though....

If and when a scanner has been used, a comment by the poster giving some details about the original image would also be helpful in lieu of any meaningful exif.

I hesitate to post this as I really don't want to offend anyone, but I wasn't commenting on the equipment used to capture the images but rather the quality of the final image, and I don't mean the resolution and dynamic range. Tastes vary of course, but I'm aware that within the UK this is probably the most obvious face of the brand and it should represent the best that the brand can produce.

To mix my metaphors, I'm treading lightly here while trying not to beat around the bush.

Duly noted, thanks John. I had assumed I would be out of any runnings, having adopted a Sony body to use with my Pentax lenses herein.

Whatever are you trying to say? -) Just come out with it and then we won't be jumping to conclusions. At the moment I'm deducing that you think our POTW selections aren't very good.....but I can't agree with that. I've seen some superb images selected, although no one person will agree on which picture posted during the week is actually the best.

Something to add, photography is very personal and subjective so one man's poor image is another's masterpiece. Also the judges alternate weekly so you may have one that prefers landscapes, another portraits, another derelict etc so winning image genres will alter