New Competition

Okay, a fortnightly comp it is then. Theme set/judging due every other Wednesday. Unless anyone objects, I will set the theme this Wednesday and post judgment in two weeks time. There are a few outstanding issues, however…

First, practicalities – where should the new comp be sited? The easiest option would be in the Gallery competition area. This facilitates posting and I do think the way the images are organised here is an improvement. However, perhaps adding a fortnightly comp here would detract from the existing weekly one. Alternatively, we could just have a thread in the competitions section of the Forum Home – in which pics could be posted in the old style from websites such as flickr, photobucket etc. Would appreciate your thoughts on this.

It would be a good idea to have a short explanation of the comp/rules permanently at the head of each fortnightly thread. Does anyone know how this can be achieved?

Regarding rules, these wouldn’t be too complicated: a picture taken within the two weeks; posted image size no bigger than 800 pixels (though I’m not sure how this would be policed – as JR did in the old comp; might we all agree to remove larger images and inform the entrant of this rule? [I would offer, but my internet access is intermittent]); theme chosen by last winner paying attention to its practicality for all potential entrants (eg. no winter shots when it’s summer in Oz etc.); otherwise choice of theme (or brief – I don’t see why both can’t be accommodated) open to the winner’s whim – from the technically-driven to the subject-based; deadline midnight GMT every other Wednesday; judgment to be posted as soon after this as possible; winner to set theme as soon after this as possible. Let me know if I’ve missed anything out.

Regarding judging, as indicated in my previous post – the format could either remain the same with an assessment of each photo by the judge and his/her selection of 1-3 or 1-3 + HCs; or the judge could just decide the latter and leave the feedback to fellow forum members. I would suggest the former – it may be more onerous for the winner, but the latter option might get complicated and even perhaps interfere with the final judgment.

As stated above, I don’t think this should adversely affect the existing competition. I for one intend to continue entering this too if I already have an appropriate photo – or even to go out to take pics for this too (I need all the practice I can get!).

this new competition should definitely be in the normal forum area, not next to the main competition. Having it next to the main one would detract from that competition and would capture the same audience etc.
I have no problem with just the results from the judge and C&C by fellow entrants - it would make it different and possibly more honest!
Looking forward to it.

I agree with above, place it in the normal forum area, I do believe at 800 pixels wide you get a much better representation of the image like we did before. It will be more personal as well, look forward to your new thread Dr Mhuni!

Well, I do see it differently. I don't think that it would detract from the "other" competition (why call it the main competition?). I think the competition section is as if it was made for competitions

What's wrong with 800 pixel wide images in the competition section? To me they don't look any different there ::

Dr. Munhi: In a thread the rules could be made permanent by making the rules post "sticky". Something that one of the admins could do for you on request.

Prieni

Any other opinions on the location of the comp?

I will go with the majority view!

Back here in the forum, where it all started

Second that!

Also by me ! Just keep it here in the regular (Old) place. One point though!
Would it be a idea,( given the fact that we now have a two week period of entering)
to start and close the competition at 18.00 hours instead of midnight? This prevents the judge from loosing to much sleep, and because it starts and ends midweek it doesn't put to much strain on our regular jobs. Most of the people could see the end results before bedtime than. I would really appreciate this. Please?????

Martin.

Whatever you decide to do will be moderated in the usual way, so I'll just delete any images over 800 pixels. Put your rules in the first post and I'll make it a sticky so it stays on top of the thread.

In the forum and I agree about the 18:00 hours finish time too.

Mike

I have posted the following in the competition section:

This fortnightly competition is designed to encourage forum members to go out and capture new images relating to a set theme. The following rules apply:

1. All entries must be images taken within 14 days of the current theme being set;
2. Full Exif data should be supplied with each image, including date/time of capture;
3. Image should not exceed 800 pixels width;
4. Deadline for submission of entries is 1800 GMT every other Wednesday;
5. The competition winner will select winning entries 1-3 (and award ‘Highly Commended’s, if so desired), and post the results as soon as possible after the Wednesday deadline (though this will partly depend on time zone);
6. In contrast to the weekly competition the judge is not required to supply detailed feedback on all entries. Instead, other entrants – and forum members more generally – are encouraged to provide their own feedback on the various images;
7. The latest winner will select the next theme taking into consideration its practicality for all potential entrants (eg. don’t select ‘Winter’ when it’s summer down under), and will initiate the new competition as soon as possible after the previous results have been posted.

Happy snapping

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The above rules might need some fine tuning before being made sticky in this thread. Please provide any feedback in the ‘New Competition’ thread in the General Digital Photography Chat section, and I will then prepare the final text to be made sticky here…

As it stands, I can see a couple of snags with posting the competition here in the forum rather than the competition gallery. First, Exif data has to be supplied manually. This means we have to take on trust the fact that the shot has been taken within the fortnight. Though I don’t see this as particularly problematic – if people submit archive pics then they’re really missing the point of the comp.

More seriously there is the issue of where the feedback will appear. If this is posted when the competition is current then it will result in loads of text appearing between the images. I can think of three remedies:
a. Starting a contemporaneous competition post in the General Dig Photography Chat section for discussion of photos;
b. Having the competition in the competition gallery rather than the forum section;
c. Reverting to the judge only providing feedback.

If forum members can post their thoughts on the above (before 1300 GMT as my internet access can be problematic after this) in the ‘New Competition’ thread (where I will also copy this post) then I can edit a final rules to appear permanently in the fortnightly competition thread.

I'll set the theme later...

Excellent!

I agree Dr Mhuni has summarised the discussion well and the rules look simple enough. The EXIF issue is a problem but I agree with him - if people cheat then they cheat!

The bigger issue is the forum comments against images.

I think that the prqactical solution is to have one thread for entries and as he suggested a parallel thread for discussion and appraisal.

I think we have a system to run with!

I'm looking forward to the first challenge.

Mike

Please keep your discussion thread in the Competitions section, to avoid the subject being spread all over the forum and causing confusion.

I've made your rules post a sticky.

So no pictures "captured" using that old fashioned stuff that comes in rolls (and sometimes sheets) then...