Thoughts on the competition

A few things occur to me.

• The competition will soon dominate the top of "General Digital Photography Chat" forum. How about giving it a forum of its own? Or can ex-competitions be made non-sticky so they drift down the list in time?

• Given that most of us work on Mondays, how about running the competition from Saturday midnight to Saturday midnight. That would give the judge Sunday to deliberate.

• Finally, I think the judges shouldn't feel obliged to comment on every picture. First, second, third and other notables should be sufficient. Otherwise the job may become a bit of toil. This would hasten the results and it also relieves them of finding something nice to say about pictures they don't really consider worthy of comment.

All fair points which I can't find anything to disagree upon.

Older ones have already been teflon coated.

Dan

Having been through the exercise myself I can say that it is something of a task.

However I do disagree with this for a number of reasons, at least while the number of entries per week is at current levels.

• 
  1. The 'toil' aspect can be reduced, by jotting down a couple of lines about the entries as they come in, rather than all at once at the end.
  
  2. Commenting on each entry made me really look at every picture, and take the time to think carefully about exactly what I did or didn't like about them, and why, in relation to the theme. It was certainly a useful exercise for me; I felt I gained a lot from it.
  
  3. For those that don't get a place or a commendation, still getting some feedback is hugely useful - knowing how one's work is viewed by the judges is more important if you don't win, than if you do.
  
  4. And finally, I think it's simply nice to take the trouble for one's fellow photographers. We presumably have a lot in common, in our desire to improve, and the struggle to do so. I'd do it for you, it's nice to think you'd do it for me. Not once every other week, but if someone starts winning every time they enter, maybe they should be entering other comps instead
  

Well spoken Chris,

I thought that giving feedback on every picture would be a bit of a strain but your arguments 2 and 4 do it for me. And should someone start to win every week they could stop entering This might reduce strong competition and gives me a chance as well.

<not_ serious>
Maybe we should ban a winner for x weeks
</not_serious>

Prieni

Totally agree with Chris. Although it was difficult judging, I enjoyed it, and it made me really look at the entries. I tried to say something positive about all of them, or at least make a constructive comment.

And I started my notes well before the closing date, so that I didn't have loads to do on the monday.

Galoot was a little more brief than I was (and he went against the agreement we'd negotiated the week before ), but he still commented on each and it was valuable - I looked at my own entry again and thought "oh yeah, there's a bright blob at the top".

So I say keep it as it is.

Dan

Hello

I have enjoyed the feedback. Normally my pictures are a private thing and not subject to scrutiny by any one except my very close family, ie my wife.

This forum has given me a lot of confidence and the comments on the entries have certainly helped. This weekend I even entered some photos in the local agricutural show and won a second prize! ( By the way the judge was biased my wife and daughter said i should have won at least three out of the five catagories i entered!)

Dave M

I too, like the current system, everybody needs to get some feedback from their peers. The comments from all the
competitions have been offering constructive criticism and helpful suggestions rather than negative responses.

For my own judging, I downloaded each picture and viewed them in a slideshow, seemed the best way for me.

Sorry Dan, the agreement slipped my mind, but I might be suing Dirk over copyright issues, ,
his version of the newspaper shot was better than mine.

Once again congratulations to all, especially the judge. I must say I enjoy the comments, I did not think I would. I hope the old adage "Never too old to learn" applies in my case.

Good luck to everybody this week.

Howard

It seems to be working well and I'm delighted you're getting something out of it.

No system can please everybody of course, and we did change from Saturday to Sunday in response to requests to. Better leave it as it is for now at least.

I agree completely that the judge feedback is hugely useful for all the participants, for improve our skills, for learn, for listen other opinions, and mainly (in the today tumultuous world) know somebody give several of his own for you!

Then the art, will be get no more than the second position, so, if you believe winner, make a little deliberated mistake… (just a joke).

Best regards.
________________
Dirk TROTTEYN.
K10D+ Sigma 18-50 1:2.8 EX DC Lens.

I agree with everyone when you say each entry should be commented on no matter how brief. I need all the coaching i can get and thank all you guys for your inputs and comments. I am getting better by the day as a result.
But i do agree it should have its own Forum

Totally agree, the comments, although somewhat time consuming for the judge are valuable for the photographer. I personally wouldn't have a problem writing comments about the pictures when I win...*hint*...*hint*