Well I would encourage you to partcipate and learn. I don't think anyone entering a picture anywhere on this forum would be considered a laughing stock. Maybe part of the benfit would be to see what could be made out of a 'poor' picture. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks for the feedback. I think there is enough positive feedback to give the idea a go.

I don’t see this as a serious, formal competition through the gallery route. I see this as mainly a fun diversion with the element of competition I think the least important and for that reason would not want it to be another voting competition. The last attempt on that seems to have ended in tears anyway and I don‘t want to go there. I do however envisage plenty of benefits conducive to the seriousness of the forum.

I would set the challenge up as one single thread in this section and of course I’m happy to give the first one a go. I would post an unmodified photo to the thread - which is of course a maximum size 800 pixels, together with a link to download either the original sized JPEG or raw, DNG file if appropriate.

There could be many reasons to submit a photo to the challenge. I might have a photo that I consider already very good but would like to see if someone could add an extra something for a real wow factor. I might have a photo I quite like but need inspiration to make the most of it. I might have a photo which I am unhappy with but think might be redeemed in ways that I haven‘t thought of. I might have a photo that suits a number of quite different looks and I want to see a range of options which I might not think of myself. I might want to see examples of post processing that I don’t indulge in myself to see if that’s an avenue I might wish to explore. I might just want to encourage others to go pp wild on a photo and see if anything interesting comes out.

I don’t think there should be any rules on what photo to submit as I think everyone has the sense to set a workable challenge. A razor sharp tightly framed macro would probably not be suitable, but I‘m sure everyone would realise that. Neither do I think photos with technical issues such as some blown highlights or out of focus subjects should be precluded - in fact I think that would be a rather interesting challenge, so there would be no worries about posting a ‘poor‘ photo.

In setting the challenge an outline brief would be beneficial, although just an outline so as not to stifle creativity. I would set no limits on processing, but if the person setting the challenge wished to add some limits (eg: no pixels added) then I wouldn’t object to that either.

I would imagine that most members would be able to participate. On many photos a crop, a decision on black and white, sepia, other tone and some contrast adjustment can make a huge difference and free editors can be quite versatile. There will of course be photos where skilled photoshoppers might be in a position to make the best of it. But I regard that as an opportunity for the rest of us to learn, and that’s why I want to play down the sense of competition.

Processed entries would be submitted to the thread on an ongoing basis, as they are in the fortnightly competition. I don’t see any need for a step by step analysis of what has been done but a brief overview might be beneficial. If someone has a particular interest in a photo then they could always contact the member independently to discuss the nitty gritty.

The person who sets the challenge would select an entrant to whom the baton be passed. I hesitate to use the term judging but the reason for that selection should be made clear. In line with what already happens in the competitions I think the decision should be accompanied by a brief commentary on each entry. The photo selected might be subtly enhanced or wildly different from the original.

In terms of photo hosting I think I have found somewhere suitable, but I need to investigate further. In passing the challenge on I could pass on the account details too and the next person can then use the hosting service - I‘m looking at it.

I see the following benefits:

To see side by side comparisons of the same scene is probably the best way to learn about post processing possibilities for all involved.

It will encourage the furtherance of processing skills.

The host might get a really good photo out of it that they are unable to produce themselves.

It might introduce those who don’t post process to the range of tools, many free, available for post processing.

It’s a fun thing to do.

That's how it all seems to work at the other place and it appears successful.

Just to give some concrete examples, I’ll post some types of photos soon that I think would work. Then I’ll set up the first one. My view is that if it takes off then great, if it doesn’t then never mind. If there are barriers to it working then it can scrapped. If the PU Team objects for whatever reason and wishes to delete all this, then no worries whatsoever.

Yes, the first was just a lament for the passing of something that I enjoyed (know of another voting comp?:wink. I don't propose resurrecting that.

I recall a critique thread, but that was a little different. This wouldn't be a critique, simply make the most of whatever the photo is. It could have been before my time, but given evolution of membership maybe it's worth another shot.

Maybe, but not necessarily. Just something simple like choice of crop will often make the biggest difference.

Plus I don't think the important thing is to 'win' the challenge - that really is just a mechanism to keep it going. The thing I find interesting is simply the different interpretations, often completely distinct. It would certainly teach me a lot.

I ventured over to Pentax Forums for a butchers. I like their monthly voting competition, which seems very well subscribed, so it's a shame that the voting competition here went to an early grave. But one idea I found there that I really like is the post processing challenge, which I had a go at. Someone makes a photo available, the various processing interpretations are submitted, judged and the baton passed. I think it's fun and a great learning process.

I would suggest it run fortnightly.

I didn't think of that. I'll do it.

Top notch.

The second is rather nice. I think the fence needs more space too. But I expect you'll produce something with the wow factor from this potential.

The first one is pleasant, but run of the mill to be honest. That is very similar to the kind of scenery we have around these parts, and I haven't taken a good pine woods shot yet. I have been studying others' efforts to try and learn as done well this kind of scene makes a superb photo. Rays of light and mist work well, as does the damp look. There were some PPG approvals recently of some wonderful shots of this nature. The photographer put a trunk prominently in the foreground which really showed the texture of the bark.

I ventured over to Pentax Forums for a butchers. I like their monthly voting competition, which seems very well subscribed, so it's a shame that the voting competition here went to an early grave. But one idea I found there that I really like is the post processing challenge, which I had a go at. Someone makes a photo available, the various processing interpretations are submitted, judged and the baton passed. I think it's fun and a great learning process.

Anyone up for that kind of thing here?