Photo Competition ???

[deadeye dick]

So is it fair to compare a picture who's snowy backdrop has been added seperatley through Photo Shop to someone who crawled on their hands and knees through real snow to get just the right shot ?

Well eh Tim, I agree that there is a difference between DE (let's call it digitally enhanced again instead of digital camera vs. film) and non-DE...

But one way to think about that is that the only thing that counts is the result... Did you ever think that doing it the hard way (crawling through the snow) does not always produces the 'nicest picture'. OK, it took a lot of effort, but it's a misunderstanding that people makes to think that more effort = more chance of winning or even worse = better quality... I would like to see a voting system seen through the eyes of child that doesn't know anything about DE or non-DE and just picks the nicesest picture...

Now this discussion can take forever and there will be no contest (or whatever you call it) unless somebody takes the initiative to propose a set of rules (that can be fine-tuned later on) and start the contest. Everybody that can live with the rules can participate. If you don't agree you don't participate and you post your pictures in the Film & Photography Gallery as regular threads...

BUT, I 'm more in favor of the idea below...

As it seems most people do digital here...how about we have 2 digital contests then 1 film based....this will encourage both types of photographers to try both formats--something I know I find fun and challenging. Even if they just borrow a camera. As someone pointed out earlier, today's film based "point and shoots" take some pretty amazing photos, I'll happily loan mine if needed...and it's about 8 years old but still takes better outdoor shots than my Sony digicam, which I also love.

Regards,

DD.

[Tim_w]

But one way to think about that is that the only thing that counts is the result... Did you ever think that doing it the hard way (crawling through the snow) does not always produces the 'nicest picture'.

You can finally see the point i am trying to make and that is however nice a photo that is taken by normal means is it will never be able to compete with a fully Photo Shopped picture. This is why there should be two seperate competitions.

Kindest regards  Tim

[Psyche]

Well eh Tim, I agree that there is a difference between DE (let's call it digitally enhanced again instead of digital camera vs. film) and non-DE...

Actually this was what I meant Tim & DD...digitally enchanced vs. non-digatally enhanced (camera type being irrelvant).

Now this discussion can take forever

Agreed. I think we have the basics down do we not? Would someone like me to present a proposal that can be discussed?

[Tim_w]

Now this discussion can take forever and there will be no contest (or whatever you call it) unless somebody takes the initiative to propose a set of rules (that can be fine-tuned later on) and start the contest. Everybody that can live with the rules can participate. If you don't agree you don't participate and you post your pictures in the Film & Photography Gallery as regular threads...

Hello  DD and Everyone,

If we are going to have a competition i agree that we need a set of guidelines written down. However we do not really want to alienate anyone by saying here are the guidelines take them or leave them. We are including people in this discussion to find out how they feel and what ideas they have so we can get a good set of rules down that suits us all and not just a few people.
On a final note I do feel that we have discussed enhanced V non enhanced fully from both sides now and i dont think we need to go over it again  . What i would like to do is encourage our other members who have not taken part to offer their ideas on the competition however much they feel people may disagree. We are a very understanding bunch here and i can honestly say that ALL ideas are being taken on board. Like i said before if we are going to have a forum competition we want everyone to be happy with what is decided  .

Kindest Regards  Tim 

[deadeye dick]

Perhaps it's because of my job, but from experience I know that if you involve too many people for the initial decision taking you will end up nowhere. To start something you should do this with as few people as possible and then gradually take into account the ideas/remarks from other people to fine-tune the contest...

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A set of rules I suggest:

WHO...
1. can participate: everyone that is member of playmofriends
2. can vote: everyone that is member of playmofriends and can vote only once (can this be monitored?)
3. the winner of a contest is asked not to participate the next two contests/months in order to give also other people a chance (we know that there are experts that can win every contest, but it should be fun for everybody)

WHAT (pictures)...
4. should not be solely playmobil, but should at least contain playmobil
5. can be digitally enhanced (DE), but it's not a must, except when the contest prescibes it. The same goes for non-DE. This rule suggests that you can have dedicated DE or non-DE contests during the year.
6. the organizer can propose a certain theme depending on certain events (e.g. Tsunami, Pakistan, friendship, solidarity, etc.) or time of the year (holidays, x-mas, eastern, spring, summer, fall, winter, etc.)...
7. should NOT contain any explicit scenes

WHEN...
8. monthly competition with end-of-year final (EOY)
9. pictures can be posted first week of the month
10. voting can take place during two weeks
11. winning pictures will NOT appear on homepage (since all pictures will appear on homepage making use of a random rotation scheme - linked to the contest sub-forum), but all contests will be grouped in a special contest sub-forum in order to have a clear overview.

PURPOSE
12. having a monthly top-3 that will participate in the EOY-contest.
13. maybe there is a price for the winning pictures in the EOY-contest.

DISCLAIMER
14. participating pictures can be used, after having permission of the owner, for purposes other than the contest, e.g. calendar or promotional flyers to promote the forum...

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OK, this is already some stuff that certainly needs to be fine-tuned. It contains lots of input from this disccusion. If you agree/disagree I suggest that you quote the specific rule in your reply and that you give your remarks. It's also possible to introduce new rules... So, let's go for it 

PS: I was thinking about some other contest where the ones who organize the contest are not allowed to participate themselves... Is this relevant for this contest?

PPS: Not that I'm planning to, but should anybody be able to participate with a picture that was already used in another contest (on another forum)?

Regards,

DD.

[Little Jo]

7. should NOT contain any explicit scenes

What does this mean?  Maybe I'm stupid or my dictionary is, because I'm no native English speaker, so I had to look up the word "scene", because the meaning I thought this word has doesn't make any sense to me:  If I set up a diorama or compose a situation  this always happens in a "scene" ...

[Serenity]

The key word there isn't 'scene', it is 'explicit' ... in other words, nothing you wouldn't let your child look at.

[Little Jo]

The key word there isn't 'scene', it is 'explicit' ... in other words, nothing you wouldn't let your child look at.

Ah, thanks for clarification.
(Although just only focusing on "explicit" I wouldn't have gotten the sense neither.)

[deadeye dick]

After a heavy rush, it has been very quiet for a few days now...
Any ideas, remarks, feedback 

[hoppatussa]

. I don't know but I think Hoppatussa was referring to "themes" as in topics (e.g. Spring, Celebration, Vacation, and so forth.) 

Correct.  Take my original example like Valentines day..

I like DDs rules.   Like I origninally said.. have a few months that pics are digitally enhanced and have others non-digitally enhanced..

Seems like most items that could cause conflict are covered in his rules.  Good job!