Christmas Photo Contest?

[TripleMoonsExotic]

As the """founder""" of the Week In Review forum, I don't see how it could be viewed as inappropriate to run a contest or three through that forum, so I would gladly offer up that space to sticky the polls for future contests. I would gladly help from that standpoint right now and may be able to offer up prizes at some point.

Thank you for the offer, Brent! If we don't hear back from Rich, we can go ahead and do that for the Christmas one if you're game.

Holiday
Winter/Valentines
Spring/Easter
Summer/4th of July
Halloween/Thanksgiving/Fall

This is what I was thinking! Great minds think alike!

• Christmas/Holiday (December)
• Valentines (February)
• Easter (April)
• 4th of July (July)
• Halloween (October)

I think there is the tendency to have too many categories and too many winners. What's the point of a contest if """everyone""" wins?! Top three from three categories when there's only a few entries . . . is, well, ridiculous in my opinion. Until participation picks up, I think it should be limited to 2 categories and ideas for those can be left up to whoever.

I agree. That's why I was curious what others thoughts are. The category we got the least entries for was the "Other" category. So maybe we should consider dropping that for this next contest and see how the other two (Cornsnake & Cornsnake Digital "Photoshop") go this next round?

 

[Drizzt80]

• Christmas/Holiday (December)
• Valentines (February)
• Easter (April)
• 4th of July (July)
• Halloween (October)

I think my list was better since it opened it up to more creativity/topics. Same general ideas of course, but instead of limiting to just Valentines, you have Winter included. It could also make for two categories. With Easter alone, you throw in Spring and Susan would have a fighting chance with her flower pictures ( :sidestep: ). Summer's a long month, and with just 4th of July I think it limits some potentially amazing ideas. I'm offended that we're not having a Thanksgiving contest because what's better than seeing a cornsnake chowing down on a turkey leg?!?!

So maybe we should consider dropping that for this next contest and see how the other two (Cornsnake & Cornsnake Digital "Photoshop") go this next round?

Kill two birds with one stone and make it Reptile Digital Photoshop and they can use cornsnakes if they want.

D80

 

[Iguanagirl8662]

A. UGH, why does something that's supposed to be fun turn into such a debate/hassle. I don't think anyone should complain about how any contest is run unless they step up to the plate and help organize and run it. It's quite a commitment of time and is often done for the love of the activity. But that's just my opinion. It's kind of a kick in the butt when you run something and then """everyone""" complains about it.

B. As the """founder""" of the Week In Review forum, I don't see how it could be viewed as inappropriate to run a contest or three through that forum, so I would gladly offer up that space to sticky the polls for future contests. I would gladly help from that standpoint right now and may be able to offer up prizes at some point. (I know I have an '08 Bloodred pair that's just sitting around collecting dust right now.)

C. I offer that we have the following contests through the course of the next 12 months:
Holiday
Winter/Valentines
Spring/Easter
Summer/4th of July
Halloween/Thanksgiving/Fall
That's five total contests in a 12 month period.

D. I think there is the tendency to have too many categories and too many winners. What's the point of a contest if """everyone""" wins?! Top three from three categories when there's only a few entries . . . is, well, ridiculous in my opinion. Until participation picks up, I think it should be limited to 2 categories and ideas for those can be left up to whoever.

E. I've brought up before about having a contest for a new CS.com logo, but it wasn't met with much excitement, so I doubt (I'd love to be wrong) that Rich would go for a logo swap idea.

F. (PS)No offense, and not trying to be rude, but if the people overseas want to have a separate contest for themselves, someone should run one for them. They do have their own UK forum where it could be posted and advertised or we could also use the WIR forum. Prizes could come from them as well to avoid shipping issues etc. Just easier and more convenient is all.

That's all I can think of at the moment.
D80

I agree with everything that was said. 5 contest seems like a reasonable amount as long as there are people willing to participate. And I have no problem with the way you ran the contest I think you did a great job, and if I am ever able to donate anything I would love to(but that won't be for alittle while).

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I think my list was better since it opened it up to more creativity/topics. Same general ideas of course, but instead of limiting to just Valentines, you have Winter included. It could also make for two categories. With Easter alone, you throw in Spring and Susan would have a fighting chance with her flower pictures ( :sidestep: ). Summer's a long month, and with just 4th of July I think it limits some potentially amazing ideas. I'm offended that we're not having a Thanksgiving contest because what's better than seeing a cornsnake chowing down on a turkey leg?!?!

Maybe instead do 4 contests a year and stick with the seasons?

• Winter: December 21 - March 19
• Spring: March 20 - June 19
• Summer: June 20 - September 21
• Fall: September 22 - December 20

* Dates based on the seasonal solstice/equinox
(yes, I know the dates can vary by a day every year...But you should get the idea

That way if someone wants to do a Holiday in that time frame, they can? Then maybe we could take the photos and make a 2010 Calendar or Poster or something out of them (if print quality ones are available)?



I just wanted to thank everyone for their input. It's extremely helpful to get positive feedback and suggestions so we can do better the next time.

 

[Drizzt80]

Here . . . (FYI, I spent 37 minutes creating this schedule when I should be fast asleep! )
2 weeks after announcing the contest for people to get prepared for picture taking. 2 weeks for collecting pictures. 1 week between the end of collecting pictures, maybe accept a straggler or two. 1 week for voting.

Politely request a mod, or Rich, to allow more than 4 items in a poll for the 5 times a year we hold the contest(s).

(2 categories for each contest are bolded)

2 entries per person, per category, per contest.

Christmas, Wednesday, Dec. 24th
Cornsnake Holiday / Reptile Holiday Photoshop
Announce Contest – Nov. 10th
Photo Collection – Nov. 24th – Dec. 8th
Voting – Dec. 15th - 22nd
Winners announced – Dec. 23rd

Valentines Day, Saturday, Feb. 14th
Reptile Valentines / Cornsnake Winter
Photoshop optional for both categories
Announce Contest – Jan. 9th
Photo Collection – Jan. 23rd – Feb. 6th
Voting – Feb. 13th – 20th
Winners announced – Feb. 21st

St. Paddy’s Day, Tuesday, March 17th
Easter, Sunday April, April 12th
Reptile Easter / Cornsnake Spring Photoshop
Announce Contest – Feb. 23rd
Photo Collection – Mar. 9th – Mar. 23rd
Voting – Mar. 30th – April 6th
Winners announced – April 7th

Independence Day, Saturday, July 4th
Reptile Summer / Cornsnake Red White & Blue
Photoshop optional for both categories
Announce Contest – May 30th
Photo Collection – June 13th – 27th
Voting – July 4th – 11th
Winners announced – July 12th

Halloween, Saturday, October 31st
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26th
Cornsnake Halloween and Thanksgiving / Cornsnake Fall Photoshop
Announce Contest – Sept. 20th
Photo Collection – Oct. 4th – Oct. 18th
Voting – Oct. 25th – Nov. 1st
Winners announced – Nov. 2nd

Christmas, Thursday, December 24th
Holiday Reptile / Cornsnake Holiday Photoshop
Announce Contest – Nov. 10th
Photo Collection – Nov. 24th – Dec. 8th
Voting – Dec. 15th - 22nd
Winners announced – Dec. 23rd

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Go to bed, Brent!
I'm awake because being ubber pregnant keeps me up at all hours. :sidestep:

I think that's getting a bit over board with the categories. I'd rather keep it simpler then that. If we aren't doing all holidays, I want them all seasons.

Four contests a year (based on season - free reign on "topic" - holiday or season based)
Two categories each contest (Cornsnake & All Reptile "Photoshop")
One entry per category, per contest (this avoids in part a person placing in the same category 2 out of the 3)

I don't think 2 weeks is enough time for collecting photos as I believe that is a factor in why we had so few entries (I think we only allotted 3 weeks this first time?).

Winter: December 21 - March 19

Announcement: November 14th
Submission Deadline: December 19th
Voting Ending: December 26th
* Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, St. Patricks, etc​

Spring: March 20 - June 19

Announcement: February 15th
Submission Deadline: March 21st
Voting Ending: March 28th
* Easter, Memorial Day, etc​

Summer: June 20 - September 21

Announcement: May 16th
Submission Deadline: June 20th
Voting Ending: June 27th
* Independence Day, etc​

Fall: September 22 - December 20

Announcement: August 15th
Submission Deadline: September 19th
Voting Ending: September 26th
* Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, etc​

I'm a Friday deadline type of person.

If this goes well this next year, we can consider adding additional categories at that point.

 

[torsten]

personnaly i would be sad to have no catogory for non-photoshopped other reptiles... i would prefer a 'cornsnakes' comp, a 'photoshopped reptiles' comp and an 'other reptiles' comp.

i also agree with the 4 comp as year timetable. we could perhaps only give prizes to 1st and second placed winners, with maybe only one pair or one individual snake per category.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I think a contest every couple of months is a GREAT idea!!

I agree that it needs to be more visible. I think a contest sub-forum would be ideal...

I think that if it were more visible that it would get more entries, which would make it more of a contest.

As for categories, I think three would be good:

• Cornsnake
• Photoshop Cornsnake
• Reptile - photoshop and non-photoshop

I also think that awarding prizes to the top three in each category is good, and to let 1st place pick their prize, then 2nd place pick, then third place gets whatever is left.

I wonder it if there should also be some stipulation that you can't win more than two contests per year or something? Just in case a couple of people are on a hot streak, that others also have an opportunity to win?

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Reptile - photoshop and non-photoshop

I've already "no-ed" this because it's not exactly fair for standard and Photoshop images to compete against each other. They're two completely different things.

I wonder it if there should also be some stipulation that you can't win more than two contests per year or something? Just in case a couple of people are on a hot streak, that others also have an opportunity to win?

That's an idea. Do you think it should be for all placings, or just 1st?

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I've already "no-ed" this because it's not exactly fair for standard and Photoshop images to compete against each other. They're two completely different things.

I agree that they're different, but I also agree that they're not. Between an array of photoshop pics and regular pics, I could pick out ones that I like more or less just from an aesthetic standpoint. I was just suggesting it so that there's still the opportunity for non-corn entries, but to still keep the focus on corn snakes as this is a corn snake site.

What about rotating with the reptile category? First contest is reptile photograph only. Next contest is reptile photoshop category? So that each competition there's a total of three categories, with the 3rd changing, and the first two still corn categories?

I was just thinking this so that the emphasis in the contest was corns...

That's an idea. Do you think it should be for all placings, or just 1st?

I'm not sure about specifics. I mean if someone got 3rd one time, then got 2nd, then got 1st, it could be because their skills improved so they should be rewarded, but if someone (or the same couple of people) was getting a prize every single time (regardless of placement), I could see that being unfair others trying to win a prize.

Plus if the same person or few people were winning all the time, it would probably discourage entries and the contests would fizzle out.

Maybe we could do something if you win a prize one contest, then you can't enter the next contest? Or maybe not enter the same category that you won the prize in for the next go around.

Maybe you and others will have ideas about specifics if we were to impose some sort of winning limit.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

I honestly believe that Photoshop should be given more consideration as to what is manipulated and what isn't. I belong to an online photography forum with some extrememly talented members. People whose work has been published in various magazines, put on billboards, used in tv ads and movie posters. There is a lot of stuff you can manipulate in photoshop without having to use multiple images and still make it look like a completely different photo.
I cannot say exactly where the line should be drawn - obviously something that was just cropped and resized would not be considered photoshop editing....but use of cloning tools, dodge and burn, selective desaturation - certain filters like gaussian blur - a lot of that is maybe not extremely high end photoshop stuff - but it is photomanipulation.

Just for example - here are two definitions used on the forum for the different types of photo challenges..

Basic Editing:
Basic Editing permits overall adjustments to help polish your captured image. These rules are intended to allow you to fine tune your entry and correct basic imperfections in exposure, contrast, color, etc. No selections or spot editing tools are allowed, with the sole exception of cloning out sensor dust or hot pixels. Restrictions on post-processing apply to all edits performed after the image is captured, whether performed in image-editing software, during RAW conversion, or using image-editing software built into the camera

Advanced Editing:
Advanced Editing allows the use of selections, layers and selective editing tools for touch-up and enhancement. You may combine up to ten captures of the same basic scene. The intent of allowing multiple captures is to enable such techniques as high dynamic range (HDR), noise reduction, increased DOF, etc., but not to permit a subject from one scene to be inserted into a different scene, nor is it intended to allow a subject to appear in multiple places within a scene. You may not create new features during post-processing or obscure significant parts of your original capture(s).

 

[Drizzt80]

What about rotating with the reptile category?

I already did that in my list of 5 separate contests . . . :shrugs:

D80

PS. Maybe we should have a poll on a poll for a poll of what we should do for the polls.

 

[Em Wright]

I would certainly enjoy being part of a Christmas photo contest. I've got a couple pictures planned already!

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I honestly believe that Photoshop should be given more consideration as to what is manipulated and what isn't. I belong to an online photography forum with some extrememly talented members. People whose work has been published in various magazines, put on billboards, used in tv ads and movie posters. There is a lot of stuff you can manipulate in photoshop without having to use multiple images and still make it look like a completely different photo. I cannot say exactly where the line should be drawn - obviously something that was just cropped and resized would not be considered photoshop editing....but use of cloning tools, dodge and burn, selective desaturation - certain filters like gaussian blur - a lot of that is maybe not extremely high end photoshop stuff - but it is photomanipulation.

The problem with getting that detailed into what is and is not acceptable is that we are not talking about professionals in the industry who understand the lingo. Take into account that some that are entering aren't exactly sure how to use two images, let alone all the rest of the technical end of Photoshop. I'm content making a blanket statement of must use a "minimum of two images", as that is easy enough to understand and can be interpreted in a layout in multiple ways. I do not want entries where people just use filters as their is little creativity involved with that. I entered in a Photoshop contest on RG and lost to individuals who that was all they did...Talk about lame...

What about rotating with the reptile category? First contest is reptile photograph only. Next contest is reptile photoshop category? So that each competition there's a total of three categories, with the 3rd changing, and the first two still corn categories?

I already nixed that as I want it to remain consistent for the year to prevent confusion. I think we're going to go with Cornsnake & All Reptile "Photoshop" for the next contest or two and then depending on participation, add another category or two if their is enough interest (entries).

I'm not sure about specifics. I mean if someone got 3rd one time, then got 2nd, then got 1st, it could be because their skills improved so they should be rewarded, but if someone (or the same couple of people) was getting a prize every single time (regardless of placement), I could see that being unfair others trying to win a prize.

Plus if the same person or few people were winning all the time, it would probably discourage entries and the contests would fizzle out.

This all makes sense to me. We don't want only a few members to monopolize the contests. I think I like your idea on "you can't win more than two contests per year" the best. Don't radio stations do something like that? I think because it would still be winning and getting prizes we should have it for any placing.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

The problem with getting that detailed into what is and is not acceptable is that we are not talking about professionals in the industry who understand the lingo. Take into account that some that are entering aren't exactly sure how to use two images, let alone all the rest of the technical end of Photoshop. I'm content making a blanket statement of must use a "minimum of two images", as that is easy enough to understand and can be interpreted in a layout in multiple ways. I do not want entries where people just use filters as their is little creativity involved with that. I entered in a Photoshop contest on RG and lost to individuals who that was all they did...Talk about lame...

But for some of us, the basic filtering is all we know how to do. I don't think it's fair that we should be excluded from a category like that solely based on the fact that it isn't two images. People can be plenty creative outside of photoshop, and then color filter their images.
Take my Halloween entry for instance:

I think that's plenty creative enough to not need any extra photoshop additions. However, I was goofing off with color filters, and came up with this:

I COULD go even further, and add text, but then would the text added on to an image count as a second picture? If Happy Halloween would have been written across the top of my second picture, would that have counted in the photoshop contest because, technically, the text wasn't part of the original image and is a second image in itself?

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

But for some of us, the basic filtering is all we know how to do. I don't think it's fair that we should be excluded from a category like that solely based on the fact that it isn't two images. People can be plenty creative outside of photoshop, and then color filter their images.

As I said before, if you wanted to learn how to use Photoshop creatively, their are tons of Photoshop Tutorials out there. I also offered an idea up of doing something along the lines of Andy Warhol pop art that is very easy to do. I don't think it's fair that something that simple could beat something more complex that took more time. In turn, it's unfair for the easy things to attempt to compete with the more complex and possibly continually get beat.

If Happy Halloween would have been written across the top of my second picture, would that have counted in the photoshop contest because, technically, the text wasn't part of the original image and is a second image in itself?

No, text is not an image...It's text...



If it comes down to it, I can nix the Photoshop category completely and we can just do a "Other Reptile" category and hope that we get more entries then this past contest...Though personally I like having the Photoshop category because I like seeing everyone's creativity come out. :shrugs:

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Photoshop Contest Continued

Here's one from the International category that I thought was way cool:

I'm not sure if the creater hand drew it or used images he found on the internet, but this is another simple, but very cool thing you can do and fit into the "multiple images."

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I think all the ideas sound great. And I completely understand wanting to keep it consistent with the categories.

Sorry, if I've been suggesting things that have already been discussed and decided upon. So just to clarify, you're suggesting only one photoshop category to encompass corns and other reptiles, if I read you correctly?

This all makes sense to me. We don't want only a few members to monopolize the contests. I think I like your idea on "you can't win more than two contests per year" the best. Don't radio stations do something like that? I think because it would still be winning and getting prizes we should have it for any placing.

I think a lot of contests do something like that where only one person or household can be a winner.

I think things are shaping up nicely! I already have my entry in mind for the X-mas one...

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

So just to clarify, you're suggesting only one photoshop category to encompass corns and other reptiles, if I read you correctly?

Yup! At least for now. The Other Category for Halloween had the least amount of entries, so I figure having an All Reptile Photoshop (as Brent suggested) is a solution to try out until we get a better idea on participation.

 

[Drizzt80]

I wonder it if there should also be some stipulation that you can't win more than two contests per year or something? Just in case a couple of people are on a hot streak, that others also have an opportunity to win?

This all makes sense to me. We don't want only a few members to monopolize the contests. I think I like your idea on "you can't win more than two contests per year" the best. Don't radio stations do something like that? I think because it would still be winning and getting prizes we should have it for any placing.

I think a lot of contests do something like that where only one person or household can be a winner.

I don't necessarily agree with this personally. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. In the same vain as limiting who can win, how's about everyone gets a prize for entering?! Or maybe the winners should have to share their prize with everyone else . . . :sidestep:

D80