Christmas Photo Contest?

[RobbiesCornField]

Actually that's very simple to do. You just convert the image to greyscale, convert the image to a duotone, select the colors you want and play around with the curves and then you're done! Could easily be done in less then 5 minutes.

Less than 5 minutes for YOU. You lost me at duotone. And before you go posting "Oh! Just go look at the tutorial!" It really isn't that easy for someone who doesn't work with graphic editing professionally. Granted, there are people out there who don't, and who are amazing with photoshop, but when I have issues just CROPPING my pictures, even that would be a bit hard for me to learn.

Now, as far as the regular corn snakes category goes, would we be able to use color filters in that section of the contest? Because it doesn't fit in to photoshop, I don't see why we shouldn't be able to use them. Granted, grey scale is about all I can do, but if someone submits a black and white photograph, what category would that fit into?

does that mean that you cant enter a photo of a reptile which is not a cornsnake unless it has been manipulated???

if so i don't feel that, that is right.. just my opinion.

I agree 100%. I would have submitted an "other reptile" photo, but the ones I got didn't turn out right.
I think that if the contests are advertised a bit more, you're going to have a lot more submissions into the "other" category, because many people on here keep more than just corns. I, personally, have royals, boas, burms, and rat snakes, and I KNOW there are more people on the forum with more than that.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

Actually that's very simple to do. You just convert the image to greyscale, convert the image to a duotone, select the colors you want and play around with the curves and then you're done! Could easily be done in less then 5 minutes.

I agree 100% that it's easy to do, but I think that at that point its been manipulated enough to no longer qualify as just a picture, but to qualify as being photoshopped. I just can't help but think that the amount or degree of manipulation should count more than the actual effort.:shrugs:

 

[Tula_Montage]

And I just know my leo Petal Pie would love to be in the photo competition...

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

Oh yeah, I'd be willing to throw in a few bucks for a contest forum...

(though I also question how much traffic it would get as it'd be at the very bottom of the personal forum listings)

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Less than 5 minutes for YOU. You lost me at duotone. And before you go posting "Oh! Just go look at the tutorial!" It really isn't that easy for someone who doesn't work with graphic editing professionally. Granted, there are people out there who don't, and who are amazing with photoshop, but when I have issues just CROPPING my pictures, even that would be a bit hard for me to learn.

I have to agree with this statement. I have been working with photography and photoshop for over 5 years now and have followed some of the easiest and most indepth tutorials out there and still have issues with a lot of things that you seem to consider "simple". I have even had people with TONS of experience walk me through some editing situations step by step and still do not understand what I did or have a clue how to do it a 2nd time myself. Not everyone is able to pick up these techniques - even with a tutorial - that easily.

I'm sorry to disagree with you as I am not trying to cause a fuss here - but I simply cannot agree with you on this and the more you make it what YOU want instead of what the feedback from other members of the community would prefer - I think then that it is defeating the purpose. I do appreciate all the hard work that you are putting into organizing and making this possible to begin with as I do understand that it is a major undertaking, but I still believe that the contests need to be fair and acceptable for the majority who wish to participate.

 

[Tula_Montage]

Steph, I appreciate all the work you are putting in to organise the contest, but it's not YOUR competition. It's a community contest, therefore I feel you need to listen more to what we want, as a community.

Perhaps there should be more than one entry level for photoshop, beginner and advanced? Yet another suggestion...

 

[Tula_Montage]

Oh yeah, I'd be willing to throw in a few bucks for a contest forum...

(though I also question how much traffic it would get as it'd be at the very bottom of the personal forum listings)

I'm sure if there was a contest forum people would find it. And everything would be together, and not all over the place. People who browse the forum by new posts will surley see it...

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I'm sure if there was a contest forum people would find it. And everything would be together, and not all over the place. People who browse the forum by new posts will surley see it...

Some might, but some browse just by scrolling down to forums that interest them. With as many personal forums as there are, it would be a looooong scroll down. But you're absolutely correct that people would eventually see it and probably pay more attention to it.

Plus if a couple of us put a link in our signature or something to get word out that would help, too.

 

[Tula_Montage]

I would be willing to put a link in my signature anytime a contest is on. I'm a full time poster around here lol... people are bound to see I'm sure we could talk the queen bee poster (Nanci) into it aswell

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Steph, I appreciate all the work you are putting in to organise the contest, but it's not YOUR competition. It's a community contest, therefore I feel you need to listen more to what we want, as a community.

You know what? I'm about ready to throw in the towel with the whole thing. NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE MADE HAPPY WITH EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE. I didn't have to ask for input, I didn't have to donate prizes and I sure as heck didn't have to take the time to do any of this at all.

This was supposed to be a fun thing for the CS.com community and it's just turning into a huge pain because practically all I get are complaints and demands to do it one persons way or another.

If you think you can do so much better, then do it. No one else has stepped up (outside Jen & Becky) and I'm tired of being stomped on for my efforts.

 

[Tula_Montage]

You're not being stomped on Steph. Perhaps I am too abrubt in my approach, but theres a lot of people frustrated with the way you are handling things. Maybe i'm just saying what others are thinking and I'm being too forward.

I fully appreciate you taking the time to do this, nobody asked you to and it's deffinatley not a requirement of yours. I admire your organisational skills, as we established I DON'T HAVE ANY, my brain goes to mush and I feck everything up, otherwise I would be more than happy to help.

Not everyone is going to be happy thats for sure, but you need to listen to the majority, not the few people that agree with you. If we work together we CAN come to a compromise...

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

You know what? I'm about ready to throw in the towel with the whole thing. NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE MADE HAPPY WITH EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE. I didn't have to ask for input, I didn't have to donate prizes and I sure as heck didn't have to take the time to do any of this at all.

This was supposed to be a fun thing for the CS.com community and it's just turning into a huge pain because practically all I get are complaints and demands to do it one persons way or another.

If you think you can do so much better, then do it. No one else has stepped up (outside Jen & Becky) and I'm tired of being stomped on for my efforts.

Steph - I agree with Elle - you are not being stomped on. But you have a thread here for discussion - and anyone that does not agree with what YOU want to do with the contest is blatantly being told no because it is not what YOU want to do with it.

I also commended you in my last post for all the hard work and effort that you have been putting forward. No one asked you to do it - but you stepped up to the plate and made the best of a short time frame for the Halloween contest and have been working hard to put something together for future contests. However, you have to keep in mind that since this is a community - people are going to disagree with some aspects and have other suggestions. To just shoot them down because it isn't how you want to do it defeats the purpose of this being a community involved contest. If you want to run everything, donate all the prizes, select the winners etc... then run it how you want. But if you want community discussion and participation - then you have to take the time to listen to what the community prefers.

No - you are not going to be able to make everyone happy all the time. I think this thought came up recently in another thread about the new "friends" function.... But you can try to work with what the majority would prefer.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Again, if you don't like how it is being organized, then you do it. I am not going to sit here and continually read repetitive complaints from a handful of individuals when I do not agree and will not agree. This whole Photoshop thing has nothing to do with a majority and is becoming more of a frustration then it's worth.

I gave two options regarding the whole thing a ways back. Accept the stipulations I set in the Photoshop contest or I can nix the Photoshop category and have it simply an Other Reptile category (which has been asked for)...At this point I have no desire to even fight to keep the Photoshop category because of the same repetitive complaints from the same people.

And before you go posting "Oh! Just go look at the tutorial!" It really isn't that easy for someone who doesn't work with graphic editing professionally.

Actually, if you know how to convert to greyscale, you should know where the Duotone selection is as it is right underneath the greyscale selection.

Now, as far as the regular corn snakes category goes, would we be able to use color filters in that section of the contest?

No. The only editing permitted is cropping/resizing.

I just can't help but think that the amount or degree of manipulation should count more than the actual effort.

I agree! The problem is identifying and defining the amount of manipulation in a photo that would be required. I do not agree with color/filter being the only thing used in a competition entry...Their is little skill involved with clicking a few buttons in the filters panel...Which is all that a lot of people who are not familiar with Photoshop do. The only way one would know 100% what was done to a photo is if the entry included a detailed description of what exactly was done. The easiest way I was able to come up with some sort of stipulations is to state that their must be a minimum of two images involved (as that is fairly easy to determine if it was done).

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

I have tried being civil and logical - but you always seem to have this "my way or the highway" attitude and it is getting old.

Yes, you have done a lot of work putting this all together - no argument about that. No, I do not want to run a photo contest - I am disorganized like Elle. However, I have seen more support for a more open version of the photoshop portion of the contest vs the multiple image option. I am wondering if it was put up to a poll - what the majority would really say? It seems to me that we have more novice photographers on here than pros....both with photography and with photoshop.
Honestly, what does it really matter how much photoshop is used in a photo for entry in a photoshop contest? If everyone puts in as much work - it shouldn't matter what elements are used or not used. Just because someone uses multiple images in no way implies or guarantees that they spent any more time working on it that someone who did not and only used basic photoshop editing techniques.

No. The only editing permitted is cropping/resizing.

That is just wrong...go from advance editing in photoshop category to absolutely NO editing in the general categories? How is that even remotely fair? Everyone here has seen my photos. I am by no means a pro - but my photos are pretty darn good and that is done with minimal photoshop editing, but by your rules I would not be eligible to enter ANY category! I believe this stand would fully eliminate a lot of your contestant base.


I did not start my comments for an argument - but as a suggestion to encourage more participation since everyone seemed concerned at the lack of entries in the Halloween contest. And if you really want everything to be as fair as you state, then my suggestions seem to be quite fair. But of course, they aren't what you want so apparently they don't matter.

Flat out - I know probably at least a dozen members on here that would not be able to enter based on your current criteria - and that is just off the top of my head. How many other people are going to be excluded because of it?

I am done - I have said my peace. Do what you want with your contest. But expect either a lower number of entries than anticipated or be prepared to disqualify a whole bunch due to your rules.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I have tried being civil and logical - but you always seem to have this "my way or the highway" attitude and it is getting old.

Yes, it's so "my way or the highway" when I agreed with several suggestions from different members or offered slight alternatives to their suggestions. It's more like since I don't like your suggestions you feel the need to repeat your complaints over and over.

Honestly, what does it really matter how much photoshop is used in a photo for entry in a photoshop contest? If everyone puts in as much work - it shouldn't matter what elements are used or not used.

Because not everyone would be putting in as much work. As I said, how can one define the amount of time spent or the amount of manipulation required? More so, how would you define it?

That is just wrong...go from advance editing in photoshop category to absolutely NO editing in the general categories? How is that even remotely fair? Everyone here has seen my photos. I am by no means a pro - but my photos are pretty darn good and that is done with minimal photoshop editing, but by your rules I would not be eligible to enter ANY category! I believe this stand would fully eliminate a lot of your contestant base.

The reason why this was done (in this set of contests and previous ones held over the years) is because those that do not have access to good photo editing software or have the knowledge to use it properly can not compete against those that can and do know how to enhance their photos. That is far from a level playing field.

I did not start my comments for an argument - but as a suggestion to encourage more participation since everyone seemed concerned at the lack of entries in the Halloween contest. And if you really want everything to be as fair as you state, then my suggestions seem to be quite fair. But of course, they aren't what you want so apparently they don't matter.

You have not provided one solution to the problem (outside let it be a free for all). Yes, you provided information from another forum that is all about contests and technical Photoshop skill; useful information, but that does not help in this case. You want to complain, but offer no viable solutions...So why wouldn't I be getting frustrated?



Here's another solution. We could switch the "Photoshop" category to a "Black & White" category where Photoshop use is allowed minus certain stock filter sets (Artistic, Brush Strokes, Sketch, Texture for example - these are the top four I always see used and abused). Heck, I guess it could be left as color, just the stipulation changed to restrict the use of certain filters. Is that a viable options as opposed to making it a free for all?

 

[Drizzt80]

Okay, wow, this is going waaaay off base on both sides of the """issue""". The only thing that's going to happen at this point is noone's going to want to participate regardless of what's decided here.

Allow me to make some (more) suggestions and see where the chips may fall . . .
A. You can't please all the people all the time, but you do need to please some of the people all of the time or all of the people some of the time. I understand where Steph is coming from, I also understand where Katie and Matt and Elle and Robbie and others are coming from. Here's the first issue I see . . . who else wants to run the photo contest?! I haven't seen anyone else throw their hat into the proverbial ring. That being said, this is supposed to be fun (and easy) but not just for the participants. It needs to be fun and easy for Steph, or whoever else may want it, as well. I do have a concern for Steph, you're having a baby . . . soon! . . . your life will be changing dramatically. That is all.

B. Photoshop. As a "viewer of pictures" I don't care what's done or how long it took. I don't care if there's text or if a filter was used. I don't care if Steph took 10 minutes to do the same thing Robbie took 2 hours or vice versa. I care what the picture looks like. When I vote for picture A over picture B I don't know (and I don't care) if one took 3 hours to create and the other took 20 minutes. Too bad if you spent 2 1/2 hours photochopping your picture and someone else pushed two buttons. If the majority likes the picture, the majority likes the picture . . . next time, push two buttons or take 2 1/2 hours to fix your picture. If you want a professional competition, take it to a professional picture competition . . . this is cornsnakes and meant to be fun.

C. Categories. I will argue to the end that I think it's completely ridiculous having 10 different categories with 5 places each so that anyone has the chance to win . . . ridiculous. Yes I exaggerated, but where do you stop?! Not only that, but let's take 3 categories with 3 places with 5 competitions in a year . . . that's 45 prizes that need to be organized, arranged, coordinated etc. I can't wait to hear the complaints that the prizes for the "Spring" contest weren't as good as the prizes for the "Summer" contest . . . I'll leave it at that. I think 2 categories, with 3 places is sufficient as a start. First and foremost, this is a cornsnake site. One category must have cornsnakes as a focus, everyone wants to photoshop, everyone has other reptiles, everyone wants another topic. Again, where do the categories end?! I have no problem seeing a photoshopped picture pitted against a regular old photo in one category. Best picture should win. Do you honestly think a bad photochopped picture would win against one of Susan's flower/snake pictures?! Do you honestly think a good photochopped picture would lose to an out of focus snake in a glass picture?! SeriouslY?! I have faith the best picture would win.

D. Time and relevancy. I gave a list of 5 contests broken up over the course of the year. I think it's ridiculous to be taking pictures of Shamrocks and Valentines hearts in December. I stand by my list of 5 contests and dates provided. Nuff said. Ooops, not nuff said, thought of something else. I don't understand the concerns over time. If you have 3 weeks warning of a due date for picture submission . . . I take pictures of my snakes, I can get something done in a day if I chose to . . . I think my schedule is good.

E. Contest "Rules" Here's what I would recommend: (Bolded is changed from Steph's recommended)

Holiday PHOTO CONTEST

Announce Contest – Nov. 10th
Submission Deadline: Dec. 8th
Voting Polls Open: December 15th
Voting Polls Ending: December 26th

CATEGORIES
Cornsnakes Holiday / All Reptile Digital "Photoshop" Holiday
*Please scroll down to the bottom to read the additional rules for the "Photoshop" category

RULES

*A maximum of one entry per category per contestant.
*Image size 800x600 ( no larger).
*Entry must be taken or created by the individual who submitted it.
*No names, copyright information, etc on images.
*Contestants under the age of 18 must have parental permission to enter and accept a live animal prize.
*Entries must be submitted to [email protected]
*Winning images will be determined by public voting.
*Entrants may only win two prizes per calendar year. (I would personally nix this if participation is the concern . . . but that's me.)
*Shipping on live prizes to be paid for by the winner.
*Restricted to persons that can accept shipment of prizes within the continental US.

If any of the above rules are not met as listed, an entry can and will be rejected after one request to correct the problem.

PRIZES

Coming Soon!

PHOTOSHOP RULES
To qualify for the "Photoshop" category, an entry must be a significantly altered photo taken by the entrant. Adjustment of brightness/contrast/lighting or color for the purpose of keeping the image "normal" does NOT constitute photoshopping.

F. Contest Number. I'm going to simply repost my original contest schedule . . . why mess with perfection?!? oke:

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

F. I don't think a separate forum is needed. I'll do my part to help manage it through the WIR forum which I think is completely appropriate considering the purpose of that forum. (Unless I'm told otherwise . . .?! )

G. Final thoughts. Ultimately, the goal is to have a regularly scheduled system of photo contests that CS.com members can participate in. In my educated experience with situations like this if there is too much regulation OR too little regulation, it WILL fail . . . again. That goes to both sides of the discussion. :shrugs: I'd prefer to just sit back and watch and let the chips fall where they may and then say "I told you so". I'm a creature of learning by experience. But, I'd rather see this thing take off and become a regular part of the WIR forum and CS.com. There's a lot of creativity to be had by members here.

:cheers:
D80

PS. I'm going to be leaving town Thursday for opening rifle (deer) hunting season, so if this turns into even more drama I won't be around to participate!!

 

[Darcpixie]

Just a handful of people are complaining?

You mean just a handful of people are POSTING their complaints.

No, you don't know me from Eve, and no, I don't post very much, but honestly, you may need to consider the tone that you have used on EVERY POST within the past several weeks. Snippy, frustrated, condescending, and flat out unwelcoming are some of the nicer adjectives that could be used to describe them.

We realize the work you are putting into it. But with this as well as several other threads, getting YOUR opinion and YOUR version across seems to be the primary objective.

You know why we may not get very many entrants? Because people dislike your attitude.

I'm going to vote, again with that same *handful of people*, for an OTHER REPTILES category, for an OPEN photoshop category, and for either signature banners to be made, or for a donation drive to buy adspace, with maybe the background/input from one of the cornsnake category winners so it's RIGHT at the top of the page.

Do I have time to organize a contest? maybe. Would I do it so that the negative responses and snippy attitude stop? you bet.

There are plenty of people here who would LOVE to assist, even if it is jsut to have running one of the contests for the year delegated to them.

It's sad that it has come to this, Stephanie, as i was really enjoying all the great pictures. But, as has been pointed out, we DON'T want to argue... but we would like our input to not be shot down, and then told to *read the tutorial, it's easy*.

 

[Drizzt80]

PS. Speaking of the Week in Review . . . I recall that when it was first recommended at this site it met a lot of negativity by some members . . .

I'm just saying.
D80

 

[Drizzt80]

Ack! I forgot to ad my most bestest part of "Final Thoughts" !!!

Choice. Everything about the entire idea of the photo contest is choice. Someone has to choose to run it. Someone has to choose the rules to follow. Someone has to choose to enter. Someone has to choose to vote on the submissions. Someone has to choose to offer up prizes. If you don't like it, you can choose not to participate in any facet of the contest(s). Not everyone is going to be happy all the time. Everyone has to choose to meet somewhere in the middle. The alternative is no contest(s) at all. :shrugs:

I've said my piece . . . and you know what else I just thought of? Ultimately, if the friction over this issue doesn't subside or get satisfactorily resolved, I could see Rich putting the kabosh on the whole thing anyways . . . :shrugs:

Just an observation. I'll help where/when I can.
D80

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

Brent, I like your rules for defining photoshopped pictures as well as only having the two categories.

As for running the contests, maybe it could be a rotation once the rules are established, similar to the rotation on the WIR. Have the same set of rules and someone different runs it each time. I'd be willing to run a contest if the rules were already established.

Regardless, we should get things set up ASAP, as its already Nov 4th.