Photo contests- November '10- chat thread

[Call_Me_Bob]

i vote for a bi-monthly system!

[Izzie]

That's a possibility. Would certainly give judges and participants some breathing room!

[Call_Me_Bob]

for example, i havent even thought about taking anymore pictures for contests or for other reasons...

[Izzie]

Remember that you can enter any photo, no matter how old, as long as it is a plant that you own, or a plant in situ. Doesn't have to be taken the same month as the contest.


Sounds like we will be doing a bi-monthly system. This chat thread will close on Dec 31st, and a new chat thread will then be made for the January contests.

[flhiker]

Thanks all who put this together. I've purposely kept my mouth shut knowing how difficult it can be to organize something here. I just have a couple suggestions for the next project/contest.

Maybe there should be a separate group for studio shots and natural shots. It's very hard to compare the two. MOST every time the studio shots come out better. Due to controlled conditions. Where as in nature the time of day,how much sun, wind, and many other factors that can effect the shot. To compare the 2 is like apple's and orange's.
Also for say the beginner group, maybe there shouldn't be any photo shopping or manipulation of any kind. Most Beginner's don't have the skill or means to do most of that stuff. So competing with one's who can seems a little unfair.

As far as the Advanced group. Anything goes. This will give the Studio shooters and pros a place to compete on a more even level.
Please feel free to expand or dismiss on anything I said.
Just a thought and again thanks

[kavanaru]

I have just read this article posted in another forum, and thought it would be of interest for you too:
Beginning Orchid Photography: How to Get the Best Results | BH Insights

enjoy!

[RosieC]

Ramón,

Mathew who wrote that article has actually posted a link to it here as he thought we might be intested. I came accross it earlier. I've not had time to read it fully yet but it looked really good.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

I have just read this article posted in another forum, and thought it would be of interest for you too:
Beginning Orchid Photography: How to Get the Best Results | BH Insights

enjoy!

Definitely bookmarking that link, it's packed with useful information!! Thanks! Got ideas for several improvements I can make in my shots, notably lighting.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Thanks all who put this together. I've purposely kept my mouth shut knowing how difficult it can be to organize something here. I just have a couple suggestions for the next project/contest.

Maybe there should be a separate group for studio shots and natural shots. It's very hard to compare the two. MOST every time the studio shots come out better. Due to controlled conditions. Where as in nature the time of day,how much sun, wind, and many other factors that can effect the shot. To compare the 2 is like apple's and orange's.
Also for say the beginner group, maybe there shouldn't be any photo shopping or manipulation of any kind. Most Beginner's don't have the skill or means to do most of that stuff. So competing with one's who can seems a little unfair.

As far as the Advanced group. Anything goes. This will give the Studio shooters and pros a place to compete on a more even level.
Please feel free to expand or dismiss on anything I said.
Just a thought and again thanks

very good ideas, but im not sure if it would be making things to complecated for the amount of interest we have

sometimes, when shooting outside, there are things that you can control. especially if you out in the swamp, and i realize that. but i think that would help us strive to achieve better pictures using different techniques.

im just not sure if we have enough interest to increase to four contests instead of two. yes, in the beginner category we have 11 entries and in the advanced/intermediate, we have 24 entries. but how many people entered in both?

i realize i was unclear about entering in either one or the other, so its okay this time around. but in the future i would like the advanced/intermediate photographers to post in the advanced/intermediate category.



CHIME IN IF YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SUB-CATEGORY FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY
( OR MAYBE RANDOM PHOTO-OP PICTURES INSTEAD OF STRICTLY OUTDOOR PICS)

I A FINE WITH THAT, AND I SEE YOUR LOGIC, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT SIMPLER.

i think that for the beginner category, we could make it no "photoshopping" i do however think that minor editing for lighting and such is fine.

[Izzie]

I agree with help in that because we don't have a huge amount of interest, it is best to keep it simple.

I have been thinking of making the "advanced" division for those that shoot in studios, or are clearly more advanced than those in beg/int.

As far as photoediting- perhaps we can try a division in January for "art shots" that have been heavily manipulated with software. Depending on how many entries we get, we can decide whether or not to continue.

As for general photoediting, I can see what you are saying. Perhaps the criteria for the intermediate group can be that there has been some general cropping, alterations to saturation, levels, and/or contrast done. Not REQUIRED, but if that kind of editing has been done, it should be put in intermediate.
Also- even some professionals do not rely on photo editing software to correct levels and color, so I do not think it should be a requirement in any division.

In the end, why make it complicated? If it were a large competition that was hosted at a school or by a photography club, I could see the point of making very specific rules.
In this instance, it may be better to just let people enter in whatever division they are comfortable in, with loose criteria.
i.e., beginners- has not taken classes, does not use photo editing software or shoot in a studio, does use point and shoot, only used camera a few years, etc. intermediate- may or may not have taken classes, or used photo-editing software, or used a camera "better" than a point and shoot; does consider lighting/composition, etc; and has been using a camera more than a couple years. advanced- may or may not shoot in a studio or use photo editing software; does use an "advanced" camera, considers lighting/composition/camera settings, has taken classes, and has been using a camera for more than a few years. (I say may or may not use a studio because even without a studio, their photos will still likely be more advanced than intermediate photos, if they have take classes/been shooting several years.)

Someone can take beginner, intermediate, or advanced photos whether they are inside or out, so I do not think there should be a separate division for in situ shots. (for instance, an advanced photographer's photo outside is still going to be advanced compared to a beginner's outside photo.)