An Idea For Future Challenges

[Kan Win]

Hi Members,

An idea for future Challenges

We have our normal one re-named Pro Challenge #9 which is next and then running another Challenge #1 for the Amateur Photographers.

Rules the same for Pros, but for Amateur Photographers no PP allowed only cropping, resizing and auto adjust.

Member can only take part in either the Pro or the Amateur challenge each month.

This is to encourage more of our members to post their own photos.

'astral' has kindly offered to Pin the topic in our 'General Forum' with links to here.

So what do you think? should we give it a go????

Yours truly,

Kan Win

Edited October 8, 2009 by Kan Win

[hughden]

Hi Members,

An idea for future Challenges

We have our normal one re-named Pro Challenge #9 which is next and then running another Challenge #1 for the Amateur Photographers.

Rules the same for Pros, but for Amateur Photographers no PP allowed only cropping, resizing and auto adjust.

Member can only take part in either the Pro or the Amateur challenge each month.

This is to encourage more of our members to post their own photos.

'astral' has kindly offered to Pin the topic in our 'General Forum' with links to here.

So what do you think? should we give it a go????

Yours truly,

Kan Win

Thanks for your suggestion Khan Win,

My opinion:

-The challenges don't get many entries as it is, splitting into two is likely to dilute entries even further.

-From memory, I don't see much evidence of extensive post-processing in the submissions to the challenges, so the "professional" section is not likely to see many entries. The entries that have won in the past are just good photographs, and not the result of extensive processing.

-The distinction between "pro" and "amateur" based on the amount of post-processing used is an unusual distinction; one that is also very difficult to police. Many digital cameras can do all manner of effects "in camera". Using the above rules, a black and white shot produced direct from the camera would be "amateur", but a colour shot converted to black and white with a click of a mouse in post-processing would be "professional".

In summary, I think this is a distinction we don't need to make. My preference would be continue as present, and hope we get some "challenging" subjects which encourage more people to get out with their cameras and take some interesting photographs.

Just my view, interested what others think.

[lordsux]

I agree with Hughden's post 100%.

[The Vulcan]

I too agree with "no change" and leave it as it is.

[Kan Win]

My preference would be continue as present, and hope we get some "challenging" subjects which encourage more people to get out with their cameras and take some interesting photographs.

Thank you 'hughden', 'lordsux' and 'The Vulcan' for you comments and lets hear from other members as well should they comment.

I hear you all load and clear, only one little problem is as highlighted above, wrong subject, little to show for.

I have no problem leaving it as is BTW only thinking out loud how to get more Members to take part in our Challenges, that is all.

Over to you Members

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[Tywais]

Same here, don't feel the need to separate by skill. If anything then separate by P&S vs dSLR though I believe most of the excellent shots are via technique and creativity and less so with equipment. Great equipment can produce mediocre photos too.

[hughden]

I didn't suggest that we have had a "wrong subject", I said we I hope we would have challenging subjects in the future, as I believe was the case with "broken" and "water".

[monkfish]

The name of the thread "Photo CHALLENGE" is perfect and there should be some kind of "CHALLENGE" involved.

What about a new thread called "Snapshots for beginner challenge" just for those who don't feel confident enough to

post in the "Photo challenge". Not you of course

Whatever you will still get those who are better at taking photo's than others, the real challenge is indeed to improve.

I don't think there are any Pros here apart from ...

[phetaroi]

Although I haven't ever posted in a challenge yet, I have looked at them all. I would suggest leaving it as it is so that people at all levels continue to observe the postings.

What exactly does professional mean? I would argue that it is not dependent on post-processing. I've never sold a photo, yet I do a fair amount of post-processing because I'm a bit of a geek.

[Sunny Valentine]

Leave it as it is, please.

Sunny

[astral]

No offence to the people who contribute to the challenges

you produce some super photos, but I do not see any less

experienced people coming in.

How can we encourage more entries?

Are you a newbie?

Do you feel inhibited about entering?

Please give us your feed back.

Thanks

[jasreeve17]

A 'snapshot moment' might encourage folks with phones to join (not perfect, but a start on the road...)

'Are you insane???' Might be good for the locals ; could be funny too.

'Never a dull moment' Similar to the above.

'Is he? Is she?' Too risque, okay, forget it...

'Change'

'Nothing Changes!'

'Arhhhhhhhh!!!'

Yeah, I'll get my coat...

[lordsux]

A sub-forum sponsor offering a small prize would increase participation.

[watutsi]

In a creative challenge there should be no such thing as a "wrong subject"

the problem is a lack of customers/participants, therefore do what the

rest of the planet does in this situation - ADVERTISE - through other more

popular areas of TV

I'm sure there are many talented enthusiastic photographers amongst

the 90000 members who just don,t consider trolling down to P&A

Give them a gentle reminder now and again

Also i,m convinced the majority of TV members still have a dial-up

connection I would ask the moderator to try and access the challenge photos

with a dial-up connection to see how user unfriendly it is

This is of course a difficult problem to get around but i think a voting system

based around Lordsux's panel of images together on the same page would

make the process of comparing and voting easier for the casual visitor

One final thought a points system where you could divide up your points

between different images you liked 5 points to your favourite then 3points

2 points

this could open up the voting system a bit- just a thought

The plan of 2 separate challenges is totally pointless the mixture of inputs

should be what makes the challenge FUN

[Tingnongnoi]

keep it as it is, I think it possibly just hasn't had enough time or exposure (scuse the pun) yet, for lots of people to enter

[bkkjames]

My two cents...

Photo challenge should be about capturing a moment in the camera as actual, not darkroom or software based manipulation.

If others want to have a digital retouching competition, go ahead.

Keep it simple and keep the challenges very Thai related (if you want to raise interest levels amongst the general TV membership).

More people would be interested in looking at photos of "clouds in Thailand" versus "clouds"

[Tingnongnoi]

yes I would agree on trying to keep it as Thai related as possible

[rcrux]

Hi Everybody,

I just joined the forum and am naturally drawn to the arts section, readingsome of the responses above though I might be very reluctant to post pics as I can't see any problem at all with post processing. My opinion is that these are just modern tools that most of us have access to and to prohibit any processing of an image, to me is contrary to the whole adventurous spirit of the nature of photography. Without invention we wouldn't have the camera - simple as that.

Surely the most important thing is the content of the image.

Bad use of digital or for that matter traditional photographic darkroom techniques will be clearly evident to a good eye which after all is our most important tool.

... and does it really matter if poor (subjective term) images are entered, pp-ed or not? Participation is what matters I would say.

I expect I might very well get shot down in flames for all that... fire away

[astral]

Surely the most important thing is the content of the image

I agree totally.

Hence the idea of the Snapshot challenge.

I don't think we are decrying post processing, it certainly has its place,

but not everyone has got to the stage of using it.

Post processing needs some investment in software, just as there was cost in

setting up a darkroom for film. Then time to learn how to use it to good effect.

I hope we will see you posting photographs.

[lordsux]

Challenges should be given some thought before posting.

Ask for member opinions and try to implement them in the challenge during the 'thinking' stage.

Clear rules and guidelines should be posted together with the challenge.

Any questions to the challenge poster regarding the challenge shall be answered in a respectful manner, not with ignorance, rants and insinuations.

Follow the above guidelines and you should have yourself a smooth running challenge.

[watutsi]

Surely the most important thing is the content of the image

I agree totally.

Hence the idea of the Snapshot challenge.

I don't think we are decrying post processing, it certainly has its place,

but not everyone has got to the stage of using it.

Post processing needs some investment in software, just as there was cost in

setting up a darkroom for film. Then time to learn how to use it to good effect.

I hope we will see you posting photographs.

It has NEVER been easier than it is now for a "start-up amateur" to take

competent pictures. The camera does practically everything, if you

choose automatic

The problem is not training the right index finger but training the eye

The place for "snapshots" these days is behind closed doors, between consenting

adults and children

Why are we pandering to this imaginary lowest common denominator when the forum

is entitled Photography & the Arts .This title implies a search for learning and improvement

not a return to before the wheel.

[astral]

It has NEVER been easier than it is now for a "start-up amateur" to take

competent pictures. The camera does practically everything, if you

choose automatic

The problem is not training the right index finger but training the eye

The place for "snapshots" these days is behind closed doors, between consenting

adults and children

OK, help us choose a better title than Snapshot.

[watutsi]

It has NEVER been easier than it is now for a "start-up amateur" to take

competent pictures. The camera does practically everything, if you

choose automatic

The problem is not training the right index finger but training the eye

The place for "snapshots" these days is behind closed doors, between consenting

adults and children

OK, help us choose a better title than Snapshot.

How about "Challenge #9 is Character"

This challenge was slowly improving month by month

It was not "High Art" it was just a nice mix of banal - adequate - quite good

and people seemed to enjoy taking part

It is now somewhere in the lower part of the forum and i now feel no enthusiasm

amongst members for either challenge.

//Edit: removed reference to moderation -- Maestro