Please review the below proposals and let me know by today if you would like any withdrawn from consideration or if any are forgotten. Otherwise the poll will go into effect. Remember, this is a run-off style vote with only two rounds. The top vote-getters this round will move on to Round 2. You will be allowed to vote only once but for multiple banners. In the next round, you can only vote for one banner.


1) http://i56.tinypic.com/mkhyqb.jpg

2) http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8291/10608408.jpg

3) http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9932/92936259.jpg

4) http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/4314/newpicture1g.png

5) http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1637/newpicture1j.png

6) http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/4844/22304499.jpg

7) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/color_enhanced.jpg

8) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Marina%20banner%20variations/color_enhanced-01.jpg

9) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Marina%20banner%20variations/Vintage_style.jpg

10) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Marina%20banner%20variations/color_enhanced-2.jpg

11) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Marina%20banner%20variations/color_enhanced-style3.jpg

12) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/sepia_version.jpg

13) http://i43.tinypic.com/20kwrbt.jpg

14) http://i39.tinypic.com/20k5g9f.jpg

15) http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Second_Proposal-Beirut_banner_by_Zippo.jpg

16) http://i43.tinypic.com/11buud5.jpg

My vote goes to banners 3,9,15, and 16

5, 6, 7 & 15

(i don't see the difference between 7 & 8 btw)

Guys, we arent voting yet, I'm just making sure we have all the right submissions.

7 & 8 are very similar but one was submitted by Zippo and one by Abdallah.

Actually #14 was Abdallah's blue variation of the original banner. Number 7 was the original enhanced version that was made to match the old banner colors, and #8 was submitted with the multiple style variations requested by Beiruti. The variations were made from the original, so one of them (#8) turned out to be close to the "normal enhanced" version, but it's a bit different. For example, it's less sharpened, the sky is a little more darker, and has a yellowish tone amid its blues. Each was made using totally different procedures, and to be honest, I later found out that I've got similar results...

Beiruti, am not getting exactly what should we do now. Are we supposed to pick up 4 banners to Round 2? And if so, why 4?

If you're "making sure we have the right submissions", does that mean that we can still submit something? (not that I have something in mind, but I'm making sure)

Btw, I'm really sorry guys I couldn't make a new shot for a banner on Friday, as I couldn't leave on time. Furthermore, on the evening (Friday), something happened (http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Dec-03/155956-zahrani-power-plant-remains-shut-as-dispute-continues.ashx#axzz1fWw5ruQb) to the Zahrani power plant and we're since then having couple of hours of electricity/day, which is something that never ever happened in Beirut (not even in 2006), and it's needless to say that we're unprepared, so am not able to go online hence my absence...

Sorry for drifting from the poll, but I'm stealing the minutes to post here and wanted to clear things out. I am waiting for Beirutis answers to my questions to know how to participate in this...

^^ I only wanted folks to review these and make sure I didnt forget anything or include something that the banner-creater didnt want to be included. Now that it looks like we are all set, I'll go ahead and activate the poll. In this round you can vote for multiple banners. The top 4 or 5 (we'll see how the votes fall) will advance to the second (and final) round in which we can only vote for one. Note that votes will be anonymous in the final round.

^^ Got it, thanks.

--

The reason I didn't vote for the banners 3, 7 et al. is not because they are not beautiful or because I don't think they provide a five-star banners material. Actually, it's for those same reasons that I did not vote for them. Let me explain;

I believe that this spot (from the sea facing the Marina) is one of the best spots to get a stunning view of the Beirut skyline, which will serve as a great banner to represent Beirut, however, I just don't want to "burn" this card just yet by submitting a banner that's showing its age already, when I can get a better up to date banner from that same spot, and avoid "redundancy".

I would hate to get myself a great Marina panorama from the sea, where Bay and Beirut tower are standing complete in glory (without sacrificing the tower-cranes appearance, as they are still present in Zaitunay Bay and others), just to find out that we cannot use this view as a banner because we already had one from the same spot and we want to avoid redundancy...

I would prefer preserving this view instead of "wasting" it now on one of those 2 banners (and their variations).

I am gonna reveal to you something that I wasn't planning to talk about until it's done; I already rented a jet boat for tomorrow (as tomorrow is holiday here), and was planning to get some banner-material shots from the sea, having in mind a spot facing the marina, among others...

It's already too late for a new entry I know, but my logic was that a "similar" accepted banner now will diminish my odds in submitting/voting for a better one in the near future, with the excuse of "similarity"...

This doesn't mean in any way, shape or form that I'm telling you not to vote for those, of course not, but I'm just speaking out my opinion, and maybe clarifying some things that could have been missed by some.

Thank you...

^^ I completely understand your logic on this and hope that all works out and that you will get some fantastic shots of the marina skyline. Cant wait to see the photos!

This has probably been one of our least active polls ever. Seriously, where is everyone?!

^^ I was thinking the same, and I wonder...

^^ Maybe the holidays? school vacations?

Please vote for ONE of the following finalists. The banner that receives the most votes once the poll closes will be submitted to SSC for placement as an official banner.

3)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9932/92936259.jpg


7)
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/color_enhanced.jpg


15)
http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Second_Proposal-Beirut_banner_by_Zippo.jpg




Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's competition!

And so we have a tie... and no tie-breaker rule. Any ideas?

we can narrow it for another round between 3 and 15?

Didn't vote :(

we can narrow it for another round between 3 and 15?


I'd like to get this wrapped up soon. Since it seems so few people actually voted, I'll just extend voting for another 24 hours.

7P--C-t60lI

^^ I cant believe someone thought it was a good idea to vote for #7 instead of break the tie...should have listened to þopsï!

^^ LOL! This is the craziest poll I have ever seen...If the results remained the same for the next half hour, can't we just submit both and call it done?

^^

I'll present both banners to Jan and leave the decision up to him. Who knows, he might use both.

I'll need a brief (2-3 sentence) describing your banner.

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Second_Proposal-Beirut_banner_by_Zippo.jpg

Description:

Beirut's Northern waterfront, where the towers of the "Beirut Central District" are showing in the middle, right above the traditional red-roofed Lebanese house. To the right is the "American University of Beirut" tree, and the famous corniche promenade. To the left is the Mount Sannine (2628 meters) and its snow-covered summit, appearing above the Metn villages and the Mediterranean.

i ddnt vote as well, my choice is 15, the first one has been up before.

^^ LOL Where were you for the past week? Both have already been submitted to Jan.

But just as a point of clarification, the first one (#3) has not been featured previously as an SSC banner, but was entered in last year's competition.

^^ I think we should restart the vote because of the tie, and add Zippo's new banner of Ras Beirut to the list.

^^ It's too late for that. We had a submission period and two rounds of voting. To scrap all that and start over just wouldn't be right. Also, Zippo didn't create a new banner using his new pics yet and I'm sure he'll want time to finalize a few for consideration.

Don't worry, we'll try to have another competition early next year and allow plenty of time for folks to prepare and vote. I really wanted to get this one in before the end of the year and I'm hoping Jan will be able to fit it in for us.

something like 15 was up before… DON"T POSTT ITTTT!! it sucked.. it doesn't show the beauty of beirut.. :(

3 3 3 NO 15 3 3 3

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/Second_Proposal-Beirut_banner_by_Zippo.jpg

This banner will be up on Dec. 23rd!!

Jan liked the other one as well and said he wants to put it up some time in January to space them out.

Don't like it :(

^^ Sorry, we got bumped to the 24th to make way for the "Day of the German Banner", which is an SSC tradition.

We cant complain about getting a banner on Christmas Eve!

Beirut banner was live for like 3 hours after midnight Dubai time

Beiruti, you should do something, what's happening is VERY wrong!

It's 9:38 AM Beirut time (GMT +2), and Beirut's banner is still up here since midnight!

The worst thing is I donno what the German banner is cause I can't see it, but it looks controversial judging by the comments and the votes, and what's even worst is that all those votes are adding to our banner, and down rating it like crazy...

I have visual proof to backup what am saying, but I can't work on them now. I'll post them later...

^^ There was a big mix up. Our banner was bumped after it had already went live and so the early votes were intended for Beirut. None of those votes will actually impact the Beirut banner, but will unfortunately go towards the German banner. Our banner will re-appear for the whole day tomorrow instead and you will be able to vote again.

Here is the German forums's thread. Using Google Translator you can see that they are happy that they stole our votes!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1284695&page=17

^ No, we'd like to finally enter the Flop 15! :)


A handful of love by ze Germans for you all, pals and gals! :hug:



http://i44.tinypic.com/2sahxyx.jpg (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=314)

^^ LOL! Ok, I get the point. But unfortunately you're stuck in between top 100 and flop 15, with a rating of 2.8*, and the reason for that is that you've got more than 200 positive votes from Beirut's banner and a LOT of 5* for Maria! LOL...

Smart idea though, I love "ze Germans"...(and the Italians too!) :D

We cant complain about getting a banner on Christmas Eve!

We can't complain either for having our banner featured on 2 consecutive days, something that I don't think happened before in SSC!

Dec. 23

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/December23.jpg

Dec. 24

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/Banners/December24.jpg

It's up for real this time - make sure you VOTE (http://xl.skyscrapercity.com/?page=banner&bannerday=20111224)!

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af347/dharma815/24.jpg