~~Photo Contest General Thread~~

[Medo]

Let the golden age of the UK UPC begin.

[Wendigo Wendigo]

Congratulations, Medo, it couldn't have happened to a nicer man. Of course your golden era does coincide with the forum running so slowly that uploading photos is nigh-impossible but I'm sure a man of your quality will soldier through. XXX.

PS. Those Xs are supposed to be kissie kissie kisses, not a spot where an obscenity has been censored.

[Medo]

Thanks Wendi.
So will we see some photos from you in this comp too?

[Wendigo Wendigo]

Sadly, Medsie, I have a totally pathetic camera and even more pathetic photographic skills. I feel that anything I entered would demean this forum and probably make its new mod a little angry that I was wasting his forum on such rubbish.

[paulmat]

As a first point for the *new* UPC, could I propose we set out some suggested levels for votes...

i.e. 5 - average photo, average quality, average subject, average composition, just average
10 - Wow

Or something along those lines (obviously with more than just two numbers ) - just so people can vote more objectively and not feel they have to give above 8 so as to not cause offence... (i know some people do this anyway)

Am I making any sense, or just talking rubbish?

[T0M]

Congratulations Medo! You deserve this opportunity, I look forward to the 'golden age' and just hope I can keep the photos up to spec...

It would be interesting to post some sort of 'guidelines' for voting, although it will always remain a largely subjective process - but it would be nice to see people voting more freely and not feeling that anything below an 8 is a 'bad score'. Suggestions?

[Medo]

Voting has always been a controversial topic. There are those who think a 5 represents an 'average picture' and there are those who who get insulted if you give them a 5.
In the UK UPC we have grown used to only voting on the top 5 poll options i.e. 10-5, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. It has a tendency to confuse newcomers.

We need to discuss this topic further. We need more ideas from everyone.

[NothingBetterToDo]

Oh, I see the UK Photo Contest is under new Management - long may your reign of terror last Medo

to add my two cents to the voting 'issue' - here are the rules that i use to vote on pics.....

10: The pic makes me go 'wow' when i see it. Its more an emotional reaction than anything else, but obviously technique and quality play an important role in this

9: The picture is excellent, fantastic composition, subject, technique and quality. But for whatever reason, it is lacking that extra wow factor

8: A good picture, with an interesting subject, composition and technique. Above average.

7: Average, good idea, average execution - lacking something, but not a bad picture by any means

6: Showing some problems with technique, composition, quality etc, slightly below average, but again - not a bad picture

5: Showing significant problems with technique, composition, quality etc - a good idea, but let down for whatever reason - veering into the realms of being a bad picture

4: Lots of problems, not a very nice pic, rubbish idea, rubbish execution. A bad pic

3 and below: Dire Photos, Piss takes, Photos that should have been deleted from the camera the second they were taken and never allowed to go anywhere near this competition

[mukkjoy]

a get out there type challenge wouldn't be bad

or as DF said a special every now and then.........i know i can't believe i never thought of it before, we could have a broadgate tower special. only pictures taken by people who work at broadgate tower are allowed to enter

seriously a bit more clarity on when comps start and finish and maybe a challenge/ special wouldn't be bad

[El_Greco]

Themed comp would die in no time.

[Medo]

Originally Posted by mukkjoy

seriously a bit more clarity on when comps start and finish and maybe a challenge/ special wouldn't be bad

Check out the rules.

[paulmat]

Originally Posted by NothingBetterToDo

Oh, I see the UK Photo Contest is under new Management - long may your reign of terror last Medo

to add my two cents to the voting 'issue' - here are the rules that i use to vote on pics.....

10: The pic makes me go 'wow' when i see it. Its more an emotional reaction than anything else, but obviously technique and quality play an important role in this

9: The picture is excellent, fantastic composition, subject, technique and quality. But for whatever reason, it is lacking that extra wow factor

8: A good picture, with an interesting subject, composition and technique. Above average.

7: Average, good idea, average execution - lacking something, but not a bad picture by any means

6: Showing some problems with technique, composition, quality etc, slightly below average, but again - not a bad picture

5: Showing significant problems with technique, composition, quality etc - a good idea, but let down for whatever reason - veering into the realms of being a bad picture

4: Lots of problems, not a very nice pic, rubbish idea, rubbish execution. A bad pic

3 and below: Dire Photos, Piss takes, Photos that should have been deleted from the camera the second they were taken and never allowed to go anywhere near this competition

Sounds good to me. Maybe we could stick these in a voting guidelines thread? (Or just the rules thread?)

[mukkjoy]

Originally Posted by Medo

Check out the rules.

Each contest lasts 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks the 5 photos with the highest scores will enter the final. A new contest is created on either a Saturday or Sunday.


not clear enough!

[T0M]

I agree that NBTD's summary is the most comprehensive and well rounded explanation of the scoring that I've seen on here so far. The only slight concern about posting absolute definitions of the scoring system is that you could insight long protracted arguments between entrants and judges over what represents 'good composition' etc.

But hopefully we're all mature enough to know that the scores we get are the least significant aspect of the whole competition, and that downraters should be ignored anyway. The main advantage of having a clearly defined scoring system is for newbies (especially when they're trying to understand why they're being berrated for voting a good photo '6'!)

[T0M]

Now that King Medo is in charge of the UPC domain... can we instigate a rule which will rid of us once and for all from the scurge of persistant anonymous down-voting. The rule can be as simple as, 'no one can rate a photo less than 5 without leaving a comment. Any such ratings will be deamed to be malicious and therefore removed'.

(Do you actually have the power to remove votes? If not, put it anyway!)

[paulmat]

Yeah, someone's voted a 2 on one of mukkjoys photo's with no comment. Personally I think it's a good photo and a 2 would suggest it had been accidentally taken when the camera got dropped.

[Downfallen]

I still think a 'timed' themed comp every once in a while would be a great thing.
It doesnt need to be too specific....just enough to get people out there and looking at the shots they are taking....to make 'a' relevant entry.....
Get people thinking.

forget the negatives of those who say 'it wont work' 'its doomed'.......fair enough a timed one wouldnt give you enough time to manipulate your HDR versions....
but....
It will provide a bit of focus, variety......and let as all delight in a common theme , something to galvanise UK urban photogs whether from Liverpool, London or Lanarkshire....

Give it a whirl I say.....whats the harm

well you asked for ideas...

[mukkjoy]

yeah the phantom voter strikes again 'dun dun dah!'



but heh its 2 points more than i had earlier. i really couldn't give a F***!

[Medo]

I agree with you Downfallen, there's no harm in trying is there?

I will see about a themed competition in the near future.

[Medo]

Originally Posted by mukkjoy

yeah the phantom voter strikes again 'dun dun dah!'



but heh its 2 points more than i had earlier. i really couldn't give a F***!

mukkjoy, I have removed that 3 vote from your Lack of Faith entry. It was uncalled-for.

About the mysterious 5 on your other entry, I'll leave that on for now, maybe whoever voted that will give a reason.