**IMPORTANT MESSAGE - Photo Comp**

[UKDEB]

Just a quick reminder that the competition is intended to showcase photos taken by the person submitting them. That, therefore, excludes those in which you appear yourself (other than those taken with a timer, in which case please comment on the Discussion thread) and any official park photographs.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

.

 

[UKDEB]

Bumping this for the evening crowd.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

After reading this message I suddenly became worried as I couldn't remember if the dolphin photo I posted was one of the official ones, I had taken some very similar ones as I had my camera with me when the kids did their dolphin encounter, but as I couldn't remember which were the official ones and which were my own, and they are all lumped in together on the computer. Anyway, I would hate not to stick to the rules and I have now changed the entry just in case.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

I have a similar dilemour....I come back each time with hundereds of pics on my camera, and for the most, I have no idea if I took them, or my wife did.

I cant imagine the rules can be that strictly adhered to, afterall only a few weeks back, there was one of the weekly winners that obviously wasnt even taken in the location that the topic required. A great pic yes, but folowing the rules....hmmmm.......

Ho hum.

PS, Im not incinuating there that someone was cheating, just that there is some degree of flexibility as its only a fun thing.

 

[UKDEB]

Tron, you're right, it is only for fun and that's often my dilemma - I don't want to be overly officious and discourage people from entering, especially as I think looking at one another's photos is half the fun. That's why, up until now, I've not mentioned those featuring the submitter, nor the official park photos.

Over the last few weeks, I've been receiving increasing numbers of PMs about the Photo Comp, most of them on this point. The competition is "for the people, by the people" - I just facilitate it - so I think it's right that I bow to popular opinion. In any event, I think you'll find that most people are voting with their feet (in other words, I don't know that any photo which includes the submitter, or which is clearly a park photo, has ever been in the winners list), so it's better to have this out in the open.

Incidentally, this thread wasn't directed at any specific photos in this week's competition - I was just reacting the the increasing volume of comments on the matter.

 

[wilma-bride]

While I agree that there is no way to be able to recall if you or another member of the family took the pic, I would say that a pretty good indicator is that, if you are IN the photo, you probably didn't take it

And, yes, I was one of the people who PM'd Deb as it was getting to the point where it was increasingly obvious that certain pictures had NOT been taken by the person entering or even a member of their family or party ie photopass and official photographer pics. As Deb said, it was started over here as a bit of fun, given that the competitions on the photography board are taken very seriously but we could go one of two ways here:

1. We could say that every picture entered has to adhere to the rules, one of which should be that the picture should have been taken by you (or your wife/husband if you cannot be 100% certain)

2. We could say that it is purely a photo competition and any picture at all can be entered, including photopass pics and any others taken by semi-professional/official photographers.

Personally, I think the first option is the one which will make it the most fun - otherwise it's just like a showcase of official photos

Finally, I am intrigued by the comment about one of the winning pictures not being taken in the location that it was meant to have been. I usually follow the photo comp pretty closely and don't remember noticing that at all

 

[Cochise]

As a person who was hoping to vote this week and then look to get some entries in for future weeks I am a little concerned. I would only like to enter if i felt as though the fun factor was paramount in the competition. But reading this thread and others I am concerned that despite there being an "entry discussion" thread each week where people can openly discuss entries and give Deb and entrants an indication how feeling is running. People are PM'ing comments which in my honest opinion borders on slyness, talk about it openly and people like Tron would I'm sure say "no problem" about his entry and try again next week. Instead what has been created is an upset entrant who feels as though he has to point out other entries that he feels were wrong.

I have nothing to win or lose on this post as i have never entered. Also i may get some people grumbling towards me but as Deb says the rules are flexible to a point and are "open for discussion" please keep it that way and keep a good competition fair.

 

[jns]

SORRY didn't know about this rule from one that never reads the small print I just took it what if it was from your own camera it was OK to enter
the photo for the cruise which is doing very well in the voting poll ( first time ever )was taken by my son with my camrea , so I'm going to have to with draw it

 

[UKDEB]

Jackie - I don't think it's necessary to pull your photo, especially as its entry (and subsequent voting) pre-dates this latest discussion. And, actually, I'm not sure that this particular point is in the specified rules.

As I said, I've always been pretty laissez-faire about the whole thing and, from my point of view I'd prefer to keep it that way. Cochise makes a good point about using the discussion thread - I think it's better to have these things out in the open, rather than being discussed behind the scenes. I must admit, my heart does sink whenever I see a PM entitled "Photo Comp" .

As for future entries - let's see how this discussion goes and what the consensus is.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Guys, this is all getting a little serious - can't we all just get along!!

Cochise I agree with you, it is just a bit of fun, and should be viewed that way. I guess it is hard to have too many hard and fast rules, as I know Deb wants to allow flexibility to encourage as many people to enter as possible.

As you said, one of the reasons for the "discussion" thread is to allow people to question pics as well as techniques used.

Personally, I think as it is a photo comp, the entrants should've taken the pics, otherwise I guess it does become open to photopass pics etc etc. I would imagine that others feel this way, and as such photos with the poster in them, generally do not fare very well in the voting.

That having been said, as Tron said, if you take hundreds of pics it is hard to know who took 'em, so you have to allow a certain amount of leeway, but, as Joh said, if you're in it, it is unlikely you took it!

I take thousands of pics, and if I am in one that I used a tripod and timer for I will always know it.

Not sure what I am adding or subtracting from the discussion, but thought I'd say it anyway

Like I said it is just a bit of fun and an excuse to show-off your photos, and hope we would all view that way.

 

[wilma-bride]

Looking at the way this is going, I would just like to say that this is the exact reason why I PMed Deb instead of posting on the discussion thread. FWIW it wasn't even Tron's picture I was referring to in my PM but, regardless, all that has happened is that it has got people's backs up and Tron feels as thought he's being got at (which certainly was not the intention). If I'd posted my observation and pointed the finger at a particular individual publicly, I think that would have been worse and caused more ill feeling. As it was, I obviously was not alone in my thoughts.

It doesn't happen often but I agree with Matt - let's all try to get on. There is no need for hostility or bad feeling. It is nothing more than friendly competition (although I think this proves there's no such thing ). Personally, I just like having the opportunity to share some of my pictures with everybody. Maybe I am at an advantage here because I KNOW 100% that, unless I am in a photo, I took it - my DH doesn't do photography However, I am also at a disadvantage because my pictures are rubbish. It doesn't mean I don't enjoy joining in every week

I will say one final thing on the matter which is that I think Deb did everyone a huge favour starting this all off and I know she puts a lot of effort into maintining and running it every week. I, for one, feel slightly embarrassed that it had to come to this sand would hate to see it come to an end because we couldn't all play nicely

 

[scottishsue]

Guys, this is all getting a little serious - can't we all just get along!!

I've just noticed this, and agree with Matt. All I can say is that all the pics I have entered have been mine. I never realised there could be so much aggro among sensible adults !!

Also I agree with Cochise that PM'ing Deb is sly and under hand. Such things should be discussed openly in the discussion thread.

It's only for fun and to let other people see our photos. Can't we keep it that way? I enjoy it and would like it to continue.

Deb puts a lot into this and I'd for it to have to stop.

 

[Cochise]

Joh,

Please dont take it personally, as Deb says she receives a fair few PM's and this is what i was referring to. I sit here in work all day listening to a load of colleagues back stabbing each other about what work they do and it is always refreshing to see open discussion about issues on things like these on the DIS.

As for whether Tron feels as though he is victimised, ignore him its the only way to treat him

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Why does everyone think I feel like ive been got at ?????
I've never said any such thing.... all ive done is qualified this weeks entry (in the discussion thread as instructed).

 

[tony64]

I must stand next to Joh and admit I also Pm'd Debs.
Not to point a finger but to draw to her attention that so many poeple were posting pictures with them in it. I only thought that if most people weren't voting for the pictures if the person was in it then they needed to be reminded of the rules. That way if they had a picture which complied they had a better chance of getting some votes.

This is a fun competition but you do need a few rules.
Otherwise Matt would just keep posting the pictures from his vast album full of Hooters girls.

 

[TinkTatoo]

....It's only for fun and to let other people see our photos. Can't we keep it that way? I enjoy it and would like it to continue.

Deb puts a lot into this and I'd for it to have to stop.

I agree. I love entering the photo comp as there are a whole new set of people to bore with my photo's and I love looking at other peoples photos too. I have to say I must be a bit dense as I'd never even noticed that there were photo's with the people who took them in them. Lets keep it fun

 

[jns]

Jackie - I don't think it's necessary to pull your photo, especially as its entry (and subsequent voting) pre-dates this latest discussion. And, actually, I'm not sure that this particular point is in the specified rules.

Thanks Deb after all its only a bit of fun anyhow but anyone that wants to change they vote please feel free too The photos staying
I love seeing everyones photos
Deb you are doing a great Job , please do not get down hearted and give up on us

I agree. I love entering the photo comp as there are a whole new set of people to bore with my photo's and I love looking at other peoples photos too.

Me too

I have to say I must be a bit dense as I'd never even noticed that there were photo's with the people who took them in them. Lets keep it fun

me either

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Just to echo what Jackie has said - I think we all owe a big debt of gratitude to Deb for all the hard work she puts in to administer the photo competition.

It must be time consuming and she does a great job in keeping it light hearted and fun.

I love seeing everybody else's photos and also entering my own, although why I've never won I just don't know. I blame Deb.

Kev

 

[Boss Hogg]

although why I've never won I just don't know. I blame Deb.

Kev

I could offer up a couple of solutions as to why you've never won! One good reason, is that I add all the votes up