Info on Photo Contest and BORDERS!!

[MICKEY88]

. As far as I know converting to b&w or sepia is ok. I believe that Dana has said in the past that some adjustments to brightness or contrast are acceptable.



.

based on this line in the rules I would think it's not Ok to convert to b&w or sepia..

Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest

 

[ukcatfan]

Another reason that we should not get too carried away with what constitutes too much editing is that almost eveyone's monitor is going to be calibrated a little differently, so the images are going to look a little different to everyone anyway.

I only want more defined rules so that I do not break them. If someone feels the need to go outside the rules, then they are going to anyway. Like it was said, these are digital files, so how would you prove anything.

Kevin

 

[MICKEY88]

I'd just like to hear a (near) definitive explanation of what the "minimal editing" means TO DANA.

It would be nice if we could agree on what it means ... but apparently, we all can't even abide by a pretty cut & dried "800x600 and no borders" rule! Neither of those rules have *any* wiggle room!

I think this line from the rules makes it clear..

Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest

 

[Steve's Girl]

My only comment on this is for Dana - THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all you do!

 

[Amy]

Just my $.02 after reading 4 pages of this.....Dana is volunteering her time for this contest, and I imagine it is a CONSIDERABLE amount of time, in addition to her "real" life - job, kids, whatever. I wouldn't be surprised if after reading this she decides it's not worth it and then we end up without a contest at all! So one of you better be ready to step up and take over the contest yourself, and then you can make up your own rules.

Dana....thank you; you do a wonderful job!

 

[Anewman]

Money or prizes are not why I enter. I enter my photo becaus I like it, want to share it with others and because I want to win. I get the feeling sometimes that its not PC if you want to win this comp. Well I do. Is it a competition or a photo sharing thread?

Obviously to you it is BOTH, and I agree. It does not have to be one or the other.

And the argument (I prefer to call it a dabate) is because the "minimal "editing" rule is open to speculation as to what exactly are the boundries.......

OK you want to debate...

Even if DANA creates a 10 page clarification on said boundries, how exactly would one go about proving an image went beyond said rules??

Rule #324. Saturation should not be raised past +10

Hey Dana there are 2 images in this weeks contest where I am sure saturation was boosted to +11

 

[MICKEY88]

what is not clear about this rule..??
Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest

 

[Anewman]

So one of you better be ready to step up and take over the contest yourself, and then you can make up your own rules.

Yes and may they have good luck creating rules that will satisfy everyone.

And even better luck trying to enforce those rules.

Dana....thank you; you do a wonderful job!

AGREED

 

[fitzperry]

based on this line in the rules I would think it's not Ok to convert to b&w or sepia..

Quote:
Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest

I would have thought so too. However, I'm fairly certain that Dana has said it was ok, which supports my point that there are probably more people who don't understand the rules than there are people who deliberately break them.

that wouldn't level the playing field at all, because more often than not the people with the expensive cameras are the ones with the expensive software..

Noiseware Community Edition, which I use, is 100% FREE. In fact, even under my definition of "minimal editing," which is evidently somewhat broader than yours, I can't think of much (if anything) that couldn't be done with free or very inexpensive software.

 

[Anewman]

what is not clear about this rule..??
Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest

The
... That's why I use the term "minimal editing". I don't know what else to do. It is a shame though.

Dana

Crystal Clear.

...

 

[DVC Jen]

it actually is different, exposure compensation forces the camera to give more or less exposure than the meter is recommending..and can be done with film cameras an easier way than getting a meter reading, then opening your aperture or changing your shutter speed to give more or less exposure...it has nothing to do with the in camera processor.it's done before the image is captured


increasing or decreasing sauturation, is done with the in camera processor..

changing the image that has been captured..

I guess my whole point in what I said was - I would hate to be accused of doing a lot of post processing (increasing saturation - levels <which I don't even know how to do> or something else) when I haven't done it just because some of the color on my photos really pop. When I chose those setting on my camera it was not with the thought of winning some prizeless contest here on the dis - but because that is my personal preference and I would much rather set it on the camera than spend time in post processing - which I really do very little of simply because I don't enjoy it - mostly use it if there is a photo that I am just not happy with - but want to "save" and then it is clearly edited - like the one I posted on the color thread.

I agree we should all do our best to get the very best photo we can IN camera regardless of what we are using that photo for.

 

[steery1]

OK you want to debate...

Even if DANA creates a 10 page clarification on said boundries, how exactly would one go about proving an image went beyond said rules??

Rule #324. Saturation should not be raised past +10

Hey Dana there are 2 images in this weeks contest where I am sure saturation was boosted to +11

No I dont want to debate. What I said was I prefer to call this discussion on the rules a debate not an argument.

If Dana creates a 10 page clarification on the boundries then everyone will know EXACTLY where the boundries are and this "debate" will be finished. (Although IMHO a 10 page clarification isn't necessary)
If some still choose not to stay within the boundries then there is absolutely nothing can be done. But at least everyone will know where they stand on this and I for one will not enter a pic if it does not qualify and having read all the posts here Im not the only one.

 

[MICKEY88]

No I dont want to debate. What I said was I prefer to call this discussion on the rules a debate not an argument.

If Dana creates a 10 page clarification on the boundries then everyone will know EXACTLY where the boundries are and this "debate" will be finished. (Although IMHO a 10 page clarification isn't necessary)
If some still choose not to stay within the boundries then there is absolutely nothing can be done. But at least everyone will know where they stand on this and I for one will not enter a pic if it does not qualify and having read all the posts here Im not the only one.

based on this simple rule everyone should understand, whether they choose to follow the rules is a different story..

Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest

 

[steery1]

Obviously to you it is BOTH, and I agree. It does not have to be one or the other

No, sorry. To me its a competition. I cannot enter this competition without sharing my photos. But I can share my photos on numerous other threads without entering a competition.

 

[handicap18]

I think its been typed out here enough times in the previous 74 threads and by Dana herself.

Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest.

As far as I can see that is pretty simple. Kind of like what is it about the word "No" don't you understand. The "N" or the "o".

There are enough great people on this board to keep themself policed. If you think someone has entered a picture that you think has been post processed to much, then don't vote for it.

We have no "real" way to know for sure, so we have to rely on the personal integerity and the values that each person that enters has and hope that they can enter the contest without breaking the rules.

Unfortunatly I agree with Amy. If this continues, the headace for Dana will be more that what it is worth for her to continue doing the contests into 2008. I would HATE to see that happen as I also believe she does more than an OUTSTANDING job. There really is no way to say just how great of a job she does. Continuing this thread would, IMO, go against that and sends a bad message. Thus this is my only post here.

Maybe Jeff needs to step in on this thread, copy this from the Contest Rules sticky "Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest", then close this thread.

 

[steery1]

I dont see a problem with this thread. I thought we were just having a chat about the photo contest

 

[Anewman]

No I dont want to debate. What I said was I prefer to call this discussion on the rules a debate not an argument.

Ok, but I have always felt that when somebody puts in HOURS upon HOURS of their time. I know Dana is a much better person than I am, cuz I might not be able to handle a thread like this.

If Dana creates a 10 page clarification on the boundries then everyone will know EXACTLY where the boundries are and this "debate" will be finished. (Although IMHO a 10 page clarification isn't necessary)

I am not sure the debates would end, it could end up starting COUNTLESS debates about each and everyone of those now clarified rules.

I can hear it know...
"If raw images have to use default settings, so should in camera settings for jpeg shots..."

Dana owes nobody anymore than she has already given, if the rules are too vague for some... Well they know the rest.

No, sorry. To me its a competition. I cannot enter this competition without sharing my photos. But I can share my photos on numerous other threads without entering a competition.

Sorry I misinterpreted when you said "I enter my photo becaus I like it, want to share it with others and because I want to win."

 

[steery1]

Sorry I misinterpreted when you said "I enter my photo becaus I like it, want to share it with others and because I want to win."

Apology accepted

 

[andromedaslove]

OK, I have had this exact debate more times than I care to admit over the past two years. It is always exactly the same. People want to process their pictures for whatever reason, I expect them to be edited as little as possible. And by that I mean as little as possible. Here are some things that are standing out to me.

B&W - with film you had to actually put in black and white film to get black and white pictures, however with Digital all you have to do is click a button. For that reason I do accept B&W images.

Competition - I want to win this contest too dang it!! Granted I like seeing everyone else's photos, and I love to share the ones I have taken, but I want to win too. I don't fault anyone for wanting to win, I just want it to be as fair as possible to all that enter.

disqualifications - I will not do this. I will not police the contests like that and I will NOT risk accusing someone of cheating who has done nothing wrong. I won't take that chance. I will be disqualifying photos because of size and border from now on. That has been stated in this thread already. If you can't keep it less then 800x600 or if you put a border on your entry it is gone, and I will not allow you to enter a different one.

In Camera Setting - as far as in camera settings that make the colors pop, isn't that just adjusting the way the camera takes the picture? I mean that isn't going in and adjusting the saturation or hues I don't think. Or is that something done after the picture has been taken. I want to avoid editing the picture after it has been snapped.


SLR vs. P&S - This debate has been going on forever. I won't have a seperate contest for each one. It takes too much time as it is, and there are plenty of entries that have won where the pic was taken on a P&S. The problem isn't the camera, it's the editing done after the picture was taken.


Noise Reduction - I am against it. If anyone has any good reasons why we can still talk about it. I have taken plenty of night time shots, parades, fireworks, shows, etc. and I have not used Noise Reduction on ANY of them, and some of them are pretty darned good too.

I am going to have to stick with what handicap18 has just said. There is no REAL way for me to police this. We are on the honor system here and that's all we can do. I have stated over and over again that I want the entrants to have as little editing as possible. It states you can only edit to crop, resize, or watermark. From now on, I will police the size and borders, but the rest is up to you guys.

Dana

 

[MICKEY88]

Maybe Jeff needs to step in on this thread, copy this from the Contest Rules sticky "Pictures can not be altered, except to crop, resize, or add watermark. This is a photography contest, not an editing contest", then close this thread.

I respectfully disagree, no one has gotten out of line or anything, what is wrong with a good healthy discussion..