Validation requests - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/28/2008 09:54:33 AM · #1

Matter of curiosity here. I am aware that the top 3 (or more?) photos are required to be validated as a matter of course. Presumably any other photos that get a validation request are as a result of a request from a member.

My question is, is there any way to find out why the validation request has been made (presumably there is no way to find out who made it!)

Validation has been requested for my (95th) placed photo so I can only assume that someone is really concerned that it is an illegal entry - presumably because they do not know how freefall photography is done! I am happy to oblige but if anyone wants more information then let me know - it is less hassle than uploading a full size JPEG (thank god it is not a RAW photo!!)

silverscreen

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/28/2008 09:59:29 AM · #2

How much hassle can it be...?

It's a matter of picking your original file and press upload - and of course supply information about your editing steps.

I'm sure writing the post here took longer than submitting the file for validation would do.

cryingdragon

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

01/28/2008 10:02:07 AM · #3

It's not a big deal, and they also do a random smattering of images throughout the challenge. Just because you got it doesn't mean that someone requested it.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/28/2008 10:04:57 AM · #4

The top 5 are automatically asked to provide originals for validation. Other validation requests are at the discretion of SC. As I understand it, if only one person asks for validation and the image looks kosher to them, they may not bother. Sometimes you get a validation request because someone thinks the image may have been taken outside the time frame of the challenge. That might be the case here if you have similar photos posted somewhere from 2006, for example, and someone has seen those and thinks this is one of them. It's hard for me to imagine anyone might think this is illegally edited, since it was entered under advanced rules. I suppose it's conceivable someone thinks the whole thing is a montage, but I doubt it.

In any event, I've never heard of SC providing the *reason* a validation request was made. But my bet would be someone thinks it's a pre-2007 image for some reason. I could be wrong :-)

R.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/28/2008 10:07:28 AM · #5

I'd love to hear more about freefall photography if you're willing to share stories!

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

01/28/2008 10:26:04 AM · #6

You might have been a random selection because you have no editing steps or other info about the photo in the comments box, That happened to me once or twice. No biggy just submit the original file.

Nice shot by the way.

01/28/2008 10:38:01 AM · #7

Thanks for the responses - I am more suprised than anything else. Random selection it probably is! As for the photo coming from a previous year, I only got the camera in Feb 07 so... :o)

And in reply to this... "I'm sure writing the post here took longer than submitting the file for validation would do"

Less coffee for you! I wrote this from the office computer, the photo is on my (not connected) home computer, so I will need to dig it out, put on a USB stick, drive back to the office and upload it - which will take more time than knocking out a query on a forum.

Proof inbound. Hopefully when I pop more sky related photos in for future competitions it will be seen as more normal - even if everyone is able to spot them as mine. Are there really no other freefall photographers on here?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/28/2008 10:43:43 AM · #8

Originally posted by Melethia:

I'd love to hear more about freefall photography if you're willing to share stories!

Freefall photography? Its a mixture of science and art! In the UK no-one is allowed to fix video and stills cameras to their heads until they have completed 200 skydives (I have nearly 1100) due to the added risks.

The cameras are helmet mounted with a variety of remote shutter releases (I use a bite trigger) and sighting mechanisms (for me, the cheapest possible which is a marker on the goggles and a tiny laser to check for line). Obviously there is no way to change the camera settings once you have left the plane, or to be absolutely sure of what is in the viewfinder. You also only have a few seconds to get the really nice shots... but that is not so uncommon in photography now is it!!

If you want to know more, feel free to ask, or visit this skydiving website's video and photo forum...

//www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?forum=7;

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

01/28/2008 11:02:41 AM · #9

Just to add a couple thoughts about validation requests...

First, no one should be offended if we send a validation request. That seems to be the first reaction of a lot of people... but if you've done nothing wrong, why sweat it? There are a multitude of reasons that they get sent out (although we honestly don't send them out "randomly" as previously suggested), and oftentimes they're based on someone's "hunch" for one reason or another.

Quite often, if someone flags a shot and has a reasonably valid reason for questioning it, we'll send a request for validation just to be sure there are no rule violations. Just because we're sending out a validation request doesn't mean that the shot is on the verge of being DQ'd... we're just checking up on someone's request.

We don't typically tell people why we're making the request, mainly because that could open up an opportunity for someone to attempt to cover up whatever it is we're trying to investigate.

Again, there's no reason to be offended. Just send in the original, and I doubt that there's anything to be concerned about.

PS -- Very cool shot, by the way!

Message edited by author 2008-01-28 11:02:56.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/28/2008 11:05:15 AM · #10

This is a very good point, too (not about it being chosen "randomly" but regarding the lack of details). I don't know if that contributed to this particular case, but quite often the information we're looking for can be in the photographer's comments. Quite often we choose not to request proof because enough details were provided in the entry's details.

And quite often someone will submit their "hunch" on a shot, and because there are no details to verify that hunch, we will request the original.

Anyway... we do recommend adding details about the set-up and editing, and oftentimes those can help us avoid requesting the original.

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

Message edited by author 2008-01-28 11:09:33.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/28/2008 11:11:28 AM · #11

Originally posted by FrankRobinson:

I wrote this from the office computer, the photo is on my (not connected) home computer, so I will need to dig it out, put on a USB stick, drive back to the office and upload it - which will take more time than knocking out a query on a forum.

I believe you have 48 hours to submit your original. Like you, I have to submit my original (requested last night from the "Six" challenge) but I won't have access to it until this afternoon.

So, it looks like you've done this "dig-USB-drive-upload" routine before (to submit to challenges)? Therefore, it shouldn't be anything to worry/stress about. ;-)

My advice would be to always expect to be validated and keep the original (and post-processing notes) on that USB stick.

Message edited by author 2008-01-28 11:14:36.

01/28/2008 11:40:18 AM · #12

NO - first time for me. Done now though...

Do I get informed that it has been accepted or is that it?

idnic

Canon EOS-60D