How does Langdon choose new challenges

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/03/2009 09:39:04 AM · #1

I have noticed a pattern in the way new challenges are selected by

Langdon, and I predicted the (Rock â�� stone â�� pebble)challenge, so I took a photo last month for this weekâ��s open challenge.

Does anyone know how he picks the new challenges? Or why he starts a certain challenge at a certain time?

GUESS!!

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/03/2009 09:44:52 AM · #2

Originally posted by HighNooner:

so I took a photo last month for this weekâ��s open challenge.

Take your photo again. Your previous shot cannot be used, as it was not taken within the challenge period.

I think Langdon looks over the challenge suggestions forum and sometimes uses what seems like a popular idea, or one that strikes him as interesting. Other times I think it is an effort to try and offer a variety of topics. I don't really have any true insight into his thought process, however.

Sony SAL16-80Z DT 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA

06/03/2009 09:46:52 AM · #3

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by HighNooner:
so I took a photo last month for this weekâ��s open challenge.

Take your photo again. Your previous shot cannot be used, as it was not taken within the challenge period.

I changed the date on the camera for today's to prove it.

daryn

Sony DSLR-A100

06/03/2009 09:48:39 AM · #4

He runs a highly successful photographic agency, with no paid photographers.

Whatever the customer requests is the next challenge.

The customer then has loads of images to select from.....

Conspiracy freak? Me?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/03/2009 09:49:10 AM · #5

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I changed the date on the camera for today's to prove it.

Still not kosher, and editing EXIF data can get you suspended from entering challenges. I often wish I could enter the perfect shot that I took the week before the challenge was announced, but rules is rules.

Message edited by author 2009-06-03 09:50:55.

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

06/03/2009 10:07:19 AM · #6

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I changed the date on the camera for today's to prove it.

if you think that we're organized (and predictable) enough to know to set your camera date ahead of time to shoot for a challenge you know will be scheduled, you're giving us far too much credit. :P

KarenNfld

06/03/2009 10:09:44 AM · #7

The rocks challenge was suggested last December, yet you knew it would be announced today? Do tell!

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/03/2009 10:20:38 AM · #8

I've occasionally thought it would be interesting to set my camera date forward a week or two or three, take some really fantastic photos, and then wait and see if I hit it. Of course, I wouldn't really enter the shot as it would still violate the rules (although undetectably). I guess that's why I've never done it. Plus, I'd have to come across something really amazing to shoot that didn't fit the current challenges and have something better for the free study already. Gonna be an interesting day if all that comes together!

snaffles

Nikon D7100

06/03/2009 10:26:59 AM · #9

Well, to be fair to Langdon, sometimes he does listen to reason. After he announced a Wildlife challenge for about the 2nd year in a row, in the winter when there is very little wildlife trotting around in the Northern Hemispehre, I suggested that a Wildlife challenge in the fall would make a lot more sense.

Ta-daa, Wildlife IV was announced in the very scenic fall!

06/03/2009 10:38:45 AM · #10

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

I took a snap then changed the date then took another shot of the same, with the new date to have a sequentially numbered photos with altered dates in between to hopefully prove my point, not to enter a challenge. The date is part of the authentication information, and it will be unethical to cheat authentications especially from a television producer.

And I would not be telling if I planed to enter the shots taken last month.

06/03/2009 12:07:49 PM · #11

I certainly didn't mean to imply that you might actually enter such an image, Tareq. Sorry if it came across that way! I was just making the observation that it would be possible.

06/03/2009 12:11:40 PM · #12

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

I certainly didn't mean to imply that you might actually enter such an image, Tareq. Sorry if it came across that way! I was just making the observation that it would be possible.

Worry not, point well taken.
Thanks
Tareq

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/03/2009 02:16:32 PM · #13

Originally posted by daryn:

hmmm... the thought crossing your mind, I have to think about ... but nay nay I do not think so

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/03/2009 02:24:50 PM · #14

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

Don't count on it -- I've already thought of one sure way and one possible way to detect this kind of cheating.

Actually, I've been pretty sure since I joined the site that Langdon scans my hard drive every Saturday night, and bases the next week's topic on whatever my best image from the previous week depicts ... :-(

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/03/2009 02:27:44 PM · #15

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Don't count on it -- I've already thought of one sure way and one possible way to detect this kind of cheating.

Interesting! I don't suppose you could share?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/03/2009 02:28:24 PM · #16

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
Don't count on it -- I've already thought of one sure way and one possible way to detect this kind of cheating.

Interesting! I don't suppose you could share?

As the saying goes, I could tell you, but then ...

SoulMan1978

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

06/03/2009 02:36:51 PM · #17

Going slightly back to the OP, does langdon set challenges himself or is it a SC "committee" kind of decision?

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

06/03/2009 02:40:16 PM · #18

I kinda figured as much. :)

Granted I don't know much about what's in the EXIF, but I really can't imagine what clue there would be that this was done with just the entry and the original of the entry. People get DQed all the time for the camera date/time being (erroneously) outside the challenge dates. I don't see how the opposite wouldn't be true (not being DQed for a date within the challenge dates when the camera is set incorrectly). Anyone want to brainstorm with me how this could be detectable? :)

Oops, sorry. Getting rather off topic, here. We can start a new thread if anyone is interested.

Message edited by author 2009-06-03 14:41:06.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

06/03/2009 02:43:07 PM · #19

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

Well, the EXIF stores the camera-assigned image number. I'd think one could just compare EXIF on nearby numbers and see the date discrepancy?

R.

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

06/03/2009 02:51:14 PM · #20

Originally posted by SoulMan1978:

Going slightly back to the OP, does langdon set challenges himself or is it a SC "committee" kind of decision?

the SC distills all of the suggestions in the Challenge Suggestions forum and enters them into a database, but lang pulls from the database and schedules them. we don't know what's coming up any earlier than you do. :)

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

06/03/2009 02:54:31 PM · #21

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Well, the EXIF stores the camera-assigned image number. I'd think one could just compare EXIF on nearby numbers and see the date discrepancy?

R.

What if you shot with the incorrect date all of the time? Instead of shooting for the current challenge you go back a couple of weeks to see whether you have anything that will work each rollover? Plus, as far as I can tell, only the original of the image entered is required by the rules. I don't see that they can make you provide additional originals.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

06/03/2009 03:02:11 PM · #22

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Well, the EXIF stores the camera-assigned image number. I'd think one could just compare EXIF on nearby numbers and see the date discrepancy?

R.

What if you shot with the incorrect date all of the time? Instead of shooting for the current challenge you go back a couple of weeks to see whether you have anything that will work each rollover? Plus, as far as I can tell, only the original of the image entered is required by the rules. I don't see that they can make you provide additional originals.

Unless you were skilled enough to have high-placing images in back-to-back (or nearly so) challenges, with one image id# not matching the other or possibly even having the image id#'s in reverse of what they should be logically based on the challenge run time.

KarenNfld

06/03/2009 03:04:19 PM · #23

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Well, the EXIF stores the camera-assigned image number.

I can't find it in my EXIF.

K3Master

Pentax K-3

06/03/2009 03:04:54 PM · #24

It makes my heart burst with joy to see the enthusiasm over finding a way to be sneaky :D

Message edited by author 2009-06-03 15:05:01.