Archivals - DPChallenge Forums

12/01/2024 09:32:52 PM · #1

Just wondering why we don’t have many archival challenges any more?

We all lead busy lives and don’t always get around to photographing for a challenge. I know, I know this can be an excuse.I do try to incorporate holidays and paid photoshoots into challenges, but apart from this I’ve lost interest in spending valuable time going out to shoot for a challenge. YES I know what most of you are going to say, or are thinking, not that it worries me.

I suggest we have at least one archival per month. I’m pretty sure this was suggested many moons ago. Am I correct?

12/01/2024 09:43:18 PM · #2

Thanks for your interest. This has been discussed a few times in the forums. Not too long ago either I don't think (will have to search, or you can).

Anyway, the bottom line is, it's been determined that, yes, archival challenges are still an option, but they are to be used quite sparingly (we're not in the pandemic anymore). I believe a few times a year, like every few months, was suitable.

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

12/01/2024 10:03:19 PM · #3

I probably would have become a member again if there was a regular archival challenge. As such I have no motivation as I am no longer a beginner in photography and most currently active DPCers aren't either so why not listen to the user base? We have even voted on this in the past and the result was ignored.

The world has moved on maybe DPC should too? 22 years have past since a digital camera was a novelty!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/01/2024 10:07:04 PM · #4

What Barry said. This has been discussed several times in the forums since the pandemic hit. The proliferation of Archival challenges was a direct response to pandemic restrictions/sheltering, and the need for that has passed. Archival offerings don't really fit in well with the stated aim of DPC, which has always been to encourage folks to get out and CHALLENGE themselves on a regular basis. We did expand the submitting period to 2 weeks a couple years ago, and that's going to stay I think, but "archival" challenges will be rare going forward.

There are plenty of places for any of us to submit/enter/show our work without date restrictions.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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

12/01/2024 10:11:42 PM · #5

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

The world has moved on maybe DPC should too? 22 years have past since a digital camera was a novelty!

And over 75 years have passed since photography itself ceased to be a novelty. Does that make the fundamentals of art/photography/seeing any less relevant than they always have been? Margaret, maybe accept us for what we ARE and embrace that, or NOT, as you choose, but what's with this ongoing battle to make us something we are NOT?

12/01/2024 11:32:57 PM · #6

I thought Mita was looking for new members, maybe a slightly modified business model would help? There are 14 challenges in a month, with one being archival there would still be 93% of traditional shoot-for-them challenges.

12/02/2024 03:01:36 AM · #7

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

I think we are flogging a dead horse ;(

It seems to me that the number of entries seem to rocket during an archival challenge, but you’re lucky to get 25 in one of the current challenges.

12/02/2024 08:07:17 AM · #8

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

The last relevant discussions we had were in June of this year. The basic context of the discussion was that participation in DPC was dropping year over year but that participation in Archival challenges was always much higher than in typical challenges. So I suggested more frequent Archival challenges to encourage old timers who had dropped out and new members to join the fun. There are many positive reasons for this which I won't get into here. Ultimately we took a vote on it and of those who voted it was outstandingly agreed that we should continue with Archival challenges. The time period was not specifically agreed upon but an arbitrary time of 3 or 4 times a year was thrown out. It has now been about 6 months since the last Archival challenge. I do not remember reading anywhere in the forums that Archival challenges were a "Pandemic" exception to DPC by laws. Was this an internal discussion of SC members? I often times go back and look at the photography of previous challenges. We have lost some fantastic photographers who had they stayed would have offered so much to our enjoyment of DPC. I'm sure there are many reasons they dropped out but I feel that if there was an Archival offering in DPC we would still be enjoying many of their wonderful work.

12/02/2024 08:21:45 AM · #9

Originally posted by GolferDDS:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
What Barry said. This has been discussed several times in the forums since the pandemic hit. The proliferation of Archival challenges was a direct response to pandemic restrictions/sheltering, and the need for that has passed. Archival offerings don't really fit in well with the stated aim of DPC, which has always been to encourage folks to get out and CHALLENGE themselves on a regular basis. We did expand the submitting period to 2 weeks a couple years ago, and that's going to stay I think, but "archival" challenges will be rare going forward.

There are plenty of places for any of us to submit/enter/show our work without date restrictions.

The last relevant discussions we had were in June of this year. The basic context of the discussion was that participation in DPC was dropping year over year but that participation in Archival challenges was always much higher than in typical challenges. So I suggested more frequent Archival challenges to encourage old timers who had dropped out and new members to join the fun. There are many positive reasons for this which I won't get into here. Ultimately we took a vote on it and of those who voted it was outstandingly agreed that we should continue with Archival challenges. The time period was not specifically agreed upon but an arbitrary time of 3 or 4 times a year was thrown out. It has now been about 6 months since the last Archival challenge. I do not remember reading anywhere in the forums that Archival challenges were a "Pandemic" exception to DPC by laws. Was this an internal discussion of SC members? I often times go back and look at the photography of previous challenges. We have lost some fantastic photographers who had they stayed would have offered so much to our enjoyment of DPC. I'm sure there are many reasons they dropped out but I feel that if there was an Archival offering in DPC we would still be enjoying many of their wonderful work.

Thanks for looking up that info.

If for example the current street photography challenge was archival, I’m sure we’d get twice if not three times the entries, and of higher quality. I didn’t enter, even though I suggested the challenge.

12/02/2024 09:13:23 AM · #10

Originally posted by Neat:

...

Thanks for looking up that info.

If for example the current street photography challenge was archival, I’m sure we’d get twice if not three times the entries, and of higher quality. I didn’t enter, even though I suggested the challenge.

I would have entered, I had some interesting shots from October which fitted well this challenge. And I would have rejoined as a member.

12/02/2024 09:26:12 AM · #11

Originally posted by GolferDDS:

Case in point: Wouldn't it be a better idea to have the new challenge, "Family" be an Archival Challenge. It presently runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 15th which means it misses Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanaza, New Years, etc. which are the most family oriented times of the year? It would be perfect for this.

Message edited by author 2024-12-02 09:29:48.

12/02/2024 09:32:19 AM · #12

Originally posted by GolferDDS:

...Ultimately we took a vote on it and of those who voted it was outstandingly agreed that we should continue with Archival challenges...

SC setup that vote, what was the reason to do it if the result was thoroughly ignored?

12/02/2024 09:38:22 AM · #13

Originally posted by GolferDDS:

Good point! I missed that when I put that on the board. Good call Larry - so be it. It's Archival as of a minute ago. :-)

FWIW - There are some planned Archival challenges in the works for the 2025 challenge schedule. As mentioned previously, we haven't abandoned them, but there are only going to be a few.

12/02/2024 09:40:19 AM · #14

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

Originally posted by GolferDDS:
...Ultimately we took a vote on it and of those who voted it was outstandingly agreed that we should continue with Archival challenges...

SC setup that vote, what was the reason to do it if the result was thoroughly ignored?

No Margaret. That was me. I am not on the SC!

12/02/2024 09:56:14 AM · #15

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by GolferDDS:
Case in point: Wouldn't it be a better idea to have the new challenge, "Family" be an Archival Challenge. It presently runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 15th which means it misses Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanaza, New Years, etc. which are the most family oriented times of the year? It would be perfect for this.

Good point! I missed that when I put that on the board. Good call Larry - so be it. It's Archival as of a minute ago. :-)

FWIW - There are some planned Archival challenges in the works for the 2025 challenge schedule. As mentioned previously, we haven't abandoned them, but there are only going to be a few.

Thanks Barry!

12/02/2024 10:01:22 AM · #16

Originally posted by GolferDDS:

Thanks Barry!

12/02/2024 10:48:56 AM · #17

Originally posted by GolferDDS:

No Margaret. That was me. I am not on the SC!

Sorry, I didn't remember that you set it up.

12/02/2024 10:51:27 AM · #18

Originally posted by glad2badad:

... FWIW - There are some planned Archival challenges in the works for the 2025 challenge schedule. As mentioned previously, we haven't abandoned them, but there are only going to be a few.

If only they could be REGULAR challenges, once in a blue moon is too UNPREDICTABLE

12/02/2024 11:05:16 AM · #19

Originally posted by MargaretNet:

Originally posted by glad2badad:
... FWIW - There are some planned Archival challenges in the works for the 2025 challenge schedule. As mentioned previously, we haven't abandoned them, but there are only going to be a few.

If only they could be REGULAR challenges, once in a blue moon is too UNPREDICTABLE

Ah, but then we wouldn't be DPChallenge. :-)