Best new talent challenge - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital

11/08/2004 11:47:30 AM · #1

Hi
Just to counterbalance the masters challenges, how about a New talent contest? Only members registered in the last 3 months can submit. Even better to hold this every 3-4 months to bring attention to new talent.

In all shows/awards there is always the Best new artist category, so why not here?
IMHO I would be a way of keeping people interested in the site.

ps I did a quick search and couldn't find this, but I don't belive that this idea hasn't come up yet.

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

11/08/2004 11:48:24 AM · #2

sounds good to me ... i second the motion

redmoon

Olympus PEN E-PL2

11/08/2004 11:58:16 AM · #3

I think this is a marvellous idea ; and i did come up with something along similar lines in the another masters challenge whinging thread.

Only one person actually reposnded to my idea originally, so for the sake of having it in the right forum, i thought i'd try suggesting my thoughts again:

in addition to Gauti's idea of a special challenge to newcomers, i think it might be nice for other variations on the masters theme to be considered. such as:

the single ribbon winners (as mentioned before in another thread),

the zero ribbon winners only

the finished in the top ten but never got a ribbon people

the people who have entered 100 or more challenges (or 50 if there's too few 100s)

just the blue (or red, or yellow, or "green") ribbon winners,

non dSLR users (it'll be fun having a compact only challenge),

a challenge for people who have left 500+ comments on other pictures

the 1,000+ forum posters.

the 10,000+ (or 5,000+) vote casters

and countless other things.

take any statistic you like from the site, and give them a free study! possibilities are nearly infinite!!

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/08/2004 12:02:11 PM · #4

yeah i agree.. both of these ideas are great....
i think it would be great fun to see the 'new talent' challenge.. assuming old talent didn't just sign up under a new name.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/08/2004 12:21:18 PM · #5

Originally posted by leaf:

yeah i agree.. both of these ideas are great....
i think it would be great fun to see the 'new talent' challenge.. assuming old talent didn't just sign up under a new name.

yeah, but then they couldn't brag about it.
sweet innit?

edit: typos

Message edited by author 2004-11-08 12:54:50.

vontom

Canon EOS-20D

11/08/2004 12:39:28 PM · #6

We need to do this one in a hurry. I've only been here a month and a half. I'm gonna run out of time! I'm all for a new talent challenge.

prozac

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

11/08/2004 02:04:13 PM · #7

excellent Idea :)

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/08/2004 02:12:01 PM · #8

Sounds like a great idea.

/me goes off to register NotGordonHonestGuv

Message edited by author 2004-11-08 14:17:32.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

11/08/2004 02:21:56 PM · #9

I would have been all for this 7 days ago.

;0)

TommyMoe21

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/08/2004 02:24:36 PM · #10

On the surface it sounds great to have a "rookie" challenge. But, think about it deeper. When you exclude the more talented shooters from a challenge, it degrades the meaning of winning a ribbon.

Dseale

Sony Alpha a7 III

Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f1.8 ZA

11/08/2004 02:26:36 PM · #11

I think half the current members would just make a new account for this challenge...

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

11/08/2004 02:37:41 PM · #12

Originally posted by Gauti:

[...]a New talent contest? Only members registered in the last 3 months can submit. Even better to hold this every 3-4 months to bring attention to new talent.

I think this is a great idea and also a nice way to welcome new members to the site. It would also be great if those of us who have been here longer would make a special effort to provide comments to entries in these challenges just as a welcome to DPC courtesy.

11/08/2004 02:44:34 PM · #13

Originally posted by TommyMoe21:

On the surface it sounds great to have a "rookie" challenge. But, think about it deeper. When you exclude the more talented shooters from a challenge, it degrades the meaning of winning a ribbon.

Is then the ribbon in the masters challenge a more meaningful ribbon?

In order to exclude "older" members from registering a bogus account (wouldn't that be obvious in the payment section?) there could be an extra rule stipulating that the user must have entered an x number of challenges (lets say 3).
If anybody has enough energy to keep two accounts alive at the same time, they're welcome to it as far as I'm concerned.

There is actually a further reason why it is an bad idea for an existing user to enter: they cannot recieve any congrats for it, unless by unmasking themselves and therby DQ-ing themselves. There is no money prize, so this works exclusively on peer pressure. As I said earlier, they can't brag about it :)

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/08/2004 02:48:43 PM · #14

Originally posted by Kavey:

It would also be great if those of us who have been here longer would make a special effort to provide comments to entries in these challenges just as a welcome to DPC courtesy.

Good point. Maybe "older" members should get extra points for many helpful comments? :)

graphicfunk

Canon EOS-20D

11/08/2004 02:59:09 PM · #15

I agree with the sentiment but this will eventually dilute the meaning of a ribbon. Consider: By eliminating the stiff competition means that the riboon won is under a handicap. Who wants a handicap award?

And then, there will be a challenge for non ribbons winners and then for those with very poor batting averages. The question is: what are these ribbons worth?

I think that there are enough challenges for any one member to reach for a ribbon by its sheer desire and passion to succeed. It does not require a full expert understanding of the knowledge of photography. In some cases it may even motivate some to study this subject a little deeper to give them some advantage.

Stagolee

Kodak Easyshare C180

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

11/08/2004 03:20:18 PM · #16

Originally posted by graphicfunk:

I think you are missing the point here. The idea is for people of similiar ability to compete against each other aka Masters challenge.
As far as diluting who cares the segmentation has commenced on this site with the masters and should not stop there.
The value of a ribbon? nothing it is vitual it's value is in the winners pride and ego.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/08/2004 03:21:05 PM · #17

So don't award a ribbon. Hand out a virtual pacifier/dummy in three shades of colours. Then, newbies are welcomed, there is an interesting 'focus on new talent' challenge every 3 months or so, nobody gets their nose out of joint for 'missing out' on their ribbon chances and everyone wins (well, 3 people win pacifiers)

I think honestly that the masters ribbon should be changed in a similar way. Perhaps it should be a pipe or a pair of comfy slippers as an icon, instead of a ribbon. Or there is a fine ribbon hog icon that could be used, with a small pig in the ribbon.

Anyway, more clearly deliniating the challenges would help address this oft repeated complaint about diluting the 'value' of the already valueless ribbons.

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

11/08/2004 03:27:46 PM · #18

Originally posted by Gordon:

So don't award a ribbon. Hand out a virtual pacifier/dummy in three shades of colours. [snip] I think honestly that the masters ribbon should be changed in a similar way. [snip] Anyway, more clearly deliniating the challenges would help address this oft repeated complaint about diluting the 'value' of the already valueless ribbons.

Three good points there Gordon, and I agree on all of them.
One small nag though (even if it isn't maybe all that relevant): newbies to this site aren't necessarily newbies to photography! (I am both, but that's another story)
Yes, I think a different kind of "ribbon" to masters/newbies is a good idea.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

11/08/2004 03:28:18 PM · #19

The "difficulty" of getting a ribbon has changed throughout the lifetime of the site. Not to be rude but some of the entries that won ribbons early on would not be in the top 10% if entered in a challenge today. Not only because of the continuous arrival of new talent and the improvement of existing members' skills but also because tastes change too.

It's not possible to make the field even in terms of opportunities to win ribbons whilst there are ANY challenges that only a certain segment of users can enter.

And so what? A ribbon tells you that you entered the most popular image in THAT challenge, THAT week as far as THOSE voters were concerned. Being good enough to win several lets you know that you're consistently pleasing the audience and developing along with the tastes and preferences of that audience. But what it doesn't do is tell you that your blue ribbon winning image from X challenge is better than a non ribbon winning image from another challenge or even equal to a blue ribbon winning image from another challenge. It's really NOT a useful comparative tool.

So I don't think giving opportunities to new members (and hence also giving them ONE extra chance to win a ribbon without competition from others) would really be a heinous crime against the meaning and kudos of a ribbon.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/08/2004 03:30:25 PM · #20

Originally posted by Gauti:

I agree entirely. I was being slightly tongue in cheek with the idea of a pacifier, but I think it would be easy enough to differentiate the awards.

We probably don't want 15 new categories, but 2 or 3 wouldn't be the end of the world.

And to address the thought that people will start new accounts, I think the 3 entries before competing idea is good - as is making it members only. If you want to spend an extra $25 per entry for something you can't tell anyone about, be our guests.

Message edited by author 2004-11-08 15:34:47.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/08/2004 03:36:20 PM · #21

Originally posted by Gauti:

Originally posted by leaf:
yeah i agree.. both of these ideas are great....
i think it would be great fun to see the 'new talent' challenge.. assuming old talent didn't just sign up under a new name.

yeah, but then they couldn't brag about it.
sweet innit?

edit: typos

Do you really think some people have multiple accounts? If so do you think they vote on there own picture under another name?.................hummmmm!!!!!!!!!

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

11/08/2004 03:37:34 PM · #22

Originally posted by SDW65:

Do you really think some people have multiple accounts? If so do you think they vote on there own picture under another name?.................hummmmm!!!!!!!!!

If they do they deserve our deepest sympathy - that's just sad, sad, sad!