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09/16/2007 11:45:30 PM · #1 |
I just had a thought...
Would members of the site council have an unfair advantage when submitting their own entries to challenges?
The reason I ask this question is because the top X winners of every challenge have to submit their detailed post-processing steps. The general population of this site never gets to see how the winners really "did it".
One example...there are many more "professional" methods of sharpening a photo, other than Unsharp Mask or Smart Sharpen. (e.g. High Pass filter or using the Channels palette). I would imagine there are many other powerful, but obscure methods used in post-processing to which only the site council would have insight.
If this is true, what can be done to "level the playing field"? Maybe have the top entries' post-processing steps available for viewing by all?
I'm curious as to what others may be thinking on this topic...
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09/16/2007 11:49:53 PM · #2 |
Poor SC, we are all over tgem this weekend.
It would be nice if the editing steps were always posted with the ribbon shots, along with a resized unedited original.
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09/16/2007 11:52:13 PM · #3 |
| That would assume all photos give exact editing steps. Some may just say, Levels, crop, sharpen. I think SC who try and replicate shots for validation aren't picking up too many tricks and already have a large knowledge base of post processing. I figure some of the reason some people are on SC is because they know about those obscure tricks. SC is constantly bombarded by complaints and Rants about all things DPC and don't get paid. If a few pick up some editing tips for all thee work they do, I say let them. Just my opinion. |
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09/16/2007 11:52:27 PM · #4 |
Yep. They have such an advantage that not one SC member won a ribbon in the last 10 challenges.
Slackers. :P
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09/16/2007 11:55:35 PM · #5 |
| No Site Council member has seen more entry details or entered more challenges than GeneralE, who has no ribbons and zero top 20 entries more recent than 2003. That doesn't sound like much of an unfair advantage. I can't think of a single technique that isn't described somewhere in the forums or among the entry details that everyone can see in past challenges. |
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09/17/2007 12:34:10 AM · #6 |
How about a more inflammatory thread title? I mean, think of the lost opportunity. You could have gone with "SC probably cheating" or something.
Your actual suggestion, to require editing steps for top scorers, isn't a bad one, but how would you enforce it? I mean, you don't know where you'll end up when you enter. Would you withhold a top placement if someone didn't post details within a week or something like that? How would you define what's enough detail?
I do think it's interesting that you've never entered a challenge or voted even once, yet you feel knowledgable enough to accuse the SC of having, and taking advantage of, some special privelege.
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09/17/2007 12:41:54 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Poor SC, we are all over tgem this weekend.
It would be nice if the editing steps were always posted with the ribbon shots, along with a resized unedited original. |
I think the idea of the SC having an unfair advantage is rediculous.
I do agree however that it would be great to have all of the top 5 entries or whatever it is that are required to be validated...to have a same size unedited original posted as a thumbnail link.
I do think that it might cause a lot more controversy and bitching because people will not believe that the editing is legal or whatever. |
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09/17/2007 12:42:40 AM · #8 |
Correct me if I am wrong, as oft I am anymore, but I think this image by  kiwiness was DQ'd when he was on SC. They really are not above the rules, you know.
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09/17/2007 12:50:15 AM · #9 |
| Yes, my stupendous portfolio clearly showcases all the amazing skillz that I have unfairly ripped off from the winners during my time on SC. Nice catch. |
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09/17/2007 01:04:46 AM · #10 |
I too am sick of SC winning all these ribbons with super secret techniques. I know one guy that hangs his children from wires.
As to what I am thinking on this topic.... hmmmm, |
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09/17/2007 01:05:12 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by mk:
Yes, my stupendous portfolio clearly showcases all the amazing skillz that I have unfairly ripped off from the winners during my time on SC. Nice catch. |
 Cheater! ;)
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09/17/2007 01:07:38 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by mk:
Yes, my stupendous portfolio clearly showcases all the amazing skillz that I have unfairly ripped off from the winners during my time on SC. Nice catch. |
What about those challenges you entered under the name 'km'? Who would have thought anyone would have caught that sleight of hand. |
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09/17/2007 01:13:49 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by mk:
Yes, my stupendous portfolio clearly showcases all the amazing skillz that I have unfairly ripped off from the winners during my time on SC. Nice catch. |
You should be embarrassed, ripping off whiners! |
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09/17/2007 01:20:08 AM · #14 |
Well I don't know about ripping off editing secrets, but I have developed another theory that the SC siphons points from other entries. Yes, that's right - when the scores are rounded down to 4 decimal places, what happens to that .00004?? I'll tell you what - it adds up and a few of the SC (not MK though, she already admitted to stealing editing secrets), tack those onto their own scores. It's an outrage, I tell ya.
AND AND AND-- Get this--- they get free bagels every Friday! FREE BAGELS!!
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09/17/2007 01:22:47 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
I do think it's interesting that you've never entered a challenge or voted even once, yet you feel knowledgable enough to accuse the SC of having, and taking advantage of, some special privelege. |
that IS odd....is amy back incognito? she sure was not fond of SC....
If not I would say that you, s york, have been thoroughly ripped in these few responses and it looks like you got your answer
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09/17/2007 01:47:48 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by banmorn:
Correct me if I am wrong, as oft I am anymore, but I think this image by kiwiness was DQ'd when he was on SC. They really are not above the rules, you know.
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there wasn't a statement saying SC are above the rules :p
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09/17/2007 01:52:47 AM · #17 |
I know that when I submit photos (all photos, not just challenge entries), there's a little .mnd file that gets attached thanks to a little virus that I got from this site.
I believe it contains a filtered encapsulation of all 'Good' thoughts and ideas and creativity that I had while working on said photo, having discarded everything that isn't 'ribbon worthy' and this file is then submitted to a large pool of thought, regularly accessed by the SC via a .mnd reader program that only works while their SC membership is valid.
Actually, I think that some editing skillz are somewhat requisite to the position of SC, so I doubt they are benefitting much from my .mnd...
Of course this starts to highlight a very real FAIR advantage that the SC might have in that they probably spend more time than the average user in going over the challenge entries in general... this could only help them to discern better what works and what doesn't.
PS. GeneralE is widely known as Shannon's 'Other' account... he just fakes that British accent to throw us all off the scent. |
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09/17/2007 02:05:18 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by noisemaker:
Originally posted by banmorn:
Correct me if I am wrong, as oft I am anymore, but I think this image by kiwiness was DQ'd when he was on SC. They really are not above the rules, you know.
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there wasn't a statement saying SC are above the rules :p |
Thanks for the correction....See...wrong again.... |
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09/17/2007 02:53:47 AM · #19 |
Hey, how come when I try to access the little .mnd file for my pictures, it says "Error: file is empty"??
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09/17/2007 02:55:53 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by Melethia:
Hey, how come when I try to access the little .mnd file for my pictures, it says "Error: file is empty"?? |
At least you get that much. Mine is just a transparent GIF. One pixel!
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09/17/2007 03:01:19 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by Melethia:
Hey, how come when I try to access the little .mnd file for my pictures, it says "Error: file is empty"?? |
how come when someone says ".mnd file" i have no clue what they are talking about?
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09/17/2007 03:03:30 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by mk:
Yes, my stupendous portfolio clearly showcases all the amazing skillz that I have unfairly ripped off from the winners during my time on SC. Nice catch. |
Ahhhh ha, got ya now!
Seriously, I'm surprised that the SC actually would have time to even go shoot for a challenge, I have just been through a Request for original and I have no idea how many other photo's they would have to validate each challenge maybe close to 30 or so per challenge.
Where is the fun in that? Its a big job with little gratitude if they pick up the odd tip along the way well good for them I say!
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09/17/2007 04:42:30 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
No Site Council member has seen more entry details or entered more challenges than GeneralE, who has no ribbons and zero top 20 entries more recent than 2003. That doesn't sound like much of an unfair advantage. I can't think of a single technique that isn't described somewhere in the forums or among the entry details that everyone can see in past challenges. |
You don't shake off conspiracy theorists that easily.  GeneralE is a fictitious alter ego created to draw flak from the SC. For shame. |
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09/17/2007 07:28:56 AM · #24 |
I think as far as this whole line of thought goes that the next time there's an infraction, the offender has to be a member of SC for a week/month and answer *all* the bullsh*t threads, affronts, stupid questions, and particular annoyances that come to SC for the duration of the term of punishment.
ALL of it!
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09/17/2007 08:21:48 AM · #25 |
Their secret hideout revealed:
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