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08/15/2008 03:29:17 PM · #251
Originally posted by MAK:

I think a new editing ruleset (expert editing) for Members should be added and keep the rest as they are.

Open challenges - Basic editing
members A - Advanced editing allowing just certain spot editing not overlays multiple exposures etc etc
members B - Extreme/Expert editing where pretty much anything goes

maybe Having the members A&B as a choice option as with the open challenges or even as 2 seperate challenges


I think this is the best idea. I would leave basic and advanced alone and simply reintroduce expert editing.
08/15/2008 03:36:49 PM · #252
Well having just been disqualified for adding an overlay I do have an opinion. When I was creating my image I had a picture in my head and had my final image in my head. Unfortunatley, I didn't even consider looking at the rules.

So my point is that with certain images it could be real difficult to get the shot you have in your head without using overlays or textures. This to me is against the idea and creativity of this site. Although, I do realize if you let it go to far then you end up with "digital art" that might be better off at sites like deviant art or what have you.

Good luck site council!

Ben
08/15/2008 03:39:49 PM · #253
Yes these are extreme examples of editing. But sometimes an Overlay DOES add to the photographic value and not turn it into "Digital Art" My image "Binary Monk" in my opinion is one that is not digital art but used an overlay which of course got me DQ'd.

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

... Some seem to think it's one image as it came from the camera with only tweaks in the computer. Others see manipulation in the computer as just another step in their photographic process. There's a whole spectrum in between. What's fascinating is how people are convinced that their definition, is some how the "right" one and how those with a narrow view of photography put down images presented as photography that don't fit into their little box by deeming them "digital art"

Emphasis above added...

Again...Wonderful artwork, but certainly not photographs anymore...


What have those photos got to do with allowing textures in Advanced editing?
08/15/2008 04:02:07 PM · #254
Originally posted by posthumous:

What confuses me is why not just be strict on Advanced Editing and bring back Expert Editing? I haven't seen any rational arguments against this solution.

That is obviously one of the options under consideration. As Shannon said, we wanted to have discussion first, decision later. This is not a legislative debate -- no one here is going to "call the question."

Whenever "we" decide there's been enough opportunity for everyone to say what they have to say, there will either be a poll or not, an SC decision (hopefully not is not an option here), or some other official announcement.

Even once there's a decision, any adjustments to the rules will take some time to refine and enact. Rest assured we are proceeding, in the immortal euphemism of the Supreme Court, with all deliberate speed.
08/15/2008 04:08:56 PM · #255
Expert Editing does not mean that all the photos are going to be "digital art". Out of the 10 expert editing challenges 16 of the ribbon winners have used advanced editing or lower on their images. On photos that I didn't know for sure I gave them the benefit of the doubt and left them for being expert edited entries. Over 50% of the winners in these challenges did not even use expert editing. If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art". For example, 16 of the "expert editing" winners...






Overlays in my opinion belong in a rule-set other than advanced. So of the three options at the beginning of this thread I don't agree with any of them. I want overlays but not in advanced.
08/15/2008 05:31:38 PM · #256
Originally posted by JustinM:

If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art".


Very true. Once you've met the challenge theme, it's all about the wow factor regardless of the ruleset. Those who's wow factor comes from their skills in lighting or post production don't need to rely on exotic/gorgeous subjects or high end equipment in order to do well. That is what makes this site great. The playing field is fairly leveled and it rewards talent with either high scores or lots of favorites or both. You can argue (as I have in the past) that originality and creativity (i.e. artistry) don't quite get as rewarded as technical ability but generally speaking the cream does rise to the top.

Message edited by author 2008-08-15 17:36:17.
08/15/2008 05:50:35 PM · #257
maybe do a little looking into how many advanced editing challenge winners only used basic editing...

personally - i couldn't care less what the rules for a given challenge are as far as whether or not i like the rules. if i enter i abide by them as best i can. and if i don't want to look at a group of photos for the sole reason they 'might' be manipulated more than i would prefer to see - i don't have to look.

so basically let textures play their role here.

Message edited by author 2008-08-15 17:51:29.
08/15/2008 05:57:28 PM · #258
Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by JustinM:

If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art".

Very true. Once you've met the challenge theme, it's all about the wow factor regardless of the ruleset. Those who's wow factor comes from their skills in lighting or post production don't need to rely on exotic/gorgeous subjects or high end equipment in order to do well. ...

Sounds like the expert editing ruleset isn't needed then at all - Hooray!
08/15/2008 07:34:06 PM · #259
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by JustinM:

If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art".

Very true. Once you've met the challenge theme, it's all about the wow factor regardless of the ruleset. Those who's wow factor comes from their skills in lighting or post production don't need to rely on exotic/gorgeous subjects or high end equipment in order to do well. ...

Sounds like the expert editing ruleset isn't needed then at all - Hooray!


You're funny. It's not a matter of need but of want. Technically speaking, basic editing isn't needed either since we have advance which covers everything under basic. However, having both makes it more challenging. My first four ribbons all came under advance editing so basic proved more of a challenge to me at first. I have since won ribbons under basic (my two highest scores are from those challenges). Since then my interest in these challenges has started to fade. Adding expert and minimal challenges would change that. I don't know about you but new challenges is what drives me.

Message edited by author 2008-08-15 19:38:39.
08/15/2008 09:38:47 PM · #260
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by JustinM:

If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art".

Very true. Once you've met the challenge theme, it's all about the wow factor regardless of the ruleset. Those who's wow factor comes from their skills in lighting or post production don't need to rely on exotic/gorgeous subjects or high end equipment in order to do well. ...

Sounds like the expert editing ruleset isn't needed then at all - Hooray!


Neither is any ruleset. Nor DPC as a whole.

I don't understand your fear. Why are you so vehement in your opposition to a site feature that, clearly, many people would enjoy? It's not like you would suffer a great loss or be excluded. You might even learn something or be inspired by something you see. Of course that would require a less sour attitude on your part.
08/15/2008 11:46:48 PM · #261


Message edited by author 2008-08-16 10:49:47.
08/16/2008 12:09:46 AM · #262
I am of two minds on this.

On the one hand: not everyone has access to photoediting software that you can use texture overlays. Most of us use photoshop but not everyone. I too feel that textures take a photo and push it into the realm of digital art. In my opinion texture overlays are inherently graphic not photographic in nature. In some respects it has a lot in common with text. (As a graphic element I mean).

On the other hand: When we opened up HDR in Advanced, there were a LOT of HDR images almost to the point where I was wondering if that is all we were ever going to see. Now people generally use it where it is appropriate. The thing about texture overlays is that some people already use them so by saying that they are okay probably isn't going to change things except to clarify that one point. And if someone use a texture where it doesn't work? They'll get "corrected" during voting.

08/16/2008 09:53:32 AM · #263
Originally posted by Citadel:

On the one hand: not everyone has access to photoediting software that you can use texture overlays.

Yeah, but some people also don't have DSLRs, nice lenses, tripods, beautiful locations to shoot at, time, etc. The ruleset shouldn't be written for the lowest common denominator.
08/16/2008 10:48:23 AM · #264
Originally posted by JustinM:

Expert Editing does not mean that all the photos are going to be "digital art". Out of the 10 expert editing challenges 16 of the ribbon winners have used advanced editing or lower on their images. On photos that I didn't know for sure I gave them the benefit of the doubt and left them for being expert edited entries. Over 50% of the winners in these challenges did not even use expert editing. If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art". For example, 16 of the "expert editing" winners...






Overlays in my opinion belong in a rule-set other than advanced. So of the three options at the beginning of this thread I don't agree with any of them. I want overlays but not in advanced.


Bold emphasis in quote added...

Your point brings to light another potential scenario that runs beneath the surface; a good number of entries in the expert editing challenges may have been "dinged" with lower scores by those here at DPC that have a more conservative view of photography versus digital art/graphics. This, in combination with giving a higher score to nice photos that weren't given an over-the-top expert editing treatment, certainly helped bring more traditional photos to the top.

Remember, participants in expert editing challenges are "encouraged" with the following (from the Expert Editing ruleset): "...Please remember, however, that this is a photography contest. You are encouraged to keep your entries photographic in nature, and voters are encouraged to rate entries accordingly."
08/16/2008 01:01:46 PM · #265
Interesting article in today's NY Times on photo-manipulation.
08/16/2008 09:47:45 PM · #266
Originally posted by SnapperL:

Well having just been disqualified for adding an overlay I do have an opinion. When I was creating my image I had a picture in my head and had my final image in my head. Unfortunatley, I didn't even consider looking at the rules.

So my point is that with certain images it could be real difficult to get the shot you have in your head without using overlays or textures. This to me is against the idea and creativity of this site. Although, I do realize if you let it go to far then you end up with "digital art" that might be better off at sites like deviant art or what have you.

Okay, but if you can't create the shot you have in your head without drawing it in Photoshop, then are you making a photo or a drawing? In my opinion, it would be a drawing.

With a little ingenuity, a good photographer can make very creative effects, without resorting to drawing them in Photoshop. For example, you could make a photo similar to the image below by painting the texture on a sheet of glass and then shooting the subject through the glass. It may not be as easy as a few mouse clicks in Photoshop, but at least what you end up with is a photo. As a bonus, you may learn some things about lighting, controlling reflections, etc..



But heck, if you want instant gratification without any effort, as so many do these days, then you may want to stick with Photoshop's gimmick filters. To each his own. :D


08/16/2008 10:45:50 PM · #267
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by JustinM:

If the photo/image is great you have nothing to worry about it competing against "digital art".

Very true. Once you've met the challenge theme, it's all about the wow factor regardless of the ruleset. Those who's wow factor comes from their skills in lighting or post production don't need to rely on exotic/gorgeous subjects or high end equipment in order to do well. ...

Sounds like the expert editing ruleset isn't needed then at all - Hooray!


Neither is any ruleset. Nor DPC as a whole.

I don't understand your fear. Why are you so vehement in your opposition to a site feature that, clearly, many people would enjoy? It's not like you would suffer a great loss or be excluded. You might even learn something or be inspired by something you see. Of course that would require a less sour attitude on your part.


Exactly! While I am very much for expert editing and overlays being a part of that I am just as much for minimal editing challenges, as well as basic and advanced. I believe the more you are challenged or inspired by others images the more you'll learn be it "digital art" or straight from the camera photography skills.
08/16/2008 11:10:02 PM · #268
Originally posted by Mick:

Originally posted by SnapperL:

Well having just been disqualified for adding an overlay I do have an opinion. When I was creating my image I had a picture in my head and had my final image in my head. Unfortunatley, I didn't even consider looking at the rules.

So my point is that with certain images it could be real difficult to get the shot you have in your head without using overlays or textures. This to me is against the idea and creativity of this site. Although, I do realize if you let it go to far then you end up with "digital art" that might be better off at sites like deviant art or what have you.

Okay, but if you can't create the shot you have in your head without drawing it in Photoshop, then are you making a photo or a drawing? In my opinion, it would be a drawing.

With a little ingenuity, a good photographer can make very creative effects, without resorting to drawing them in Photoshop. For example, you could make a photo similar to the image below by painting the texture on a sheet of glass and then shooting the subject through the glass. It may not be as easy as a few mouse clicks in Photoshop, but at least what you end up with is a photo. As a bonus, you may learn some things about lighting, controlling reflections, etc..



But heck, if you want instant gratification without any effort, as so many do these days, then you may want to stick with Photoshop's gimmick filters. To each his own. :D


Actually you have it backwards. They probably would have someone else paint the glass or do the post production/retouching work since you know he/she is just the button pusher photographer and would need someone actually artistic and creative to pull it off. :)

Message edited by author 2008-08-16 23:29:49.
08/17/2008 12:22:19 AM · #269
Site council...what would you like us to be figuring out?...this discussion seems to be going in circles and is getting a bit exhausting for us pro layering people.

Some of those against don't seem to understand the overlay/textures/layering thing at all...or are being deliberately obtuse.

Tell us what you need help with so we can move this in a different direction...something...please.

08/17/2008 12:34:27 AM · #270
If you don't have anything more to say, then just stop. If anyone has anything new to add, then they can. I think everyone who's posted so far has made their points clearly.

There is no fixed deadline or schedule I'm aware of ... "SC business" takes place when it can, given that we are scattered geographically, and have to maintain our own personal schedules outside of DPC.

My personal guess at a best-case scenario would be for this discussion to fade out, a poll and/or SC discussion to take another week or two, an update to the rules to take another week or three ... I would expect the current rules to apply for another serveral weeks at least. That doesn't meanm we don't take this (and other issues) seriously, it's just the way it usually works here.
08/17/2008 12:35:03 AM · #271
As this discussion rounds the umpteenth circle, I'm seeing the different positions as follows.

1) All editing should be allowed in all challenges. You don't have to use a tool if you don't want to.
2) Existing editing sets should remain untouched with the reintroduction of expert editing (or whatever it ends up being called)
3) Existing editing sets should remain untouched and add a new rule set that is based on advanced but includes textures/overlays.

I see the different rulesets serving different purposes and people at different stages in their photography learning.

1) minimal - for those wanting to hone their camera skills (avoiding the purist argument intentionally)
2) basic - for those who have a good understanding of their camera (or not) and are just starting with editing software (or just want to stick with non-selective editing)
3) advanced - for those who have a good understanding of their camera (or not) and have gotten beyond non-selective editing (or not) and want to take their editing skills to the next level
4) advanced+ (includes textures) - for those who want to apply textures/overlays to their images
5) expert (for lack of a better name at the moment) - for those who like the no holds barred approach to editing

Kind of like - expert = premier, advanced+ = Div 1, advanced = Div 2, basic = Div 3, minimal = Div 4
using a Soccer league analogy.

08/17/2008 12:49:50 AM · #272
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If you don't have anything more to say, then just stop. If anyone has anything new to add, then they can. I think everyone who's posted so far has made their points clearly.

There is no fixed deadline or schedule I'm aware of ... "SC business" takes place when it can, given that we are scattered geographically, and have to maintain our own personal schedules outside of DPC.

My personal guess at a best-case scenario would be for this discussion to fade out, a poll and/or SC discussion to take another week or two, an update to the rules to take another week or three ... I would expect the current rules to apply for another serveral weeks at least. That doesn't meanm we don't take this (and other issues) seriously, it's just the way it usually works here.


No prob and sounds good...thanks for the speedy response General.
08/17/2008 02:33:44 AM · #273
Originally posted by yanko:

Originally posted by Mick:

Originally posted by SnapperL:

Well having just been disqualified for adding an overlay I do have an opinion. When I was creating my image I had a picture in my head and had my final image in my head. Unfortunatley, I didn't even consider looking at the rules.

So my point is that with certain images it could be real difficult to get the shot you have in your head without using overlays or textures. This to me is against the idea and creativity of this site. Although, I do realize if you let it go to far then you end up with "digital art" that might be better off at sites like deviant art or what have you.

Okay, but if you can't create the shot you have in your head without drawing it in Photoshop, then are you making a photo or a drawing? In my opinion, it would be a drawing.

With a little ingenuity, a good photographer can make very creative effects, without resorting to drawing them in Photoshop. For example, you could make a photo similar to the image below by painting the texture on a sheet of glass and then shooting the subject through the glass. It may not be as easy as a few mouse clicks in Photoshop, but at least what you end up with is a photo. As a bonus, you may learn some things about lighting, controlling reflections, etc..



But heck, if you want instant gratification without any effort, as so many do these days, then you may want to stick with Photoshop's gimmick filters. To each his own. :D


Actually you have it backwards. They probably would have someone else paint the glass or do the post production/retouching work since you know he/she is just the button pusher photographer and would need someone actually artistic and creative to pull it off. :)

Once again, I don't understand the point you're trying to make. If you think photographers are only button pushers with no artistic talent or creativity, then you need to look around more. Many photographers are very talented artists in other forms of art, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, and other forms too numerous to list. I don't mean that all photographers are artists. I just mean that many of them are.

Do you have any artistic talents? I mean other than button pushing of course. I started drawing and painting when I was a little kid. I'm not a world-class artist, but some people appreciate my work. I haven't done any painting for a long time though. I started doing other things. My latest outlet is making Japanese sword fittings (koshirae). Working with the different metals is very interesting. It's a form of sculpture. I've already sold a few commissioned pieces, and I'm currently working on other commissions.

I bet if we asked we would find that lots of people here have all kinds of talents.

08/17/2008 09:14:12 AM · #274
Originally posted by RKT:

...this discussion seems to be going in circles ...

Sure it is. You have people on both sides of this debate that are firmly set in their ways. Right now the more frantic energy is coming from those that are seeking to allow texture overlays because it's currently NOT allowed and it's tough to get the ruleset changed to your favor.

Originally posted by RKT:

Some of those against don't seem to understand the overlay/textures/layering thing at all...or are being deliberately obtuse.

Counterpoint...some of those for don't seem to understand how texture overlays venture down a path away from photography and into digital graphics with the combining of mulitple, non-related photos...or are being deliberately obstinate.
08/17/2008 10:21:50 AM · #275
Originally posted by RKT:

Originally posted by GeneralE:

If you don't have anything more to say, then just stop. If anyone has anything new to add, then they can. I think everyone who's posted so far has made their points clearly.

There is no fixed deadline or schedule I'm aware of ... "SC business" takes place when it can, given that we are scattered geographically, and have to maintain our own personal schedules outside of DPC.

My personal guess at a best-case scenario would be for this discussion to fade out, a poll and/or SC discussion to take another week or two, an update to the rules to take another week or three ... I would expect the current rules to apply for another serveral weeks at least. That doesn't meanm we don't take this (and other issues) seriously, it's just the way it usually works here.


No prob and sounds good...thanks for the speedy response General.


As long as you don't include the ruleset in every Advanced Editing challenge. If it means creating another category, fine, but please do not include it in the current ruleset. What i'm saying is; I won't participate in challenges that I know people will be using textures/overlays if I don't use them myself. You cannot have a challenge where textures/overlays will be used and expect to place well. These overlayed images will crush the regular images that aren't texturized or overlayed, mostly, because of their eye-candy appeal.

Keep the ruleset as it is now and create a totally new ruleset for those who want to use textures/overlays and offer them separately from the current formula of challenges. Please do not replace Advanced Rules with new ones including textures and overlays.

Sorry for the repetition but I wanted to be clear.
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