Limited number of participants challenge(s)?

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

08/03/2004 12:57:08 PM · #1

I have read a number of comments about how they are just to many images submitted in a challenge for them to comment on entries and so on.

So, how about a 'Speed Challenge' that revolves around a race to be one of the hundred or fewer people able to enter the contest.

A contest with only 75 places for instance and a control that once you enter an image, that's it. You aren't able to replace, edit or otherwise modify the image that you posted.

The challenge could have three or four days to be entered, but I am certain that it would be filled within the first 24 hours.

This would be an excellent challenge to test one's creative mettle in coming up with a unique or otherwise significant piece of photography with the constraint that if they don't shoot and post-process fast enough, they just might miss out.

What kind of theme? Well, that's an open thing. It could be any challenge that the SC feels is worth such a challenge.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

08/03/2004 12:59:49 PM · #2

I really like this idea...I'm sure some people will cry 'foul' at this idea, but I think it would be a true 'speed challenge'.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/03/2004 01:09:22 PM · #3

Foul? Why would anyone cry out foul?

If you can't change your submission, even by attempting to leave the challenge, what kind of 'foul' could be cryed for?

It would definately cutdown on post process based winners, since they wouldn't know if they have enough time to post process a ribbon winner. It would be more of a shoot, quick color/contrast correction, possible crop and post. It could be an advanced editing challenge, but that might mean that someone won't make the challenge.

Heck, if it was started while I was at work and I wasn't able to get into the challenge, due to my hours. Oh well, them's the breaks.

It doens't mean that another "Limited Participants" Challenge couldn't be run a day or two later with a different start time, giving me a chance to enter...

weaverc

Sony Mavica CD500

08/03/2004 01:12:11 PM · #4

i personally feel the overall quality of pictures in the challenge would drop dramatically. People submitting "just to enter the challenge." There are already many people that submit to a challenge just to submit, myself included occasionally.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/03/2004 01:13:36 PM · #5

Well, depending on when it was announced we could really knock out the European competition by starting it while they're all getting their zzzz's!

Andelain

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

08/03/2004 01:20:01 PM · #6

Originally posted by KaDi:

Well, depending on when it was announced we could really knock out the European competition by starting it while they're all getting their zzzz's!

Thats it I'm not going to bed no more and getting some practice in shooting in the dark

oskar

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70 2.8L II

08/03/2004 01:42:21 PM · #7

The only way to do this is to use local time in every country. Which will be a huge problem because then you can enter a shot and after two hours some people in other timezone enter theyr shot and perhaps fill the last spot and then your shot will have to go out.

08/03/2004 01:59:17 PM · #8

I never said it would be easy. Just an idea to consider.

moodville

Nikon D100

08/03/2004 03:27:12 PM · #9

People could also upload any picture at 12:01 and then when they get the 'real' picture upload that in place of the other. Unless you stopped people changing their mind, but as someone said that would just generate more rushed and often 'bad' images.

08/03/2004 03:41:23 PM · #10

Originally posted by moodville:

Not being allowed to change the image would be a big part of this sort of challenge.

There could be a large number of poor images entered. However, there could also be a number of decent to perhaps even excellent images entered that aren't 'tainted' by heavy use of Photoshop or what have you.

It could remove the Photoshop 'crutch' that some people have complained about on more then a few occasions. Who would have the time to dodge, burn or otherwise tweak an image for hours on end with the limited time frame of having only a particular number of people able to enter.

In a way it could force people to learn more about their camera, its functions and how to properly take advantage of those functions, without relying on Post Processing so much to 'save' an otherwise lackluster image.

Just an idea.

moodville

Nikon D100

08/03/2004 03:53:29 PM · #11

Originally posted by Nelzie:

It could remove the Photoshop 'crutch' that some people have complained about on more then a few occasions. Who would have the time to dodge, burn or otherwise tweak an image for hours on end with the limited time frame of having only a particular number of people able to enter.

It doesnt always take hours to dodge and burn - it can also take minutes. And this type of limited challenge does not eliminate photoshop or heavy dodge/burners either. Someone could shoot an image, dodge/burn, and upload it in 5 hours and someone who doesnt even own photoshop could take more than those 5 hours just to shoot the image. The only people you are restricting with these challenges are the ones who are not around when the challenges are announced or who have limited time in their schedule to shoot things.

Message edited by author 2004-08-03 15:55:38.

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

08/03/2004 03:58:02 PM · #12

Originally posted by moodville:

You mean people, like me. I have limited time to shoot, most of that is just on the weekends, if there isn't anything really important going on.

I don't know if I would ever be able to enter such a challenge myself. I just figured that some people might find it an interesting suggestion. At least enough to generate some constructive conversation about it.

OneSweetSin

Nikon D3000

08/03/2004 04:07:13 PM · #13

Originally posted by Nelzie:

Foul? Why would anyone cry out foul?

Time zones...family matters...a downed server...

Originally posted by Nelzie:

If you can't change your submission, even by attempting to leave the challenge, what kind of 'foul' could be cryed for?

You are now stopping the creative correction of photos that appear different when uploaded or need touch ups for graininess created by cyber space...also would be stopping the correction of typos in the title and info.

Originally posted by Nelzie:

It would definately cutdown on post process based winners, since they wouldn't know if they have enough time to post process a ribbon winner. It would be more of a shoot, quick color/contrast correction, possible crop and post. It could be an advanced editing challenge, but that might mean that someone won't make the challenge.

Now right here is where you have someone crying foul...right now with the challenges having a set time to end...it gives you the ability to work on an image and make it the best it can be...without a set time and using when a certain number of images are reached....someone could be in the middle of editing and then suddenly be left out because a few images were uploaded in the last five minutes.

Originally posted by Nelzie:

Heck, if it was started while I was at work and I wasn't able to get into the challenge, due to my hours. Oh well, them's the breaks..

You can say that now but if every challenge started at the exact same time after a while you wouldn't like it...Paid members would drop off if they were being left out of challenges just because of the time...as it is now even speed challenges give everybody the same opportunity. Even though often I am in bed asleep as the challenge begins I still have the entire day to come up with something. It's fair the way it is cause everyone has the same 24 hours to work with.

Originally posted by Nelzie:

It doens't mean that another "Limited Participants" Challenge couldn't be run a day or two later with a different start time, giving me a chance to enter... .

Now we start having challenge after challenge with the quality going down, also we will be over working the servers trying to beat everyone to get our photos submitted.

I'm not the biggest supporter of post processing, but as I learn how to do things my arguement of post processing has become less and less...Jealousy of those who can post process is great around here...instead of trying to find ways to stop post processing why not spend that time learning how to post process.

As for the number of entries into a challenge...well no one says you have to vote on all 300some...for your vote to count, you only have to vote on 20% of them which for 300 photos is only 60 votes to meet the 20%. I used to be guilty of insisting on voting on all the entries in a challenge. Now I'm lucky to vote on all of them.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/03/2004 05:05:57 PM · #14

A modest proposal. How about fifteen minute challenges? The current challenges are too crowded and the week, or fourty eight hours, gives people enough time to really think about what they want to do and then execute it to the best of their ability. A much shorter time peroid would even the playing feild for those of us who lack the imagination of a Heida or the skill of a Kiwi. A ramdoized start time would keep one time zone from dominating and the short time window would keep entries down to perhaps a dozen. This could be my best hope for a blue. What do you think?

mfairbanks

Sony DSC-F828

08/03/2004 05:14:23 PM · #15

Greetings,
Interesting proposal on the 24hr time challenge, with enough advanced notice of it coming, I think it could work. Another thought is that this could add a sense of "real world" demands to the challenges, i.e if your working as say a news photographer and the editor walks in and says get me a photo of ..... and have it for tommorow.... Just my thoughts
Mike