Should the spot editing rule be softened?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

06/24/2002 11:45:03 PM · #1

Well, the thread about "In the Tvilight" happened while I was asleep, but I don't want to go over it at all, I don't even have a conclusive opinion about it. However, it did make me wonder whether date stamp removal should be allowed in the rules from now on. There have been photos here I like that had date stamps, and I personally ignored them, but others may not and vote it down for something unrelated to the photographer's skill or the cicumstances/conditions that the photo was taken under. I think people should be allowed to erase them. It wouldn't be hard to prove that was what they did if questioned.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

06/24/2002 11:49:03 PM · #2

If the camera does the date-thing without the option of removing it before the picture was taken, I would agree. However, with my limited (very limited) experience with digital cameras, this is often an option that can be turned off and on. While it may be helpful if EXIF data isn't stored, for whatever reason, I don't think that would apply to many cameras (again, VERY limited experience).

06/25/2002 01:58:56 AM · #3

I think it's unfair though if someone accidentally leaves the date stamp on and takes a photo that is otherwise very good and can't be repeated later. Taking it out is a very minor modification to the photo that doesn't give it an advantage over other photos that haven't been spot edited, whereas leaving it in is a disadvantage. I loved this photo from the black and white challenge, for example, and thought it would have rated higher if the date could be removed. I think that big red date stamp just gave a lot of voters an automatically negative gut reaction. It has other things wrong with it, but not enough to put it at 129th in that challenge.

Amphian

Nikon Coolpix 880

06/25/2002 02:01:22 AM · #4

They should either allow no spot editing or any spot editing. You can always crop a date out of a photo.

Gotcha

06/25/2002 02:11:44 AM · #5

I have to crop my photos all the time to remove garbage cans and whatever other eye sores are in the way - just shoot them at a zoom that will allow you to use a legal fix. (it's a simple rule).

06/25/2002 02:24:49 AM · #6

Cropping would work if you hadn't already framed it as tightly as you wanted, not knowing that the date stamp would end up there (if that feature was on by accident or something). If it was a real thing in the shot you would zoom out so you could crop, but this is something added by the camera that you might not have planned for.

06/25/2002 02:53:12 AM · #7

Simple solution to a simple problem: turn the damn time/date stamp off! I know of no camera that doesn''t allow that option. If you don''t want it in your picture the just turn it off, right! My God, how hard is that?

If you don''t know how to do that then you''re out of your league at this website.

I swear I''m getting so tired of the whining here.

RULES: Read them; obey them; then everyone is happy and there is no controversy. What part of that sentence is unclear?

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/25/2002 2:54:14 AM.

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/25/2002 2:55:11 AM.

06/25/2002 03:13:20 AM · #8

Originally posted by TSaylors:
I swear I''m getting so tired of the whining here.

RULES: Read them; obey them; then everyone is happy and there is no controversy. What part of that sentence is unclear

It always amuses me when people whine that there's too much whining, or argue that there's too much arguing. Especially when no one forces them to read the forums. Oh, and asserting that there shouldn't be controversy about the rules in the "Web Site Suggestions" forum, that's another good one :)

My camera doesn't date stamp photos that I'm aware of. I just have this thing where I empathise with people, think about things, pose questions, and enjoy having people share their opinions on them with me. Perhaps I'm a bit weird (?)

06/25/2002 03:40:26 AM · #9

Originally posted by lisae:

It always amuses me when people whine that there's too much whining, or argue that there's too much arguing. Especially when no one forces them to read the forums. Oh, and asserting that there shouldn't be controversy about the rules in the "Web Site Suggestions" forum, that's another good one :)

My camera doesn't date stamp photos that I'm aware of. I just have this thing where I empathise with people, think about things, pose questions, and enjoy having people share their opinions on them with me. Perhaps I'm a bit weird (?)

Since when does having an opinion preclude one from posting in the forums? Actually, I thought that was what it was all about!

I do not scrutinize photos for violations, but when it is brought to my attention I am entitled to an opinion!

I find your tone (not to mention your CIA type cross-reference to my other post, were they as smart as you to put it together), in a word, hostile...

06/25/2002 04:00:14 AM · #10

There was no cross-reference. This thread is posted in "Web Site Suggestions". All the rules that exist on this site have been modified through debates in the forums. I do believe it's appropriate to ask whether some spot editing should be allowed after the experience with the winning photo this week. I'm not going to enter into an argument about that specific case, but it seems very obvious to me that many people wouldn't consider removing a date stamp from a photo to be outside the rules on spot editing. Maybe it has been done before and no one found them out? It's not hard to believe it will happen again, either, maybe to another winnning photo, as new people arrive, enter their photos, and don't consider erasing a date stamp to be "cheating".

The rules are designed to make sure the contest here is all about photography. Banning spot editing is supposed to put people on an even footing, but that's meaningless if you apply it to this kind of thing.

Anyway, I can understand why people would disagree with that, so I'm not going to push it any further, I just thought it was a point that should be raised. Your question "Since when does having an opinion preclude one from posting in the forums?" is exactly the point I was making to you. Why shouldn't I post this in the forums?

06/25/2002 04:10:44 AM · #11

I guess I grabbed that idea out of when you said nobody is forcing me to read the forums. Yes, that's true. Perhaps I took it the wrong way...

What exactly did you mean?

06/25/2002 04:25:53 AM · #12

All I meant was that whenever people complain that there is too much whining in the forums, the question arises in my mind "Why read it?". You'll never change the way people behave so being irritated by the forums is purely a matter of how much you read them and how seriously you take them.

06/25/2002 04:51:27 AM · #13

OK, when the rules are changed, either by consensus or by lux fiat, then that is great.

Until then, we all have to follow the same rules, and that is that.

Fair enough?

06/25/2002 05:04:00 AM · #14

If you read my first post, I said "However, it did make me wonder whether date stamp removal should be allowed in the rules from now on." It's a suggestion for changing the rules. Of course we should all follow the rules that are there. What did you think I was arguing for?

shortredneck

Olympus C-3000Z

06/25/2002 07:28:08 AM · #15

Hang tight ya'll, we are taking everyone's viewpoint into consideration on this matter. We will come up with a solution and we are working on it.

I would like to say to Sig that I thought your photo was exceptionally beautiful. No matter what we choose to do, you have my respect as a photographer. I know it is difficult to have your work scrutinized so closely. You have handled this very well. I had a situation in the stop motion challenge where my shot was accused by many to be set up. I am afraid I didn't handle it nearly as well as you have done.

chariot

Olympus C-3030Z

06/25/2002 07:31:24 AM · #16

I think spot editing should be allowed unless you get caught. If you are really good with photoshop and you can spot edit a photo without anyone noticing, then go ahead. But if you do a shitty job and leave a big smudge then you deserve to be disqualified. Discretion is an artform and I think it should be rewarded. :)

Originally posted by lisae:
Well, the thread about "In the Tvilight" happened while I was asleep, but I don't want to go over it at all, I don't even have a conclusive opinion about it. However, it did make me wonder whether date stamp removal should be allowed in the rules from now on. There have been photos here I like that had date stamps, and I personally ignored them, but others may not and vote it down for something unrelated to the photographer's skill or the cicumstances/conditions that the photo was taken under. I think people should be allowed to erase them. It wouldn't be hard to prove that was what they did if questioned.

mci

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/25/2002 08:41:32 AM · #17

My thought on this is simple: If your camera can turn the date off, then there's no excuse for it being on. Saying that you "accidentally" left it on is like saying that you "accidentally" left your shutter open for 3 seconds instead of 1/200 sec. and that's why your picture is overexposed. In order to do well in a digital photography contest, you should know how to use your digital camera.

- Mike