The June Photography contest

[GOPFighter]

My wife asked me what I get for winning May's photo contest. I told her the winner gets to host next month's contest. She replied, "So everyone enters and prays they don't win, huh?" She's got a point there.

So, as the only one whose prayer wasn't answered, I will be happy to host the June contest.

I plan to use the model DS1 and ConsAreLiars designed and executed so well. I hope they will be kind enough to help me with the nuts and bolts of running the contest.

I want to announce the theme now, to give everyone plenty of time to get that perfect picture. I'm picking the theme that came in second in the poll F. Gordon posted last month.

The theme for the June Photography Contest is: FLOWERS

I will post the request for entries in about three weeks and will announce ahead of time exactly what day and time it will be posted so you know when to have your photo ready.

:woohoo:

And Kudos to Longgrain for setting the whole concept of monthly photo contests in motion. :toast:

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I like your decisiveness.

You'd make a good president.

[DS1]

2. Flowers was my pick for last month

Good thing film and files lasted longer than the flowers I actually took pictures of.

Prepare to be smoked :evilgrin:

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Oh, no, I'm s-c-a-r-e-d.......

:scared: :scared:

[ralps]

4. Whew, I took some photos of flowers thinking flowers would be

the theme this month. Thanks GOPfighter. :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[RagingInMiami]

5. Well I don't have any flower pictures

But now I have a challenge. And hopefully I will show you guys why the Spanish named this state Florida, which means "flowerful".

[ConsAreLiars]

6. Florida is also known for its lamentable lack of overcast skies.

Consider using something to diffuse direct sunlight or to reflect light back into the shadow areas if the light is strongly directional.

[ConsAreLiars]

7. In doing the contest

The thing I found most helpful was discussing my plans with the group before lurching forward.

As a practical matter, cutting and pasting the names and links into a textfile, using notepad, allowed me to build up the contest announcements for Lounge in advance, and previewing them via an unposted "reply" here allowed me to check out the content in advance. I think that having a master thread which carries the links to the 3 stage 1 polls and which gets kicked was a good idea.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. I agree with you there. It was much easier to follow

the contest without having to figure out which link was which.

I think having the one post to kick was very good.

[F.Gordon]

9. Thank you. You saved me the trouble of another "alpha thread"

I was going to suggest that we have more time to come up with a contest entry. No excuses this go round'. ;-) The submission thread will probably fill up in 10 minutes.

Yes, your wife makes an excellent point. Still glad that you have decided to accept your "prize" and host the contest. I was disappointed that your "French Quarter" photograph didn't make the finals in April. You sure made up for it by winning this round'
:applause:

Oh.... I do have one suggestion. (I can already hear the groaning).

Why not have a theme poll in June to pick the July and August Themes? Would eliminate one more step in the process and make the "prize" given to each months winner a little easier to deal with.

[F.Gordon]

10. Forgot. Actually.... you did win a "prize"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x3225

Have three copies on the way. One is promised to Longgrain, the other is yours if you want it, and I haven't decided what to do with the third copy yet.

[GOPFighter]

12. I would be delighted to have a copy

PM me if you with the details?

[F.Gordon]

13. Consider it yours

Will PM ya' when they arrive.

[Mutley]

11. i like Patriotism for July

for Independence Day. Plus, I've got a GREAT pic for that theme.

[F.Gordon]

14. Start an "idea" thread

:hi:

Patriotism or Fireworks would both be good July Themes.

Unless the Theme is Blue :9 I got nuttin'. Any snapshot I come up with has to be like..... totally new.

[Mutley]

15. done!

and fireworks is no good for me because Baltimore's fireworks suck every single year.

[F.Gordon]

16. Can I make a "suggestion" re: the submission thread?

:hide:

It's totally your call o' Lord of the Contest. My suggestion? Restrict the submission thread to photographs only. No comments or replies to entries. People could, of course, make comments and stuff in their submission post... but prohibit replies to entries.

My reason? I've noticed that some people were left sitting all alone with their entry while others were showered with glowing praise and kudos. It creates a "bias" and/or "favoritism" that deviates from the whole group thing.

If someone wants to solicit feedback on their contest entry they could start their own thread for that purpose. It also would keep the submission thread a little easier to follow... less cluttered... easier to count the entries.

Just a suggestion. Trash it. Consider it. Use it. Ignore it. Do with it as you will ye' Master Of June.
:hi:

[GOPFighter]

17. Good suggestion

I remember an earlier contest where some entries were initially overlooked, probably because the thread was so long.

Any other suggestions from anyone?

GOPFighter

[intheflow]

20. I like the idea of photos only in the submission thread.

It does feel unfair to have critique of the photos before the contest. I think F.Gordon has an excellent point here.

[TahitiNut]

18. I think that (promulgated) "self-discipline" is a good idea.

I'd suggest that the ONLY responses to replies (containing submissions) be from the submitter of the photo, either to describe the technical data regarding the photo, providing an alternative title, queries from the contest coordinator, or (if permitted) submitting a replacement entry.

[Princess Turandot]

19. Couldn't the submission thread from this forum..

(where the entries are posted initially) also serve as a place where other people who want to make comments on the photos could do so either during or after the contest? The photos would all be shown and if the voter was motivated to make a comment, they could be directed to the photography forum to do so. I realize that would limit comments to paid members, but I agree with you that comments in the voting posts can take on a life of their own, and skew the results.

Is there a reason why the lead post only could not also be posted in GD as well as the Lounge?

[TahitiNut]

21. I think posting to the vote thread is better merely due to the 'kick' ...

... effect. It keeps it toward the top of the Lounge, which isn't really needed in this forum.