BIG ANNOUNCEMENT-Shakin' Up the Challenges!!
Greensquared
Registered Users Posts: 2,115 Major grins
Hi Guys!
Did I mention we were speeding things up and spicing them up too? Oh yeah! Here's a brief synopsis of the major changes...starting now!
Challenge rounds will continue as they have been, except there will NO LONGER be a critique week. One round stops, the next one starts.
Due to the overlap, winners of each round will be judging the following round (for example, the winner of round 5 will judge round 7 - Kurt, you're still judging the current round!).
The top 5 of each round will be playing in a quarterly THEMED MEGA-CHALLENGE. Prize for the one winner of each Mega-Challenge is your choice of either a Canon 40D or a Nikon D300, AND a LIFETIME SMUGMUG PRO ACCOUNT!!! How awesome is THAT?!!:barb
The Mega-Challenge will be judged by a panel of 5 (myself and 4 other moderators, AIRs or industry professionals) who will determine the winner.
The next round of challenges will begin simultaneously with the Mega-Challenge. Those eligible for the Mega-Challenge are NOT eligible to play in this particular round. (See the Challenge Calendar below for clarity.)
No down time for anyone! Howzat???!!!
For complete rules, please check out the Rules thread here.
Please help me in thanking SmugMug for making such an awesome challenge series with fantastic prizes possible!:clap :clap :clap
Here's a list of eligible players so far for the first Mega-Challenge (see Calendar below):
Top 5 from round 2.1:
VelvtRide
eoren1
jeffreaux2
shatch
davev (tied for 5th)
NikonsandVstroms (tied for 5th)
Top 5 from round 2.2:
fashiznitsngrins
The Curious Camel
Povertybarn
pyroPrints.com
pemmett (tied for 5th)
puzzledpaul (tied for 5th)
Top 5 from round 2.3:
KurtPreston
Wacrer
The Curious Camel
photobrando
Halite (tied for 5th)
jeffmeyers (tied for 5th)
<o:p></o:p>
Did I mention we were speeding things up and spicing them up too? Oh yeah! Here's a brief synopsis of the major changes...starting now!
Challenge rounds will continue as they have been, except there will NO LONGER be a critique week. One round stops, the next one starts.
Due to the overlap, winners of each round will be judging the following round (for example, the winner of round 5 will judge round 7 - Kurt, you're still judging the current round!).
The top 5 of each round will be playing in a quarterly THEMED MEGA-CHALLENGE. Prize for the one winner of each Mega-Challenge is your choice of either a Canon 40D or a Nikon D300, AND a LIFETIME SMUGMUG PRO ACCOUNT!!! How awesome is THAT?!!:barb
The Mega-Challenge will be judged by a panel of 5 (myself and 4 other moderators, AIRs or industry professionals) who will determine the winner.
The next round of challenges will begin simultaneously with the Mega-Challenge. Those eligible for the Mega-Challenge are NOT eligible to play in this particular round. (See the Challenge Calendar below for clarity.)
No down time for anyone! Howzat???!!!
For complete rules, please check out the Rules thread here.
Please help me in thanking SmugMug for making such an awesome challenge series with fantastic prizes possible!:clap :clap :clap
Here's a list of eligible players so far for the first Mega-Challenge (see Calendar below):
Top 5 from round 2.1:
VelvtRide
eoren1
jeffreaux2
shatch
davev (tied for 5th)
NikonsandVstroms (tied for 5th)
Top 5 from round 2.2:
fashiznitsngrins
The Curious Camel
Povertybarn
pyroPrints.com
pemmett (tied for 5th)
puzzledpaul (tied for 5th)
Top 5 from round 2.3:
KurtPreston
Wacrer
The Curious Camel
photobrando
Halite (tied for 5th)
jeffmeyers (tied for 5th)
<o:p></o:p>
Emily
Psalm 62:5-6
0
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This summer's wilderness photography project: www.tessa-hd.smugmug.com/gallery/3172341
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http://member.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=214042
This should really boost participation!
http://www.jonathanswinton.com
http://www.swintoncounseling.com
Time for me to get in the challenge shooting mode.
Thanks Smuggy!
I knew, of course, that trees and plants had roots, stems, bark, branches and foliage that reached up toward the light. But I was coming to realize that the real magician was light itself.
Edward Steichen
www.tednghiem.com
nice
pyroPrints.com/5819572 The Photo Section
... oh, i'll have to enter a challenge first.
You all rock!!
By chance can you put a feeler out to Olympus and see if they will Pony up an E-3 as a possible prize (same price range)??
There are a growing number of Oly users on here.
Time to bust out some filters.
Aaron Newman
Website:www.CapturingLightandEmotion.com
Facebook: Capturing Light and Emotion
On a slightly different note, I like the fact that the critique stuff has been eliminated. I didn't think that was very fair that people are basically getting their photos 'pre-judged' and selected for a contest that is going to be voted on by the very same people. I feel this should also be applied to those who are making threads on what picture is better. As a photographer one should use his/her best judgment on what they feel is best, and submit the photo rather than get a ton of opinions on what photo should be submitted by the very people who will probably be voting. Seems pretty biased right out of the gate.
Switching gears again, thanks for the cool challenges, prizes and the opportunites to do so.
Aloha Nui Loa!
Jeff Meyers
Thank you so much SM! And Emily, for kickin' things up a notch.
These challenges, and LPS before them, and the original challenges years ago have always been first and foremost about growing as a photographer, not about the most fair way to win a prize. Presenting and discussing your work with your peers is a critical component of this. I really don't understand your point of view. Honestly, i don't really like any photo contests, they're all a bit biased, if you will. Let's put all that away and focus on the positive, eh?
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
thats right, you need all the help you can get:D
I've never entered these challenges before and probably still won't even though the prizes are a nice carrot to be dangling. My amateur skill level just can't compete with all of you awesome pros. I'd have to get a seriously lucky shot in.
I do love looking at the photos everyone submits though. They are always awesome! Keep 'em coming.
Sherry
Though I never actually, verbally expressed my desire for this exact change, it seems Emily, DoctorIT and the rest of the group were listening nonetheless. That week of downtime felt like a buzz kill and I'm glad that things are back to the original LPS breakneck pace. Bringing back the semifinals is also greatly appreciated. And the prizes....I don't know where you guys find such wonderful toys to give away!!!
Thanks again for listening to my silent call for change!
E
My site | Non-MHD Landscapes |Google+ | Twitter | Facebook | Smugmug photos
The problem with a photographer picking their best shot is that there is emotion tied to every shot.
I know that I have entered less than the best photo because of what I had to do to get a photo, or what
a photo reminds me of.
It's always good to get another opinion of a shot.
I'm glad that the week with no challenge is gone. (although the mini challenges are always running) (shameless plug)
I though that is was bogging down the forum.
The prizes, I had lots of fun and learned quite a bit when there were no prizes.
I hope things stay civil, but I can't help think that there will be a thread complaining
about one shot over another within an hour after the challenge ends.:cry
One last thought, (well hopefully not my last thought) What will be done when there are multiple ties at the 5th spot?
Just have 6,7,8,9 shots go into the semis?
Final thing, Thanks Smugmug, Dgrin, and all the Mods that make this thing work.
Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
yes Ma'am! Stilll on duty for judging this round
douglas
Yep. See the list of current qualifiers. How is it fair to only pick one out of several that scored equally? Nope, all ties for 5th go through.
Actually, with the new format and my new role, this won't be possible. You guys are just going to have to trust me to be fair, unbiased and honest, yeah?
Er.. okay. Just kidding. I think that the rules have been set, we know what they are - now let's get on with it. I'm very grateful that we not only have the challenges back, but also someone to run them and the prizes... well they don't get any better than that now, do they? Let's get as many others to join in on the fun as possible to keep the competition up and us on our toes!!!
This is exciting!! It just always seems to be more fun when the stakes demand a little more attention to the product. Cool!
As for those who are intimidated to enter...most of us are hobbist and don't make a living doing this, but our participation over time has helped each of us grow and get better. If you want to grow, there are few places better than here. Post your shot; get feedback, try something you wouldn't have tried before, shoot again, hey! I like it!! Take the bold step and jump in! We are all learning here, let's learn together. Welcome aboard!!!
Thanks to DGRIN, SMUGMUG, the MODS, and Emily! It feels good to be back.
Some of My Photos: app.electrikfolio.com/v/steven-hatch
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
Thanks to Dgrin, Smugmug, their staff and especially the MOD's for making this happen.
Sincerely,
Lee
AAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEsssssssssssoooooooooooooMMMMMME