Monthly Photo Contest?

[Junior]

Would you guys be interested in something like this? I've seen in done on the other forums and it seems to work well.

There are a couple ways to do it, but I think the one over at Chargerforums is the best model: There are a few rules set in stone (size, number of submissions per user, must be your own work, must be new shots, no Photoshopping beyond the very basics, etc) - those carry over from month to month. The winner one month is ineligible the following month. There's a format for naming the monthly threads, so they all look the same and folks can recognize them as such.

Someone posts a contest topic and any specific guidelines, and then users submit their entry into THAT thread. Once the deadline passes, the OP compiles them into a voting thread (or I can take that on - might be easier that way). Members then vote on the poll for the choice they like the best, and the winner is announced - then that person decides the topic for the following month's contest.

There is the potential for this getting really complicated, but I think if the ground rules and pattern were established well from the start, we could have a lot of fun with it.

We could also do it like DMAG does the LXOM stuff - where the LXOM speech is submitted to him, and then he posts it - that way it's absolutely clear what it is, and it has the branding on it, etc. If we were to do that, the winner could submit to me their idea for the following month's contest and I could put it in the same format as every month, with the rules and guidelines, deadlines, etc.

I'd like to keep this to two threads per month, if I could, but it may need three - announcing the previous month's winner in the same thread as the new contest may get confusing...

Maybe like this:

May Photo Contest: "Viewed From Above"
May Photo Contest Voting
May Photo Contest Winner: Mr. So and So

June Photo Contest: "In the Heart of the City"
June Photo Contest Voting
June Photo Contest Winner: SenorWhargarbl
etc.


Thoughts?

[iRock]

Sounds like a great idea. Nicely thought out.

[Fondy]

yeah I need a reason to go out and get new shots of my car.

[rwalshphoto]

You know I am up for it....prizes?

[Junior]

You know I am up for it....prizes?

I'd love to see a vendor step up with a small gift certificate or something... we'll see.

[Green_Manalishi]

Junior, the rules we had at the "other forum" were working well.
Here's a couple of suggestions:

1. One entry per member, per contest.
2. Member must take photo.
3. Member's LX must be in the photo.
4. Photoshopping is not allowed except for modifying the license plate, brightness, and contrast.
5. Maximum size - 800 x 600. Oversize photos will not be allowed. Resizing available if needed.
6. Thumbnail links to photos greater than 800 x 600 will not be allowed.
7. The winning entry will be responsible for the next month's contest. (New thread with month in the "Lenses and Shutters" forum)
8. Do not enter if you are not willing to host the next contest on time!

Any other suggestions?

[Junior]

^^^ Yep, that pretty well nails it.

I'd be happy to take care of all the postings, and get them out on time IF you folks thought it would make it easier.

[06TB2066]

Sounds great! I think it would be better if you took care of the postings.

[MOPAR31]

sounds fun!!!!

any prize???? maybe we can have one the forum vendors to donate a price that would be koo...

[MattRobertson]

man I gotta dust off the ol' camera. Great idea Junior.

[Junior]

sounds fun!!!!

any price???? maybe we can have one the forum vendors to donate a price that would be koo...

If you mean "Prize", I can't speak to that. I agree it would be cool, but I'd imagine vendors would want to see this thing actually work for a while before they committed. But it would sure be welcome!

[Green_Manalishi]

^^^ Yep, that pretty well nails it.

I'd be happy to take care of all the postings, and get them out on time IF you folks thought it would make it easier.

I'd be happy to split the duty with ya'.

[Frozen_]

so whens the 1st one?

[MOPAR31]

If you mean "Prize", I can't speak to that. I agree it would be cool, but I'd imagine vendors would want to see this thing actually work for a while before they committed. But it would sure be welcome!

yeah prize! lol

[TPBNANA-1606]

Can i add,NO PHOTOSHOPPING,this gives us less talented guys a shot.This way its determined by the photo you take,we're all friends here so i would trust noone did it if it was not to be done.