****** August Prelims are UP in The Lounge*******

[bvar22]

Placement in the preliminary polls was assigned by Random Sequence Number Generator.
http://www.random.org/sform.html

The Prelims will stay open until Midnight, August 24th.

Poll #1

Poll #2

Poll #3

Please keep the threads kicked.

Congratulations to ALL entrants.
This 30 picture exhibition is DYNAMITE!!!
:patriot:

[JeffR]

1. only 1 vote for Langolier? only 4 votes for Rock Slide?

Thread 1 also has way more votes than 2 & 3. I know it's early going yet, but some of the totals are outrageous.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. It was a very tough contest this time...

And, of course, we all know how the Lounge is. Thanks for the vote of confidence, JeffR.

[JeffR]

3. Don't mind me, Blue

I always get frustrated that I don't personally get to choose the Final 10...

[insane_cratic_gal]

4. I'm finding this Lounge thing to be

a bit absurd myself.

It's great that the photos get that type of exposure, however.. it doesn't seem to be any consistency on how they'll vote?

Is it a popularity contest? Is a subject matter? It certainly seems that lighting, framing, contrast, subject, exposure, everything that makes a good photo is ignored? I've seen some great photos get little attention?

I don't want to be all nasty but I'm at the point of why bother? Usually in the end the best photo wins out, but a lot of good ones get shafted in the process.

Can we not have our own honorable mention poll inside here?

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I think the trick is

just not to invest too much emotion into the photo you submit, and just think of it as a game and a chance for US to see each other's work. Who cares what the lizards think?

And I'll stand by my first comment that this is an excellent set of photos, and any one of them deserves to win.

[JeffR]

6. The Lounge thing is a scab I shouldn't have picked at again

But it's frustrating to see some great interpretations of the theme not garnering more votes. Sometimes I'd like to stroll into the Lounge, overturn a couple of tables, turn off the PA and yell, "Hey! Look at the photographs."

[CC]

7. Look at it as a small taste of the

experience you would get from the general public show. Good and bad. No it doesn't always make sense but then I have seen some shows that the general public has left me saying WTF. I don't get emotionally invested in it, I mean look at what the prize is a chance to work running the next contest and hope you don't screw it up. :evilgrin: I like the contest being in the lounge and us being able to comment here. The comments here are great for a deeper learning experience, the lounge gives a general public view even if it is only in the numbers. That too can be a learning experience.

[JeffR]

8. No question you're right

& well said. I just get emotionally attached to some pics, though seldom my own, and want to see them do better. The top 3 photos are usually the right choices, but the rest of the field often doesn't jibe with reality (as defined by me).:)

[bvar22]

12. One of the problems is the "voting system" in the polls.

It is a "Pick ONLY ONE/Winner Take All" system, like our political elections, with the same results.

I have trouble deciding which photo I will cast my "One Vote" for:
1) Do I choose the Best Picture that is Most True to the theme?
2) Do I choose the coolest picture that sort of has the theme aspect in it?
3) Do I choose the picture that shows the most creativity in composition and technique?


Many of the photos that appear to be ignored (low votes) are really getting alot of notice and admiration, but are simply losing out because another photo in THAT prelim poll is getting the vote (by a fraction). Some really good photos lose out (seem ignored) in the Prelims due to placement in a group with strong competition.
If we could vote for the "Best Three", some of those problems would be evened out.



In the past, I supported a more critical review of out Contests in the Photo Forum.
I have changed my mind, and now support leaving it as is. A more critical review of our photos would probably ruin the Good Natured, Informal, Positive Acceptance, Socially Positive, Safe, aspects of our Contests/Challenges.
I have found several other Photo Forums online that offer contests and challenges with a more professionally critical environment. They can be rather bloody. I have recently started entering them, but I don't think I would ever have found the courage to do so without the experience of our informal Photo Contests/Challenges here.


I approach our "contests" as an informal "exhibition".
I come up with a concept.
Go out and take the best picture I can.
Bless it with LOVE.
Put it in the Submission Thread.
Let it go.
There will be another one next month.

Bob
St Paul

[JeffR]

15. Well summarized

I'm just going to remind myself that the contests have much more positive than negative about them. And the Lounge is the Lounge, alas.x(

[Eurobabe]

9. Reading comments on the lounge

Is there no way the mods would let us post to the GD forum? It's a worthy cause. :) Somebody ask Skinner.

[TahitiNut]

10. I think choosing a sociopolitically-relevant theme would help

:shrug: It's all about topic, imho.

[JeffR]

11. The Texture of Democracy?

The Democratization of Texture?

[NashVegas]

32. LOL

Maybe we shouldn't tell the Loungers what the theme is? Just ask them to choose what they like best. We may be adding to their confusion and second guessing by expecting them to use more than one criteria.

That said, I'm glad Summer Grapes is doing well; it's my fave in the bunch because of its subtlety.

[insane_cratic_gal]

13. I'm not trying to start a big whoopdy doo

I'm not even concerned about my own photo, Its a few pixels that make an image, I'm not emotionally attached to it, but there are others photos up there that I am attached to that aren't mine. I can get over my own ego easily enough, but I suppose I often cheer for another photo that I know is far better then my own.

I can appreciate someone else's hard work, and when I see get so little attention and it's just a sound photo all around, I just get frustrated.

My it's my inexperience with contests and the lounge in general, I've only been here in the photography section for that last 2 contests, I'm generally in GD most of the time, so it was a bit over a surprise to me.
I'm a newbie to photography, newbie to this forum, until this forum I never showed anyone my photos! But I could see someone who shot a great photo get easily into a "why bother" stage when it gets so little notice. (cough Church and state).

I was venting and looking to you all, who have been through this process a few more times them myself, what seems to be the general makeup of how things are chosen, do you not ever just scratch your head over some stuff? I think I got my answer. I'm not trying to cause hate and discontent just looking for a clue because I don't seem to have one.

:crazy:


Bvar summed it up pretty well though.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. I definitely agree with you on Church and State...

That was an amazing photo on a lot of levels, and it definitely should have gotten more votes.

[Placebo]

17. 'Church and State' was robbed!

Sad but true.

[F.Gordon]

29. Church and State??!!!

:wtf:

I won't get into the whole contest - lounge thing. Been there. Done that. Personally, I don't think Church and State should have even been in the finals but that's just me. That said... I really appreciate your comments.

My goal of late is to come up with something different everytime (if I can). "Clouds" (with ConsAreLiars suggested improvements) or "Green" probably would have been bigger vote magnets but I liked "Langolier" because it was different.
:crazy:

Same with the Archie contest. I really liked "The Talking Wall" but it barely got 2 votes in the Lounge.

And yes, bvar22 pretty much nailed it. I agree.
:hi:

Oh, and I just noticed one of your pics (totally by accident) is getting rave reviews from a variety of good photogs. You might want to stop over there and take a bow.... they're throwing flowers on stage....

[insane_cratic_gal]

30. photogs?

I didn't post the pic anywhere but here. which forum is that?


Btw you far too modest, I didn't know that Church and State was yours btw.. but it was one of my favorites!

[F.Gordon]

31. My bad. I thought I saw one of your pics elsewhere

Don't mind me.
:silly:

[bertha katzenengel]

16. new to photo group - question

How may I submit entries to monthly contest?

Thanks :hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

18. Check back here in the coming weeks

and participate in the selection of a new topic. Probably around the 15th, whoever wins this contest will start taking entries for the next one.

[bertha katzenengel]

21. thank you, Blue

:hi:

[CC]

19. Hi, welcome to the photogroup.

As for contest pretty much what Blue said. How are your kittens doing? We can always use kitty pics in here too.

[bertha katzenengel]

20. Kittens are terrific, CC, thanks for asking

They're getting quite active! 3 weeks, 2 days old.

[CC]

22. I've been watching for and keeping up with the pictures.

They are adorable and mom was nice enough to wait until you weren't there to freak out to have them.

[bertha katzenengel]

23. I guess you have been keeping up.

:blush:

I felt bad, though, that she had them when I wasn't there. The three days before she had them, she had been extremely clingy and had some pretty bad separation anxiety. :(

But she's okay now. A very proud and good mommy. Somewhat wary of the other kids in the house. Four have wandered into her room - just curious - and had their butts kicked. GOOD mommy. :7

[CC]

24. Very good mommy. the kittens will

be running the others ragged soon enough.

And since she did fine it was probably easier on her to be alone. Most cats prefer alone. lol

[bertha katzenengel]

25. Yep, they do.

I'm going to ask Mrs. V. to look at your menagerie sig line. One of these kittens . . . oh, man, I would love to keep him. But we already have nine. Today I told her, "You know, I think eleven is too many cats." No comment.

Hmm...

[CC]

26. What's one more?

Famous last words, as you can tell by the sig line. We have hit ferret, kitty, and dog max for sure. I'm told we hit bid max too.

[bertha katzenengel]

27. question

if i may - apx how many square feet do you all occupy? indoors, that is. we have 9 cats & 2 adults in 1400 sq/ft . . .

[CC]

28. Sorry I left for a bit.

We are on just over one acre of land and have about 2600 sq. ft of living space in the house. Though half of that is in the midst of renovations. The ferrets and cats tend to stick to upstairs. The ferrets are stuck in my room with at least 3 closed doors between them and the great outdoors. The dogs and birds mostly stay on the first floor though I must admit the cats actually roam the whole house. And there really is a point where one more is too many.
Added, the cats, birds and ferrets are indoor only. The dogs are fenced in when out or on a leash. I live on a dangerous corner for loose animals.

[intheflow]

33. Your poll links don't work for me, bvar22.

:shrug:

It's not really an issue, the three threads were easy enough to find in the Lounge, but I'm FYI'ing you. And maybe wondering if anyone else had a problem, or if it's just me an my talent for dysfunctional computer interfacing.

[Blue_In_AK]

36. We couldn't link here either.

[Placebo]

34. Darn, I was totally slaughtered.

Ah well. :)

[insane_cratic_gal]

35. You did better then me

We'll be slaughtered together!

:hug:


Next time .. next time