outdoorphotographycanada.com

[Editor-in-chief]

Hello all,

I hope everyone is enjoying posting and voting in the Reader's Pick contest.
The uploading is now closed, but please keep voting until Feb 12th where I will then pick the winner from the top 5. I am concerned however. As editor of the magazine, I would be very apprehensive about choosing another bird photo, let alone another owl shot as we have published them recently. Please when considering what to upload take a look at the past issue's winning shot and maybe even the one before that to see what has been published, then choose something different from your stock of photos. The contest is about finding a reader's great shot, as well as keeping the content fresh. This is something that budding photographers must look at when submitting to magazines and editors.

I will of course choose the best from the top 5 this issue regardless of content, but please be forewarned that images that are too close in subject matter from the last two issues will not be considered for the current Reader's Pick contest. Give it some time before submitting similar shots that have won in past issues (currently that would be owls and birds in general). Let's see some other great content.

Your feed back on this new "rule" would be appreciated.
Happy Shooting
_________________
Roy Ramsay
Editor-in-chief
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OPCmagazine

Your vision is your own, but share it with the world.

[Ian]

I agree with your 'rule'. It seems a reasonable approach.

Is it crazy-talk to suggest that you pick the best/highest rated photo from each category?

I would love to see more outdoor 'sports' photography, tho' there are not too many submissions. I was hoping to enter a cyclocross shot but found it easier to race than shoot!

Perhaps there could be theme for each issue. e.g. water, sky, raptors, carnivores, macro, ice, sport...endless possibilities, and great motivation to get out shooting.

My two cents. Thanks for such an awesome magazine.

Cheers,
Ian

[Bluenoser]

I certainly concur with your "rule", makes a lot of sense to me.

I also like Ian's idea of having a different theme for each issue. Having photographers focus on a specific theme could well lead to come very good competition in the voting.


For Roy - In regards to voting, I'm a tad confused. When we give a picture a rating, is that what constitutes our vote? Or is there another area for voting that I'm not seeing?

Also, there are a lot of images available for viewing, how exactly do we determine which are eligible for the current vote. Is it every image there or only certain ones?


Thanks and keep up the great work here at OPC.


Cheers
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We don't stop laughing because we get old, we get old because we stop laughing.

[Bluenoser]

Just an addition to my previous post as I see we cannot edit posts.

In regards to the idea of themes, there are four (4) catagories of images now, Landscape, Wildlife, Nature, & Sport. Why not use those as themes? Just a thought anyway.
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We don't stop laughing because we get old, we get old because we stop laughing.

[Editor-in-chief]

Thank you for your feedback. Ian, great idea. Let me give this more thought. It may not be in time for the next contest, but perhaps the one after that. Let's see what happens with my new rule.

Bluenoser — Yes the rating is your vote. They are one in the same. If you visit the gallery each day and click on the new images, that should give you all the new images uploaded since your last visit, then you can vote on those ones. I wish there was an easier way to see the ones you have not yet voted on, but our web provider for this gallery does not have that option. When the new contest starts you will be able to keep track easier if you visit each day or every other day.

Try setting the thumbnails to 45 to a page. That will give you a larger overview to see the ones you do not recognize as having been viewed by you.
_________________
Roy Ramsay
Editor-in-chief
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OPCmagazine

Your vision is your own, but share it with the world.

[Redsky]

I would like to see a theme on each category. it would be an extra challenge. What ever is decided I'm in!

[C_Esca]

I find myself torn...

After lurking on the photo contest page for sometime without registering;and being amazed at the pro (or near pro) quality of some of the images; and sitting in wonderment at the so-so quality of some many more. How can some of these images even be in the top 10?

I agree to a certain extent on the idea of keeping things "Fresh"; but should we not keep in mind the nature of the contest. After all it is "The Reader's Pick"...

Picking an overall winner; in my mind would be the "Reader's Pick"; be what it may.

Implementing a "Rule" certainly takes the fun out of things..And believe me; one must wonder on exactly how much fun some of these entries are haveing.

I've watched as voting changes so drastically from day to day; sometime within minutes...

Can you really say the voting is "Fair"...Take a look at the stacked entries. It would be easy to get your friends; and their friends; and their friends (Well you get the idea); to cast crappy votes; and then place the higher votes to certain images.

The idea of each top vote getter from each category goes on sounds viable.

Maybe even a second "Final round of voting by the "Readers"...something...But to put in a "Rule" to disqualify someone because a previous submission was similar; is unfair..After all the "Readers Picked What They Like"

I'm not a fan of the "Theme" idea...But the Category Overall winners sounds like the logical choice.

And that's my Two cents...I may be out of line but; honestly...think about it.

Sincerely Catherine Escander

[C_Esca]

Oh one last thing;

To single out one of the top vote getters "A bird photo; let alone another owl" "will not be considered" at this stage in the process is truly unreasonable. How would they feel.

Something should have been communicated before hand.

At least let the dog lie for this round. I would not want to read this if I was the one entering photos; not knowing until the contest is over...WOW...that would hurt.

I guess I actually had 3 cents to offer...

Sincerely Catherine Escander

[Bluenoser]

[Editor-in-chief]

It is very unfortunate that "some" people take the fun out of things. Getting all your friends and family to vote on a poor image does not make for good content in the magazine and that is the bottom line. I was hoping to allow everyone a fair and fun way to enter their images in the hopes of getting published and winning some cool prizes, and publishing some great shots. I guess that was too much to expect. Perhaps the answer is to just go back to the old way of photographers submitting their stuff to me according to submission guidelines and I alone will decide if they are publishable or not.

C Esca,

If you look carefully at my original post you will notice that I did say that I would honour this contest regardless of content, owl or no owl. We are implementing the new "rule" next contest. Your suggestions are valid and I will take them into consideration.

So I put this question to everyone who bothers to read it.
Do you want this contest to continue? Do you care? Or are we just wasting our time?
_________________
Roy Ramsay
Editor-in-chief
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OPCmagazine

Your vision is your own, but share it with the world.

[BigBull]

Please keep it going, as I always enjoy seeing the work of other photographers and try to draw inspiration from their work. Just a thought:
would it be possible to tie the Readers Pic Contest to the forum, to draw more members to it, and get more participation on here? Don't be offended by the comments on this thread, as those that have bothered to respond, are only trying to help improve your product with their opinions.
PS - ...and I guess it's time for me to post some more shots on there!

[C_Esca]

I agree; please keep it going...It is a wonderful venue to showcase some great work...

We just need to figure a way to even the score...

Sincerely;

Catherine Escander

[Bluenoser]

Roy - please keep it going. There will always be people in this world looking for a quick way to get ahead or get something easy, but overall I think most who submit are honest. At the end of the day, those who cheat are only cheating themself.

I enjoy very much perusing the images and voting. I'm hoping to make a few submissions myself this year. Just waiting for it to get warm enough outside for these old bones of mine.
_________________
We don't stop laughing because we get old, we get old because we stop laughing.

[Ian]

Hey Roy, please don't kill the contest yet. I have to admit, when I visited the gallery a couple of days ago and looked at the Top 10, my first thought was WTF!?! Really???

However, I really enjoy posting to it and despite the ridiculous voting, it's still fun. Seeing shots from so many parts of Canada I've never been to is great and inspires travel. One of my shots briefly made the Top 10 which I thought was very cool! I'm sure there is a way to keep it going. You may have to use a slightly broader definition of 'Top 5' when reviewing the potentially publishable images.

Cheers,
Ian

[Editor-in-chief]

Okay. I will keep it going, but I am going to have to make some changes. The voting and leaving of comments is fun so will still be part of the contest. I will come up with something. This is still a good way for me to find new photographic talent. Canada has much to offer and many photographers capturing it.

Thanks for your comments.
_________________
Roy Ramsay
Editor-in-chief
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/OPCmagazine

Your vision is your own, but share it with the world.