New Monthly Photo Challenge & E-System User Photographer of the Year

[Zuiko]

Okay, it’s time to try a different type of Monthly Photo Challenge and see how it goes. Don’t worry if you don’t like it or it seems not to be working too well, nothing is set in stone and the format can easily be changed or refined. Your feedback will be welcome, but please do give it a chance.

The idea is to have a new theme every month, from January to December, with the themes published in advance. These will be set by admin, but suggestions will be invited. Obviously we are already near the end of March so for 2017 only the competition will run for 9 months, from April to December. During the next few days I will get the April Challenge underway by starting a separate thread and setting the theme. However, ideas for the following 8 months will be most welcome and I encourage you to post your suggestions here. Please do repeat suggestions that have already been made, as the most popular will take priority.

Entrants may post one picture for each round (I may consider increasing this in the future but let’s see how things go) and all members will be encouraged to vote for the picture they think deserves to win by using the ‘Like’ button. All members are entitled to vote, regardless of whether they have entered the competition. Only one vote per person, please, so it will pay to delay placing your vote until all entries have been received. If you change your mind, simply remove your ‘Like’ and allocate it to another entry. I propose a two week voting period at the end of each round, although this is subject to change. The winner of each round will simply be the entry that received the most votes. 2nd and 3rd places will be decided in the same manner.

1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points respectively to carry forward to the year end and the member with the most points will be crowned E-System User Photographer of the Year.

I look forward to your comments and suggested themes for the competition.

[pdk42]

Great idea John. Looking forward to it!

[Graham_of_Rainham]

We don't see many "Action" shots.

Food photography is quite difficult, and not to many people's "taste"...

Self portraits are a big challenge, and can really test people's skills.

A true "abstract" image, that cannot be readily identified requires good observation and composition.

High speed photography is well within the capability of all Olympus cameras, so should be considered.

Of course the "standard" styles of images provide an interest for more people and this should be the basis on which to develop the competition as it progresses.

Well done John for getting this going.

[Zuiko]

I have decided to announce the theme for April now, to allow time for those who wish to shoot a new picture for the challenge to start planning. I will create a thread for entries on 1st April and the last date for submission will be Sunday 30th April. There will then be a two week period for members to vote for their favourite and this is for all members, not just those who entered the competition.

The theme for April is: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

In fact, any type of transport - it could be a picture of a queue of people waiting at a bus stop rather than the bus itself, for example. Creative interpretation is encouraged!

I decided to start with a bit of a cliché, a familiar subject to which everyone has easy access.

[MJ224]

I support the proposals whole heartedly. Great stuff, and good to see we/Admin has got the challenge well gripped.

Look forward to some interesting subjects and submissions...........

Mj

[Bikie John]

Well done John and thanks for picking it up and taking it forward in a positive way. I hope it gets a good response.

Other John

[Gwyver]

Good idea John - but perhaps you need to add a couple of constraints:-

1. The image must be taken with an Olympus 'E' digital camera - i.e. 4/3 or m4/3.
2. The image should have been taken within 6 months of the last date for submission - to prevent 'recycling' of old favourite images.

[Walti]

Originally Posted by Gwyver

Good idea John - but perhaps you need to add a couple of constraints:-

1. The image must be taken with an Olympus 'E' digital camera - i.e. 4/3 or m4/3.
2. The image should have been taken within 6 months of the last date for submission - to prevent 'recycling' of old favourite images.

I've been deliberately taking photos for the challenges to push myself a little - I would encourage others to do the same!

[Zuiko]

Originally Posted by Gwyver

Good idea John - but perhaps you need to add a couple of constraints:-

1. The image must be taken with an Olympus 'E' digital camera - i.e. 4/3 or m4/3.
2. The image should have been taken within 6 months of the last date for submission - to prevent 'recycling' of old favourite images.

Yes, all entries will need to have been taken using an E-System camera or a Panasonic camera using an E-System (Zuiko) lens. I'm also inclined to allow XZ-1 and XZ-2 compacts.

I'm still not sure about limiting entries to those taken recently, after all a major reason for revamping the competition is the falling numbers of entries and the fewer constraints the better. However, this is a worthy aspiration provided it doesn't have a negative impact upon the number of entries. I might introduce it next year, when hopefully we will have solved any teething problems with the new format and the list of themes for the whole year is published in advance. Then it would make sense to specify that entries must be taken within a year, to match the period of notice given.

[OM USer]

John, thank you for taking the time to look into this and come up with a working proposal. Lets see how it goes.

[iso]

QUOTE ::1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points respectively to carry forward to the year end and the member with the most points will be crowned E-System User Photographer of the Year.

Another great dis-incentive for people who want to participate, but maybe would like to dip in and out depending on the subject matter, or their access to the particular topic.

Surely allowing shots of over say 2 months age, will encourage people, (quite naturally), to submit their best work in order to achieve '''E user of the Year'''.

BUT you have to sort out the bit about making it simple to submit pics. THE Button.....

[Mrs T]

Seems like a good place to start.

[MJ224]

Originally Posted by iso

QUOTE ::1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points respectively to carry forward to the year end and the member with the most points will be crowned E-System User Photographer of the Year.

Surely allowing shots of over say 2 months age, will encourage people, (quite naturally), to submit their best work in order to achieve '''E user of the Year'''.

BUT you have to sort out the bit about making it simple to submit pics. THE Button.....

Sorry Iso to disagree with you again.......

I think the "Monthly" challenge needs to be just that, or punters will/might just loose interest if there is "result" within a meaningful amount of time. (Bit like the last one!)

But that's just my Humble Opinion

[David M]

Originally Posted by Gwyver

Good idea John - but perhaps you need to add a couple of constraints:-

1. The image must be taken with an Olympus 'E' digital camera - i.e. 4/3 or m4/3.
2. The image should have been taken within 6 months of the last date for submission - to prevent 'recycling' of old favourite images.

If you have an EXIF editor you can make a 30 year old film image meet those criteria.

[MJ224]

Would film have exif data???