One last thing before next year's contest list is up!

Question: Since you all have sort of requested the opportunity to use photo editing in these contests, I went searching for rules that would help me accomplish this. Here is what I am considering having the rule be for next year in regards to photo editing...let me know what you think, and if you have a better way to word it, let me know too. (I can't seem to get it right on paper, I know what I want to say in my head, but it's just not coming out right in words. This is the closest I've gotten, so it's what I'm going with for the time being.)

Possible new rule:

Allowed this year--
anything a camera can do or simple one step procedures (examples include but are not limited to, B&W, auto levels, spot removal, etc), however, photos must remain natural looking--meaning they must look like a photo that came from a camera. Examples of things not allowed would include things like adding borders, adding or removing a structure from the image, making a photo look like a cartoon, etc. Any image that appears "unnatural" will not be included.

As I said, I don't like 100% how this is worded, (so be gentle...:lol: ) but this is essentially what I'm considering changing the new rule to. Please let me know ASAP as I would like to have next year's contest list up next week. Thank you all for your help. I really do appreciate it. :wave:

Oh and PS: If I do decide to allow for photo editing, it will be on a trial basis to start with. I will then reassess after a certain period of time, so it may or may not become permanant.

Digital manipulation options are limited to resizing, cropping, and watermarking. Digital manipulation features integrated in the camera may be used, but must not alter the content of the photograph by adding elements or borders.

I like the rules as they were before. People who are very good at photoshop can make any picture "look like it came from a camera". If this rule is added, there will be all kinds of arguments about what constitutes "unnatural". Besides, I am most impressed by photographers who can get the picture right the first time, without having to go back and touch it up later.

mkt said:

Digital manipulation options are limited to resizing, cropping, and watermarking. Digital manipulation features integrated in the camera may be used, but must not alter the content of the photograph by adding elements or borders.

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Thats just about perfect

mkt said:

Digital manipulation options are limited to resizing, cropping, and watermarking. Digital manipulation features integrated in the camera may be used, but must not alter the content of the photograph by adding elements or borders.

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Always make it look so easy. :lol: Why didn't I think of it that way.

I just want you all to know, I haven't decided if I'm going to allow for Photo Manipulation yet. This is just sort of a tester to feel it out.

Once again, I thank you for your input. :wave:

m star said:

I like the rules as they were before. People who are very good at photoshop can make any picture "look like it came from a camera". If this rule is added, there will be all kinds of arguments about what constitutes "unnatural". Besides, I am most impressed by photographers who can get the picture right the first time, without having to go back and touch it up later.

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I agree that this type of rule change could spark a lot of arguments. And with a line so finely drawn, many judgment calls will have to be made on whether or not a photo should be accepted.

CAPTAIN HOOK said:

Thats just about perfect

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Thanks!

nibblesandbits said:

Always make it look so easy. :lol: Why didn't I think of it that way.

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Not a clue... you should see me when I have to sign important documents.

HollyBelle said:

I agree that this type of rule change could spark a lot of arguments. And with a line so finely drawn, many judgment calls will have to be made on whether or not a photo should be accepted.

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I'm inclined to agree here. The last thing we need is a wave of 'rule police' scenarios coming up arguing about whether a photo was modified with the camera, or on the computer and whether those changes where within the rules.

I'm all for a couple of weekly contests allowing a wider range of manipulation but in general, I think we're better off without any manipulation other than the original, crop, watermark and rotation.

well (as of now) I think the poll results speak for themselves. I'm sticking with my NO editing rule.

I personally don't have any photo manipulation software on my computer (nope, none, not even what came with the camrea), and I think allowing editing throws off the playing field. These are PHOTO contests, not what can you do to your photo contests.

Point in case---when the photo manipulation contest was up this year, how many people actually entered? It was probably the least popular contest out of the year.

I think the rules should stand as is. It defeats the purpose if you start allowing any kind of editing done to the photo, just learn to take better photos. I am not the best by far, and it has made me want to learn how to operate a camera better and play around with different settings.

If you make this change now, it will just open the door for people to try and get more changes further down the road.

Nibbs I stand by anything you decide on your contests! I just love participating in them.

I also have no photo editing software so it really won't matter to me if the rule does become allowed because I can't edit anyways. Lol.

i'm just hoping we will be allowed to brighten up a picture that came out too dark, but I don't know if that is acceptable with the new rules.

I think you may be opening a whole new can of worms by allowing any manipulation. People will start saying that other things were done that aren't allowed, etc. :shrug:

I think it's YOUR call! :wave:

TiggerBW said:

i'm just hoping we will be allowed to brighten up a picture that came out too dark, but I don't know if that is acceptable with the new rules.

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I really think this is being overanalized. The original rule was put in to existance (back when Speck started these contests) to keep people from "faking" a photo.

IMO, toning a photo so that its acceptable or removnig the dreaded dust spots from a picture have noting to do with digitally manipulating a photo.

Pulling up the midtones - acceptable.

Removing a tree branch that you don't like - not acceptable.

This is really getting silly, to be honest. Of course if you want to have a bit of fun... toss a CTO gel on an off-camera flash so it hits the face of your subject and flip the white balance to tungson. Thats not digital manipulation, in fact its easier done with tungson balanced film. People will scream tho.....

PhotoDave219 said:

I really think this is being overanalized. The original rule was put in to existance (back when Speck started these contests) to keep people from "faking" a photo.

IMO, toning a photo so that its acceptable or removnig the dreaded dust spots from a picture have noting to do with digitally manipulating a photo.

Pulling up the midtones - acceptable.

Removing a tree branch that you don't like - not acceptable.

This is really getting silly, to be honest. Of course if you want to have a bit of fun... toss a CTO gel on an off-camera flash so it hits the face of your subject and flip the white balance to tungson. Thats not digital manipulation, in fact its easier done with tungson balanced film. People will scream tho.....

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Yeah because I have no idea what that last paragraph said...wah wah wah :lookaroun

I don't even care anymore. Do whatever you want nibbles.

Well, I didn't really want to start fights, I just knew this was brought up by a few members, so I thought I'd see how everyone else felt about it, since it wasn't included in the last poll. (Remember, these are to help me so I know what you all want out of these contests too.) You all have helped and I should be getting a list out soon, matter of fact, I've been working on it tonight. Thank you all for your time. I believe I have some answers.