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I think its a good idea ... but really open to abuse!
let me think ....best picture of my big toe, best picture of my grifriend naked (would be very worrying if someone beat this one though!)
Seriously though, I could see it getting out of hand and people getting so obscure that it would dilute so much that you might not get to see the really good stuff for the tosh that people would upoad. Maybe it need some system in place that deletes images if they dont recieve a certain amount of clicks with a certain time (30 clicks in a week for example, maybe starting with 1 month at first to get some momentum)
let me think ....best picture of my big toe, best picture of my grifriend naked (would be very worrying if someone beat this one though!)
Seriously though, I could see it getting out of hand and people getting so obscure that it would dilute so much that you might not get to see the really good stuff for the tosh that people would upoad. Maybe it need some system in place that deletes images if they dont recieve a certain amount of clicks with a certain time (30 clicks in a week for example, maybe starting with 1 month at first to get some momentum)

Big Bri has raised a valid point.
Cecillait has raised another.
As Pete's blackbird was one word I assumed it meant exactly that and not a black bird.
But others voting may interpret it the way Cecilliat did.
There is a member who is based in another country whose landscapes are very "location" specific and so not many people, if any, are able to match the location, season, time of day etc.
Generally for this to work, I think, the criteria has to be a bit more open.
But on the other hand you could argue that this opens up the possibilty of an 'epz' meet competition. This would be limiting in scope but a bit of fun !
Summing up I think it is a good idea with just a few ground rules to be made clear.
Cecillait has raised another.
As Pete's blackbird was one word I assumed it meant exactly that and not a black bird.
But others voting may interpret it the way Cecilliat did.
There is a member who is based in another country whose landscapes are very "location" specific and so not many people, if any, are able to match the location, season, time of day etc.
Generally for this to work, I think, the criteria has to be a bit more open.
But on the other hand you could argue that this opens up the possibilty of an 'epz' meet competition. This would be limiting in scope but a bit of fun !
Summing up I think it is a good idea with just a few ground rules to be made clear.

I'm afraid I'd have to agree with Cheryl and, to a lesser extent with Keith. Though the idea is admirably it is flawed. Like has been said subjects could be so specialised as to be uncompetitive, popular people could win through the QPQ process.
You're opening a big can of worms here Pete which will probably cause you more grief than you need.
You're opening a big can of worms here Pete which will probably cause you more grief than you need.

All posts could be anonymous
)
Any images where the poster is identifiable should be disqualified. Won't stop the serial QPQ's as they have their own network
Nice idea, but definitely looks like more grief for you Pete, but if you're prepared for it and more importantly prepared to deal with it, then trial it.

Any images where the poster is identifiable should be disqualified. Won't stop the serial QPQ's as they have their own network

Nice idea, but definitely looks like more grief for you Pete, but if you're prepared for it and more importantly prepared to deal with it, then trial it.

Great idea, but I agree that it needs to be anonymous, because some people are going to take it very seriously. Agree with Rob, no borders, and also randomly shuffle the pics around!
Pete - you're obviously at a loose end, or you wouldn't be digging such a big pit for yourself. Maybe it's time to start working on the next epz book...
Kathy
Pete - you're obviously at a loose end, or you wouldn't be digging such a big pit for yourself. Maybe it's time to start working on the next epz book...
Kathy


Don't we already have that to a certain extent? e2 members can order the gallery photos with most votes first, then filter by category.
For example the best sports/action shot is this one .
However it definitely wouldn't be a gallery of excellence, more like a gallery of popularity. Anonymity would help with that problem but not solve it entirely.
I agree when people predict it will cause a lot of grief.
For example the best sports/action shot is this one .
However it definitely wouldn't be a gallery of excellence, more like a gallery of popularity. Anonymity would help with that problem but not solve it entirely.
I agree when people predict it will cause a lot of grief.

I understand where concerns are coming from, but if we build it with voting system that avoids issues that you are concerned about then I can't see a problem. (
No system is yet in place for those asking about why they can't click.
For those in different countries they can simply set different challenges. For example, Lydia may shoot Crete cats in doorways. Next time I'm in Crete I'm going to find a cat in a doorway and try and do better
And Cesie or Greg may have different native birds... well they will win that... unless someone else happens to take a trip or shoot one elsewhere.
We can have they system show unchallenged pics too, giving more reason to attempt to knock the unchallenged off the best slot.
Okay some people will try and play the system, but we think we may have an idea to get around that too.
I feel this could become one of the most fun things that's come out of ePHOTOzine and it's also (as far as I know) unique.
No system is yet in place for those asking about why they can't click.
For those in different countries they can simply set different challenges. For example, Lydia may shoot Crete cats in doorways. Next time I'm in Crete I'm going to find a cat in a doorway and try and do better

We can have they system show unchallenged pics too, giving more reason to attempt to knock the unchallenged off the best slot.
Okay some people will try and play the system, but we think we may have an idea to get around that too.
I feel this could become one of the most fun things that's come out of ePHOTOzine and it's also (as far as I know) unique.

I've just looked at the first seven posted. So now if I could choose just one I'd click Albi's - for me it's the sharpest and best presented of the bunch. If the majority of voters agreed it would go to the top and then be the new "Best" If another better shot is posted it could challenge the current winner.
I hear what you're saying about click groups, but I think we will create a system to get around that.
I hear what you're saying about click groups, but I think we will create a system to get around that.

If everyone is trying to better themselves on certain subjects,which I am sure we ALL are, and trying to get votes from friends, then in my eye, they are only cheating themselves!!
It is a great idea Pete, if the pitfalls can be overcome. At the end of the day it is a serious bit of fun, and to help to improve our skills.
Fran
It is a great idea Pete, if the pitfalls can be overcome. At the end of the day it is a serious bit of fun, and to help to improve our skills.
Fran

Quote:I feel this could become one of the most fun things that's come out of ePHOTOzine and it's also (as far as I know) unique.
That is a very good point and I can see it attracting others to the site to prove they are better.
Don't get me wrong, it is a very good idea, but it's very open to exploitation.
Here's a few things to think about though:
- allow users to give a rating (0-10 say) instead of a click, or even a set of ratings based on certain criteria (technique, originality, etc.). Basing the rating on criteria helps it to be more objective. Currently, if you give a click to one you like, then someone else posts a much better one to that competition, but you can't give them a bigger click.
- the gallery should grow much slower than even the critique gallery, so maybe only allow one new competition entry per user per month. Users can still upload to existing competitions as many times as they want.
- include a different photo (or category if you like) on the homepage as a challenge.

I think this is a great idea.
But I feel that the competition gallery needs to be totally anonymous as there are too many people who have big followings and perhaps get a fair few more clicks for a similar or even lower standard of work than others. In addition each competiton should have a time frame in which it runs, perhaps a month or more. Once it has been exceeded that comp closes and the images creators are finally revealed.
Ben
But I feel that the competition gallery needs to be totally anonymous as there are too many people who have big followings and perhaps get a fair few more clicks for a similar or even lower standard of work than others. In addition each competiton should have a time frame in which it runs, perhaps a month or more. Once it has been exceeded that comp closes and the images creators are finally revealed.
Ben

I'd like to second John Hawthorne's suggestion of a set of 0-10 ratings based on certain criteria (technique, originality, etc.). A set of yes/no clicks gives very little qualititative feedback to the photographer, whereas an average of 3 on technique, 8 on originality, etc etc will tell him/her WHY they haven't been voted into the Gallery of Excellence.

First of all, fair play Pete for trying new things all the time. I like the idea of this but: maybe I'm slow today, but I don't see how it can evolve perpetually - would the challenges not go from a blackbird to a more obscure criterion about a blackbird to an even more obscure one? How would you make the occasional quantum leap from the blackbirds to a different subject - or would it be something like the "word association" thread that makes random leaps all over the place?

If someone posts an altogether obscure image as a challenge, you would have the choice of accepting it or ignoring it. I would think that the most successful poster would be the one who recieved the most challenges to their image, therefore posting an image that others could honestly challenge would would seem reasonable. If you photograph something so obscure that it can't be challenged, you're #1 forever. Big deal, who cares. I don't think that's in the spirit of the idea. I think Pete is just trying to put some fun back into the site. But then, everyone is so bent out of shape about the click thing in general, there's very little trust left in the system. It's up to us to try and revive the fun experience it used to be on here.

Come clean Pete, the only reason you want to do this is so you have a chance to get an award for once!
I think it is an excellent idea, I am all for it, adds some much needed spice and being a Yank I love a challenge! Hell, just for the challenge I will even drop the frames as Rob suggested. I am sure that you will have some problems, but I think the benefits might out weigh any problems. Hell I would have taken this challenge up except I did not have a blackbird shot handy!
Just for the record Pete this is the 2d suggestion in the last two weeks that you have made and I am 100% percent behind both, nice work.
Oh, again for the record I have to be honest that while I think Albi's blackbird is the best of the lot, no dinner for me tonight, I think Rob's bird is a lot better looking!
Greg


Oh, again for the record I have to be honest that while I think Albi's blackbird is the best of the lot, no dinner for me tonight, I think Rob's bird is a lot better looking!

Greg

It took me ages to read all the comments last night, but I like your new idea. I think it would encourage ones like me, to branch out into other areas of photography instead of sticking to our normal type of pictures.
Therefore when I got up this morning, I went searching for my blackbird images, (all three of them) It's not the best of compositions, but it was fun to join in.
Marian
PS. Another idea would be for a Spell Checker, so that I wouldn't make so many spelling mistakes!! Ha Ha
Therefore when I got up this morning, I went searching for my blackbird images, (all three of them) It's not the best of compositions, but it was fun to join in.
Marian
PS. Another idea would be for a Spell Checker, so that I wouldn't make so many spelling mistakes!! Ha Ha

Generally I think you have a good idea,this one made me look for a decent Blackbird shot so the concept must be effective.Pitfalls..well there are always going to be some whatever you do,the click debate will always remain.
Something different which can always be refined as you go..would have joined in the Blackbird shot..can't find a decent one,but it DID make me look !!
Janet
Something different which can always be refined as you go..would have joined in the Blackbird shot..can't find a decent one,but it DID make me look !!
Janet

Another vote for.
Anything that helps put the fun back into the site is a worthwhile effort. How you work it is down to the mathematicians and backroom crew.
As has been mentioned above, it has made folks look for the subject and I think it would continue to do so. (Made me look, but the one I thought of turned out to be a thrush!)
And people on here have long memories, so it'd be a waste of time regurgitating Bertha!
)
Ian
Anything that helps put the fun back into the site is a worthwhile effort. How you work it is down to the mathematicians and backroom crew.
As has been mentioned above, it has made folks look for the subject and I think it would continue to do so. (Made me look, but the one I thought of turned out to be a thrush!)
And people on here have long memories, so it'd be a waste of time regurgitating Bertha!

Ian

I agree with what Cheryl said about the image being anonymous but with the winner after a week being pulled out of the bag by the person who posted the orignal image. The prize could be something from the person who posts the original. Just my views. Just think a selection of prizes from each other who choose to enter an image lol The bigger the prize the more entries.
Reference the SPELL CHECKER put forward by Marian above, that would be such brilliant tool that would be used by loads on here especially me!!!!
Reference the SPELL CHECKER put forward by Marian above, that would be such brilliant tool that would be used by loads on here especially me!!!!