January Monthly contest

[nikonpup]

Nikonpup, Sounds good, but how many submissions by each individual are allowed? Three like before? Oh and of course I don't have the power to start it either. Ha!

three, same as now

 

[Eyelight]

Y'all all ain't listening very well, so I've plucked a few key notes from the thread above.

.....I'm just begging other mods to take their turns and ask who can do it for january and I get no response. I asked the question the last week of December and so far haven't heard of anyone else that wants to do it. ........

.......... I think we are close to something that I would like very much. A single theme per month, no judging, no winners; just an exercise for all eager member that wants to participate. Each participant can then compare his work with others and we could keep the thread open for more discussion. ............

......... What takes most time in administering the actual format is the going in the forum, counting the "likes", and then copying (most times screen captures) the selected pics and then paste and post to announce the selection. If this could go, then I'm ready to start a new year and we can ask for suggestions if we run out of ideas. It certainly is easier to find one theme per month than one per week.

The Monthly Assignment is not a good format to end up with a winner easily. There are too many entries over too many weeks and it multiplies the time involved. I'm just guessing it is 15-20 times the entrees the weekly challenge gets. Let's go with what Marcel has offered for the Monthly Assignment and keep it simple.

We can start another thread on setting up some type of competition complete with judging the 12 thingies to satisfy the bloodthirsty among us :beaten:.

 

[mikew_RIP]

Its all sounding to be heading in to a complicated affair moving away from whats made it popular,unless i am missing some thing it should need very little mod input if its left in its basic form,any volunteer could count the likes up and copy and paste the top scorers,if you turn it into too much of a judge on 12 points there is a possibility it will not fulfill what i see as its main objective,to get members at all levels taking part.

 

[mikew_RIP]

Just to add an after thought on other forums where they run competitions you often find 90% of the entries are from the same members over and over again and the winners are also from a select few who then allow there ego to build,if it aint broke dont mend it.

 

[Eyelight]

Its all sounding to be heading in to a complicated affair moving away from whats made it popular,unless i am missing some thing it should need very little mod input if its left in its basic form,any volunteer could count the likes up and copy and paste the top scorers,if you turn it into too much of a judge on 12 points there is a possibility it will not fulfill what i see as its main objective,to get members at all levels taking part.

My mention of the 12 points was not aimed at the Monthly Assignment.

I was saying we could discuss a more formal competition if members wanted, but it would be separate from the Monthly Assignment.

 

[mikew_RIP]

My mention of the 12 points was not aimed at the Monthly Assignment.

I was saying we could discuss a more formal competition if members wanted, but it would be separate from the Monthly Assignment.

We need an apology button sorry misunderstood you

 

[nikonpup]

it is in our dna to have a winner. It is not that hard to count "likes" (no judging, nikonites will be the judges with their likes) and post the winners, the challenge team learned how. Like "horoscope fish" (challenge team) put a moderator in charge to handle problems and gather a bunch of volunteers to count and post the winners

 

[Eyelight]

I suggest anyone interested in counting likes wander back to the August Monthly Assignment and go through the 16 pages and count likes making certain you don't miscount and short change someone.

If a few of you would do that, it would be interesting to compare like counts for all 150+/- entries.

 

[Anco]

Its all sounding to be heading in to a complicated affair moving away from whats made it popular,unless i am missing some thing it should need very little mod input if its left in its basic form,any volunteer could count the likes up and copy and paste the top scorers,if you turn it into too much of a judge on 12 points there is a possibility it will not fulfill what i see as its main objective,to get members at all levels taking part.

I'll stick my hand up and volunteer.

I like a competition format. I'm really only in competition with myself, but I find the competition format is a good way to gauge how much I am improving. I have come to realise, "likes" on your photos can mean anything from, I like the photo to that's rubbish but I want to encourage you to you're my friend and I will like anything you post. I think a competition better supports the idea of the "likes" being about the merits of the photos.

 

[AxeMan - Rick S.]

i suggest anyone interested in counting likes wander back to the august monthly assignment and go through the 16 pages and count likes making certain you don't miscount and short change someone.

If a few of you would do that, it would be interesting to compare like counts for all 150+/- entries.

SO HOW DID I DO?

126 entries

post 82	wthorson	31
post 47	Kim20	28
post 46	Kim20	27
post 53	wev	22
post 89	Backdoorhippie	17
post 25	siamthai1	16
post 128	Felisek	15
post 121	Elliot87	14
post 67	chippy54100	13
post 73	wev	12
post 45	gephotgraphy	12
post 29	singlerosa	12
post 16	Just Clayton	12
post 60	pretzel	11
post 6	Krs_2007	11
post 55	Jpar	11
post 18	mikew	11
post 109	Elloit87	11
post 98	wev	10
post 62	wornish	10
post 30	egosbar	10
post 23	Marilynne	10
post 96	YourFearlessLeader	9
post 95	ShootRaw	9
post 48	Tom Grove	9
post 24	Marcel	9
post 22	Woodyg3	9
post 146	tracyjj	9
post 141	Backdoorhippie	9
post 126	Aneela	9
post 120	Amber Rae	9
post3	wornish	8
post 61	MrSarcastic	8
post 59	Boatboy24	8
post 49	Roy1961	8
post 38	TommysG	8
post 28	Just Clayton	8
post 27	pretzel	8
post 140	Backdoorhippie	8
post 136	Eyelight	8
post 92	*david*hopper*	7
post 91	Marcel	7
post 66	Marilynne	7
post 37	Rodbender	7
post 19	wornish	7
post 142	Blacktop	7
post 131	wreckdiver1321	7
post 127	Eyelight	7
post 122	cwgrizz	7
post 107	gephotgraphy	7
post 104	YourFearlessLeader	7
post 99	Rodbender	6
post 78	Philnz	6
post 72	Eduard	6
post 64	Bob Blaylock	6
post 63	chippy54100	6
post 58	Woodyg3	6
post 50	Chayelle	6
post 132	wreckdiver1321	6
post 13	Marcel	6
post41	Vincent	5
post 97	bettyswolloks	5
post 85	Blacktop	5
post 52	Bob Blaylock	5
post 17	jazzjunkie	5
post 148	nikonpup	5
post 139	*david*hopper*	5
post 138	TommysG	5
post 87	Boatboy24	4
post 77	Philnz	4
post 56	gephotgraphy	4
post 51	Aneela	4
post 44	Alan	4
post 26	pretzel	4
post 147	Marilynne	4
post 145	Slipperman	4
post 143	tracyjj	4
post 130	Felisek	4
post 119	nikonpup	4
post 115	lidistick	4
post 102	YourFearlessLeader	4
post 101	Slipperman	4
post 100	weebee	4
post 90	Alan	3
post 81	wthorson	3
post 65	nikonpup	3
post 54	Old Hippy	3
post 2	Mikew	3
post 144	tracyjj	3
post 134	*david*hopper*	3
post 125	richnmib	3
post 124	cwgrizz	3
post 12	Just Clayton	3
post 112	richnmib	3
post 110	Jak	3
post 105	Slipperman	3
post 93	Aneela	2
post 88	Tom Grove	2
post 86	Blacktop	2
post 79	jkinzel	2
post 71	Revet	2
post 57	Woodyg3	2
post 15	SteveL54	2
post 14	Chito	2
post 133	wreckdiver1321	2
post 129	Eyelight	2
post 108	Kim20	2
post114	lidistick	1
post 94	ShootRaw	1
post 83	Englischdude	1
post 70	Revet	1
post 69	Revet	1
post 68	outlet15	1
post 42	Rodbender	1
post 40	Chayelle	1
post 135	Chito	1
post 123	cwgrizz	1
post 118	Silven	1
post 117	DonK	1
post 116	lidistick	1
post 113	Philnz	1
post 111	Elliot	1
post 80	jkinzel	0
post 76	kevy73	0
post 75	chippy54100	0
post 39	TommysG	0

 

[Eyelight]

SO HOW DID I DO?

126 entries

post 82	wthorson	31
post 47	Kim20	28
post 46	Kim20	27
post 53	wev	22
post 89	Backdoorhippie	17
post 25	siamthai1	16
post 128	Felisek	15
post 121	Elliot87	14
post 67	chippy54100	13
post 73	wev	12
post 45	gephotgraphy	12
post 29	singlerosa	12
post 16	Just Clayton	12
post 60	pretzel	11
post 6	Krs_2007	11
post 55	Jpar	11
post 18	mikew	11
post 109	Elloit87	11
post 98	wev	10
post 62	wornish	10
post 30	egosbar	10
post 23	Marilynne	10
post 96	YourFearlessLeader	9
post 95	ShootRaw	9
post 48	Tom Grove	9
post 24	Marcel	9
post 22	Woodyg3	9
post 146	tracyjj	9
post 141	Backdoorhippie	9
post 126	Aneela	9
post 120	Amber Rae	9
post3	wornish	8
post 61	MrSarcastic	8
post 59	Boatboy24	8
post 49	Roy1961	8
post 38	TommysG	8
post 28	Just Clayton	8
post 27	pretzel	8
post 140	Backdoorhippie	8
post 136	Eyelight	8
post 92	*david*hopper*	7
post 91	Marcel	7
post 66	Marilynne	7
post 37	Rodbender	7
post 19	wornish	7
post 142	Blacktop	7
post 131	wreckdiver1321	7
post 127	Eyelight	7
post 122	cwgrizz	7
post 107	gephotgraphy	7
post 104	YourFearlessLeader	7
post 99	Rodbender	6
post 78	Philnz	6
post 72	Eduard	6
post 64	Bob Blaylock	6
post 63	chippy54100	6
post 58	Woodyg3	6
post 50	Chayelle	6
post 132	wreckdiver1321	6
post 13	Marcel	6
post41	Vincent	5
post 97	bettyswolloks	5
post 85	Blacktop	5
post 52	Bob Blaylock	5
post 17	jazzjunkie	5
post 148	nikonpup	5
post 139	*david*hopper*	5
post 138	TommysG	5
post 87	Boatboy24	4
post 77	Philnz	4
post 56	gephotgraphy	4
post 51	Aneela	4
post 44	Alan	4
post 26	pretzel	4
post 147	Marilynne	4
post 145	Slipperman	4
post 143	tracyjj	4
post 130	Felisek	4
post 119	nikonpup	4
post 115	lidistick	4
post 102	YourFearlessLeader	4
post 101	Slipperman	4
post 100	weebee	4
post 90	Alan	3
post 81	wthorson	3
post 65	nikonpup	3
post 54	Old Hippy	3
post 2	Mikew	3
post 144	tracyjj	3
post 134	*david*hopper*	3
post 125	richnmib	3
post 124	cwgrizz	3
post 12	Just Clayton	3
post 112	richnmib	3
post 110	Jak	3
post 105	Slipperman	3
post 93	Aneela	2
post 88	Tom Grove	2
post 86	Blacktop	2
post 79	jkinzel	2
post 71	Revet	2
post 57	Woodyg3	2
post 15	SteveL54	2
post 14	Chito	2
post 133	wreckdiver1321	2
post 129	Eyelight	2
post 108	Kim20	2
post114	lidistick	1
post 94	ShootRaw	1
post 83	Englischdude	1
post 70	Revet	1
post 69	Revet	1
post 68	outlet15	1
post 42	Rodbender	1
post 40	Chayelle	1
post 135	Chito	1
post 123	cwgrizz	1
post 118	Silven	1
post 117	DonK	1
post 116	lidistick	1
post 113	Philnz	1
post 111	Elliot	1
post 80	jkinzel	0
post 76	kevy73	0
post 75	chippy54100	0
post 39	TommysG	0

Well, the first one I checked was the first yellow banner in the thread which was post #6 and I counted 10 likes. So, maybe not so good. Though, I did count it about 4 times to make sure before I replied, which is the same thing that happens in challenge thread, when there are several close Like counts. You count them all 3 or 4 times and then you're still not sure. Sometimes there's more than one Challenge Team member counting likes, but sometimes there's just one.

A big thanks though for jumping in and giving it a shot. What do you think? Maybe not as easy as it seems it ought to be???

 

[mikew_RIP]

Would it be possible without too much work to program a counter in for likes on the challenge thread,that would give a running total on each post.

 

[AxeMan - Rick S.]

Yep you are right 10 not 11. Not going to sit and make excuses. You did said it was not easy. And I never said It wasn't. Just wanted to show it could be done and be done in a timely manner. I just inputted the information, I never double checked anything. Ah there I go making excuses so I'll stop there. You issued a challenge and I took it Thanks it was fun.

 

[Eyelight]

Yep you are right 10 not 11. Not going to sit and make excuses. You did said it was not easy. And I never said It wasn't. Just wanted to show it could be done and be done in a timely manner. I just inputted the information, I never double checked anything. Ah there I go making excuses so I'll stop there. You issued a challenge and I took it Thanks it was fun.

It's kind of uncanny how that worked out, because it was the first one I stopped to count.

Longer names and shorter names make it harder. A name with a break will trip you up because it looks like two names. That may be what happened, counting Tom Grove as two names.

The kicker is the more popular a topic and more liked the photos, the more work it is to finalize. I thought about using the yellow banner as the tag and say every one with a yellow banner (10 likes) is a winner, but there were 22 in November and 15 in September.

 

[nikonpup]

and we still have no january assignment.

 

[Philnz]

and we still have no january assignment.

Take a holiday

 

[SteveH]

Just a thought, but would it be easier if the monthly assignment threads were created as a poll? It would mean there are a lot of voting choices, but if it were possible to have voting buttons next to each entry, and each person only had 3 votes then it would certainly take the load off the Mods with counting. Something along the same lines as when the "Best Answer" & "Disagree" buttons were added to certain threads.

 

[Eyelight]

Would it be possible without too much work to program a counter in for likes on the challenge thread,that would give a running total on each post.

I think if it were an easy thing to do, would probably have been done.

and we still have no january assignment.

Marcel has offered a way forward a couple times.

Just a thought, but would it be easier if the monthly assignment threads were created as a poll? It would mean there are a lot of voting choices, but if it were possible to have voting buttons next to each entry, and each person only had 3 votes then it would certainly take the load off the Mods with counting. Something along the same lines as when the "Best Answer" & "Disagree" buttons were added to certain threads.

The poll system as it is only accepts 20 options that have to be all loaded at once and you either get one vote or can vote for all choices. I'm sure there is a better system, and I'm guessing it will be here one day.


Let's do what we have done before with 3 entries per person. Mod starts the thread, announces the end, but leave the thread open so anyone can announce the top 5. Let likes go for 3 days and then anybody who wants to can go through, count likes and announce the top five in the assignment thread.

 

[hark]

I understand the difficulties of running the monthly assignment with the responsibility for all the mods to narrow down the finalists.

Here is my own opinion on doing it differently: instead of running an assignment where winners (and subsequently losers) are chosen, why not turn it into more of an educational challenge? Rather than selecting a topic such as Bridges or Low Light, why not incorporate some type of a learning tool? One month might be Using Leading Lines. Another might be Framing or Compression with Telephoto Lenses. By highlighting techniques rather than a tangible subject, the members get pushed to focus on their skills. No winners need to be selected. How topics get chosen can be left to the mods. Or a list can be made up from suggestions. And with each submission, the member must explain how he/she executed the shot. That will help newer photographers to learn, too.

 

[Marcel]

Let's do what we have done before with 3 entries per person. Mod starts the thread, announces the end, but leave the thread open so anyone can announce the top 5. Let likes go for 3 days and then anybody who wants to can go through, count likes and announce the top five in the assignment thread.

This is how it's been done so far. Counting the likes from all members removes a lot of pressure on the Mods, but just counting them, grabbing the winning shots and them re-posting them can be time consuming some months, specially depending on the amount of posts. This is why we had asked people to refrain from posting simple comments in the Assignment thread, but it's difficult to control.

For now, I'll forget about January, but will work with others and we will have an Assignment ready for February for sure.

Anyone who wants to contribute with ideas or procedures are welcome to post in this thread and we'll go from here.

Thanks for your support.