POTY 2010 - Round 12 - OPEN (Discussion) [Archive]

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Jimmy_Lemon

01-12-2010, 12:06

Welcome to the 2010 Talk|Photography Photographer Of The Year Competition.

The year the themes are going to based on photographic techniques. As with previous years the theme for the month will be posted in a thread similar to this which will be where you can post your ENTRIES only. There will also be a thread for DISCUSSION of the theme. The deadline for entries is the 11:59pm on the last day of the month, shortly after that a POLL will be made for you to vote for you favourite entries that month. This process will then repeat each month with a leader board created at the end of the year. The winner of each month will receive a prize (which will be shown in the ENTRIES thread). The member with the most votes at the end of the year will win the coveted TP POTY Trophy.

So on with the competition;

The theme this month is
'OPEN'

Yup, anything you like, get out there in the snow (if you have any) or try and capture something that is going to get you the final prize of the year :)

This Months Brilliant Prize:

A Red Snapper Verso Backpack

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5620/redsnapperversobackpack.jpg

_____________________________________________
Please take a moment to read the Rules and Guidelines. (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=110838) before entering, also paying close attention to the following :

* Please note that any photos submitted must not be, or have been, shown on these forums before. Similar shots are OK, but if a submission is *too* similar to a previous shot shown on the forum, then we may disqualify it (Staff discretion is final).
* To disqualify an image, we simply edit the post, removing the image in question, replacing it with a Staff message. To replace your entry, you may edit the post again, putting your new image in, and removing the staff message. This must be done by the closing date. All disqualified images that haven't been sorted by the closing date will be left out of the vote and marked VOID in the poll.
* If anyone wishes to bring one of the images to the attention of the staff for this or whatever reason, then please use the RTM button under the post in question (It looks like this http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/images/custom_blue/buttons/report.gif).

This thread is for DISCUSSION only - please use the Entries thread (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=3202259) for your entries.

Spooky

01-12-2010, 12:59

Am I to read into this that our entry must be shot during this month?

Cheers

Spooks

Jimmy_Lemon

01-12-2010, 13:03

No not at all, just trying to encourage it a bit more :)

TheBigYin

01-12-2010, 13:36

That's the one problem with a topic of "OPEN" - it really does leave it literally wide open for some people to trawl their back catalogues for something stunning from the last 10 years or so :(. Personally, anything half decent I've shot in the last couple of years has probably been shown on here already, so I'll HAVE to go out and shoot something new. :)

Spooky

01-12-2010, 13:41

Mark, I am with you on this one; I have liked the techniques rounds because they have forced me to look at past images a little differently but I personally prefer anything that might justify me getting out and shooting something different. I will therefore aim for a genuine December 2010 image and ensure I am not uploading it at 11.55pm on 31st December.

TheBigYin

01-12-2010, 13:49

I'm not saying I won't post something from back catalogue - I may well put something in, just to motivate me to get something better - it's surprising how much motivation you get when you've put a shot you consider a bit crook in between one from Marie and another from Alby :lol:

canon_togger

01-12-2010, 14:39

I will try to shoot something this month too, weather permitting.
My 'back catalogue' only goes back two years and part of the first year was full of wonky horizons and blown highlights :D

I've stuck a placeholder in for now, to get the ball rolling.

TheBigYin

01-12-2010, 14:52

...My 'back catalogue' only goes back two years and part of the first year was full of wonky horizons and blown highlights :D

Mine still is, though I keep trying :lol:

canon_togger

01-12-2010, 14:53

Mine still is, though I keep trying :lol:

Methinks you are far too modest for your own good Mark;)

TheBigYin

01-12-2010, 15:21

Methinks you are far too modest for your own good Mark;)

:lol: but people only see the edited highlights... even I can look half reasonable when I only show the highlights :lol: We did a "full roll challenge" (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=270217) in the film and conventional section last month, and it was the scariest thing I'd ever posted (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3190407&postcount=74). If you think i'm being modest, look at the flickr linky to the rest of the 12 shots from the roll. :gag:

AshMashMash

02-12-2010, 06:28

Well, I have posted a picture that I haven't just taken, but it was taken only a couple of weeks ago. Went to Australia recently and the photographic opportunities there are endless! So had to post one from that visit :)

Ajophotog

02-12-2010, 18:36

Drat, I hate open themes. The macro theme never happen again:thinking:

Vulkan75

03-12-2010, 10:00

Drat, I hate open themes. The macro theme never happen again:thinking:

Yeah I thought that was strange as its a more of a mainstream shooting technique......over tilt-shift anyway(hated that).

Open themes are always going to be difficult because different genre's are competeing directly....at least there should be a shed loads of entries.

Can I just say....its been great taking part in this years comp....especially alongside the regulars whos talent is stupendous!.thanks:thumbs:

Also Thanks to Mark for the work hes put in the table and keeping on the backs of the powers that be...especially in geting the voting up and new theme...etc.

As well as a mention for Jimmy lemon...for the hard work also...cheers guys:thumbs:.

TheBigYin

03-12-2010, 11:35

Well - I have to say that I'm in two minds about an OPEN topic for the final entry. On the downside it has the posibility of someone just throwing in a fantastic shot from their back catalogue, which is a bit against the ideas of the comp. I also think that there are probably a few people who enter the competition every month, who will take photo's and think "Hmmmm, thats a really good shot - I'd better not post that on any of the photo-sharing bits of TP, in case I need to use it for the Open round in December."

I know that last year I was aghast to find myself up against people who had done just that, whereas I had happily posted everything half-decent i'd shot over the year for C&C and rendered them ineligeable for competition purposes. I know if i'd have kept a couple back i'd have had a much stronger entry in last Decembers comp. than my eventual shot.

On the other hand, it does let people who are really good at a specific genre of shooting show off just how good they are, without having to shoe-horn their shots into the constraints of a specific theme. And anything that allows more people to enter into the competition has got to be a good thing - it seems to me that the competition has been steadily dying since the home page went over to only showing the Photo Sharing threads, partly compounded by the promotion of the TP calendar competition in notices. I think that we definitely need to do something to get more people to enter, and if making an open theme for the closing month helps this, then so be it. I just hope I can get a decent shot in, and be a active part of if this month :)

I'd also like to echo Alex's comment, it's been fantastic taking part in the competition for the last couple of years, and it's improved the way I shoot in many, many ways. To be showing my work alongside some of the people on here is a honour, and occasionally a sobering experience - the amount of talent that's displayed over a year is amazing. That I've managed to amass enough votes to allow me to sneak into the top 10 overall at the moment is doubly amazing to me, and deeply, deeply appreciated.

As far as the leaderboard goes Alex, I'd be doing it for my own :geek: pleasure anyway, so five minutes more to publish it to a bit of webspace and so forth is just my simple way of putting a little back into the community. The real hard work behind the scenes is definitely being done by Tom (Jimmy Lemon) - setting these things up, creating polls, putting up with gentle reminders and pestering by me (and others... it's not ALWAYS me that asks where the poll is, or what the new topic is you know :lol:), and handling everything when occasionally things get a little "iffy". For all this and more Tom and the rest of the powers that be deserve a massive vote of thanks. :clap::clap::clap:

scottishmonkey

04-12-2010, 09:39

Well said, a big :thumbs: to all those that make it possible

I have managed to enter each month this year which was my goal:)

I guess next years goal is similar but will try to take photos specifically for the comp. Just need to find the time!

Ajophotog

04-12-2010, 16:35

Elastoman

04-12-2010, 18:53

Well having just broken two fingers on my right hand means the chances of me getting out to shoot something for this are pretty much zero so I will have to use an older shot :( I slipped over in the garden and that was that.

Sorry to hear that, hope they soon mend. Although even with a handicap like that, you'd still outshine a good many of us!

TheBigYin

05-12-2010, 01:01

Well having just broken two fingers on my right hand means the chances of me getting out to shoot something for this are pretty much zero so I will have to use an older shot :( I slipped over in the garden and that was that.

stick it on a tripod and use a cable release in your left hand you wuss ;)

fabs

05-12-2010, 08:34

Well having just broken two fingers on my right hand means the chances of me getting out to shoot something for this are pretty much zero so I will have to use an older shot :( I slipped over in the garden and that was that.

Sorry to hear that Alby, but the missus turned over this year's calendar yesterday (yeah, I know) and said "aww, that's lovely" so no excuses and get out there! :p

Ajophotog

05-12-2010, 10:39

Mark: why would I want to stick my bad hand on a tripod. :shrug: :lol:
Marc: it was that same stuff that caused me to slip. :thinking:
Jim: I don't know about that but there have been some stunning work this year that has failed to score highly enough in my opinion. I am not entering next year but look forward to keeping a close eye on comp and seeing how everyone does.

TheBigYin

05-12-2010, 12:42

Mark: why would I want to stick my bad hand on a tripod. :shrug: :lol:

Ach, I blame the drink for the lack of clarity in posting, and the possibly less than sympathetic tone of my post mate... it was 2am, and I was winding down with a few Balvenie's after seeing a concert by a band I last saw in 1979. Feeling old and drunk always leaves me a little cranky. Have had a few cases of broken fingers in the past (that's rugby for you :shrug:), and theres little you can do except strap 'em up and swear every time you knock them.

jollyjack

05-12-2010, 16:52

Sectionate

06-12-2010, 15:19

I have photos that I would like to enter into this, but have already displayed them on the board, dammit!

uniquegardens

06-12-2010, 15:31

Sorry to hear about your broken fingers Alby, (been there, very painful) I hope they mend quickly.

Graham.

TheBigYin

06-12-2010, 15:49

Well we should see some excellent photos this month as its everyone topic. The Snow came and has now gone in my area so got out today to get my first attempt at getting a photo taken in the month of December.

Good Luck everyone

And from your current shot, it's clear where the snow went :)

It's still deep crisp and not particularly even around here, and so damned slippery i've had the crampons out to walk up to the shops :lol:

Ajophotog

09-12-2010, 15:22

Sorry to hear about your broken fingers Alby, (been there, very painful) I hope they mend quickly.

Graham.
Thanks Graham, amazing how you miss them when you can't use them, Loved your photo BTW in last months poty. ;)

Ajophotog

09-12-2010, 15:25

Can I just say....its been great taking part in this years comp....especially alongside the regulars whos talent is stupendous!.thanks:thumbs:

Also Thanks to Mark for the work hes put in the table and keeping on the backs of the powers that be...especially in geting the voting up and new theme...etc.

As well as a mention for Jimmy lemon...for the hard work also...cheers guys:thumbs:.

Likewise and another big thank you to the guy that do :clap:

leftcurl

09-12-2010, 15:51

this open theme is giving me brain ache! it's like someone just asked me to name my favourite song of all time.... i just can't do it!

i'm desperate to get a new image up there as i entered the first couple of months this year - then went AWOL up to October - so i want to get into the routine of challenging myself.. but my inspiration / ideas on what to shoot are about as fruitful as a dead apple tree :bonk:

TheBigYin

09-12-2010, 16:19

Leigh - just enjoy it and go with the flow - it's an open theme - shoot what you enjoy, and post the best you produce :) It can be hard work to try and produce 12 competition standard shots in a year - especially if you have a day job and a life outside photography, so look at this as a treat - you can go off this month and shoot what you want, how you want, and process it how you like :lol:

uniquegardens

09-12-2010, 22:52

Thanks Graham, amazing how you miss them when you can't use them, Loved your photo BTW in last months poty. ;)

Cheers Alby glad you liked it....can I also say, what a great job you do to TBY, Jimmy Lemon and everyone else who is associated with the running of the POTY. :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

TheBigYin

10-12-2010, 09:37

Cheers Graham - though i'm not involved in running anything - I just do a little spreadsheet every month for my own amusement to log the YTD scores, and it seems churlish not to share it with everyone. Good to know it's appreciated though - especially as I've signed up to produce one for next year too. :)

I'd also like to echo Alby's comment about your shot last month, it was an absolute corker :thumbs:

uniquegardens

10-12-2010, 23:25

I'd also like to echo Alby's comment about your shot last month, it was an absolute corker :thumbs:

Thank You Mark :thumbs:

f:James

17-12-2010, 19:38

Being a new member I hope it's ok that I popped a photo up on the main thread. This particular photo was taken on 14th October 2010, but if people would prefer me to enter a photo newer than that I will change it no problem:]

James.

Jimmy_Lemon

17-12-2010, 19:47

f:James

17-12-2010, 19:48

No problems with that at all :) Make the most of it, won't be allowed next year :p

haha, cool then cheers! Glad I did it whilst I still could:D

Elastoman

19-12-2010, 15:18

TheBigYin

19-12-2010, 16:09

:banana: I've done it! I set myself a target to enter each month and have (just about) managed to do that.

OK, some of the entries were pretty dire in comparison with you lot who know what you're doing but the experience was invaluable!

Not sure whether I'll be able to keep it up all through 2011 but I'm going to try!

Well done Jim - there's not that many of us that have managed every month this year. Don't be too hard on yourself re: the scores - there's 350 people who'd swap with your score :lol:

I was worried I'd not be able to make it through this year - last couple of months have been difficult - real life got badly in the way of getting out to shoot something, but I managed it somehow. That's 2 years on the trot now - 24 months straight - somehow doubt i'll manage it this year though :(.

Spooky

19-12-2010, 16:36

AshMashMash

19-12-2010, 17:11

TheBigYin

19-12-2010, 20:38

I managed to get an entry in month I think! Which is particularly pleasing as I only joined in November 2009... and only got my camera in that same month :) Admitidly some of my entries were particularly shoddy *cough* panoramic *cough*, but some must have been good enough to get some votes... really genuinely can't believe I made it into the top 10! (unless something drastic happens this month :thinking:). Thank you guuuuys :D

I'm coming to get you... only need to poll 28 more votes than you do this month and i've gotcha :lol: Small problem with that master plan being that my best month ever only scored 24 points :bonk:

AshMashMash

20-12-2010, 11:20

I'm coming to get you... only need to poll 28 more votes than you do this month and i've gotcha :lol: Small problem with that master plan being that my best month ever only scored 24 points :bonk:

Hehe!

As others have said, thanks for sorting out the table :D If I type in "POTY" on firefox it comes up :lol:

toonamp

23-12-2010, 11:59

No problems with that at all :) Make the most of it, won't be allowed next year :p

Now that deserves a round of applause.

I must admit my entry this month unless I change it was the first this year that was not taken within the month of the competition, albeit only 10 days adrift.

Hopefully Tom you mean that from next year all piccys will have to taken specifically within the month of the compo?

All we need now is all self voting disallowed :D

And somehow to open the voting to a much wider audience.

It's becoming like a closed shop and much too insular, following the same pattern that the photo threads fall into.

IE, you comment/vote for me, and I'll comment/vote for you :naughty:

TheBigYin

23-12-2010, 13:18

Now that deserves a round of applause.

I must admit my entry this month unless I change it was the first this year that was not taken within the month of the competition, albeit only 10 days adrift.

Hopefully Tom you mean that from next year all piccys will have to taken specifically within the month of the compo?

All we need now is all self voting disallowed :D

And somehow to open the voting to a much wider audience.

It's becoming like a closed shop and much too insular, following the same pattern that the photo threads fall into.

IE, you comment/vote for me, and I'll comment/vote for you :naughty:

Anthony - have you seen the rules for 2011 (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=280717). Quite a few changes...

The themes will be decided in advance and announced approximately 1 month before each round.So no banging on the door, waiting for the next topic on the first of the month :)

photos must be taken specifically for the competition and must be taken after the theme is announced. Where possible, EXIF data should be kept intact (Obvious exceptions would be photos taken using film)So - shooting from when the topic is announced, right through to end of month is available - a bit longer to get the shot, but it HAS to be within that time-frame - so all the people with a 10 year back catalog of shots can't live on past glories :)

Please do not post a 'place holder' or 'temporary entry'. Once you have posted an entry, you may not change it. If you do change it, your entry may be disqualified.Should eliminate the unsightly scrum to get onto the first page - I've always said that the benefit of being on the first few entries in terms of votes is probably debatable anyway, but some people do like to get an early one in. If they choose to do so - bearing in mind, they've had best part of a month to shoot from announcement to opening the thread, they can balance out the "benefit" if any of an early shot against the possibility of an extra months shooting time to get a better image :shrug:

At the end of the round, a poll will be added where you can vote for your favourite photographs. This will be a multiple choice poll, where you may vote for as many or as few shots as you like. Please do not vote for your own entry.I hope that this wil be enforced, as opposed to just relying on people to do so. I think that voting for your own image is a matter of ethics - some people see nothing wrong with it and happily vote for their own image (sometimes ONLY their image) - other people are horrified at the though of it and can't even believe that people would do so, and are instantly at a 12 vote deficit YTD. Therefore I'd say that the equitable thing is to ban self-voting, and hopefully the request in the 2011 rules will be enforced, otherwise i'm sure that some people will still try it on. Hopefully, the crackdown on duplicate accounts (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=270864) may also help here.

toonamp

23-12-2010, 17:51

Thank you Mark for your comprehensive response.

No I had'nt seen the new rules, and they certainly do answer a number of anomolies in the present set up.

It looks like the only thing to be addressed is the limited avenues of access to the competition.

I remember it used to appear regularly on the Home page, and New Posts, neither of which it does now.

We need a much wider pool of potential voters, it's becoming too insular and parochial.

TheBigYin

30-12-2010, 22:10

Just a quick thread bump - don't forget it's the last day for posting entries tomorrow - and what with the festivities of the evening, you may wish to get your last one for this year in early - I'll certainly not be wanting to update anything after the sun goes down tomorrow :lol:

Daisey

31-12-2010, 20:24

I missed round one but I managed to get a shot entered each month for the rest of the year...and I didn't think I would manage it. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part and had great fun playing around with the themes, even if I have entered some really naff photos, sorry about that. :D
I did do quite well last month though, which I'm pleased about, thanks to everybody who voted for me. :) I think that has given me the courage to try again next year and see if I can beat my score.

Some lovely photos entered again this month, good luck everybody.

TheBigYin

01-01-2011, 08:43

Well - I guess that's 2010 all over bar the voting and the final results then.

Congratulations to everyone who managed to get something in - not just this month, but all year - it's been a fantastic year for the entry standard, especially as the whole basis behind the topics was to get us out and learning new techniques. I know I've learned a hell of a lot this year - quite a bit about the camera, a little about manipulation in the computer, and a HUGE amount about processing films (thanks to the "cross processing" round where I decided not to take the easy way out and do it digitally :lol:)

I'd also like to thank Tom (Jimmy Lemon) for putting up with my nagging about "whats the new topic this month" and "whens the poll coming out" most months - it must have been a bit like having a kid in the backseat going "Are we nearly there yet" every 30 seconds (yes - I used to do that as well... that's how I learned to read maps, my dad gave me the atlas and made me work it out for myself in the end!)

One more poll, one more set of results, then we can get on with 2011... I'll be there, Will you?

canon_togger

01-01-2011, 11:28

TheBigYin

01-01-2011, 12:02

I echo this, and also big thanks to yourself Mark for keeping the scores and displaying them promptly. I know you always say thanks isnt necessary but your time and effort is appreciated nonetheless :clap:

Aw, Shucks :$

:thankyou:

Jimmy_Lemon

01-01-2011, 18:34

Poll will be up tomorrow ladies and gents :) Thanks for all the entries.

toonamp

02-01-2011, 10:30

Cheers for all your work last year Tom, and Mark for the leaderboard :thumbs:

canon_togger

03-01-2011, 09:27

Poll will be up tomorrow ladies and gents :) Thanks for all the entries.

Tomorrow never comes :p

Rockshifter

03-01-2011, 11:02

Tomorrow never comes :p

You blinked and missed it,Marie:D

canon_togger

03-01-2011, 11:04

You blinked and missed it,Marie:D

No that was yesterday, tomorrow is another day :)

TheBigYin

03-01-2011, 11:08

Time is an illusion.

Lunchtime doubly so :)

canon_togger

03-01-2011, 11:09

Time is an illusion.

Lunchtime doubly so :)

The poll is an illusion :lol:

TheBigYin

03-01-2011, 11:17

aw, it'll get here soon enough... to be honest, I'm making the best of my stint in 7th place before I end up getting knocked back after this months voting. I think Nov'2010 is likely to mark the high spot in my career within the POTY to be honest :shrug: - can't see 2011's "get you thinking" topics being up my street somehow :(

Rockshifter

03-01-2011, 11:24

[QUOTE - can't see 2011's "get you thinking" topics being up my street somehow :([/QUOTE]

Open your mind, Mark (or should that be shutter) and you will see the light :lol:

TheBigYin

03-01-2011, 11:29

[QUOTE - can't see 2011's "get you thinking" topics being up my street somehow :(

Open your mind, Mark (or should that be shutter) and you will see the light :lol:[/QUOTE]

It's always been my problem to be honest, coming up with something to shoot - that's why the technique led topics have generally worked for me (apart from when it really needed certain kit to get the effects I wanted) So far I've written down maybe 30 ideas - and rejected every single one because it was either more corny than the content of the green giants larder or because it was simply impossible to do with the resources I have available. I've one idea left and I'm dreading trying it, as it involves a self portrait (or conning someone into being the victim for me!)

Jimmy_Lemon

04-01-2011, 21:29

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=285688 - Poll now open :)

Sorry for the delay