We need to get a photo contest started on here. I have an idea. The winner recieves a cash reward to an online fish store. If anyone is good friends with an online fish store, as them to sponser our photo contest with a $50. I got this idea from another site. All we would need is voting thing so you can vote. What does everyone think.

While that is all well and good. It would give the people with good editing photo software an unfair advantage over us ordinary jamokes. Also if we have photo contests should a person's mark be allowed on the pic? You get alot of voting for the photographer or the best edited pic versus the best fish. Just my 2 cents.

Well if there was a contest I think it would have to be anonymous. This has been done on other sites. Another site that I mod on had a problem with cheating and we did a pretty good job at eliminating that.

I agree that the mark should not be on the pics, and that it should be anonymous. We use Microsoft Digital Imaging Pro 10 for editing, but haven't figured out all the bells and whistles on it to use more than the basic adjustments and cropping. We will be glad to pass it on to anyone who would like to load it on their pc, as long as it makes it back to us. There is no licensing involved, no certificate number needed. And who knows, between all of us, maybe we could figure out how to use it properly!

I think it would be fun, and give us all something to do besides water changes!

I've seen it cause alot of controversy on other big forums, though, since, as stated in an earlier post, the same pro photographers are picked constantly. I think our little group could handle it just fine, though.

We're in if everyone else is game...

Another option would be to have a photgraph of the month thing, and choose someone different every month, that way everyone would get their chance.

Kim

You know Kim, I was thinking the same thing...a contest that doesn't even have a prize attached to it. That would eliminate any cheating. Perhaps the winner would have the pic displayed for the month on the index page for the month until the next month's winner has been determined???? Just a thought.

I think it's the way to go, too, Debbie. If you get sponsors to donate prizes, you can lose control to an extent. Just a kind of "Photo of the Month" thing would be good!

Kim

Good idea,,,a contest for "Photo of The Month"!!!!!!! I like that alot,,good idea as well Debbie.

And I also agree that it should be without knowing the "photographer".

If I were a judge (hint,hint),,It cannot be just limited to the fish!!! I would be looking for,,

1. all around color (fish, background,substrate,and aquascaping)
2. the fish itself (detail,color,finage)
3. one for aquascaping only?
4. category for maybe each species?
5. best background?
6. best fry tank (color of fry and tank surroundings)

Should we really have a judge that wears a pink thong??? mr.green

I think you've got some great ideas, AP, pink thong and all...

Kim

Should the pics be judged by an "impartial" judge or by poll? My vote is by poll.
Also should we have monthly themes? Equal opportunity for the all the African biotypes. We gotta give the Vic people a chance to strut their stuff!

Absolutely SK,, monthly themes are cool.

As far as voting by pole,,,it'll be like everybody voting on "IDOL".
We can't have people voting on their own stuff. (you really think we can trust them) thumbs up Killin' me

I agree with ya all. thumbs up Set it up I'm in. Like Bees on honey mr.green
Pete

I am not ignoring this great idea, but I am letting you guys pose the questions and possibilities. I dont want to make a decision right now. I want you guys to decide what you think you would like- as this forum is really about what you guys want, not me or Mark telling you what we think you need.

As for an opinion, I think it would be cool to do "themed" monthly photocontests.
By "themed" I mean say first month- most visually appealing set up. Next month could be most briliant malawian. Next month could be best looking grow out tank. Next could be most "artistic".....something along those lines? With varied themes, it gives newbies a chance. If they have a crazy mixture of all three lakes and some torn finage due to aggression, but have a sweet looking aquascape in their grow out tank, they have potential to bring in a good entry. You guys decide.
I think to avoid someone having photosoftware versus someone that does not, we could do- winner or the previous month is not eligible for two months?
Maybe anonymously voting by a poll would be best? I could take the photos via PM and post them. That way nobody will know who they are from?
I wish we could do a cash prize, but that would have to come later on if we grew a bit and had some type of sponsorship. To have sponsorship, we would need to of course buy from this sponsor on a regular basis. Just some things to consider.
I myself would like to try and stay away from sponsors for while and enjoy the freedom we have for a few more months though.
You guys decide and we can take the photocontest from there. Majority rules. thumbs up

Okay I got it all figured out. Now Les is this what you mean by anonymous?
See if you know who this is.



Killin' me
Pete mr.green

I was going to type out my thoughts, but I'm too busy Killin' me Killin' me Killin' me Killin' me Killin' me

I think a poll would be fine...there is no real prize and what's one vote? If everyone that entered a pic voted for their own all the pics would still have the same advantage.
I would be happy to help out with a contest, I have been involved with them before. I wouldn't be entering anyway...I am NOT a photographer.

i think that "themed" contests would be fun. if the "theme" is posted a month before, that would give evryone the chance to post up. but i dont think that there needs to be a contest that is strickly about the best fish. i mean we can have all the contests anout what ever we want. but the real point of a contest is to see who has the best what ever. and i feel like that demeans the other people. they might feel like they were not given a fair shake, or that someone got voted for because of who they are or who they know. i just think that having contests like we're talking about could cause alot of hurt feelings, and i would hate to see that happen here. if the denizens of this forum decide to have a "contest" i will participate in the voting and in posting pics. but we need to be very careful about how we go about this. theres just to many ways for someone to get their fellings hurt with this, and that would a very sad thing.
mongo

Great post mongo. My thoughts exactly. One of the things I really like about this site is the great atmosphere. On other boards that I visit, the friendly environment often degrades around the photo contest. Just my thoughts. I would participate too, but honestly I could do without it myself. This is a great site without a contest and I am confident it would still be a great site with one.

On second thought. Maybe this site is just the place to turn the tide of negative contests. Maybe it will prove to be a great opportunity for folks to display their pics. It could be a wonderful addition.

Not meaning to be confusing.....

hey "horny" i agree that this site could probably handle it. but there are great posters of great fish pics already. do we really need a "contest"? we get to see the fish that everyone wants us to see and theres no pressure on the posters to "MEND" the pics in any way. except for Mrs. Crazy "erasing" poop out of her pics. ROFLMAO
mongo

True true.... I think we share a perspective on this mongo. Some good posts friend.

AMEN BROTHER HORN.
mongo

OK people,,,as far as anyone getting "hurt" because they were not picked as the "photographer" of the month. cryyy cryyy cryyy rolleyes

If members are not going to be able to handle NOT winning,,,they should not post pic. SIMPLE ENOUGH HUH?

I think that from what has been joked about on this forum and from "visual" aspects of what I look like,,,,I am confident that we can handle losing to someone that deservEs it,,,not to say that anyone is better than anybody else. It'll be just as fun seeing the many ways that we can improve our tanks.

And yes Les has a point,,,all pic must be forwarded to him so he can post them so they are anonymous.

By the way Crazy,,,is that Elvis??? winkk

AP how could you ever tell that was Elvis.? Guess I'll have to change his halloween costume. mr.green
Pete

I think on other forums the "pros" who put their signature on their pics were worried about unscrupulous people pirating their pics w/o theit permission. If we keep everything anonymous the "pros" who are worried about their "property" will be forewarned that we are not in any way responsible for the safeguard of their images. That should keep it a very "amateur" contest.

Agreed skraeling. We would need some rules and that could be put in the rules.

Debbie,
I happen to know that you are very good at putting these things together. winkk

Something to keep in mind folks......Deb is really good at these things. uhhuh

thumbs up Good points guy...Polling sounds good to me thumbs up
I am not a good photographer but I will give it a shot if we decide to have a contest and noo hurt feeling either mr.green

Gee thanks Mark undecided , just kidding. If everyone can give me some ideas I can come up with something. Of course I would post the draft so anyone that had other ideas would have some input. Mark would it be possible to post the winning pic on the index page for the month?

I think if you get upset when someone chooses a picture over your own.... well, youre going to have to do some deep exploring within yourself.

I dont think we have any intimidating members with difficulties keeping their ego's in check on the forum so far. It should be a fun contest.

We could always run a disclaimer....funne

For the sake of everyone elses happiness on the forum, please do not participate if:
1. you are the kind of person who brings a lot joy whenever you leave a room.
2. you are the kind of person who has delusions of adequacy
3. your are the kind of person that when others stand next to you, they can hear the ocean....

Ok, maybe I need to do some deep exploring undecided

Sounds like everyone is on the same page with this! It doesn't matter to me whether we do it or not, but I'm in if everyone else is.

And, AP, that poop removing software is going to be at your disposal soon. After you guys get finished with it you can pass it around to other trusted members. It's amazing if you're too lazy to clean your tank! You just erase the poop.

Actually, we barely edit our pics other than those cutsie frames and cropping them. (Oh, and getting rid of the occasional turd...) We never add color to the fish and we don't have enough sense to figure out how to do the black-out backgrounds. You can do an auto color and exposure adjustment, which basically just adjusts your pic to the way it would look without shadows and flash.

Debbie, since you were nominated to do all the work, let me know if there is anything I can help with. Looks like these guys are going to put their feet up on the coffee table and let the women do the work... mr.green

Kim

Thanks Kim...I have put together a contest or two, but help will be appreciated. I think we can bargain for some curtains in the lounge...maybe a floral print?

Perhaps I should clarify???

I'm not really one to take offense. No harm no foul either way for me. I like that there isn't a contest here, but I wouldn't dislike it if there were one. I'd probably submit photos but my skills aren't very good so I likely wouldn't win (rightfully so). I always enjoy seeing other great fish pics too.

Maybe that didn't really clarify anything.... Just my .02.

Contest or no, I am looking forward to seeing all the pics of awesome fish!

My photos stink too, thats why I will happily sit back and post the pics for everybody.

I know of another forum or two in which members got "excited" over who was winning, excited about not being able to put their names on their fish etc....

Whatever! If you guys wanna do it, it will be fun. Dont worry Matt, I hear where you are coming from. I dont really have an opinion either way mr.green

thumbs up Has he puts his feet up and guzzles beer. AAAAHHHHHH YAAAAAA!!! Thats some good tastin brew. mr.green Has he watches Kim and Debbie figure out how to go about making a photo contest. mr.green
Pete

Well, I guess this post got a lot of atention. So, we are just going to do the contest with no prize. I mean, it is free, so if someone loses it isn't there fault. I think we should do what I said, and a if a person wins one for a prize, that person can't enter if they a contest that has a prize, only ones that are a regular contest with no prize. But either way, I am going to go snap some photos. Oh, and does it have to be cichlids, or can it be catfish

Hey,,,,Don't get me involved with your "Poop" removal Mrs. I think that was Mongo who needs some erasing!!!

Fishboy,,,yes it is your favorite four letter word "FREE", so lets try it out first and see what happens from there!!!

And we WILL be doing photos in all categories,, it's just gonna take time.

yes it was me Mes. C. with the poop fetish. ROFLMAO i'm not crazy about this contest idea. like "hornplayer" i like things the way they are, but i will participate in the voting and maybe post some pics for the contest after it gets up and running.
i agree whole heartedly "Les" its about sharing and seeing. not self gratifiction (and no "AP", i'm not talking about that) and i would like to add another one "les".
4. you are the kind of person who cant say something nice. and leave it at that.
well that it for me on the soapbox, i'm through. i will back you guys al the way no matter what is decided.
mongo

^ditto.

Burp! Hey Pete could you pass me the chips! cheers

I just wanted to say that this photo contest is NOT a big deal to me, either. We just enjoy putting a pic in the photography section now and then, that's it. So, to the "powers that be", do whatever you want! I'll help if needed, but I'll be just fine if we decide to wait or not do it at all! (It's alot of work cleaning up all that poop!)

Kim

yeah..i'll help if i'm needed. if its a go, i think the first "theme" should be the "best erased poop". that way "AP' will really have something to gripe about. ROFLMAO
mongo

You are right Mongo,,,I will have something to gripe about if someone erases "you"!!! Killin' me ROFLMAO

But no matter what we do about this contest,,,,,I am sure it will be fun. Although the more I read,,,looks like we are moving "away" from it!!!!

nah...we should at least give a "contest" a legitamate try. there are some people on here that really want to have one.,and thats fine. it will probably be fun and i'll have made an A** of myself for nothing. also the people on this forum are pretty level headed, so there probably wont be any problems. so i'll eat crow, sit in the corner, pout, suck my thumb and keep quiet. good luck to everyone, have fun and enjoy.
mongo

p.s. "AP" there aint an eraser big enough to even touch me old boy, it would wear down to pink dust just getting a third of the way through.LOL
mongo again

I will think up something within a week...please give me ideas on the rules...what everyone considers to be "fair" I like the idea of winners not being able to enter for 2 months. Might want to make up a list of themes too. I like the idea of themes...it will give the less photographically (I don't think I spelled that right) skilled ones (me included) a chance to win. I don't think a prize is necessary, I think a prize makes things turn ugly (has happened on other forums). Please I want your input.

Mark dear, can a photograph be displayed on the index page each month? I don't think you noticed the last post of that question.

I think you should have the best form pic. And a best action pic. And best fry pic. And possibly best tank pic.
These are just suggestions. What ever works for you guys.
I will do anything to help out.
Pete

Very good,,,then perhaps it is settled? A contest without material prizes,good idea. Maybe just having the winning pic on the forum somewhere is appreciative enough?

My suggestions for what kind of ideas are on the first page.

Absolutely Deb.....anywhere you want it. uhhuh uhhuh uhhuh

winkk winkk

Mark How about under the banner? I think somewhere near the top would be good...anyone else have suggestions?

Right under the Banner. With a big smiley on each side. mr.green
Pete

it appears that the old adage ASK AND YE SHALL RECIEVE" holds true in this case wouldnt ya say Mr. C. good on ya mates...it looks awsome.
mongo