Challenge Contest

[Sue North]

Hi bytethis.

OK thats what I thought.

Is adoby 7 the post processing soft ware?
If it is not I will let you know when I know.

Regards

Sue.

[bytethis]

Hey Sue

If you are using Photoshop 7, then yes, that's post processing software. And very good software at that. I cut my image editing teeth on it.

All you need do to retain EXIF data in PS7 is choose 'File' and 'Save As'. (If the .jpg extension is not available when you attempt to save, make sure your image is converted to 8 bits first - hopefully you won't have to go to this trouble)

Yell out if you need help.

And good luck!

[Sue North]

Hi Bytethis.

Thank you. I will let you know if I have any problems.

Regards

Sue.

[BytePhoto]

Originally posted by bytethis
will up to 3 entries per member plus comments be too much to search through? e.g. we can have up to 30 comments per image in POTW over just one week, could very easily mount up if you multiply that by 3 (images) over a month, per member.

A good point there Graham. Maybe only 2 photos as with the potw and also maybe with the possibilty to change the entered photos during the challenge period.

I'm also wondering at this point about the value of allowing/having comments at all. As these are going into selection for Admin to judge - not members - would we also be critiquing the images before selection occurs? Also, if uploads are anonymous (excellent prospect) would the comments left on images be anonymous also? It wouldn't be too hard to see whose images belong to whom, when the owner doesn't comment on his/her own work.[/i]

I think that most members would wish to have some comments... anonymous comments won't be possible at the moment but the owner could always comment on their own photos if they wanted to stay anonymous. LOL

Also regarding comments left on an image by members or Admin, I imagine that an owner of an image would love to respond to comments either as thanks or acknowledgement (as we do now for POTW) which would therefore render the anonymity redundant.[/i]

This could be done after the closing date of the challenge.

Another question I have is regarding the final placings.

I mentioned this previously, but I'm wondering about the value of '1st, 2nd and 3rd' placings for the challenge. Since we are not competing for prizes and since Admin are choosing the winner, why would we have 2nd and 3rd placings? No doubt, we need to have a 'Best In Class' for acknowledgement of the member and their image that best meets the Challenge and Category criteria, but as with Best of Best, there's no 2nd or 3rd. I would certainly support 'Challenger of the Month' or 'Best in Class' and maybe between 3 to 5 honourable mentions.[/i]

OK "Challenger of the Month" sounds good to me with 2 honorable mentions.

I would like to think too, we are going to get feedback on a selection of images as to what did and didn't work - maybe you guys can select a random 20 images and call them the 'Admin's Selection' (e.g. 10 good images that worked and 10 images that didn't quite work) with your/judge's appropriate comments, so everyone would get something out of the challenge besides the fun of entering.[/i]

We'll see how the workload goes for this point.

Thanks a lot Graham, for your valuable input it's very much appreciated.

[BytePhoto]

Originally posted by aladyforty
My biggest problem is with the EXif data is that I often use noiseware or noise ninja or neat image and find the data disappears.

You could use Suzan's idea, although it's not recommended as it would be preferable to have the exif data included in the file.

[northbeach]

Julie, do you have PS or PS elements? I know the latter has a pretty good noise reduction feature and I don't believe it erases exif data. If not, double check whatever your program is to see if they have it buried somewhere.
Sheila.

[Aladyforty]

I have have photoshop 7 and have never found the noise reduction in that very good. Oh well

[BytePhoto]

Originally posted by aladyforty
I have have photoshop 7 and have never found the noise reduction in that very good. Oh well

I'm surprised that your Canon 300D has a problem with noise ? I thought they were known be be one of the best where noise is concerned.
Of course you may be pumping up the ISO

[Buddy4344]

I use the digital rebel (same as the 300?). If I go above 800 iso or more than 30 sec. exposure on a night shot, the noise gets pretty bad.
Buddy

[Aladyforty]

its not just noise reduction programmes which take away the Exif data and I do use a few different programmes at different times for different shots, I have started keeping my originals just lately though.

[BytePhoto]

OK I believe exceptions can be accepted when certain challenge topics include subjets about long exposures or a need for a high iso. Not all subjects will need this, though.
However, every photo should include exif information, because this helps members understand the tech side of the photo.
(See Suzans method)

Also I think it best to keep the original file before any usage with noise reduction programmes.

When there is no need for noise reduction the data must be included in the jpg file.

[ChronosIII]

It wouldn't be a problem with most of the members I think Julie (Aladyforty) as long as you keep the original files for the images you submit (you should always keep an original anyway I think) for authentication by the Admins if required.

I am sure I speak for many others when I say that I find the EXIF very instructive when viewing images.

Good point to bring up though as I am sure you are not the only person with this issue. I myself use Raw processing software which will remove it from the file if I am not careful and I sometimes convert raw without the EXIF data by mistake as well.

I want to be sure that we are clear on the processing rules, and that is, that they re the same as the POTW contest.

I am just happy to see this Idea progress, Thank you Matt! and am willing to ride out the bumps in the road as we start and dial in all of the details as we go.

Let the Games Begin!

The Big Kahuna