Digital camera & digital photography resources
for professional & amateur photographers

PHOTO CONTEST Submission Rules

updated 10th April 2005


• Only registered members can submit photos to the Photo Contest.

• The photo contest opens on Monday 00h01 (GMT +1) and closes the following week on Sunday 24h00 (GMT +1).

• Photos submitted must be the original work of the photographer. Pictures that violate the laws of copyright will be disqualified and removed.

• Photos can either be from a digital camera or scanned prints, slides or negatives. Photos don't necessarily need to be shot during the contest dates, they can be from the past or present.

• Entries are limited to two photos per week. If there are more than two photos from a member all will be removed and therefore disqualified from the competition.

• Only ratings with a comment/critique will be accepted, otherwise they will be removed.

• Judges will select six photos to go through to the weekly finals.

• The top six contest entries will be displayed, in the forums, the following week for voting. Members need at least 15 posts to vote in the finals.

• This is a family site so please don't submit photos which might offend others, containing subjects such as nudity, obscenity, racial, provocation, violence, offensive weapons, etc.

• Judges, moderators and administrators at BytePhoto.com, retain the right to delete any photo(s), rating(s) and/or comment(s) as they feel right.

• Contest winners may be contacted by email allowing our sponsors to give away special offers and prizes.



PHOTO MODIFICATIONS Photos edited using the methods below are acceptable in the photo contest.

• Levels, brightness, contrast, curves, gamma, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, desaturation, lightness, channel adjustment, colour balance, tint, resizing, cropping, burning and dodging selective areas. Various filters to sharpen, soften, blur, despeckle, add grain and remove noise, can also be used to create a better final image. Remember photos should only be edited to improve the final image not totally change it.
NOTE: In some cases judges may ask to view the original file.

• The use of a cloning stamp tool may be used to remove minor and small "unwanted" objects, such as telephone poles, cables and power lines, debris etc.

• No elaborate frames, however photo matting is allowed.

• Signatures, watermarks, titles and copyright notices may be added, however, large distracting ones may weaken the chances on receiving justified ratings.


>> View this weeks 12 most popular photos




For those who have difficulty commenting on a photo, here are some guidelines.

SUBJECT Is the subject matter simple ? If complex, does the image have a definite focal point or a visual relief area ? Is the subject sharply focused (cf enlarged photo size to decide), unless softened/blurred to give the desired effects ?
Does the photo convey the subject’s environment, if appropriate?

COMPOSITION Is the composition simple enough to show the subject, yet complex enough to allow the eye to move over the image as a whole ? Is the rule of thirds guideline effectively employed? If not, how effectively is it broken ? Is the horizon level, and/or vertical lines vertical, unless angled or tilted for special effect ? Is the perspective correct from shooting at an angle to the subject, unless the angle creates a desirable effect ? Does the subject occupy the correct amount of the frame ? Is the subject enhanced by the choice of background ?

LIGHTING Has the photographer effectively used light ? example: flash or natural. Is the photo correctly exposed ?




Other points to take into consideration when participating.

COMMENTS/CRITIQUES Beginner and advanced photographers, who enter the competition should be willing to receive advice and constructive criticism on their submitted photo. Most members already accept this, so as to help them improve on their photographic skills and knowledge. All opinions are valid in a way, as they represent the wide variety of members' tastes here. At the same time, members should always respect each other and the chosen entry.
Comments/critiques should be constructive in suggesting advice for improvements etc., rather than just pointing out the 'bad points' in the photo. No member bashing or Photo Contest entry bashing. Discussions and debates are of course highly encouraged here. However, personal attacks or comments/critiques which are not constructive or helpful in any way often turns into a heated debate between members, which is not acceptable on this site. Remember there are no prizes on winning a debate. Such comments will be deleted. If, and when, you have problems with this contest, start a thread in the forums, e-mail or PM ideas and thoughts to the administration. The comment/critiques text area is not the place for that. Such comments will be deleted. Also keep in mind, members who continually post comments/critiques only to upset others, will be singled out and their membership immediately deleted.

Try to keep your comments/critiques concise. These posts may be edited and/or an e-mail/PM will be sent to ask that further comments/critiques be more concise and to the point.
We are all here to share and learn, so keep this in mind before adding your comments/critiques.




:: Important :: Please do not use the "Move Photo to:" menu function to move a photo from your main gallery that has an original upload date prior to the start of the contest as the votes and comments will follow it giving your photo an unfair time advantage in regards to number of views and comments. If you have a photo in your main gallery that you would like to place into the Photo Contest, you may do so by uploading as a new upload. If the photo is also in your personal gallery you will need to change the file name as the system will not allow a user to have multiple files with the same name. Photos outwith the Photo Contest dates will be moved to the members photo galleries.

>> Submit your photos

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

For point 5. Can it be more relaxed to include contrast, saturation..etc?

Some cams, especially digi cams have to be touched up before it's "presentable".

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

cyrn touch up is fine ... I think what RVB means is that is should still look like a "photo" not a watercolor, sketch etc....

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

OK, thanks for the clarification.

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

Hi, I've just posted a picture of cells stained with anitbodies, as there is not retouching I think this could take part in the competition,couldn't it?
Ramoul

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

Is it permissable to "mount and frame" the photo?

I see no reference to this in the rules.

Thank you,
Colin F,,,

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

quote:

---

Is it permissable to "mount and frame" the photo?

I see no reference to this in the rules.

---

__________________
Kind regards
Stephen

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

I'm barely getting started with photography never mind the maze which is Photoshop :-)
Some people will have no idea how to do frames and mounting.

__________________
Regards, Sheila
(Australia)

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

YES I do agree there, Sheila. It does give an unfair advantage to certain... Also some may not even have the software to do this.

__________________
Kind regards
Stephen

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

On reflection I agree,,, the subject of FOTW is the photo, not the frame or mount.

The reason I asked was only because it wasn't mentioned in the rules. I didn't mean anything other than the question.

Oh,, and another thing,, I think I'm not that good a photographer and framing and mounting enhanses my pictures,, well, that's my story and i'm sticking to it,, LOL,,,

~Smile~

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

Re: I agree Sheila,,,

heehee, good try Col,
On the other hand if you lived in Perth I'd probably be asking you for lessons on framing

__________________
Regards, Sheila
(Australia)

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

quote:

---

Originally posted by RVB Pix
Very good question !!
One for the members....Should we allow as Colin says, "mount and frame" ?

---

I have to agree with the concensus thus far. Framing can be very over-powering and purely a matter of taste. I fear that on some images, there would be more of a critique on framing than on the image itself. However, I do think a simple border frame is acceptable, as mpaul73 has done in this image: http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/...=503&page=2
I think the border frame provides a simple transition from web to image, important particularly if the image background competes with the web background. Drop shadow framing would also fall on the side of acceptable for me, as displayed in this image: http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/...=503&page=1
Good question, Colin, thanks.
P.S. Sheila, I missed your entry this week.

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

OK...stupid question. How do I post a photo in the "Photo of the Week" forum? I am looking for a button, link, anything to enable me to post a photo.

I see an "Attach file:" field below as I am writting this post, but I am not sure if that is it.

Thanks

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

dacop in the gallery area http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/...ery.php?cat=503

towards the upper right corner you will see upload photos

quote:

---

Originally posted by dacop
OK...stupid question. How do I post a photo in the "Photo of the Week" forum? I am looking for a button, link, anything to enable me to post a photo.

I see an "Attach file:" field below as I am writting this post, but I am not sure if that is it.

Thanks

---

__________________
Best Regards
Paul

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

Wow, funny how rules need rule to make them RULES. Well we all can get confussed on the issue if we think about it.

Over all the rules looked good!!!

As for the frameing comment. I often frame with a white border for viewing purposes. The reason I personally do this is that not all photos show up well on the black/gray background here. By doing a simple white canvas behind the photo allows veiwers to see the true photo.

I do agree with the fact that some frames can become distracting and even hamper the image. I do feel if the frame is added, then it should also be allowed to be judged. In short, if the frame is more interesting than the image, then I feel it should be noted in the comment area.

To frame or not, is a good question to ponder on. But I feel simple frames should be to allow a true viewing of the photo. Some photos look GREAT on gray/black, and others dont. I feel the same goes for ties with a suit. Some times a red tie looks great, but sometimes it does not.

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged