Photography competition rules - must shoot during the month?

[jon-]

Recently I've noticed more and more photos being entered into the photography competitions from peoples archives. While this is no bad thing per se, we get some stunning shots on display as a result, I've always seen the idea of the photography competitions is to get people out there thinking of something new and actually taking photos - we're all photographers after all.

What are peoples thoughts on modifying the rules so only photos taken in the month of the competition are valid for entry? This months theme is excellent, autumn is finally here and there's some really stunning natural sights we only get this time of year. Instead of shots from the archives we could have 20 or so really current images.

Just a thought, but that's how I see photography competitions: Get out and do something new, challenge yourself. Not browse your archive.

[SamHH]

I think it's better as it is.

[beano500]

You'rr quite right. I always want to achieve something better, but I do find a good starting point is what we've got already. Then time to plan on getting something even better.

Then again some people won't have the luxury of time - I have hardly looked at the competitions for months and months since I had been working flat out. Now I am in a lull between contracts and I am just catching up on all the photo's I've taken that haven't even been procdessed yet. So to be strict on timing isn't helpful to many, I am sure.

[Dogsey]

beano500 said:

You'rr quite right. I always want to achieve something better, but I do find a good starting point is what we've got already. Then time to plan on getting something even better.

Then again some people won't have the luxury of time - I have hardly looked at the competitions for months and months since I had been working flat out. Now I am in a lull between contracts and I am just catching up on all the photo's I've taken that haven't even been procdessed yet. So to be strict on timing isn't helpful to many, I am sure.

That's always been the decision every other time this has been debated.

[jon-]

Dogsey said:

beano500 said:

You'rr quite right. I always want to achieve something better, but I do find a good starting point is what we've got already. Then time to plan on getting something even better.

Then again some people won't have the luxury of time - I have hardly looked at the competitions for months and months since I had been working flat out. Now I am in a lull between contracts and I am just catching up on all the photo's I've taken that haven't even been procdessed yet. So to be strict on timing isn't helpful to many, I am sure.

That's always been the decision every other time this has been debated.

I'm not sure I agree. You can think of a photo idea at any point during the day, even if it's when sitting on the can. Even a complex shot would take the best part of 30 minutes to setup and take, with another 15 minutes to pick and process.

We're all busy, but we all claim to love photography and if you can't take an hour out in a month (744 hours) to do something we love, for a forum we love we need to evaluate our days!

FWIW, I've not entered a few times as I thought I was "too busy", but now I look back I was too lazy.

[Ledaig]

Bit pointless really as it could not be monitored. Even requesting the exif data is left intact is no good as it can be edited.

(not that i've ever entered!)

[baz7175]

Bear in mind with subjects such as "a very british summer" would alienate me from being able to post then as I live abroad and only get home normally for a couple of weeks max per year.

[jon-]

baz7175 said:

Bear in mind with subjects such as "a very british summer" would alienate me from being able to post then as I live abroad and only get home normally for a couple of weeks max per year.

All you'd have needed was a rain storm or some chavs, perfectly on theme

[baz7175]

jon- said:

baz7175 said:

Bear in mind with subjects such as "a very british summer" would alienate me from being able to post then as I live abroad and only get home normally for a couple of weeks max per year.

All you'd have needed was a rain storm or some chavs, perfectly on theme

They're known as "azzi" (sp) over here in the fatherland

[nick_bbb]

I don't really get the debate. If you want to take a new shot to enter there is nothing stopping you, why does everyone else have to do the same though? I think it's bad form to enter the same shot in more than one competition but I'm not about to police that. It's always been a releaxed affair with little rules and little hassle.

[baz7175]

nick_bbb said:

I don't really get the debate. If you want to take a new shot to enter there is nothing stopping you, why does everyone else have to do the same though? I think it's bad form to enter the same shot in more than one competition but I'm not about to police that. It's always been a releaxed affair with little rules and little hassle.

In general I'd agree with Nick's comments, I wouldn't use the same image several times in the comps, even if it meant going to revisit the original shot and trying to improve on it again...some people have the time to spend the month going looking for a subject to shoot, and some of us spend our lives in customer factories and airports

Edited for my lack of being able to type while wearing stupid big gloves at such a customer factory

Edited by baz7175 on Tuesday 6th October 15:08

[stigmundfreud]

if it aint broke dont fix it, you can always start your own comp though