How about a photo competition?

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:52 pm

This is a suggestion, looking for feedback.

I'd like to kick-off a WIX photo competition. I'm prepared to put up a couple of prizes; say a couple of MMP Books (see my Autosig for the details) and maybe a years' sub (four issues) of Flightpath (because I can do that).

That's not enough; so can I ask some others to pitch in with prizes which can be 'won' by anyone anywhere in the world, on the warbirds theme. Perhaps some of the other publishers lurking here could pitch in?

I reckon Scott should be one judge, 'cos he's the law. I'd like to judge a specific prize which would be for 'most artistic or abstract' warbird photo.

I'm sure some rules are obvious, and some categories likewise. However, rather than trying to figure it out myself, what do people think should be the categories and rules? Should everyone (apart from the judges, of course) be eligible to enter?

How could we run it?

Over to you - could be fun, and a whole new thing to fight over.

(I hope Scott likes the idea...)

262crew · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:24 pm **Posts:** 877

Sounds good to me. How about five pictures from each participant. Everyone judges and decides the winner, based on number of votes. Perhaps this could be placed in the "sticky" section, and could have a expiration date.

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:50 pm

Hey James,

great idea... too bad I don't have any decent pictures. I digress.

Below are just some spewings from my mind of ideas.

Categories:

1.) Overall best photograph
2.) Most artistic image
3.) Best Black & White
4.) Most unique subject matter
5.) Most historically significant (taken by the participant)
6.) Best Piston engined airplane
7.) Best Jet airplane
8.) Best Vintage
9.) Best airplane image (on ground)
10.) Best airplane image (airborne)
11.) Best helicopter (air or ground)
12.) Best Amateur photographers image (how do we determine that?)
13.) Best Professional photographer image

RULES:

1.) Must be from personal photograph of participant
2.) Maximum of 5 entries per participant
3.) No altering of original image (except to turn black and white).
4.) File size should be (whatever size someone smart chooses)
5.) Must have been taken before 1965 (should this be a rule?)
6.) Submissions cannot have any trademarks or copyrights on them.
7.) That's all I can think of....

NOW HERE'S SOMETHING COOL MY GIRLFRIEND JUST SUGGESTED:

If we have 13 categories, and thus 13 winners we can put together a calendar (two Januarys). Each month will have one of the winning images... how cool is that?

I know I'd buy one! I get the feeling the images are going to be amazing, so I think lots of other people will too.

The money raised can be donated to a WIX voted upon restoration project somewhere in the world.

If it's successful enough, we could have a competition each year and benefit warbird preservation around the world. Or we could pay the bills for WIX.

Anyone have "printing" connections for producing calendars for cheap?

So there ya go.

That was my girlfriend's and my combined 4 cents worth.

Cheers,

David

Canso42 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:19 pm

James, sounds like fun to me. How about a 'peoples' choice photo'? Selected for no other reason than "I think it's a cool photo". I've seen a lot of other WIXers' work here I'd vote for in that.

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:35 pm

Lots of good suggestions, thanks everyone - more wanted!

At this stage it's up to me and Scott, but more will be needed, along with more PRIZES! Could some of the restorers here perhaps donate a scrap (but interesting) aircraft part or two?

I do like the 'people's choice' idea, and we have run a WIX voting system for the Most Valuable Poster 2006, so it (presumably) could be done again. The calendar is also a neat idea.

The only other comment I'd make at this stage it it has to be manageable to some degree - so there will be an element of the KISS principle brought into play (keep it simple, stupid)

DaveG · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:45 pm

I think one category needs to be "I Can't Believe I Missed That" to include pictures that were almost great but are slightly out of focus, not centered, wrong shutter speed, and the like.

On a related note, a category should exist for the best explanation for "Why I Missed The Shot." I was changing film, I was loading a new memory card, I was in line for the bathroom/water/a new shirt/to meet Cook Cleland, there was an umbrella/tent/VIP seating area in my way, etc.

oh wait, I'm not the only one that happens to, am I?

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:52 pm

DaveG wrote:

I think one category needs to be "I Can't Believe I Missed That" to include pictures that were almost great but are slightly out of focus, not centered, wrong shutter speed, and the like.

You mean like:

I'm sure we can have a wooden-spoon prize for 'speaker-pole and friends' shots.

DaveG · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:58 pm

This one always hurt. Oh, and that's with a Kodak 110 too, by the way.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:07 pm

DaveG wrote:

I think one category needs to be "I Can't Believe I Missed That" to include pictures that were almost great but are slightly out of focus, not centered, wrong shutter speed, and the like.

On a related note, a category should exist for the best explanation for "Why I Missed The Shot." I was changing film, I was loading a new memory card, I was in line for the bathroom/water/a new shirt/to meet Cook Cleland, there was an umbrella/tent/VIP seating area in my way, etc.

oh wait, I'm not the only one that happens to, am I?

I like that idea! It'll bring new life to what would be a throwaway.

k5083 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:26 pm

Having categories for air-to-air, ground-to-air, and ground-to-ground is good because it sorts out the photographers who have better equipment and privileged access.

I like the idea of having "old" and "new" categories too, separated by some date, like 1980 or something.

And don't forget special categories like:

1. Best plane-and-dame photo.

2. Best pseudo-vintage photo (with photoshop sepia, fading, scratches etc.).

3. Best photo of a banned Wixer's plane. :twisted:

August

Django · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:45 pm

I have a couple that I would like to enter. Sounds like fun!

daveymac82c wrote:

5.) Must have been taken before 1965 (should this be a rule?)

You're going to have to explain this one, cause as it is written above, it's excluding more than half the board... :shock:

Here is a benefit calendar I am involved in yearly for another message board, the Jalopy Journal. I do a call for entries and then I pick the "winners" and I handle all the design and production and oversee the printing. It's won awards too. Here's this year's
http://jalopyjournal.myshopify.com/prod ... b-calendar

And there isn't a photographer anywhere anymore that doesn't "tweak" their images in photoshop, so I don't think that is a realistic restraint either.

262crew · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:24 pm **Posts:** 877

Django wrote:

And there isn't a photographer anywhere anymore that doesn't "tweak" their images in photoshop, so I don't think that is a realistic restraint either.

I don't I use Kodak B&W or Fuji chrome color 400 speed with an early Cannon AE-1. No photo shop or digital. Only prints that I scan.

cg51 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:32 pm

How about this one i took at Reno in 2000

Sabremech · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:14 pm

What about the maintainers out here? Let's include photos of aircraft undergoing maintenance and what it takes to get those air to air, ground to air, etc photos. There's a lot of interesting stuff you guys are missing that goes on all year long to keep these Warbirds flying. Check out our website and the maintenance section on each of our airplanes for example!

David
WHF Maint
www.warbirdheritagefoundation.org

k5083 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:02 pm

262crew wrote:

Django wrote:

And there isn't a photographer anywhere anymore that doesn't "tweak" their images in photoshop, so I don't think that is a realistic restraint either.

I don't I use Kodak B&W or Fuji chrome color 400 speed with an early Cannon AE-1. No photo shop or digital. Only prints that I scan.

I'm with you 262crew. My photos are slides, many of them are never scanned, darned if I know how to use photoshop on a piece of celluloid. But then again, I've never called myself a photographer.

August

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