How about a photo competition?

[Canso42]

JDK- it takes a lot of skill to perfectly capture a speeding plane or race car exactly behind a pole.

cg51- Killer sunset shot!

SabreMech- hats off to you for the maintainer idea!

I think the oops category could be good for some laughs. We could have competition for the best caption. lol

My biggest missed shot was a folded up Corsair against the sunset at LSFM airshow a couple of years ago. Some goober kept moving back and forth in Evergreen's lot in a truck. My truck against a sunset-maybe. A beater F-250 with ladder rack...NOT!

Ever try to shoot top fuel funny cars standing at the starting line? The first time I did I wasted a whole roll before I got the hang of it. I have many shots of other photogs' heads, roll bars, people in the stands, light poles.
How about guns and turrets for category?

Sounds like fun,
Doug

[JDK]

Currently we have two prizes. That covers two categories. We'll need more prizes. Anyone?

How about this one i took at Reno in 2000

How about it? This isn't the competition, just discussing the idea of a competition.

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!

Good idea David! You put up a prize (something U/S off the Sabre would be great) and you can judge the 'Colored Fluids Award'.

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.

I can't see us (the judges) checking out if something's been manipulated or not. If its a prize-winning image, composite or not, I can't see why it shouldn't go in. It's going to be a) easy to judge and b) about results, not process or status. I don't care whether someone's a pro, calles themselves a photographer or not.

We do need some way of giving those who have better access (a2a, for instance) a different field to work in than those that don't.

Keep it coming, especially PRIZE ideas...

[Sabremech]

I'm sure I could find something unique for a prize! Count me in on the maintainer award! Oh Wait, does this mean I can't enter to win?
David
WHF Maint
www.warbirdheritagefoundation.org

[JDK]

I'm sure I could find something unique for a prize! Count me in on the maintainer award! Oh Wait, does this mean I can't enter to win?

Too late...

But you get a warm feeling, of encouraging others. Enjoy.

Seriously, though, that's great. Now, more prizes?

[DaveM2]

James

I am sure we could throw in a years sub to Classic Wings.

Dave

James, I think I just may take a shot at this contest as well. Got a new camera and a trip scheduled for Chino this coming weekend.

M

[JDK]

I am sure we could throw in a years sub to Classic Wings.

Dave you are a star! Thanks. Do you have a particular prize you want to offer that for?

Anyone going to match Dave and me, and David? I've no worries we'll get entries, it's PRIZES we need!

I'll scare up the proposed draft of rules for competition.

[JDK]

OK, some proposed prizes and rules:

The WIX Photograph Competition.

Award: Most artistic or abstract warbird photograph.
Judge: JDK
Prize: 5 MMP books

Award: ‘Colored Fluids’ Best photo of warbird maintenance or maintainers.
Judge: David, WHF Maint.
Prize: Genuine used F-86 bit

Award: TBC
Judge: DaveM2
Prize: One year Sub to Classic Wings Magazine

Award: TBC
Judge: JDK
Prize: One year Sub to Flightpath Magazine (Aus)

Some rules:
Scott Rose is the Chief Judge.
No cash or alternative prizes, all prizes offered with global shipping, surface where required. Prizes offered as seen / discussed.
Open to all
Pictures MUST be the work of the entrant
Picture MUST feature ‘warbird’ or ‘vintage’ aircraft – For the purposes of the prize, this includes ex-military aircraft either preserved or working. Current military aircraft (excluding memorial or preserved aircraft) are NOT included, but may be included in a photograph’s composition

Judges decision is final, and no whining allowed. We also reserved the right to change the rules if we have to.

Regarding Davey’s suggestions:
1.) Must be from personal photograph of participant – Yup!
2.) Maximum of 5 entries per participant – I reckon one or two per class, maybe five overall?
3.) No altering of original image (except to turn black and white). Nope. I reckon anything goes. Personally as long as the final result’s an award winner, I don’t mind what’s been done to it – get creative is one prize requirement, and it’s not a news item.
4.) File size should be (whatever size someone smart chooses) Yes – thoughts?
5.) Must have been taken before 1965 (should this be a rule?) – No – I recon it’s too hard to lay down a before / after date. Happy to discuss though.

And contemporary shots are out – pics taken IN W.W.II, Korea, Vietnam etc aren’t included – they’re a different thing than preservation or commemoration.
6.) Submissions cannot have any trademarks or copyrights on them. – Web versions may be watermarked / copyright – Web file name MUST include participant’s REAL name.

IF we go the calendar route - A high res version MUST be available and provided, reproducible to A4 / 10” x 8” for the calendar, and rights for WIX to produce and market the calendar to raise funds for WIX must be agreed.

It’s all negotiable at this stage, so whaddya think?

[Ztex]

I like it!

This will be fun!

(Can I enter as long as I'm not a judge? )

BTW poles suck!

[daveymac82c]

Ack... so much for editting my post before I submit it...

Django, and yes, James too.... I meant to say "Must be pictures taken AFTER 1965. Not before." I got my words all jumbled up. My apologies.

I just figured that photographs taken as far back as 1965 probably wouldn't be as good as photos taken more recently with much better cameras and lenses. (I expect a few people on here suggesting their "Old beauty" to be better than some of todays cameras).

And yeah, James, contemporary shots being out is a good idea. That's sort of what I was getting at with the no pre-1965.

I wish I could contribute a prize to this contest. Can anyone out there offer a nifty airplane ride? Obviously location is a big factor.... That's tough.

This is making out to be quite fun.

Cheers,

David

[Django]

I don't even remember the last photo shoot I was on that was using film.

So are you doing CafePress for the calendar project? I've handled the HAMB calendar project for the last 6 years. We print 500-1000, 2 color, 16 pages each year. Let me know if you need any help.

Is there going to be a reenactor photo category?

[spookythecat]

This is gonna be cool!

[Liza]

...IF we go the calendar route - A high res version MUST be available and provided, reproducible to A4 / 10” x 8” for the calendar, and rights for WIX to produce and market the calendar to raise funds for WIX must be agreed.[/color]...

Having noticed an increase in concerns over copyright usage issues lately, may be a good idea to include in the fine print the person submitting the images maintains photo/copyrights except for the use expressed above.

[mtpopejoy]

I would be willing to put up a 1 year general membership to the Yankee Air Museum for one of the wieners!

[JDK]

So are you doing CafePress for the calendar project? I've handled the HAMB calendar project for the last 6 years. We print 500-1000, 2 color, 16 pages each year. Let me know if you need any help.

I'm not going to. (Too much to do already!) IF we get there / folks think it's a good idea, seems to me that would be the route to go. And yes, help would be needed, PLEASE! Can you adopt the idea for us, and consider what we need to make it happen?

Is there going to be a reenactor photo category?

It would be cool, but see below.

...IF we go the calendar route - A high res version MUST be available and provided, reproducible to A4 / 10” x 8” for the calendar, and rights for WIX to produce and market the calendar to raise funds for WIX must be agreed.[/color]...

Having noticed an increase in concerns over copyright usage issues lately, may be a good idea to include in the fine print the person submitting the images maintains photo/copyrights except for the use expressed above.

Yes, when we get to a final draft of the idea, rules etc, that's an important point. Conversely, entries will have to allow for use by WIX to some degree, for the competition.

I would be willing to put up a 1 year general membership to the Yankee Air Museum for one of the wieners!

Good man, thank you!

Those all champing at the bit to submit - there's a long way to go before we can start the competition. Better than asking when we are off and running, lend a hand to get MORE PRIZES and feedback on the structure of the competition.

What's a WARBIRD?
I have been asked via PM "Do I understand correctly that we can submit current warbirds? Or are we allowed to submit only WW2 warbird taken today?"

Answer: NO CURRENT MILITARY, OR SERVING MILITARY aircraft included. Not MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN SERVICE YESTERDAY either. For the purposes of the competition, 'Warbird' is defined as an ex-military aircraft, or civil aircraft with previous military history. You know, like you'll see in Warbird Digest (or Warbirds Worldwide). I reckon we should also include any vintage types.

(We regularly get discussions if a modern military type is a 'warbird', and you may define it as you wish, there's NO official definition. However, as the competition was my idea, and I hope we do want to see great pics of old ex-military aircraft, rather than another competition for modern mil, warbird is the old stuff, for this comp. OK?)

Categories.
My proposal is we have ONE category you can enter up to FIVE pictures in. As well as first, second, third, etc. prizes, I'm proposing that there are special prizes for specific types of pics, within the overall comp - most creative, best dressed maintainer, thinnest re-enactor etc. That way there's no difficulty in entering the right class, we get a 'best of the best' and everyone gets a chance (best static, best air to air). We can award firsts without prizes, but I know which we prefer, so WE NEED PRIZES!

The other question is judging the main category - we could have a small panel of judges, or we could make it 'people's choice' with a vote for each WIX member. If we had the panel we could still have a seperate people's choice too - again prizes is the sticking point. Thoughts?

Making in worthwhile.
Thinking about it last night, I also reckon we need to make it worthwhile to WIX, so I'm proposing an entry 'fee'. This 'fee' is either a donation to WIX or your preferred aviation museum or organisation. (Which benefits the greater warbird organisation). That 'fee' to your museum could be cash, or donation or donation of effort, it's up to you. Only thing is it has to be something you weren't going to do anyway. Obviously we could set up some complex auditing system, but I'm also going to propose we just do it on an honesty system - After all you wouldn't lie to us, would you? What we will ask is that you tell us, publicly, what you've done / donated. That way everyone gets a warm feeling, and there's something in it for Scott.

Whad'ya think?

So, in short, if you like the idea, get us a sponsors for PRIZES...

(Did I mention we need more Prizes?)

Off to discuss this with Scott. If I don't come back, he din't like it.

Cheers,