BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

March 2013 - No EP Feedback Thread

Due to the recent changes to judging (criteria?) and awarding of EPs, I was curious whether BPers would be interested in a thread discussing why their image might not have made the initial cut, and didn’t receive an EP, for the contest. So here’s my idea…

WHO: all BP contest participants are welcome. This is purely voluntary and anyone submitting an image for suggestion here should be prepared for such feedback. We all communicate in different ways (both sending and receiving) so it is expected that everyone who participates be respectful and provide and receive feedback in a way that promotes learning and growth in a positive way. Please be descriptive. Say what elements work and why as well as which elements may not work and why and include suggestions that you feel might improve the image.

WHAT: discussion/feedback thread for images that have been passed over for an EP in the contest and will not be progressing further in the judging rounds leading up to Finalists/Winners.

WHY: There may have been less need for a thread like this before the BP changes, as most all entries received an EP. Since the number of EPs awarded has decreased, some members are now wondering why an image was passed over and are looking for feedback on why and what might be done to improve the submission.

WHERE: Suggestions for images submitted should be left on this thread only. This is due to many members expressing that they would not be happy or comfortable with critique/suggestions left directly on the image's comments. This is understandable because some members direct prospective clients to their galleries and because images are resubmitted to the contest at a later date and those comments, even if respectful and helpful, would remain on the image.

WHEN: BP is still going through changes here in March and, in some cases, awarding EPs for previous images through to mid-March, it appears. The general rule going forward will be that this forum will be for current month images not receiving an EP or for past months images with no EP that you are going to resubmit in the current month.

HOW: I suggest that members refer to BPs own "Photo Contest Guidelines: How to Win a Photo Contest." http://www.betterphoto.com/contest/guidelines.php
These are the basic guidelines and criteria to be expected from this contest and the judges/editors. When analyzing an image as to why it might have been passed over, the first clues can probably be found here. It might help to remember that we are discussing why the judges at BP, and not other venues, may have passed on an image.

Helpful hints for attaching photos into Forum Threads (h/t to Michelle Frick):
1) Sign into BP completely (name + password.)
2) If you have NOT YET entered the Contest today, you can use the "Photo ID" to pull an existing image from your Member Center into your reply to this thread (avoiding a duplicate image upload.) Get the Photo ID# from your Member Center, come to back this thread, click Respond, enter the text of your reply, then choose "1" from the images-to-attach drop-down. Click Submit; at the next screen populate the "Photo ID" box at the right. Skip the other fields on that screen.
3) If you HAVE ALREADY entered the Contest today before replying to this thread, you can't use the Photo ID method today. You can either wait until tomorrow to reply here (before your new Contest entry!) or, upload a new copy of the particular image (from your PC) into this thread. This produces a duplicate image in your Member Center; however, you don't have to make that duplicate visible in your Gallery.
4) If you're uploading a duplicate, maybe title it "For Forum" so it stands out in your Member Center, for easier housecleaning later... This may also avoid members leaving critiquing comments on the original image in your gallery. Unwanted comments on the duplicate will be deleted with the duplicate, preserving your original entries comment thread.

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March 25, 2013

	For EP Forum F5.6, 1/80, 55mm (18-55mm lens)outdoor light. Susan M. Smith

Ok, so I'll get the ball rolling with this one.

I tend to like images with dark/moody lighting. The background on this was already dark with shadows so I just darkened it all the way. I'm wondering if that was not a good choice, if the B&W was not a good choice or if the small area of focus doesn't work?

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March 25, 2013