 - Jill Odice  Contact Jill Odice Jill Odice's Gallery |
What's up with EP's today? Just curious if anyone else has noticed all the EPs that showed up this evening? I have been checking and haven't seen any posted since the 24th...And now I see them on all my images from the 24th-28th and also in all my friends galleries for those dates...Not that I don't appreciate them, but just wondering if someone accidently put them on every image posted between the 24th and the 28th? Of course I think they all are winners, but to see that many posted all at the same time to everyone I know's pages seems unusual?
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- Carolyn M. Fletcher  Contact Carolyn M. Fletcher Carolyn M. Fletcher's Gallery |
Let's not look a gift EP in the mouth. LOL
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Jill, I did a quick check on the 24th at two categories..90% had an EP. Back in May it was around 20%.
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Susan Fox |
Anyone else hear the rumor about more buttons (as in semi-finalist) will be coming from the contest? Don't know how true that rumor is. But it could account for the drastic increase in EPs.
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Gary Lange |
I haven't heard that one. I like EPs and all like everyone else. I just hope that any I receive are well deserved. I don't want a situation like hockey used to be where everybody was virtually in the playoffs at the end of the regular season. Why have a season? Same holds true here. There are so many excellent images the best should be chosen, then the best of the best. I like recognition, again, just like anyone else. But a well deserved one means that much more. My 2 pence. I hope everyone has a great day.
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Kathy Coombs |
Gary, I agree..noe I wonder if I did deserve all the EP's..I only had two that didn't win..if they are not judging the way they used too..it's almost why enter..I was using the better people to look at and improve my game, so to speak..I'm with you.
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- Jill Odice Contact Jill Odice Jill Odice's Gallery |
They seem to lose all meaning if they are given out to all images regardless of quality of work...What's the point? I am happy to get them, but not if I did not really earn them. When I joined BP it was free, I then won a couple of free years by getting first or second places. Then the rules changed and they took away that prize, you win nothing other then a camera bag that doesn't fit any of my cameras...:-) I do not mind paying the old price for my regular membership, but to raise the price from under $20 to $49 seems very extreme. It seems like they are trying to weed out anyone who isn't going to pay for classes or websites. In this day and age with the economy so bad, it's not fair to raise the price so many of us who are struggling along can no longer afford to be a part of this site. I have been a member for several years and am very disappointed that I will no longer be able to afford it. I really enjoyed being here and met so many nice people, but when it comes down to being able to scrape up the money to just get my bills paid each month, I cannot justify spending more then double what I paid and not getting anything more for that extra money spent.
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Kay Beausoleil |
Glad I'm not the only one who's bothered by too many EPs this month; I agree with Gary, Kathy and Jill. I have 10/10, where normally I'm lucky to get 3 or 4 on 10. Yes, I get irritated when my good stuff doesn't make the second round, but oddly, I'm even crankier that my 10/10 doesn't seem to mean much. But then, maybe I'll win all 10 categories for July ...
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Kathy Coombs |
Be interesting to see what next month brings..and I agree, the price is too high for one year...would rather win a year..not a BAG!
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Tiia Vissak |
If a year is a too expensive prize for BP, then maybe they could give 1 month as a prize? Of course, the main idea of the contest is not the prize, but still, 1 extra month would be nice to win.
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Marty Goldenberg |
Last month I Just started entering photo's into the contest, I did not know that is what you needed to do to get an EP. I thought I was doing well and that they liked my photos. After reading the threads I wonder if they are deserved. Hmm... jill - your comment about not being able to continue your membership is a sad thing.
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Susan Fox |
I don't think any one should worry about an EP being deserved or not. Just keeping pushing yourself, get better and have fun. No matter how long you shoot, you can always learn something new and improve. Learning and improving is what this site is all about. If your goal is to do well enough to get EP, and once you've gotten that, then push yourself to try for a finalist, then try for a win.
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Kay Beausoleil |
Tiia makes an interesting point: why not give galleries or memberships as prizes? Like probably many foreigners, over time I've won two bags but never collected -- BP makes non-USA residents pay the postage. Not worth it. I'd rather have had 1 year gallery instead. With all those July EPs, I'm expecting 10 bags ;-) Any takers?
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Tammy L. Newcomb |
It really does not matter if there are too many EPs or not enough. It does not really matter if a first or second is viewed as deserved, undeserved etc. The main objective to any contest is to win. Most of us who are here consistently are here still trying to win grand prize. First place, second place, Semi-finalist, finalist, camera bags or whatever is not Winning so be grateful for all the EPs since it's statistically making you one step closer to the Grand Prize of a real win here at BP.
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- Nikki McDonald Contact Nikki McDonald Nikki McDonald's Gallery |
From the Editor's Picks page: "Editor's Picks represent uploaded photos that . . . have moved on from Round 1 [entry level] of the contest judging." An EP means that a photo will get a second look. When the numbers were extremely low, many of us felt no one was even looking at many of our entries. This month an EP says someone did look AND it assures that someone will give an EP a second look or that a different judge will give it a first look. So what if that applies to 90% of the entries -- as Tammy says, it's really semi-finalists, finalists, and winners, that matter. I think most of my entries deserve a second look, I am grateful for the increased number of EP's, and I am fine with seeing them as nothing more than an indication to me that my entry has been viewed. I have also heard a rumor that BP may limit the number of winners any single member can have in a given month. If true, this is not a decision I would be happy with as it would truly lessen the meaning of a win. If one member deserves 4, 5, or 6 finalists and multiple wins, so be it. I applaud that member's excellence. If I get a win, I do not want to think it was because a better photo was ineligible because its photographer had already won in a different category.
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Marty Goldenberg |
Where do you see the winners?
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- Jill Odice Contact Jill Odice Jill Odice's Gallery |
Marty go to your membership center, then click on "Membership and click on "contest"n the drop down menu. When you get to the contest page look on the right and under the image you will see "recent finalists, Recent winners"
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Marty Goldenberg |
Thank You Jill - Such talented photographer's on this site -
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Gary Lange |
Everyone here has excellent points. At some point everyone would like to be that dog who has its day". That's the goal. Whether it's acheived/attained is up to a lot of factors, most notably human subjectivity. There are objectivty factors as well but this is after all, art. And I certainly enjoy seeing everyone's images. In terms of "prizes", well, yes it seems that a weeding out process or something on that order is going on. I was very surprised to see the jump in the yearly membership. And at the worst possible time too. I understand the bottom line of EVERY company is to make money. Period. Otherwise, why have a business? There is no other reason. No one's in it for charity, after all. With that said, however, it doesn't seem that raising prices on folks THAT much is the right thing to do, especially at this time. Make your profit - yes. But be reasonable. We all have a bottom line. And going back to giving a year's worth of membership seems like a very appropriate prize for winning, second, first, or whatever the powers that be deem. Who knows...by giving someone a chance like that they may be more inspired, shoot an image that gets them a cash award somewhere, and then they may get a PAYING pro or Delux site right here on BP. What a concept...inspiration AND everyone wins!! Again, my 2 pence.
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Daniel Ruf |
I haven't had an EP since back in June and quite truthfully I really don't understand how the system works...if it works at all. It's like all of my work has been blocked out. Yep, I like those little flashy signs under my images, but at this point I can't score...even in the contests.
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wildlifetrailphotography.com - Donald R. Curry Contact Donald R. Curry Donald R. Curry's Gallery |
Daniel, I looked over your gallery and find that you have many excellent photos. I wouldn't be too concerned about the contest.
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Kathy Coombs |
Did you enter last month? You have great photos!
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- Nikki McDonald Contact Nikki McDonald Nikki McDonald's Gallery |
I was in contact with Daniel and no, he did not enter. He did not understand that it is impossible to get an Editor's Pick without entering the contest. I agree with Donald and Kathy, though -- you have many excellent photos, Daniel.
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Kathy Coombs |
Thanks for the info Nikki...(one of my all time favorite names!) Dan..enter! I think you will be pleasantly surprised!!! :) :)
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Daniel Ruf |
I have entered and I was not pleasantly surprised. That's why I went on a "contest hiatus" for a month or two. But, I may just have to work harder to either produce the kind of work they are looking for, whatever that might be, or just not worry about the whole thing.
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Kathy Coombs |
Who know what they look for...some that win surprise me and others that don't..well suprise me..good luck to you..for me, as a newbie..it's a growing experience..and sometimes the comments mean more to me than the win, someone took the time to look.. If I ever get a finalist, it will mean I'm getting better..(I hope)!
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Dan, I think what Kathy is saying is that lately, the BP judges have been selecting a broader range of photos to go into the next round, versus a few months ago..hence the larger number of EPs. And that means they'll get a 2nd look in subsequent rounds. And based on your work, and what I've seen for other contest entries, your photos are just as worthy to proceed to the next round...if you enter them. Of course, you can only enter one a day. Good luck!
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- Ken Smith Contact Ken Smith Ken Smith's Gallery |
Kathy's response come in while I was composing my earlier reply, and hopefully I captured what she was also thinking. Regardless, Dan your photos are fine. Don't get discouraged based on the tighter judging that occured a couple of months ago!
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Kathy Coombs |
Ken, you nailed it and said it so much better than me..thank you.
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Daniel Ruf |
A big thank you to everyone that has commented on my issue. I'll just keep plodding along and see what happens.
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- Tracy L. Hart Contact Tracy L. Hart Tracy L. Hart's Gallery |
Dan, you do have good stuff. I did a huge photo shoot and thought my stuff was good enough, but alas, NOTHING.. I was really bugged... put out more like it, but I sucked it up and tried again... amazing.. my re-submits that I did nothing too, were EP's. I dont understand.. just hang in there!!!
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Daniel Ruf |
Having been a judge a several local photography exhibits and contests and also a participant in such events, I am acutely aware of the fact that judges and judging is highly subjective. I am also aware that many judges, if not all, including myself, have certain biases in their lives which reflect in their judging. In my case, obviously, my bias would lean in nature photography and a more straight forward approach. In judging, since I'm very aware of my slanted look at the world, I try extremely hard, and well I think, to relinquish the bias and judge the work on its technical and aesthetic qualities against all participants. I have a fondness of abstract work, yet I know of at least one local judge that places abstract work above all else and in every show that he is involved in, whether I'm a participant or not, abstracts will win out 95% of the time. An amusing sidelight is that he owns one of my landscapes...which is better than the accolades of a show. Again, thanks to all of you for your kind comments and support.
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Kathy Coombs |
I am absolutly in love with "Spring Gales"..please eneter that so we can watch it win...
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- Martha R. Mazon Contact Martha R. Mazon Martha R. Mazon's Gallery |
Interesting feedback on this thread on the impact of the EP designation. Like everyone, I was drawn to BP by the contest, but as time goes by, I'm more interested in inspiration by the work of fellow photographers and improving my own work. The little EP icons please me when they appear, but I don't think they *necessarily* designate my best, and certainly not always my most creative, work. BTW the judges seem to have swung the other direction in terms of EP awards this month. Seems like they are trying out different tactics.
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- Melinda F. Schneider Contact Melinda F. Schneider Melinda F. Schneider's Gallery |
It all depends on WHO is judging! It's as simple as that. Different judges have different criteria; some are more generous with EPs than others.
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- Martha R. Mazon Contact Martha R. Mazon Martha R. Mazon's Gallery |
BTW, Jill, have you considered Flickr as an another place to display your photos? Flickr has a free option and the Pro option is only $25/year. There is no contest per se but members vie to be included in Flickr's Explore page, a purely democratic honor based on views, comments and favorites of other members, along with other measurable factors.
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Gretchen J. Gilkey |
alright - my two cents worth - I have been a member for the last few years. Over that time, I also have seen the basic memmbership price rise - and I have was happy...mainly because I also purchased a Delux membership - but still I must also pay for a basic??? I also have noticed an increase in the photos I have submitted in the past couple of months for the contest - I received more EP than I had during my entire membership. This month - one of mine made it as a Finalist. I was feeling really pumped - but after reading - now I'm not so sure. I too agree, if I receive an EP - I want to know I have earned it. Also, on another note - I do not like having BP's Summit e-mailed to me every day. I live no where near the location and unless I win a trip - there is no way I will attend. One or two e-mails is more than enough.
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