St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

With the two year anniversary of the Weekly Photo Challenges (WPCs) just around the corner I would like to offer everyone a chance to voice their opinions for its future.

The two most common complaints I hear are:
- Archived Photos do not belong in the 'Contests', and
- I am a communist who judges the entries as I wish

This post will address the first with the link addressing the second. http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-220197-1.html

Before we begin, I want to say a few words, and then offer the formats to choose from.

When I started this journey almost two years ago it was to have fun, push everyone past their comfort zone, and hopefully have them learn something along the way. Except for the rule to add a title or description this was never about rules. They were added to make it fair, and it was never meant to be a contest although everyone seems to think they are.

I will run the challenges as long as you participate, but I want you to enjoy them. I want them to be yours. With that in mind I am offering you the chance to change the way they work. So, if you have ever wanted to voice your opinion, speak up or forever hold your peace. Private Message votes will be counted too.

You have until the end of WPC 1425 to make your voice heard as WPC 1426 starts the challenge year and will apply any changes.

The choices:

AS IS -
- Currently the challenges allow for archived and new photos alike
- This gives everyone a chance to participate, but of course the debate will continue

NEW ONLY -
- Photos taken within the Challenge Week will be accepted. Archived photos, and those without EXIF Data will be removed
- This essentially turns the challenges into a contest, but also eliminates those who physically or otherwise cannot shoot within the week

NEW AND OLD -
- Side-by-side challenges would be run, one for archived photos and those without EXIF Data and another for new entries
- Double the work and double the voting

The format is simple. Reply (please do not use Quote Reply) with your vote and explain why. You have roughly a week to decide.

Thank you for your help! Steve

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Steve, I favor the NEW ONLY, except that I would favor a bit more latitude, perhaps a month, three months or a year - or a PM to you from the photographer explaining that a disability prevents newer shooting. I do NOT favor revelation of the details of the disability; some things have to be accepted on faith. If you do this and explanation of acceptance of an older photo is necessary, your annotation as "EXCEPTION" must suffice. Should you choose this option, I will support your rulings without question, and I'm willing to bet that every honorable person on this forum will do likewise.

hochspeyer Loc: Chicago

New, with exceptions: I've only been here for a bit, but a "New" only rule would lock out many participants from "Dads", Moms", "Pets"... You get the idea.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

I will try to keep out of this as much as possible, but on this I will step in.

A Challenge is only a challenge if it is presented as such. To present it any sooner than the start of the challenge removes that so while the rules for entries may change, they will not be presented in advance. S-

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Any such decision would be yours to make at the start of each challenge. In the case of a request for exception, said request would have to be made at the time of entry and you could ban exceptions if you were deluged with requests. You are STILL in charge; I want nothing to change that!

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

AS IS - we are a worldwide site, many of the challenges are season specific.eg, autumn, winter, spring, flowers, animal babies etc Many of the challenges are exclusive by location etc, city, country, seaside, mountain, zoos, or by activity, sporting seasons, car racing etc
Not everyone has access to these within a week, but they may have a cracker of a shot that they took last holiday or last season or when they travelled for work, or last hockey season.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

If NEW ONLY becomes the rule, exceptions would not be made. New only is new only.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Then AS IS; new only is too rigid, due to disability, location, work priorities, family priorities and disabilities.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

If no exceptions?

hochspeyer Loc: Chicago

Uncertain. As I understand it, the goal of the WPC is to stretch- and this is good. If absolutely no exceptions, then I would say no to changes to the current way of doing things.

blackest Loc: Ireland

New and Old I think would be brilliant.

I'd love to see the results of both competitions, I'd enjoy entering both competitions.

The new is a lot harder category to produce to order, with the old you may see a higher standard with once in a lifetime shots.

It would be an interesting comparison maybe not New and Old but Contemporary and Vintage :)

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

As is, many members are unable to comply with "new" due to weather, hospitalization, business commitments etc. The standards which at times are very high, MAY drop due to rushing to shoot to fit the criterion of the challenge.

Off topic a bit: the only rule I would like to see added would be that entrants could not vote for themselves.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Requested to Admin and 'has been placed on the list'

blackest Loc: Ireland

I guess people could put new entered in old if they wanted (how new is new).
new only is a little exclusive i've recently got out of a cast which stopped me for a while.

However I like the distinction which two competitions would bring. Old hands have the advantage of having a large back catalogue to draw upon.

It is a much harder task to photograph within the week.
with the two competitions in place new photographers would be attracted and old masters would be able to show how it should be done.

It has to be worth a trial run at least, if it is too much work then the workload could be split. If it fails to attract enough entrants you can always revert to the original format.

abby Loc: Tampa, Florida

Just sent you another reply also.

I vote new and old - alternating every other week- even the playing field.

Also, no voting for yourself.

Thanks