GT4 Rally Photomode Competition Opinion Poll

[gt4rallycomp]

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Which options would make the Rally Photomode Competition more appealing to you?

The poll is multiple choice and non-public.

If I've left something out, please comment.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I like photoshopped stuff, so thats what I went for, although I would have liked also to be able to just enter in this thread, as I think the reason some people don't enter is because of the hassle to send a pm, instead of just posting.

 

[gt4rallycomp]

I like photoshopped stuff, so thats what I went for, although I would have liked also to be able to just enter in this thread, as I think the reason some people don't enter is because of the hassle to send a pm, instead of just posting.

That's why I made it a multiple choice poll so that more than one vote can be made.

 

[sejtur]

I think this comp has to be able to use SOME ps tools, like the normal PMC. I think that's better than using all of the tools of the 2.0 comp. IMHO though.

 

[gt_masta]

I think you should allow Photoshop. The entries would be higher quality, and those who don't have PS can always use a free program like GIMP and Picasa.

Poll should also be reduce to 10 entries, so that only the best pics are in the poll.

 

[Vonie]

I vote for Photoshop and keep it the way it is. It would be nice to be able to use PS, but I'll keep entering either way.

 

[treefingers]

I say you should have a top ten for the poll, and let the theme choser decide whether or not PS is allowed that week.

 

[Keef]

These comps don't usually receive a ridiculous amount of entries like the normal photomode comps, so I think You should reduce the final set to 10. I also think PS would be cool, like 2.0, because I can't force myself to refrain from editing a pic to perfection. That's why I don't enter the normal comps, too. Of course, this would probably narrow the field of contenders even further. Having a simple-to-enter system like the other comps might cure that problem, because more people would see it on the board. Like me, I didn't even know you had to PM the pictures to whoever in order to enter.

 

[franz]

I am with TF
it is a great idea to reduce the poll to 10 entries
for PS matter, I prefer letting the judge decide the rules
and that will be more flexible for the comp

 

[Brock5000]

I like this comp when it exculdes the use of any photoshop, but I think the rally theme may have run its course.

I think it should be kept as a 'pure' photomode comp and expanded to allow any theme much like the main PMC.

Allowing the use of photoshop makes it just another comp for the usual suspects to win. I think those less skilled at enhancing their photos or who don't have advanced software deserve a comp where everyone is on a level playing field. IMO a top 20 is fine for this comp.

 

[buggymaster]

Yeah, any PS tools would be a nice touch, but i really like the anonymity factor of this comp.

 

[sar593]

I can't upload pics from my PS2 to the PC weekly, so (at least for me) is better to submit entries like the other competitons. For the Photomode I think that is better like the Manufacturers competition, not like the advance one.
Just my opinion

 

[[empty space]]

other than the fact i never get any votes, i like it the way it is ... though i do like brocks suggestion to open it up to a general photomode comp.

 

[atlop]

I think this comp has to be able to use SOME ps tools, like the normal PMC. I think that's better than using all of the tools of the 2.0 comp. IMHO though.

I agree. This would limit the amount of editing work it takes ti win this comp. If you allow the 2.0 comp tools then you pretty much need to give your photo full photoshop treatment if you want to win, coz somebody is going to do it anyway.

And I think you should not change the anonymity of this comp, it makes this different than the other comps.

 

[M3_CSL]

I like the non editing format, just allow resizing to make the pictures easier to look at, and the anonymity is also a good thing. There is no point in doing this in to just another “editing comp”. Reducing the poll to 10 might also be a good idea.

 

[speedy_2]

Gosh, I hope the PS choice doesn't win. Or I hope just because this poll is out that it will change. I went for the "Reduce poll to 10 entries." We've got enough Comps that allow PS'ing and whatnot to the pics. This comp is good because it's all up to the shot itself to win, not someones editing skills.

 

[sejtur]

I agree. This would limit the amount of editing work it takes ti win this comp. If you allow the 2.0 comp tools then you pretty much need to give your photo full photoshop treatment if you want to win, coz somebody is going to do it anyway.

And I think you should not change the anonymity of this comp, it makes this different than the other comps.

Exactly. I like it the way it's organsed, but for me the anonimity should stay. And there should be more entries when B/C is allowed so you haven't got to reduce the poll selection to 10 anymore.

And about heavy PSsing, I totally agree with you, there are already enough comps where it is allowed and people doing really time-taking things to win. If we got another comp like that, if we want to participate, most people haven't got enough time to participate in most comps anymore.

 

[gt4rallycomp]

Just as a refresher and also a bit of a history to the new users reading this.

The Rally Photomode Competition was originally set up last year as a competition to reduce the amount of "buddy-buddy" voting in some of the other competitions by using an anonymous format. Whether or not the "buddy-buddy" stuff was going on is irrelevant then and now. I created this competition secondly as a place for those that are "less fortunate" in PhotoShop skills to have a place where they could compete on an equal level and not be "pushed aside" by all the entries that were PhotoShopped. And as the number of repeat winners in the Rally Competition shows, it's a total toss-up from week to week.

Over the course of almost a year I've seen alot of entries entered into the "regular" PMC that obviously had a lot more than brightness, contrast and cropping done to them and were in the polls. And once again the ones that didn't have the editing "skills" get left out in the cold (so to speak) with the same people winning on a consistant basis. The Rally Competition has only had a small handfull of repeat winners. Granted the Rally Competition doesn't attract the amount of entries that the "regular" PMC or the "advanced" PMC does. But when you look at the entries that are in the other competition polls about half of them are always the same users.

Which says that in order to have a "winning" entry you have to be able to edit your entry in some (not so small) way. Which also shows that a bad photo can be made into a winner with the right editing. However, I feel that it takes a bit more "skill" to produce a winning photo without modifying, altering or editing it. Maybe I'm a bit backwards here but, it seems to me that if you HAVE to edit a picture so that it looks good then you didn't take a very good photo. (I know I'm gonna get flamed for that comment). I have nothing but respect for those that can produce an awesome photo using PhotoShop but, that doesn't mean that they can take a good photo. I've looked at this competition as a "stepping" stone to the other PM competitions because in order to produce a winning entry in the other competitions, first you need to be able to take a "winning" photo. I know that GT4 isn't the best piece of photographic equipment but, we've all seen some dynamite photos entered into the Rally Competition and they haven't been altered at all.

I will do my best to incorporate as many of the suggestions that have been listed here, voted on in the poll and have yet to be added. (Keep those cards and letters coming) I'm glad that there are a good number of you that are interested enough in this little competition to express an opinion. I thank you.

If I have offended anyone with what I have written, I apologize. That was not my intent.

Don't give up on this competition. It will be around for as long as there's an interest. I'll make sure of that. 👍

Thanks for reading,

Swissbear

 

[Perfect Balance]

Although I originally voted for having the use of ps I would now like to limit that down to just brightness and contrast. That way, it just improves the colors and get rid of that grey look to some of the photos, but without really changing anything significantly. Also, this is not something you need skills to accomplish, and anyone can just go download picasa or something similar, which I still use for editing the colors of my photos.

Also, about the lots-of-ps people not being able to produce a good photo, I partly agree. Although ps can make a bad photo look good, that is not enough to win a competition, you need a good photo, and then improved on it. You can only improve something bad so much.

 

[sejtur]

Swiss, just allow b/c, cropping, and NO frames and (ofcourse) sigs. I already could see which entries were from which guys in some cases in the first comp of this year, looking at the borders. And it takes no skill to adjust B/C, at least for people that got the b/c of their monitors right. Everybody can do that. If you don't want to change anything to the comp, just say it.

Over the course of almost a year I've seen alot of entries entered into the "regular" PMC that obviously had a lot more than brightness, contrast and cropping done to them and were in the polls. And once again the ones that didn't have the editing "skills" get left out in the cold (so to speak) with the same people winning on a consistant basis. The Rally Competition has only had a small handfull of repeat winners.

I have nothing but respect for those that can produce an awesome photo using PhotoShop but, that doesn't mean that they can take a good photo.

I feel a little offended here... Ofcourse not your intention but... you might add: and if people don't use PhotoShop doesnt mean that they can take a good photo... I know it's a bit of useless to say this, but if only B/C is allowed, what wrong things could happen? Come on.

 

[gt4rallycomp]

Swiss, just allow b/c, cropping, and NO frames and (ofcourse) sigs. I already could see which entries were from which guys in some cases in the first comp of this year, looking at the borders. And it takes no skill to adjust B/C, at least for people that got the b/c of their monitors right. Everybody can do that. If you don't want to change anything to the comp, just say it.

I feel a little offended here... Ofcourse not your intention but... you might add: and if people don't use PhotoShop doesnt mean that they can take a good photo... I know it's a bit of useless to say this, but if only B/C is allowed, what wrong things could happen? Come on.

The entries that had their sigs on them were removed and replaced with completely different pictures. And if you go and look at the "regular" PMC Hall Of Fame you'll see that in the weeks listed there are quite a few repeat winners and a few that have won more than twice.

If my last post made it sound like I don't want to change anything, then I apologize. I was only trying to point out the differences in this comp and the others mainly for the new members that have joined in the last few months. I may not have worded it right but, I am open to any suggestions that may improve the comp and make it more appealing to more users. Also, I was trying to point out that just by adding Photoshop tools it would make it just like all the rest. Adding the use of Photoshop tools may or may not make it better all the way around.

Yes, you're right. Just because someone doesn't use Photoshop doesn't mean that they can take a good picture either. Sorry for that omission. But that's one of the things that ALL the comps are to help everyone with: taking better pictures within GT4. If you don't enter you'll never know if you're impoving or not.

There will be some changes to the Rally Competition in the coming weeks. Just what those changes will be, we'll just have to wait and see. As you can tell, the poll has already been reduced to a "Top 12".

 

[Brock5000]

I would really like to see a pure photomode comp where the emphasis is on the skill of the photographer, not on what effects they can come up with in photoshop.

Resizing I don't have a problem with as it does not change the original photo as such, but even cropping I think is too much because it takes away some of the skill of photography - framing the shot when you take it is a lot tougher than cropping it afterwards in phoptoshop.

For similar reasons I am against brightness and contrast because clearly some people are a lot more adept at its use that others. Furthermore, different software can give different results even with the same values - try doing the same B&C levels to a shot in both photoshop and irfanview and see the difference.

Anyway that's just my 2c and I will leave it up to Swissbear to decide as it's his comp.

 

[Brock5000]

A few other things, reducing it to a top 10 would only make it more of an 'elite' comp and once again only the usual dozen or so hot shots would get a look in. A top 20 makes twice as many people feel good about making the cut, even if they don't get any votes.


Too many comps serve only to dilute the experience and takes entries away from each other. There's room for a few, but they need to be suitably differentiated from each other.

1 - a Pure photomode comp (ie the rally one with expanded themes)
2 - regular PMC with limited enhancements (B&C, cropping borders)
3 - Advanced PMC with few restrictons (go for it!)
4 - full photoshop comp (creative content as opposed to enhanced)
5 - limited run special comps ie. kenny's muscle car comp.

I dont mean to upset anyone, but imo the manufacturer's comp is a waste - it's a nice idea and all the entries have been great, but it takes away from the other comps. What's the difference between a manu comp and someone specifying the same cars for the APMC theme? That said, this week's manu theme for wheels is a great idea and would itself make a great limited run series.

 

[ROADK.I.L.L.]

well i don't think we should have the photoshoped stuff this should be a compotion available to everyone thats one of the reasons i enterd( i also don't have the full version of photoshop)

 

[atlop]

For similar reasons I am against brightness and contrast because clearly some people are a lot more adept at its use that others. Furthermore, different software can give different results even with the same values - try doing the same B&C levels to a shot in both photoshop and irfanview and see the difference.

It's about time this was brought up! I haven't used either of the programs you mentioned but have seen differences between other software. The problem is that the rules for these comps are not the same for all because people don't use the same software, yet the rules are written as if all of us were using photoshop. I don't think this is so much a problem in the 2.0 comp, but in the regular PMC you are supposed to change only brightness, contrast and size of your photo, but changing these values does other things too. Like sharpening, blurring or adjusting color saturation. I'm not saying it's the same thing as using 'real' tools for these adjustments, but there are clear differences between programs. And I don't think there is any 'right' or 'neutral' way for a program to handle color saturation when changing contrast for example, it has to do something to it (if I'm wrong here please correct). My point is you can't escape changing other things than the three allowed values when you are changing the three allowed values.

For the record I'm using Paint.NET and the standard MS office picture manager.

 

[gt4rallycomp]

Poll is closed. Thank you to all that have expressed an opinion and taken the time to vote. 👍

Watch for changes in the upcoming weeks of the Rally Photomode Competition.