Contest Topics and Judging

[Eric Yang]

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone who participated in all the contests so far! I hope they were challenging or at least fun and hope you got something out of them.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about possibly modifying the judging or topic selection procedure. Right now I basically come up with all the topics and select all the winners. While I certainly don't mind doing this (although it can be hard choosing sometimes!) I think it would be great if more people could have a say, especially in choosing the contest theme and judging the winners.

I was thinking that a possible option could be to have a panel of judges who would be ineligible to enter a competition but could decide at the end on who wins. Or have the winner of the previous contest decide the theme and winner for the new contest. Something like that. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

Feel free to throw out random thoughts or suggestions about future contest themes or anything else as well.

Thanks as always!

[Socrates]

"Or have the winner of the previous contest decide the theme and winner for the new contest."

I kinda like that idea except that I don't think that "singular" is a good idea.

[daronk]

I think it depends on the nature of the contest....if you are using the results for specific marketing material then you (Topaz) should absolutely be the one to decide a winner.

I've seen other forums that have weekly and monthly contests. Winners get a "trophy" next to their name in their ID banner when they post and in their profile to show they won a contest. The results are judged by all the members. You can only vote once and not for yourself. They are based on a theme "word". Only one entry per person and the picture HAS to be taken during the week/month of the contest, so you can't just dig up the best shot you took last year.

[Socrates]

I think it depends on the nature of the contest....if you are using the results for specific marketing material then you (Topaz) should absolutely be the one to decide a winner.

Good point.

I've seen other forums that have weekly and monthly contests. Winners get a "trophy" next to their name in their ID banner when they post and in their profile to show they won a contest. The results are judged by all the members. You can only vote once and not for yourself. They are based on a theme "word". Only one entry per person and the picture HAS to be taken during the week/month of the contest, so you can't just dig up the best shot you took last year.

I like this suggestion. I prefer "month" (or even a bit longer) rather than "week."

[Eric Yang]

Absolutely. I think we can have different competition styles for different purposes too, so it doesn't have to be limited to just one type.

I'm actually working on something that will, in the future, integrate much more stuff with your forum account including possible trophies, purchased products, etc, which will be very cool.

[Mike Savage]

Great ideas. I like monthly as weekly is just not enough time for me.

Mike

[daronk]

I would recommend monthly as well..

[Ian Mc1]

Hi Eric
Maybe you could get Ashley and other Topaz staff to join you on this.
Possibly each one of you to rate your top five with marks of 5,4,3,2,1 and then total them up to decide the winner. Mind you,could possibly end up with a tie which could be a problem.
Cheers: Ian Mc

[daronk]

Mind you,could possibly end up with a tie which could be a problem.

Tie should go to the one with the earlier post date.

[puffin31939]

I think it depends on the nature of the contest....if you are using the results for specific marketing material then you (Topaz) should absolutely be the one to decide a winner.

I've seen other forums that have weekly and monthly contests. Winners get a "trophy" next to their name in their ID banner when they post and in their profile to show they won a contest. The results are judged by all the members. You can only vote once and not for yourself. They are based on a theme "word". Only one entry per person and the picture HAS to be taken during the week/month of the contest, so you can't just dig up the best shot you took last year.

I would prefer not to be restricted to a current photo - sometimes, maybe, but not for every competition. I am a tweaker of my photos rather than a keen photographer and don't take photos on such a regular basis