Photo Contest- Are We There Yet?

Dave - I know it's kind of late, but is it possible to get a sponsorship for the contest and get a prize for the winner or top three spots? Perhaps a gift card to a photo supply place like B & H or Adorama? Or Amazon?

Victor,

Last year Dynamite approached us asking to be the sponsor of a contest, and that was great. This year we've had no companies reach out to us in this manner, so it's not likely. I guess it has to do with the economy.

I'll ask my sales guy Kevin, though, and see if he knows of any companies who might like the exposure.

dave

Thanks Dave.

Good pun, Dave.

Slight bias here, but I'd like to see birds as a separate category.

It's already been established that there will be 24 categories.

Let's see some lists of Categories

I hate to admit it, but I mostly agree with Victor. However WC2, I have to tell you, there are still areas that do not have access to high speed internet, no matter the cost. I am not one of them, but they do exist. Some consideration should be given in that respect, I think.

OK, my 2 cents.
Back to my corner.

GGK, I like your list. How about shrubs separate from trees, wildflowers separate from cacti & succulents, and roses (for tradition).

I agree Sharran, & I have consideration, I consider those places very S- L- O- W... , but I'm sure they'll catch up sooner or later. ^_^

Back to the list, what would 'seasonal' encompass? (...out of curiosity)

Thanks Sharon - I think. ^_^

"People' can be a touchy subject. Shots may require a model release if they are not immediate family. Many people have strong feelings about their loved ones images posted on the internet as well. I've got some wonderful 'character shots' over the years, but I can't post them anywhere without a release. Many folks are not aware that you need this signed document to publish a person's image.

That's true, you can get sued for that stuff...

I think a release is mainly for print reproduction, but a contest may fall under stricter guidelines.

I'm just joining y'all and there are already so many good suggestions.

I don't like the idea of a people category. I'd rather look at plants and bugs and wildlife.

If we're doing more than 14 categories, then I would break insects into two categories and give butterflies there own category.

I like the idea of a water category.

Roses are not like any other plant. Sorry, folks, but they definitely should have their own category.

These are the notes that I made after last year's contest. I based the categories partially on the # of entries in each of last yrs. categories. I combined ones with fewer pics. Also, I think more descriptive cats will help people put photos in the right category.

Category Suggestions

1. Trees and seasonal -- photos of trees are often seasonal in nature anyway and this would help reduce the scenic catagory
2. Birds and birdhouses -- bird enthusiasts deserve their own catagory. Many of us grow plants just for the birds.
3. Wild animals other than birds
4. Pets in the garden and other domesticated animals. Although I enjoyed everyone's pet pictures, I don't want a picture of someone's couch on my calendar. Pets in the garden fits the nature of the calendar better.
5. Mushrooms, seed pods, herbs, grasses and misc.
6. Tropicals, containers, houseplants and cacti. In many parts of the country tropicals and cacti are grown in containers, so this helps to unify the category.
7. Insects. Could break out butterflies and moths and put them in their own category.
8. Macros.
9. Bulbs, corms, rhizomes including water lilies, dahlias, ginger, cannas, and irises.
10. Annuals
11. Perenials
12. Roses
13. Scenic and gardenscapes
14. Fruits, vegetables and shrubs. Fruits and veges was such a tiny catagory and shrubs don't really stand a chance against trees.

I think someone said that "Cacti and Succulents" were in with "Wildflowers", but I'd like to see those separated pretty please. :-) The succulents alone are so beautiful, and the variety is huge. I don't think it's at all logical for those two categories to be lumped together.

Hadn't it been discussed that "Seasonal" might now become "Winter" "Fall" "Spring" and Summer" or are you going to keep them all together in "Seasonal"?

Gardens will be broken into: "Professional" and "Amateur/Personal" correct?

Edited to say:
I was typing while you were posting.
I like the idea of a mushroom/fungi category. Cool!



This message was edited Oct 5, 2009 1:15 PM

Are you thinking that Winter, fall, spring and summer should each be a category?

I like breaking up gardens into professionald and amateur/personal, but I don't think there were very many entries in that category last year anyway, so dividing them up might not be helpful.

I think a wildflower category would be great.

I'm editing to add another couple of thoughts. Where I live, we don't really have much in the way of seasons, so breaking out the seasons wouldn't be meaningful. Also, what would be annuals in other parts of the country are perennials here, so those categories were very confusing last year. Maybe annuals and perennials should be the same category

This message was edited Oct 5, 2009 12:24 PM

On the "Seasonal" category, I really don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I was just bringing up what had been discussed earlier because it was an interesting idea. I don't remember if the seasonal photos were pertaining mainly to trees or not or if the category was a low volume category.

I do really hope "Cacti and Succulents" gets its own category. And I would LOVE a "Mushrooms and Fungi" category.

And has anyone thought about giving "Weather" and "Homemade Garden Art" their own categories? Or is it best to just leave those in "Misc."? I guess what Dave does is make a list of the suggested categories, pick the favorites (23 now) and save the last for "Misc." and people just put their other photos in there.

I went back and reread the posts and I see that it's been decided that there should be 24 categories. Personally, I don't like that idea. I don't think that there should be more than one image per month, so if there are 24, then I think there should be a second vote on what 14 will be used for the calendar. Here's another go at the categories:

1) Trees
2) Birds & Birdhouses
3) Wildlife other than birds
4) Pets in the Garden & other Domesticated Animals
5) Mushrooms, seed pods, herbs, and grasses
6) Cacti and succulents
7) Orchids and tropicals
8) annuals/perennials
9) wildflowers
10) bulbs
11) corms & rhizomes (list some so people will know what they are)
12) roses
13) scenic photos and professional gardens
14) containers and private gardens
15) water gardens, features, waterfalls, streams etc.
16) fruits, vegetables and shrubs
17) sunsets, sunrises and moon shots
18) insects other than butterflies and moths
19) butterflies and moths
20) spring & summer
21) fall & winter
22) macro not entered elsewhere
23) garden art
24) misc.

Well this time, I was typing while you were posting, so I redid my list!

No offense to anyone, but last year's categories are starting to look better.

I like the above list except I think #10 & 11 should be combined and #16 should just be fruits & vegetables, shrubs maybe in with the trees.
I like the idea of the 24 (or whatever number you settle on) categories with max. 2 entries per and also then a second voting for the actual calender because not all shots lend themselves well to a calender layout or not all great shots would be something I would want to stare at for a full month (spiders come to mind, I appreciate a good picture of them but a month of having it in my office would increase my 'ick' reflex!)

I like GardenGuyKin's list below too except for the People one. Love people pics and everybody's grandchild is the prettiest/handsomest (mine included!) but it may hurt someone's feelings if the votes don't conclude the same. They can have the option to include them in the Misc. category.
Also, if there is an Annuals, Perennials and then Flowers In general, that may be too much and too confusing. And some people's annual can be another person's perennial (sorry cold zoners :-) )

Annuals
Birds
Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers
Container Gardening
Domestic Pets and Animals
Flowers in general
Fruits and Veggies
Garden Landscapes
Insects
Miscellaneous
People
Perennials
Scenic
Seasonal
Trees and Shrubs
Tropicals & House plants
Wildflowers which could include Cacti and Succulents
Wildlife

So maybe a combo of the last two lists.

I'd put butterflies and moths in with insects, also divide the seasons. It's getting there, it's starting to look like a decent list... nice job so far!

The catagory development is really coming along great! I think roses should have their own catagory otherwise they might overload the trees and shrub catagory as they are a popular item for photos. I also think the insect catagory should be divided into 2. That one had alot of entrys last year and it was really hard to choose my favs.

I combined some things because there weren't very many entries in the category last year. For example Fruits and Veges didn't have many entries and neither did Container Gardening, so I don't think either of those should be alone in a category.

Wildflowers and cacti/succulents just don't have enough in common to be compared together. I guess you could put wildflowers in with annuals. Again, I didn't like the division of annuals and perennials because there was just too much overlap depending on where you lived.

The advantage of separating the butterflies out from the rest of the bugs is that a butterfly will definitely win. I would love to have a butterfly pic in the calendar. I don't think a butterfly has won in a couple of years. I also love the other bugs too. Some of the bee pictures were just amazing.

No to people. People are ugly -- all of us. I don't want to look at any strange people, and kids are rarely as cute as you think. Legally, it's probably not as much of a hassel as people think (you're privacy is not really as protected as you think), but why risk it.

My list above is growing on me. I'd add to Garden Art - fancy art, homemade art, gnomes, fairies, dog houses and garden sheds.

LOL! Elphaba about people! Too funny! I agree!! ROFL!

I'm liking your list too Elphaba!

Great work
I think the People Category should go too.
I think the Macro Category could go also. (just me and my thoughts only)

Elphaba, great list!
Here are my thoughts on your list with some revision.
I've seen some pretty extraordinary photos in the PlantFiles of fruit and vegetable display. Maybe this would strike up more interest in this category.

List Follows

1)Trees & Shrubs
2)Birds..I think birdhouses would be included in #23 garden art
3)Wildlife other than birds
4)Pets in the Garden & other Domesticated Animals
5)Mushrooms, seed pods, herbs, and grasses
6)Cacti and succulents
7)Tropicals and House plants
8)I think Annuals and Perennials should be sepperate categories
9)Wildflowers
10)Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers
11)
12)Roses
13)scenic photos and professional gardens
14)Containers
15)water gardens, features, waterfalls, streams etc.
16)fruits, vegetables & fruit and vegetable display
17)sunsets, sunrises and moon shots
18)insects other than butterflies and moths
19)butterflies and moths
20)Spring & Summer
21)Fall & Winter
22)
23)garden art
24)Misc.

Lookin' good GGK!

Since your #8 fills in your #11 that would leave #22 open for suggestions.

Thanks
Very well said, 3gardeners. Yes it does.

And by all means this list is still open for suggestions

1)Trees & Shrubs
2)Birds
3)Wildlife other than birds
4)Pets in the Garden & other Domesticated Animals
5)Mushrooms, seed pods, herbs, and grasses
6)Cacti and succulents
7)Tropicals and House plants
8)Annuals
9)Wildflowers
10)Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers
11)Perennials
12)Roses
13)scenic photos and professional gardens
14)Containers
15)water gardens, features, waterfalls, streams etc.
16)fruits, vegetables & fruit and vegetable display
17)sunsets, sunrises and moon shots
18)insects other than butterflies and moths
19)butterflies and moths
20)Spring & Summer
21)Fall & Winter
22)
23)garden art
24)Misc.

This message was edited Oct 5, 2009 7:15 PM

GGK I'm liking your organizing ALOT. Thoughts everyone else?

I think confining pets to the garden is just silly. Cats should not be outside anyway! Yes, we all know this is a garden website but there are many forums that are not strictly garden-related and we have these themes included for years. Does the moon have to be 'over the garden'? Butterflies have to be on a plant?!

And what exactly qualifies as a 'summer and spring' shot that is not in one of the other categories?? The beach?

Scenic photos and professional gardens?? Strange combo.



This message was edited Oct 5, 2009 10:22 PM

Well... I'm a big macro fan... so I would give the suggestion of filling in #22 with Macro.
Otherwise, I'm completely satisfied with the latest edit!

Lookin' good GKG and as Victor says, maybe just pets would suffice.
Scenic photos and professional gardens because neither would be created by the photographer?

I can't believe I missed that Macro wasn't in there. It's one of my favorites! Thank goodness you brought it up!

I like GGK's list too, but agree with Victor & Sue on the pets...since there's a Pet forum here I think any pet pics would be fine not just pets in the garden (many people try to keep their pets out of the garden after all! LOL) Macros sounds cool for the last category--I don't take good ones but I enjoy looking at other people's!

My reason for adding "in the garden" to pets is that we'd get prettier pictures. Really, it's fine if you just do "pets" because the only pics that win are of pets in the garden anyway.

I thought scenic and professional gardens should go together because they would be similar in appearance. Also, gardenscapes didn't have very many entries last year and that was before we thought pros and amateurs should be split, so if I had to put it with something else, scenic seemed to make the most sense.

In the new list, private gardens were cut. That was also a small sampling last year, but I think it should have a place. I put it with Containers b/c that was a small category last year too, and containers are popular in private garden especially small ones. It's not a perfect fit, but I'm not sure where else it could go.

"Tropicals and Houseplants" will probably overlap with "Containers," but maybe that's OK. Orchid people and violet people will be pleased about the houseplant category. Houseplants would be pics of the plant. Containers should really be about the display of the plant.

I agree birdhouses should be in garden art. Good call.

1)Trees & Shrubs
2)Birds
3)Wildlife other than birds
4)Domestic Pets and Animals
5)Mushrooms, seed pods, herbs, and grasses
6)Cacti and succulents
7)Tropicals and House plants
8)Annuals
9)Wildflowers
10)Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers
11)Perennials
12)Roses
13)scenic photos and professional gardens
14)Containers
15)water gardens, features, waterfalls, streams etc.
16)fruits, vegetables & fruit and vegetable display
17)sunsets, sunrises and moon shots
18)insects other than butterflies and moths
19)butterflies and moths
20)Spring & Summer
21)Fall & Winter
22)Macros
23)Garden art
24)Misc.