Announcing the 5th annual DG Photo Contest!

Well, Then a BIG Welcome, John! So many members now and so many forums that unless I check, I don't know if it's someone new or someone who posts on different forums than what I watch.

Hi John, and welcome to DG. Lots of nice people and lots of good photographers here - obviously!

.. Darius ..

Will you please elaborate a bit, about your statement/s above -?-

what Magpye is saying is what I have been talking about. some of the entrys are of much better resolution than others. I dont understand how I can judge between one and the other John

John, my understanding is that it is NOT resolution, just size. I don't care if someone has a camera that can take a finely detailed photo of 1,000 dpi, once it's uploaded to the Internet, we can only view it (on average) at about 72 dpi.

I don't take the kind of photos Magpye does (cannot afford the camera) but even if I could, I shrink all my photos to upload to 640 x 480 pixels so they load faster for me (dial-up) and display faster for viewers.

darius, when I change the size of my pics, I also have to change the pixels. otherwise I time out on the upload. I can click on my uploaded photo and tell one heck of a difference John I am only using a canon PowerShot S50

As I recall, we used to get some really large images before Dave instituted some sort of onsite re-sizing. That way, large photos are automatically brought down to size. However, I really don't know if this resizing actually changes the file size when you are trying to load it.

Sad but true, in any photo contest, they guy with the fancy camera is probably going to win. If we are truly judging on the photographic expertise rather than the content, the good photographer with the good camera is going to have an advantage.

One other consideration is that most digital cameras do not take good closeups unless they have a macro lense or something like it (I'm camera dumb). I have a setting on my new camera for close ups, and I can focus in by using the window, but in some cases, I have to step back a bit, take the shot at a high resolution, then crop it to a closeup on the computer after download. Some of the fuzzy shots are due to getting too close and out of focus, I think.

Hi carrjohn,
I am no expert on this, but my old 'hand me down' computer had very little memory or space of any kind, and Windows 95, albeit in its time it was one of the good ones. I only had a 35mm film camera then, and had to scan a picture, the process for altering the size was related to the pixels, and when uploading to AOL for ebay had to be no more than 50 kb, and 4" x 6". My new computer, and digi camera, pose none of these problems. The camera uploads automatically on Windows XP Home Edition, and all picture files are accessible from AOL9 with no transferring needed, they automatically go into JPEG format. The only thing I have to do to upload to such-like as ebay or DG is copy them to AOL Downloads, which is a simple step from windows picture files.

I do have a 5MP Sony DSC V1 which is compatible with this, and the quality is more determined by the quality of the camera, i.e. make, features such as CCD which has better results than the CMOS, and many other factors. I'm afraid the quality is a many factored thing.

Weezingreens is right. Good tools, good art. I have very large photos and they take time to load but they are automatically downsized. I assumed that pics on DG that are smaller were just not at the upper size limit.

The most amazing category to me is the cactus & succulents. We don't have many here and I had no idea how diverse they were. Thanks so much for this contest, Dave.

.. Darius ..

My photo images and/or my digital camera .. has absolutely no relevance to my inquiry or discussion.

My prior inquiry consisted of asking if you were referring to YOUR own monitor resolution, (and/or images) etc ...

Your comment may hold true - as it may be associated to the particular dimensions of the photos that you choose to upload and present. BUT .. your statement appears to have been all-encompassing.

I'd also wondered, if perhaps you may know something more about DG's re-sizing, etc. of photos that are submitted .. that you may would care to share (or refresh) with the rest of DG.

- Magpye

Nice to see that I can vote in chunks.
That helps.
It allows looking at a few at a time and not burning out.
I was getting pet and Lily overload.

I will disagree w/ the nicer camera nicer shots statement.

An adequate camera is all that's needed.
Great and expensive cameras are usually wasted.
Studies show that most people shoot in Auto mode or Point and Shoot. (especially w/ the digitals)
So most of the bells and whistles are never used.

While a wedding photographer I owned some very expensive equipement.
This was the nature of the beast. You had to shoot in a large format.
All my nature, figure and garden shots though were shot w/ entry level cameras.
Never larger than a 35mm and many w/ a 1940's Agfa my Father bought in WW II.
Now I use a digital camera easily bought for around 150 dollars.

Learn photography from the ground up.
Start w/ a camera that makes YOU take the shots.
Like gardening it is an art form.
Now w/ the digital revolution one that is easily in reach of about everyone.
(and MUCH cheaper than Gardeing! lol)
Cameras don't take the pictures.
Good photographer-good pictures.

Ric

Ric I do think that everyone that read my post has misunderstood-- or I just cant explain my self. I have a very good digital camera Canon Power Shot S50- what my concern was, and I will after this, leave it as was, I cannot upload the same quality of photo that even my Grandaughter can, because she has the DSL avaliable and I dont. It is a proven fact. But if you guys are right about Dave having something that equalizes all photos then I will accept that. John

Every photo I put in has been shrunk to 60 to 150 kps and they look the same as they do on my monitor enough to not worry about.I can take better pictures with my new camera because it does not make me shoot at a high ISO and I can reproduce images better. It is not sending them to Dave's that reduces quality, only quality from the start gets quality.-Rich

Everyone on dial-up should go to www.microsoft.com and get power toys image re-sizer. It reduces pictures for sending on the internet to small, medium,, and large,with a extra-small for cam phones. Free, works great . Those 6min. downloads will be 10-30 sec. Great for receiving e-mails. Your friends,relatives etc, will get your stuff faster and not timed out.-Rich

Thanks Rich! (Up early to see if I have school today and I don't-big snow coming) I have DSL and resize my pics when I right click on the pic and chose to send an e-mail, but I like the idea of doing this independently of my e-mails when I chose. This should save non DSL folks having to make resized copies, too. (I never stop learning cool stuff on DG!)

I just installed powertools image resizer. It's only for XP. If you don't want to save a copy, you right click on the photo and chose advanced. The last option is to resize but not save.

I love the image resizer and use it all the time. I usually resize to near 800 x 600 if I'm emailing and near 640 x 480 for DG. IMHO nothing detracts from the impact of a picture more than having to scroll around to see it all.

I too disagree with the nicer camera, nicer shots statement...you might get higher mp or a better zoom but the photographer still takes the picture. The set up of the shot, position of the light, the lack of background clutter etc is way more important than the camera one is using.

I just want to clarify. You are certainly right about good photography. I was assuming that we were talking about good photography to begin with. We are all good here at DG, right? :) If you are already taking good photos-good tools, good art. I've taken pics for years but my new digital camera has a great lens and my photos and prints look almost as good as 35s now (my true goal). I did a bunch of research first and didn't buy the most expensive camera. That would be dumb. Actually I sold my old one and hardly spent anything on the new one. Because I'm happy, I'm taking more pics and getting better at my photo skills. I also have the option of using the bells and whistles when I want to learn more. This has been my experience so far with cameras.

Sorry Boojum my comment wasn't directed to you but to the statement about the camera. It's one I hear a lot.

You're using the Lumix Z20 aren't you? Great camera, takes awesome shots. I use mine all the time. It's one of two I use right now and I would never be without it in the field. It's a tough (rugged) camera too which is really important

Yep. Thinking a camera will immediately improve your skill doesn't make much sense. Gotta have the eye. Love my Lumix but not until Magpye helped me solve problems with sizing! (I love this website!) What I love in the photo contest is the way a photo can just LEAP above the rest, no matter how competently done the rest are. I wait for the experience to happen to me. It's my idea of good anticipation. Oh boy, oh boy, one of these photos is going to amaze me. There are a few photographers here that do this to me consistently and I always look foward to their posts. Some high quality folks here on DG.

I'm on dial-up...have never had anything else. All of the pics are loading in less than 20 seconds regardless of size.

I go through and check the boxes with the best color and composition, then enlarge to see clarity. I leave the check till I find one I like better.

I then register the votes. When I get through everything, I'll go back and look at my choices again.

There's lots of wonderful images and a great deal of inspiration in this year's group of submissions.

Can we agree to agree then that it is a combinaton of many factors? I for one had a Pentax Espio 115, which was a better camera than I had previously used, but no 35mm camera can give us the instant view a digi can. By comparison it was poor. I had been fed up with sending film off and getting only the odd goodish one. The money spent on film and developing I considered wasted much of the time, and better put into a camera that was going to give me good results which I could select.

If you want to put that image which grabs you in a moment of time on record, then it it a wise thing to make sure that the camera you have is suited to your purposes. It gives a 1000 times more pleasure to know that you have captured a moment of beauty, and that beauty is more often captured in the artist's eye . This is what comes over when as boojum says, a certain shot LEAPS out at you, you have the satisfaction and joy of sharing that beautiful moment, and that in its own, to me, gives even more pleasure.
There are people who don't have the beauty surrounding them as some of us do, and what better than to share this joy.
I spent much time in researching the many cameras on the market, as I wasn't going to buy the most expensive camera, but neither did I want the cheapest as it would have again been money wasted, and I don't have it to waste. Seeing that I was only going to do it once, it was a decision that had to be taken with much care, and I was lucky to pick up a Sony that was discontinued at a good price. I couln't have made a better decision.

So, if I may summarise in a nice way, really it is no good just grabbing a camera because the price is really good, or if someone else has one and says it's good, etc etc. The individual must be certain that it suits them, considering the joy it can give it HAS to be a well thought out process. I have had a WOW of a time taking photos in my garden this summer and am amazed at the results, my life is many times enriched.

RickS, Thanks for bringing up the PowerTools Re-sizer.
I use it all the time and like the fact that when I post a pic, we all can see the entire pic within the screen without scrolling up or down.
Andy P

I download my digital pictures to my computer and edit them to size, saving the originals in a separate file that later goes onto a CD for storage. I take pictures at a higher resolution just so I have some options when editing and cropping, then have a saved shot should I wish to do it differently later.

When I got my first digital camera, I cropped everything, but now I'm beginning to see the importance of periferal items in the framing of a shot. One might ask Dave if onsite resizing distorts the image in any way. I mention this because Evert once asked him a similar question, but I've forgotten the answer.

Whew,,,all this info about digital camera's,,,,I'm going to have to take some time to learn all the things mine will do, the resolutions and changing pixels,,,,ooo, not Another winter project,,,,LOL

Kelly

If you have a DVD writer you can store them in BMP form.
Then you can play w/ them all you want.
This is an especially good way to store scans.
I'm restoring some Family heirloom shots and it really helps.

Ric

I am Definitely going to Have to copy all of this good info down so I have a reference when I need it,,,,,,thanks to all for these great tips.

Kelly

I have 24GB worth of pictures on 6 DVD's. I made a copy of that and seperated them. I also bought a external 200GB hard drive and put everything on that and my regular computer is super fast again. It's easy to use the auxiliray drive and if something screws up my regular one it is all backed up.External hard drive Seagate USB 2.0 and Firewire 200GB $119 after rebates.Sam's Club has a good LG DVD/CD writer for $100. The DVD's hold 4.5 GB for thirty-four cents in bulk(50)-Rich

Well, all this megacomputer stuff is interesting, but have not answered my question. I still would like an answer as to whether my votes are being counted twice if I have already registered a section of votes and then go back in to complete a category. If they are still checked, they have been counted, right? So then I still have to go back and uncheck things so they don't get counted twice, right? But if I do that, then do my votes get counted at all on the first segment? This part has been extremely frustrating to me.

Good Idea Rich - I keep storing them on CD's and have a Disc Stakka that can store up to 100 CD's. I got mine from Buy.com. http://www.imation.com.au/products/disc_stakka/index.htm Although it's a bit pricey, I love it! Not only can I store my photo CD's on it, but all my other discs as well. Plus it creates a directory that can be searched!

-Anita

1gardengram,
Each member gets their own ballot, to put it in voting terms.
That ballot will only be counted once, but can be changed all thru the voting period.
Your ballot stays the same unless you change it.
(What you voted for yesterday will be there tomorrow.)
At the end the ballots will be registered (put in the ballot box).
Then they will be tallied up.

The only way you can vote twice is to have two memberships.
(If someone wants to stuff the ballot box and vote 1000 times......I'm sure Dave wouldn't mind selling 1000 more memberships to them! LOL)

Winners are then announced.
Though from what I see they may all have to be declared ties!

If I'm reading the voting procedure wrong someone from Admin. jump in and correct me please.

Sorry we got off on a tangent.
Hope this answers your original question.
Ric

And I believe we can vote for multiple pics in the same category. Best Overall can be selected for 1, 2, 10 or more choices. So if you can't decide between two, choose them both. In the end they each will get a vote from you.

So you'll only vote once, and that's at the end of the contest. But your "vote" does not have to be limited to one "choice" per category. Get it?

This message was edited Dec 10, 2005 10:31 AM

Kelly, be sure to check out the Camera Forum for more great information.

Hi 1gardengram, if you go back to my post on DEC 8th at 6.13 pm. I have tried to lay it out there as plainly as I can, and what the last 2 posts have said is correct.

i.e. if you want to vote for 1 plant in say all of the categories present under that plant, such as best over all, best close up, best anything else, then you can tick any boxes you think fit.

Also the same applies for any other plant, where they will be competing against each other in the same section, lets say perhaps roses where there are several categories within the section. If you decide one rose is 'best oveall', also 'best bearded', then tick both.

If you decide another rose is also as good and wish to vote 'best overall' but is a shrub rose, then you can vote 'best shrub rose' as well as 'best overall'. These two roses will then be competing against each other in the 'best overall' category, but not the other categories. That is for your votes, other people may change the balance there according to what they feel.

It is a good idea to select some and then go back to decide which you really feel deserves your vote, but if you really can't decide then give them both a vote.

Tried not to sound like double dutch, but this can be confusing!

gardengram, is this your question?

For example, if you go in the Pets category on Monday and register votes for the first 25 pic. Then go back on Tuesday and register votes on the NEXT 25 pictures, are the votes for the first 25 pic deleted on Tuesday, or has the system saved them and simply adds the next 25 votes?


Just wanted to know if I understood your question. Sorry, no answer, would love to know as I still have to do the Roses and will need more than one day.

Hi Vossner, as mentioned above if you go back to my post on Dec. 8th at 6.13pm I think it will be explained.

You do NOT need to uncheck votes from the day before - if you do they will not get counted. None of the check marks get counted until the end. So the ones you want to vote for need to stay checked until the end.

Hope that answers the question? and hope I have understood it correctly.!!

Wallaby, I read your entry and you are correct! I went to a category in which I had voted before. Just now I voted on new photos. Then I went back and noticed there were checks on the "old" pic as well as on the ones on which I just voted.

So, it seems the system does save your previous votes, thus allowing you to do this in stages, if you don't have time to do it all at one time. And as Okus says, they will remain, unless you actually uncheck your vote.

Good deal!



This message was edited Dec 10, 2005 11:08 AM