re: Powershot Speed Challenge rules

[BBoi]

Because people post their pics up, and then, right from the blue, you get your pic replaced by a little yellow frog stating that no hotlinking is allowed - the same way photobucket does it. Most annoying. The reason pics still work to you or people who have previously seen it, is that it resides in your browser cache - people new to the thread just see the frog.

[Jon]

Well, that's simply a matter of people not using the correct (as provided by the hosting service) link for the situation; I see similar problems with other sites; if you want to have people not use sites which do this, you'll be back at restricting people to using attachments only. ImageShack's FAQ quite clearly state that they'll provide the code for linking into web pages, forums, or whatever, but that they expect you to use them unmodified.

[BBoi]

Originally Posted by Jon

Well, that's simply a matter of people not using the correct (as provided by the hosting service) link for the situation; I see similar problems with other sites; if you want to have people not use sites which do this, you'll be back at restricting people to using attachments only. ImageShack's FAQ quite clearly state that they'll provide the code for linking into web pages, forums, or whatever, but that they expect you to use them unmodified.

in fairness it's been a good year since i've seen any proliferation of the frog, but my forum has photobucket logos all over it, for the record, I do have a PB account myself - and they are using the right code. That said, it's only for a week till judging - it's just nice to be able to look back at entries too months after IMHO which is the only reason I raised it; something like this will only be an issue in the long term, I doubt it would affect anything within 7days of posting.

[Jon]

Being able to look back at the photos in later months, or years, might be a good argument for requiring, or at least preferring, they be attachments. It also avoids problems with hosting sites being blocked by corporate firewalls. I know PhotoBucket is blocked here. I'd hate to see judging held up because the judge couldn't see half the pictures due to sites being blocked.

[BBoi]

Amen to that ... I block a whole series of image hosts on my board to avoid just these kind of problems; although my board does not have attachments, we do have and use preferred image hosts, but it's by no means perfect, It just saves me paying for a crapload of bandwidth.

[BBoi]

Ok, well, it's been a couple of days, nobody else is adding - so - where we at ? can we tuck this into bed so we all know what we're doing in competitions ?

- Clearer rules
- 150k actual size (max) files measured online with properties
- attachments or reliable free host

?

[teekay]

I've been away from computers this week but it seems I haven't missed much on this thread!

My final suggestion: use exactly the same rules as the G-series challenges which have worked so well for years. Here's an example from the current challenge there. You just need to change the camera types and of course date:

***************************************
To submit, click Post Reply and put your Photo Name in the Subject Line. Don't forget your Camera Model.

Post until Monday noon GMT, 23 June, 2008.


Photo Submissions

1. Camera -- Canon G-Series Camera (G1, G2, G3, G5, G6, G7, G9) or Pro 1 only.

2. Time -- any on-topic photo taken at any time is eligible, although photos that have won other competitions should NOT be entered.

3. Size -- photo must be EXACTLY 800 pixels on the longest side, with NO BORDERS.

4. Post-Processing -- do whatever you like and the host will decide if it works.

5. Posting --
* One photo per photographer in each challenge.
* Photo Title in the message subject line.
* Camera model.
* EXIF data, if you like.

6. Commenting -- No commenting on photos by anyone, including the photographer. Once the winners are declared, photographers can add comments to their images and everyone is invited to discuss.

7. Photo Display -- Photos must appear in this thread to be eligible.

Time

One challenge every week, on the following schedule:

• New Topic ... As soon as possible after winning.
• Posting Starts ... Right after topic is announced.
• Posting Stops ... Monday noon GMT
• Winners Announcement ... Tuesday noon GMT.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please consider turning on Private Messaging in your profile.
This will allow the host to contact you about winning or ineligible photos. You turn this feature on by clicking User CP, Edit Options, Enable Private Messaging (about a third of the way down the page). Thank you.

[prcrstn8]

Title or no title, size limits or no limit, I don't care. Post the rules and enforce them consistently. Period.

[teekay]

Originally Posted by prcrstn8

....Post the rules and enforce them consistently. Period.

Amen to that!

[BBoi]

I'm up for that - does away with the fiddly details we keep narking about. Keep it plain and simple. If it works for the G's it should work for us too.

Any opposed ?

[DreDaze]

the only thing that really changed is the file size being dropped...everything else is the same, except for the missing line about 'notes'...i still think the titles shouldn't be mandatory...

[urcunina]

I'm eager to see this thin get back in business. I'll go along with the consensus...

[BBoi]

Well then, unless anyone else chimes in, shall we go with the G series rules and begin again from Monday ?

[teekay]

Originally Posted by BBoi

Well then, unless anyone else chimes in, shall we go with the G series rules and begin again from Monday ?

I'll second that.

Is the potential judge following this discussion and now ready to roll?

[BBoi]

No idea, i'll drop him a PM and let him know.