March 2011 Photo & Captions Comment Thread

[Stefan-A]

These contests are starting to look less like photo contests and more like photoshop contests.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

These contests are starting to look less like photo contests and more like photoshop contests.

If there were any sort of prizes involved, I personally would see a lot more reason to be concerned about whether or not the person used photo editing effects or not. But the monthly photo contest to me is just a way for everyone here to share pictures of our lovely snakes regardless of what was done to it. It's not like we are actually in any sort of judged competition where there are things at stake. Basically all of the photos on this website have been edited to some degree, even if it's just cropping. where does one draw the line? If we get too serious about it, no one will even want to participate... and then it's not even fun. Clicking the shutter at the right moment is often times only half the battle, how you compose the image after the fact, is equally important. The only things I generally use PS for, is cropping, straightening crooked photos, and correcting any off-colored hues that the camera incorrectly picked up. As long as people aren'y photoshopping top hats and glowing eyes onto their snakes... i don't really have a problem with altering photos to get a desired look. For some people who can't afford the really nice cameras that take stock pictures as nice as the one I posted as my example, it may be their only option.

I should probably point out that I am not trying to argue with you, Stefan... and that I respect your point of view.

[Stefan-A]

where does one draw the line?

At Loki's wager.

As long as people aren'y photoshopping top hats and glowing eyes onto their snakes... i don't really have a problem with altering photos to get a desired look.

Where does one draw the line?

[zooplan]

These contests are starting to look less like photo contests and more like photoshop contests.

NO, NO, NO Stefan:

... GIMP contest from my point of view

But seriously: You can´t turn a blury picture into a brilliant,
and it would be a lot of work to turn a grey snake into a coloured one, without wasting the picture.
Some can use expensive cameras and excellent flashlights, some can spend time and use GIMP.

BTW: My finger was in the mouth of that snake and I´m happy I´ve got those "feed" back for meant usage.

[Stefan-A]

It doesn't take much of a camera to compete in these contests and against people who aren't professional photographers. Besides, people are not necessarily voting for the best picture from a technical standpoint anyway, but the one they like the most. Sometimes getting that winning picture requires luck, sometimes it requires preparation, but never once have I seen a winning contest entry that could only have been taken with a high-end camera.

[zooplan]

It doesn't take much of a camera to compete in these contests and against people who aren't professional photographers. Besides, people are not necessarily voting for the best picture from a technical standpoint anyway, but the one they like the most. Sometimes getting that winning picture requires luck, sometimes it requires preparation, but never once have I seen a winning contest entry that could only have been taken with a high-end camera.

Déjà-vu ???
Haven´t I read this post before?

you´r right about luck and preparation...
and a good camera is a kind of it

[Stefan-A]

Déjà-vu ???
Haven´t I read this post before?

you´r right about luck and preparation...
and a good camera is a kind of it

I'll keep repeating it as long as it's true.

Most cameras are good.

[zooplan]

Ok, you can get this from a Fuji FinePix S5800 without editing (excepting cut and scaled)

But it requires a lot of experience, set up, preparation, lighting, a calm snake and

...luck!