Multiple Shortlisting from same photographer

[jinky]

That`s a broad brush there Mike. I`m shortlisted and am not a pro. I`m sure there are others too.

[russbarnes]

It was not my intention to create a thread that has now turned into a bit of a witch hunt. The existing rules can't be changed so there is little or no mileage in looking at some of the judges decisions now or at the individual photographers that are now being highlighted. No one has done anything wrong.

The point of my original post was that I thought I was posting in a forum where it asked for feedback and ideas about the competition - all I was doing here was raising what I thought was a fair point for consideration NEXT YEAR (as already clearly stated). I felt and still feel my original point was worth making and although my concerns have already been answered I still feel that having a competition where a single individual could win first, second and third in any category still seems ridiculous and a bit pointless really. I don't make the rules, but I think that the organisers should still consider how this could look for next time because it may deter people from taking part in future...

Despite all of this, I think that people should now step off and stop pulling individuals into a spotlight when they have clearly done nothing wrong and acted within the current rules.

[Sue Allen]

...but like death and taxes, controversy over the DCMag photo of the year competition is inevitable....has been every year.
Did the panel of announced judges really look at each and every one of the 114,000 submitted images?? Not surprised some worthy ones got left out if that's the case - digital overload indeed!

[russbarnes]

Originally Posted by jinky

That`s a broad brush there Mike. I`m shortlisted and am not a pro. I`m sure there are others too.

Paul, the first line on your website is:

"Offering a wide range of professional services including wedding, portraiture, commercial and event photography."

I'm not sure what your definition of 'pro' is Paul but I imagine it looks like that to most people, even if it's not your sole source of income...

As the number of entries is massive in this competition, there looks to be scope again to create categories specifically for professional and amateurs. Mixing everyone together could be seen as being a little unfair - I agree how that looks. It wouldn't be so bad if the number of shortlisted entries was limited on a per individual basis - I must say, I don't think the organisation of categories and rules is very conducive to a feeling of overall fairness especially when there are photographers who have had up to 20 images shortlisted in total. That's a pretty thin end of the wedge.

[karenoliver]

I'm not a professional photographer and probably never will be but that doesnt matter anyway because this competiton is open to all skill levels? Martin parr could enter if he wanted as long as the photo he submitted had not won something or been published. Its a horrible thread, not nice on people who feel over the moon for doing well, who might now feel like crap because of the resentment and ill feeling :-(

Karen

[russbarnes]

I have no resentment towards anyone that's been shortlisted Karen - what I've said from the start is that I would make a few changes for next time if I had anything to do with it... Perhaps if the rules were aligned to a better policy of inclusion (and even segregation where Pro's are concerned) you might remove a big slice of that general feeling?

[Sue Allen]

Every year suggestions are made but few changes are made. The whole point of this competition is that it is a good commercial exercise. Encouraging a huge entry ensures a high site traffic which can only be good for revenue from advertisers. And a bit of controversy is'nt a bad thing as it probably also brings a few more site views. Best thing for entrants to do is upload and forget it - be happy if you win but remember, given the huge number of entries, for every shortlisted picture there are probably hundreds of others that on another day would have made it through. Good luck to all those selected. I have my favourite, but as the person in question already earns a lot from their photos I won't be too unhappy if it does'nt make it to the final few!

[jinky]

Yes Russ my website says that as I have recently set it up with the aim of trying to make money from what has been a hobby and passion - largely inspired by a few small successes in competitions which I see myself as havig entered very much from the mateur end. I`d love to earn even 1/100 th of my income from photography but the reality is it`s a wide world out there full of photographers of all level. that I have not even stepped into. I have never advertised beyond this new website but have been lucky enough to have contacts / colleagues give me gifts / stays in kind for *jobs" and won a handful of other competitions gibing me cash to buy higher end - but not "professional " equipment in my definition. If that makes me a professional it is indeed a very loose definition you hold..

I think if I offered "amateur services" or "average " images on my website it might be a bad start to my efforts to try to get out there in the coming year when I might aim to set up. There is no working definition of professional that I know of that covers whtat I do / have done. I`m flattered you consider me such and would be delighted to use you as a reference point. After saying you were not going to " witch hunt" and the tone of the thread was not what you intended it seems odd to target me with the "accusation" of being a pro!

I`m with others above who say, as you do:
no rules have been broken
the shortlists are in and many like me were delighted / surprised to be on them
there is rarely common agreement on what are the best shots
- OK you did not get one there and obviously feel you should have - just get over it and let the judges now decide as within the terms and conditions of the contest.

PS I also note from the number of posts you do that the POTY seems to be your only interest / involvement here. I`ve been involved with this website from DC Mag days - never got round to entering the POTY comp before because I felt I did not have much worthy to get all the way - and been actively involved in weekend comps on the forum as my photography has developed - getting great advice from other contributors here and elsewhere when they moved on with the changes to the website. As Karen says it is a bit of a kick in the teeth to get what seems like stick when you are pleased to have made it thus far - even if not getting any further. I`ve seen the previous years debates about plagiarism, quality of images but never got involved as, just as Sue Allen says, you really just have to accept it is a massive competition with its own aims and you just pin a bit of hope to it when you senmd in your entry. I`m not looking i on this thread anymore to taint my enjoyment but didn not want to leave your assertions unchalleneged.

[russbarnes]

I didn't 'accuse' you of being anything Paul - you were the one who clearly stated you were 'not a pro' when the landing page of your website quite obviously suggests otherwise. If you're selling professional photography services I'm sure most people would say that surely makes you a professional photographer regardless of whether you actually make any money from it? The point was purely based on how you clearly referred to yourself on here as 'not a pro' further up in this thread yet you are selling 'professional' (your words not mine) photography services. Your statements are ambiguous but there is surely no need to be so defensive?

[jinky]

Crossed thread - I can claim on my website to be the best photographer in the world - it does not make me such. i`ll say no more as my edited previous says it all - I tend to get defensive if I feel I am being attacked. very amateurish of me I know