Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6813

Okay, instead of whining about the early Halloween contest results, I'm going to try to be decent about it. There's a bazillion images in there I'd vote for sooner than my own, but a pile of them don't even seem to be in the running -- and the rest seem to have only one vote, while the ones in the runaway lead... well, they might be good, but not enough to be my first choice. This is only a first, cursory glance and there may be more decent picks I'm missing, but folks may not want to overlook these voteless entries. Here's the first of 5 to show you what I mean.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6996

Second

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=7015

Third (They're not in the order of preference, by the way)

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=7247

Fourth

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=7310

A fifth one. As with any picks from a contest, it's subjective, of course, but I didn't want these to be passed over completely.

And here's about half of the ones that I found placing with one vote that I didn't think should be missed either (depending on response to this thread, I might go dig up more): http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6790 http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6819 http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6746 http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=7279 http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6951 http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6842 There's some pretty decent work in that contest. Don't miss it.

"There's some pretty decent work in that contest...." That includes the top three, BTW. I have no problem with the fact that folks voted for those -- only the runaway lead they seem to enjoy.

Ack. You mean we're supposed to vote in this contest? I thought this one of those "mods and admins judge" contests. There are so many wonderful and different entries. I don't know if I can bring myself to vote for just one....

Thanks Chas, you included mine which I am flattered. I voted for one that is struggling with three votes right now and it is adorable and terrific (the two little kids on the stairs). I did find out how the top two were getting the votes while visiting the chatroom last night. They are requesting to be voted for and others are giving them the votes. Whether one agrees with it or not, others are (hopefully) intelligent enough to vote for the best and if they feel what they are asked to vote for is the best, then that is their opinion. I personally don't agree with asking for votes, but if the numbers are that important to the person and they feel they can't get any votes without asking for it, then they can do what they want if it's not against the rules. You have some great selections in your picks, and I hope that they make it on to the board.

Attached Link: the creepiest of the them all

I've changed my mind. I know which one I'm voting for. This one just grabs me on all levels. Artistically, it's great. As far as the theme goes - brrr. Very creepy, very appropos for Halloween. Bonus points for originality, too - no half-nekkid chicks, not your typical Rosity pic at all. (I mean no disrespect for that genre, BTW. My own entry features an unnaturally endowed young woman, wearing clothing impractical for late October. ;-) And I gotta give him credit for modeling his own stuff. No, you don't have to make your own models to make art, and a lot of people who make great models don't make great pictures, but when you can do both, when you show mastery of so many programs, 2D and 3D, I have to applaud.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235

"I voted for one that is struggling with three votes right now and it is adorable and terrific (the two little kids on the stairs)..." Liked that one, too. Perhaps the better thing to do is to link to the Contest itself.

yup- hi-jacked voting is a continueing problem here- makes it not even worth entering contests-

Attached Link: Challenge Arena - Halloween Challenge

I still vote because I vote for what I like instead of someone asking me to...it doesn't mean much to me that someone needs the ego boost of winning at any cost. I think threads like this are healthy where people point out there are other good choices. It's almost impossible to get campaigning to stop, but at least we can encourage people to see that there are other possibilities than the leaders. It's too bad people can't be satisfied with: "Wow, the Halloween contest is over...be sure to vote for your favorite," instead of posting: "Wow, the Halloween contest is over...be sure to vote for selfish me." Pretty sad. But it says more about those artists than it does about Renderosity or the other community memberws here. And it makes their victory a hollow one. The winner is going to have the satisfaction of knowing that a lot of people hold their win under suspicion...that would be really sad if the winner was innocent of campaigning. But people will vote for their friends. That's human nature. By the way, the Challenge for October in the Challenge Forum is winding down. There weren't many entries, but there are some very good ones. When the voting starts, please come down and vote for the one YOU LIKE.

Mellygrl- Well that gives credence to the rest of us who have voiced suspicions about such things taking place . Even if it isn't against the rules IMHO it's childish and tacky behaviour- I recently queried challenge/contest voting methods in another forum and was told they are put to the 'public' first before any 'official'judges precisely to avoid cheating. Canvasing for votes in any manner perhaps should be re-looked at, its hardly 'fair and square' even if not rule breaking. And has definately put a number of people off entering contests. PS-Randym77- that IS one creepy pic ! Exactly why I'm a city slicker, its too scary out there in the country-side .

Heh, I entered but haven't a clue as to really why I bothered. Guess for the fun of it. Cool pics. I especially like the girl on the stairs.

I can see why the first one has no votes it is just not a good picture. Who wants to vote for a pic of women with black eyes. The second one is very poorly lit. Put a blazing cauldron of fire and two candles in an 8x10 room and see how much light it casts. Number three I would vote for. It is very Halloweenie. Number 4 is a real winner. Truly a Halloween image. Number 5 could be a great image......with better lighting.

When people go soliciting votes in chat, it makes an art contest into a popularity contest. I had thought of saying something a few contests back when several excellent images were overlooked while inferior ones were collecting unreasonable amounts of votes. But I decided against it because I was afraid that people would think I was just whining about my own lack of votes and I didn't want that sort of negativity. But seeing as I have no entry in this particular contest, I think it is fair for me to say that the way many contests are set up here do not support the pursuit of art. If there is an interest in supporting artistic integrity, the entries should be anonymous and the voting should be done anonymously as well. That wouldn't eliminate all problems, but it would be a step in the right direction. Happy Rendering, --Invidia

I enter just for fun know I don't have a chance I notice it are always the same who have most votes some are really good but some I just can't understand why

soliciting votes in chat is a totally different thing then sending out newsletters or posting links in the school newspaper. one produces a vote count of 10 or 12 total the other (new one day members from out side) gives a vote count of 75 or 150 BIG difference---

I entered just for fun too. At render Sorry yes this is a rant with an open vote and all I never do well. I am very proud of my image no matter if it places or not. And so touched that you Chas listed mine here thank you :) I wish everyone the best of luck. GROINGRINDER I am sorry mine is not poorly lite and I did most of the lighting in Post work I spent days setting the scene up and hours doing post work I can show you the before and after post work and trust me I did Not "Put a blazing cauldron of fire and two candles in an 8x10 room and see how much light it casts." The flames and lighting and stuff I added in Post work Not in Poser thank you very much. Yes I am a bit huffy about it but you have no idea how long that took me to get to look right and look at the reflections on her that took forever to get right. So I am sorry but this just really upset me if you do not like my image do not vote but keep commets like that to your self thank you!

Blazer, Don't let it get to you. It's a wonderful pic and one can tell you put a lot of work into it :)

Aww kayjay thank you so much hun. :) I am sorry about my rant had a bad day and this did not help. I know my work is not perfect but to me that was uncalled for. But I am better now, after I looked at his stuff and not going to let his comments bother me anymore. And I thank you for your comment, comeing from you means a lot to me as I love your work.

I hear you on the lighting. When I was working on "Incantation" a few months back (which has 5 candles as the primary sources of light), I remember having to do seven renders (one for each light source, one darkish ambient and one brighter ambient), and having to blend it all with layer opacities, layer masks, massive overlays and such (and then I lost half the detail in post-work -- go figure). A real pain in the @$#, all because Poser is crap for lighting. I'm hoping to get Cinema4D/Poser4.03 all figured so I never have to do that again. Take care; Chas

(R'OSITY, let us EDIT)

Blazer,

For what it is worth, I just voted for your image. :)

Why?
Because out of the lot, I thought the composition was excellent, the mood was excellent, the lighting was excellent and it said "Samhain" to me.
A lot of the images - IMHO - completely missed the point. The theme was Halloween - not Horror.

Yes, we associate Halloween with all things spooky, but it still has to say "Halloween" to me to get my vote, not just "I can render a ghoul/vampire/skeleton (insert monster of choice)."

I'll post the link to Blazer's image here:
http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6996
Some others that came pretty darn close to getting my vote were:
Aquiring Ingredients - Calum5 - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=7081
This was the second choice. I sat there for AGES staring at both trying to make up my mind lol. I really love that one, it does say Halloween to me - but not as much as Blazer's does. (Go figure) I wish we could vote for our top 3!
Goblin Jamboree - Mutedbanshee - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6771
I love the idea and I really like the mood and composition of it.

Demonica - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6813
I really like the idea, and the execution of this image.

Mommy there is a ghost on the stairs - Mellygrl - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6819
I love the image! The character and the composition of this are truly outstanding - but it didn't say "Halloween" to me. :)

Yes.. open it - Redhawk - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6921
Very very nice image, well done, well lit, well rendered, well postworked but.... same as above, it scraped in just below saying "Halloween" to me.

Liewald - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6930
I just think the image is very well done

Bothellite - http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=235&ShowQuestion=6931
I ADORE the look on her face! It's very halloweeny but whatever she's sitting in... spoiled it a bit for me. :)

I could go on and ON here, there are sooo many I liked and which caught my eye.
Loved Wyvern7's spiderweb thingy... Skydancer's witch... Gawd...

How dare you people make me CHOOSE?!?!

Anyway, I felt that maybe it would have been nice to be able to leave comments on the images we like, but didn't vote for, so that the artist knows why we didn't vote for it despite liking the image a lot.

Silke

Since I did not enter the R'osity Halloween contest this hopefully will not sound like rant or whinning but I agree with the problem that's occuring more and more frequently in the contest when they are left up to community voting. The problem of "trolling" for votes has gotten really out of hand. I have seen time after time where superior images have been passed over for some not so good ones. Let's get real here, because I am not the only one that has noticed this happening. What ever happen to voting for the most creative (that one image that stands out from all the rest)? This problem is really beginning to turn a lot of emerging artist off to entering anything any more and thats the sad thing, because their talent may never be seen. And the Poser Hot 20..well thats another story in itself. I think that the solution lies in making all contest entries anonymous. Granted, it will not be the cure all to the problem, but it could help in "leveling" the playing field. Anyway for what it's worth, thats my 2 cents.

On the bright side...it's not the one who gets the most votes that wins this contest. The Rosity admins make the final choice, from the top 20. I hope that will give the truly deserving works a chance, despite the ballot-stuffing shenanigans of some.