Hello, I've been in 4 or 5 contests for poser clothes, models, other pictures...and whatnot. Maybe this question has been asked before...forgive me for that. But, I think the biggest change that could be made is the judges letting you know what they're looking for. ie: I entered the Sprinter contest. I worked really hard making the pose by hand and whatnot. But when the results came, I was horrified!! No offense made to the person who made the image! It was great!!! Except that the focal point of the camera showed her hand sticking through his hand. I thought the contests had some artistic basis so I was absolutely floored when I saw the winner. Excellent job but the camera focus was on the main flaw!!! Makes me wonder and think about "fixed" contests. if people are going to host contests...shouldn't they think about the whole picture? Now, any person hosting a contest should do what they want but I guess my point is that they should state what they're looking for...if they're not going to judge overall. As stated above, I was thinking that this was going to be judged on an artistic basis but it seems like the bias of the author betrays the artistic quality. Anyhoo....I would suggest a better description of what any author of any contest is looking for. How can we compete if we don't really know the rules!

yup- there are a group of people that do send out newsletters and flyers at schools to spam OFF SITE for votes. we know this is true cause a few have admited it! when one person gets 10 or 12 votes for 2 week and is in first,second or 3rd place--then in one day a (lesser) picture gets 80 votes in one day- and the dns addys show everyone of them signed up that day- well- makes ya totally stop entering ANY contest!!!

I hardly ever enter any contests any more. BAsically because I can't compete :) I do a little postwork but am not talented enough to do my own hair, clothes etc. So.... I try to work on my lighting and let my imagination rule. .......... shrug......... which isn't good enough. LOL

I've decided not to enter any more contests that have public voting. I think Independent Judges are the way to go. I entered a contest that Magnet sponsered - God Love Him... He gave the top 3 winners their prizes and gave me honorable mention (I had only 1 or 2 votes I think). But, he gave me my choice of anything in his store because he thought my image was best. He was highly upset about the way the voting had went. Maybe if we quit entering the public voting things, the Merchants will reconsider their promotions. BTW - thanks again Magnet...

That is why most of our contest are not regarding and image that has to be done...this way all have a chance, just need your brain. Sharen

I know Sprinter's wasn't rigged or biased..it was his first one, I believe..heh. Anyway..other than that one...here is what I've found... The same images will win every time...most of the contests do not take into account originality, or doing something different than the other 150 entries....for instance if you have an image with a female figure posed semi-erotically, with flowing hair and a heavily postworked backgound, you'll win. Just look at all the magazine cover winners..they look the same to me...there's no originality in most of them.

I dunno. I haven't taken part in many contests but I did win one. I'd like to think my pic won on merit. I sincerely hope so, because I certainly don't have a big "fan base"; in fact, most of my images seem to be as popular as leprosy, judging by the views they get and the dearth of comments. Also, postwork isn't always necessary, and IMO not always desirable. I tend to do very little postwork, but I do work like hell on pose, composition and lighting. Take or leave my opinion as you please; as I said, I don't generally enter contests, and win or lose, I'm not bothered either way.

Im not really bothered, but it's kinda sad to be able to pick the winners out based simply on content...before the contest ends.

Hi no it was'nt my fist contest but it was my first solo one. I'm sorry to hear your not happy with the results :( I do the contest for people to have fun. First i like to clearify that its not a "Fixed" contest. I selected winners on images i liked most. Also i like to add that i'm not a master artist myself so such things as camera focus etc i can't vote on. I noticed the hand but i still liked the image alot. I for one would like to let the comunity do the final vote but i think evryone knows that people cheat in that. Mailing friends to vote, multiple logins etc. I'm sure you know that story. I will never give anyone more chance to win if i know them. What i will do next contests is i will ask people if they like to help on the voting. That way i won't be the only one voting. Also this was a contest where people had a free choice of what kind of image they made otherways it would be stated what we would be looking for. Anyway vivianne i'm glad you brought this up, it gives me a chance to improve in holding contests in the future and if anyone has sugestion i'm here to lisen to them. vivianne i hope you can accept my apolegies for this blooper? lwanmtr thanks for notify me of this post cause i can't often browse in this forum. Sprinter PS Don't pay attention to possible typo's

It might not help much, but I kinda wish they'd made the entries "blind" so neither the judges nor the "voting public" knows who did what.

Um, k, I wasn't going to post because, well, I haven't been around long enough to really know what's what, but I did want to say something to Kayjay... You can do it, sweetie. I entered the October contest for this forum, and I was scared to death because I just knew I was gonna suck big time. It took me the entire time given to complete that image, and I worked on it at least four hours a day, every day. Why so long? Because I am a perfectionist who will never be happy with what I create, ever. I was raised by people who demanded nothing less than perfection. If it wasn't perfect, I was worthless. Is my picture perfect? Hell no!! LOL Far from it! But, what has changed is I have someone in my life now who believes in me and who has shown me how to believe in myself. Jeez, when I started doing the postwork on my entry, it was hair btw, I was like, "WTF? I can't do this!" I think I have something like five or six hair tutorials on my hard drive...none of the styles of painting hair worked for me. I finally said to hell with it and did my own thing. Sure, the hair isn't perfect, and it probably looks really crappy, but I did it. And honestly, for my very first time creating hair, or doing any postwork at all, it's not that bad. At least I don't think so. Really, when it comes to art and the things you create, how you feel about it is all that matters. If you like it, who cares what anyone else thinks about it? Yeah, it feels awesome to get a comment from an artist that you admire, telling you that you did a good job (thank you BigT), but it means nothing in the end if you don't believe it yourself. So, at the end of this incredibly long and "feel good", sappy post, the point I am trying to make is, you can do it. It doesn't have to look like ToxicAngel's hair or Antje's hair (the two best hair painters IMO). As a matter of fact, it shouldn't look like their work, it should look like hair created by Kayjay. And like they always say, practice makes perfect...heh. waves to all the people sheepishly...goes back to her lurking corner ~_^ <3

My 2 cents - even if you didn't win, do you still love the image you have created? If you enter the contest simply because you want to win a particular prize, then you gain nothing. To me, the fun part in a contest is the challenge, the muse, the creative process. And yes, I agree it can be VERY upsetting if people cheat (I don't know anything about this particular contest, so I'm only saying it generally), but I don't think this should drive you away from contests. And remember - you can always post your image in your gallery, and see what other people think about it. :)

Knowing what the judge is looking for is good... but if they say they want originality, and the ONLY original entry gets ignored, it does make a person wonder. However, even that is better than the community voting where the only people who have a chance are the ones attending school or whatever with a large mailing list. If there is a monetary prize, that only increases the odds of favortism. The better contests are the ones where you are not being judged on creativity or expression, but the ability to guess a number or name or item correctly. Those may not further the goal of nudging us into creating more art, but they are fair. I don't mind if there is going to be personal bias in a merchant-sponsored contest. A person running a contest and supplying a prize has the right to determine the conditions of that contest. There are contests where the judge has said that he wants to laugh or be grossed out or whatever. As long as it is stated at the outset that this is a condition, then it is fair. In any contest, fairness and the perception of fairness are critical points. Carolly

I rarely enter a contest any more. I just have to look at who is entered and I can pretty well tell you who will win, within a couple of names. So I don't see any point in it. On the other hand, I do try my luck with the non image contests. Everyone has a fair chance and they are fun to watch the thread. Also, there are no mass unknown voters. Fixed contests? I don't think the persons running the contest intend for this to happen. I't is something that they have no control over when the vote is put to the public. Just my thoughts.

I don't believe for one minute that any of the contests here "are Fixed". I do believe that there is "vote" padding but I enter when I can,anyways, simply because it gives me an "idea", to do an image. I really don't worry about "winning", if I do, that is Grand, but If I don't, that's ok too. I feel like you do, Vivianne....the picture that was chosen would not have been my choice, (although, I did think it was good) but I was not the final judge, so.....I accept the decision that was made. You really, have to keep it in your head, that you are doing this for "fun", if losing a contest makes it "Un-Fun" for you, then.............maybe.......you should not enter anymore? You can't take it personal, as there is/was Nothing wrong with your image.....it was just the judge of the contest didn't choose it. I don't know if the "community" votes had anything to do with it or not, but I have to give "Sprinter" the respect that she/he deserves, and say, that the winning image was the one that he/she likes most, for what-ever reason he/she feels. That's just my two cents, and I entered the contest too, didn't win, but don't have any problem in Not being the chosen one. (: For me it was the "challenge" and I had fun, soooo, I didn't win..........Oh Well! (: genny

LovePyrs - Thank you :) I bet I have more hair tuts than you do, LOL. Hey I can't even do crappy hair. I don't really enter contests to win. I see the theme, let my imagination run and then do it. But it would be nice to know that one has a chance to at least compete. In my case it would have to say "No Post work allowed" ROFL!

Hi everyone, I would like to apologize to everyone for starting this thread. I had a very high fever for a good part of the day yesterday and when I woke up from my nyquil (sp) induced stupor, I was mortified to see what I had written!! I'm so embarrassed! For any wondering I may do about contests it hasn't stopped me from entering them and trying. I by no means wished to say that the judging is impartial. I love this community and I am just so sorry if I offended anyone!! Please forgive me! :( Vivianne

No apologies necessary here.......I hear you.....and if you had a fever or not........It does'nt matter. Sometimes, we need to say.....what we need to say..........so.......don't worry about it.........we all "understand". (: genny

Vivianne no need to apologize :) I'm glad you posted this cause its good to learn from things. Sprinter

No apologies necessary from my point of view either...you said what a lot of people have said in the past. It's too bad that people don't have enough confidence in their abilities that they feel it is necessary to campaign for votes...but, on the other hand, it's nice to hear from people who know that there's more important things in life than winning. Judging isn't ever really impartial...it is always shadowed by personal tastes and prejudices. It is just an opinion on that day of a given person or persons....I wouldn't take it as being more than an opinion of that particular person (and how important you think that person's opinion is). Take care. Get well.