As most of you know, I have been a member there at Renderosity for a long long time. During my tenure as a moderator, I had the privelege to help shape the direction of this site and this forum. Also during the time I have been a member here, I have seen a fair amount of dumb things done that were (shall we say) questionable. However today I came across the what IMHO is the lamest idea I have seen here ever.

On the front page of the site is a link to the Cover Contest for the next issue of the Renderosity Magazine. When I saw this, I got all excited as I truly enjoy entering these contests. Maybe I am stupid, but I truly believe that someday maybe someone from the photography forum will actually win this contest and have their work published for the world to see. (like I said... Maybe I am stupid)

Well I followed the link, and when I got there and read the requirements for the current contest I almost fell out of my chair. I cannot believe that on a site with as many members/artists as Renderosity supposedly has, that they are actually requiring that anyone interested in entering this contest has to incorporate the stock art the are providing into the image.

Personally I find this offensive, and believe it is a cheap way for some people who would not otherwise qualify to have their artwork on the cover to get exposure. I will not name any names as I have no proof and I do not intend to offend anyone, but most of what I see as the "required" images has a very familiar look to them.

I realize that entering this contest is something that people do by choice, and that the people running the contest can do whatever they please, but telling an artist what they have to use for art is about as lame as it comes. I know that even though I have entered each contest up till now, I will not be participating this time around.

I hope that in the future the people responsible for this decision will actually go back to letting artists create their own work without such ridiculous requirements.

There I am done venting. I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings, and we now return you to your regularly scheduled brainwashing...