Idea for a PP monthly challenge

[Daniel Salazar]

After what Rob "Bucketman" started on a another thread, I was wondering if it won't be good to have a monthly PP contest.

We could have a really bad picture to start and everybody would be allowed to post ones their PP version.

Wouldn't be interesting? We could all learn better PP techniques. It's not meant to be a Photoshop course, because not everybody has it, however it could help us learning what is important where.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Daniel,

I was surprised by the number of versions too.

We (CiC mods) have considered a PP challenge in the past, but, mainly due to my laziness, it never got started.

The intention was, it would be something I would do as Colin does the normal one.
It'll be interesting to see the vote results.

I'm certainly up for doing what Colin does; i.e. administering posts and counting votes, etc. if need be.

'Donations' of pictures by PM would be helpful, because, as we all know, I get it perfect in camera every single time (yeah, right! - if only)

Let's see what comes back, and thanks for suggesting with a vote

[Dave Humphries]

we could all learn better PP techniques. It's not meant to be a Photoshop course, because not everybody has it, however it could help us learning what is important where.

Would it be a condition of entry that what you've done should be published as step-by-step?

I'm thinking that might be very useful to the less skilled, which, having seen what came out of Rob's, includes me! It would also probably help the no PS people more.

The downside is, it takes somewhat longer to write it down than do it, so it may limit responses.

Cheers,

[Daniel Salazar]

Would it be a condition of entry that what you've done should be published as step-by-step?

I'm thinking that might be very useful to the less skilled, which, having seen what came out of Rob's, includes me! It would also probably help the no PS people more.

The downside is, it takes somewhat longer to write it down than do it, so it may limit responses.

Cheers,

maybe just the winner should write exactly what she/he has done.

Also don't count with me providing bad taken pictures, my level taking pictures is not for this kind of things. As yours but on the opposite side, mine are so bad that the only decent PP that I can do is to press the delete button.

[carregwen]

Are you intending it to be a RAW file? It could be uploaded somewhere, then downloaded by anyone that wants to enter. Or did you mean a JPEG? There are problems with that - if it's a small file editing can quickly degrade it

[Dave Humphries]

Are you intending it to be a RAW file?

Good question; I think the answer might depend on who donates and how they shoot, but I would have thought a RAW and a full size jpg ought to be available (pause for Colin to suggest DNG too).

Colin usually uses Send this file, but they may have a limit on number of downloads, but if it is say 10, that probably won't be a problem. I'm sure he'll know and advise when he's next here.

Cheers,

[Dave Humphries]

mine are so bad that the only decent PP that I can do is to press the delete button.

I don't believe you!

On the "winner writes all" idea, I'm thinking that might be tricky after the event.
I struggled to remember how I had done those yellow silhouette shots when I wanted to give one a make over for the challenge, and I only did it last week!
Not that I envisage winning, having seen what others achieved with Rob's shot, I'm not gonna get far on a shot like that.

Cheers for now,

[Colin Southern]

Good question; I think the answer might depend on who donates and how they shoot, but I would have thought a RAW and a full size jpg ought to be available (pause for Colin to suggest DNG too).

No need - DNG is RAW I've got a gazzilion landscape shots that folks are welcome to use if it helps (only available in DNG though - I delete *.CR2's).

Colin usually uses Send this file, but they may have a limit on number of downloads, but if it is say 10, that probably won't be a problem. I'm sure he'll know and advise when he's next here.

SendThisFile limits trial accounts to only 3 downloads, although there's probably other ways to make a selected file available (CiC FTP?) - I'm sure Sean will have some ideas

[Dave Humphries]

Can't sleep?

Yeah, I know you know I knew that, but I thought you might have a view on it being non-proprietory to any particular camera manufacturer and easier for third party RAW converters.

Probably mistooken again!

You know; what would a Canonite using to DPP do with a nef file, and what would I do witha CR2? Well that's easy 'cos I use ACR.

zzzzzzzzzzzz

[Colin Southern]

Can't sleep?

Yeah, I know you know I knew that, but I thought you might have a view on it being non-proprietory to any particular camera manufacturer and easier for third party RAW converters.

Probably mistooken again!

zzzzzzzzzzzz

Well personally I like it (DNG) because I know that if I can get it in DNG format then I know that it'll open in Photoshop, with no surprises.

As I see it though, unless challenge shots are in some form of RAW format then it's an uphill battle to correct any shot that requires big corrections. If we can upload to an FTP site then there's probably no reason we couldn't make a shot available in CR2/NEF and DNG and JPEG formats so participants could choose for themselves.

[bucketman]

Hi all
Little experience with pp soft ware. But I would join in I could submit the pic's. Put my camera on jpeg and raw. That what the guy on meet the gimp says is the best. Been on that site following the lessons. done my first pp with gimp and I like the result and you all know my level of photo's

[carregwen]

Have a look at these external options http://lists.econsultant.com/top-10-...file-size.html

The files would have to be DNG as not everyone has the latest version of Photoshop ACR. I have a DNG convertor (free from Adobe BTW) and loads of RAW images I could use. I'm sure others have too. What about FTP upload to CIC?

The benefit of a RAW comp is you have much more scope for editing.

[Alis]

I think this is a great idea. I can provide the files, I have a ton of them

Also, just as an alternative to the site Colin mentioned, you can also use www.yousendit.com, a similar site, no need to register and the anonymous user can upload up to 100 mb. It will be kept there for 7 days if I am not mistaken.

Alis

[Colin Southern]

I think this is a great idea. I can provide the files, I have a ton of them

Also, just as an alternative to the site Colin mentioned, you can also use www.yousendit.com, a similar site, no need to register and the anonymous user can upload up to 100 mb. It will be kept there for 7 days if I am not mistaken.

Alis

@ Ali - I just had a quick look - looks good. Apparantly up to 100 downloads for each file, and up to 1GB in total traffic per month ... would probably just about do us here.

@ Dave - shall I give it a try with the original DNG for my "No Place Like Home" shot?

[Colin Southern]

Have a look at these external options http://lists.econsultant.com/top-10-...file-size.html

The files would have to be DNG as not everyone has the latest version of Photoshop ACR.

Just keeping in mind that not all programs can handle DNG (eg DxO), so I've a feeling that we're possibly going to need a "package" of more than one format.

Hopefully Sean will be back soon and may be able to give us a definitive answer on some CiC FTP space.

[carregwen]

Would someone like to try downloading this DNG file of mine. I used Uploading.com. It's free and they keep files for 30 days. It's 15mb as it's from Canon 50D

http://uploading.com/files/THSQ0841/...falls.dng.html

[Dave Humphries]

Worked for me, but (it's so easy to criticise)
a bit slow to download
came with a couple of popups
not easy to spot the "Free Download" button

but it worked fine, file opened in ACR 5.4.

Must finish PP tonight

[carregwen]

Worked for me, but (it's so easy to criticise)
a bit slow to download
came with a couple of popups
not easy to spot the "Free Download" button

but it worked fine, file opened in ACR 5.4.

Must finish PP tonight

Button is easy to see - but you have to wait 30secs for it to come up. Advertising!

You will only need to do one download a month. So speed doesn't really matter.

Pop-ups are ads, I presume. It is free, after all.

[Colin Southern]

Button is easy to see - but you have to wait 30secs for it to come up.

It made me wait 60 seconds ... just wondering if it increases the wait time with each download?

[john w revie]

The idea of PP monthly Challenge is good the only problem that I can see is the posting of RAW files. I for one would never post a raw file that with some work could become a Commercially Viable photograph. Don't get me wrong I'm not worried about the members of this site using the file, but there are some people who do search photographic forums looking for photos that they could never take themselves. If someone take a low res file say 800/600 at 72dpi it is no great loss if on the other hand they can get the master RAW file what proof has the photographer that he/she owns the copyright to that photo. The only solution I can see to this problem is if a download of the file is requested by e-mail/PM and in doing so it establishes a time scale that if require could be used to prove the ownership of the file.
All that said the next problem is the actual posting of Raw files if the poster has remote storage it is not a problem to post a link to a file. If they do not I have no idea how this could be done.

This is a link to an unedited raw file it will become inactive one week for now.
http://files.me.com/jwrevie/xetsq7

lets see what can be made of this
John