[AGA Contest] next year suggestions

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

>From the TAOPA list.  I agree about the "show the judges' tanks"  
suggestion, but not about "only 3 judges".  In my experience, 3 judges can
differ SO wildly that the awards seem almost random sometimes.  For
instance, when the first three judges reported in, the 2nd place award for
the Biotope tank would have been given to the tank that wasn't a biotope
at all.  At least with five, one person with a different idea would be
averaged out.

  - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 11:39:43 -0700
From: Ellen O'Connell <oconnel4@ix.netcom.com>
Reply-To: taopa@yahoogroups.com
To: taopa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [taopa] along the lines of what Ricky says (titling)


>Think the title should be placed at the top of the entry?  I've been
>mulling this over since I presented the winners.  It'd take maybe 10
>minutes to modify the source.

I love the AGA contest, and studying the entries every year has helped me 
more with improving the look of my own tanks than any other reference I've 
ever found.  The fact that there are layouts, listings of plants and fish, 
information about the substrate, lighting, etc., all make these photos far 
more helpful than any others I've found.  Also, the judges' comments, even 
though Karen Randall was the only one who consistently made the effort in 
the beginning, have really helped.  Even if I disagree with a comment or 
can't see its basis, reading the comment, then looking at the entry with 
that in mind usually makes me consider something I wouldn't have on my own.

Erik's post above makes me think that now may be the time to make some 
suggestions to be considered for next year's contest, and I'd like to offer 
some.

First, I wish the layout plan was required, not just suggested.  Looking at 
photos I would never be able to accurately come up with the layout, and 
seeing the layout gives a feel for how much of a certain plant is needed to 
produce a certain look.

Second, I wish a judges' page could be included that would show perhaps one 
or two of each judge's own tanks and perhaps one or two of tanks not their 
own that they admire with their comments as to why.  As someone who showed 
horses for over 20 years, I found out long ago that people can be judges 
and be well qualified but simply have different tastes than your own.  Yes, 
I sometimes showed my elegant pretty-headed horses to judges who liked big 
stout animals whose chief virtue was high action, but I went into it 
knowing I wouldn't need a suitcase to carry home trophies.  In aquascapes 
there are undoubtedly people who, when faced with equally lovely entries in 
Japanese, Dutch, and American styles, would always go for one or the other 
because that's their preference.  It would be nice to see what the AGA 
contest judges admire most.  The contest only shows what they like the most 
among that year's entries.

Third, I think 3 judges is always enough.  There's going to be enough 
difference of opinion among 3.  When you get 4 and 5 judges, you get too 
much difference.


Ellen O'Connell
Parker, CO
mailto:oconnel4@ix.netcom.com


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