Re: [AGA-sc] [121] contest entry autopsy 2006

[Cheryl Rogers <cheryl@wilstream.com>]

annoyance factor = learning opportunity.

Jeez, that sounds snotty. :-)

Cheryl



Karen Randall wrote:
> That's great, Erik.  And you're right, every year we end up with some 
> different "annoyance factor", whether it's with the contest, the convention 
> or both!<g>
> 
> I'm looking forward to getting the judging under way.  Do we have all the 
> judges yet?
> 
> Karen
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erik Olson" <erik@thekrib.com>
> To: <aga-contest@thekrib.com>
> Cc: <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 3:36 AM
> Subject: [AGA-sc] [121] contest entry autopsy 2006
> 
> 
>> So it's after midnight here, and it's 121 entries possible.
>> The final number will probably go down as there are 2-3 questionable
>> entries, but not too shabby considering the total lack of PR.  I guess
>> cash IS a major motivator. :(
>>
>> Almost nobody using postal mail this year.  Two personal checks, one bank
>> draft, and $20 in cash.  I think I scanned in only one entry, and one
>> other person sent a CD-ROM.  So that's great.  I prefer not having the
>> giant stack of papers of previous contests.
>>
>> Several entries still without photo releases.  One thing I did different
>> this year is I sent no reminders until after the contest closed, i.e.,
>> just now.  I had no time to track this stuff.  So it will be interesting
>> to see how well the stragglers are motivated by the spectre of humiliation
>> by the "censor judge" picture [or more appropriately, her 2006
>> equivalent].  It worked pretty nicely last year on a few guys who ignored
>> the e-mails; about half signed the release once the site went live.  I am
>> wondering if it will help reduce the problem to begin with now.
>>
>> Likewise, there still continue to be folks who don't follow the directions
>> on the photo release, sending a Word document with everything printed
>> (complete with the original instructions "Do not send a WORD Document"
>> included in the document!), or just a signature, or even just the photos
>> themselves.  Still others are completionists and send a separate release
>> for each photo.  And there's some folks that sent e-mails AND faxes.  I've
>> gotten used to sending quick firm replies to the ones lacking, and
>> eventually everyone's getting it.  I think NEXT year (if I continue to do
>> the technical work on this contest; or if not, for whoever takes this job
>> on) it might make sense to modify the program to let them upload the photo
>> release directly to the entry as another picture that doesn't show up in
>> the contest.  Maybe.  It's working about as well as to be expected.
>>
>> There are the usual one-off oddities in the entries themselves.  Most
>> interesting is that someone has done a topiary swan with bogwood and moss,
>> and in one of their photos has actually photoshopped in a real swan to
>> show you what they're thinking, just in case you don't get it.  Another
>> entry has a picture of the aquarist's wife/daughter/sister changing the
>> tank (I removed the name).  A couple of folks have their name burned in &
>> we'll have to get them to remove them or photoshop them out.  One person
>> didn't upload their photos to the site, but instead to a free
>> "photobucket-type" site, and inlined the images in the comments... No big
>> deal.  A challenge to the tech geek.  As I say, just one-offs.
>>
>> But every year there seems to be a recurring "grr" that seems to happen
>> systematically across many entries.  Last year it was all these folks
>> mailing 10 photos, or a photo collage of 25 tiny images posing as one.
>> This year it definitely is UNNECESSARY FRAMES!  I can understand the raw
>> photos from the camera being uploaded uncropped, but lots of people are
>> uploading photos with large black bars around the photos, or a large black
>> bar and a small white bar.  I will be hand-cropping each of these, as they
>> just make the final image harder to see.
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Erik Olson
>> erik at thekrib dot com
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> 
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