Reading mode: Light Dark

Unfair rules in Photo Contests - NO HDR!?

Go to last post
C

coreyh

Veteran Member
Messages
1,012
Reaction score
133
Location
Sask, CA
So many Photo Contests I am interested in entering do not allow HDR/Multiple exposure images!

What is up with that? If your going to allow professional photographers to take photos with Grad ND filters, then your really making the contest uneven. I can't afford $500 dollars in Filters and holders right now and the only way I can accomplish the same thing is with HDR or multiple eposures.

To me this is a very ignorant attitude to have.

Photo manipulation on the other hand, to the extent of adding elements or removing elements from the picture... eg adding an eagle to a sunset. I agree that should not be allowed.

Even things up for us amateurs and let us use the tools on PP that are equal to using the tools in the field.

This is more for conversation than anything. What does everyone else think?

--
Canon 10D
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 MKII
Sigma 10-20mm EX DC
 
Thread did not show up

--
Canon 10D
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 MKII
Sigma 10-20mm EX DC
 
coreyh said:
So many Photo Contests I am interested in entering do not allow
HDR/Multiple exposure images!
What is up with that?
Click to expand...
In most of the world "that" is called "Contest Rules" and it's completely contest organizer's thing - he/she/they decide, what will and what won't be allowed.
Nothing discriminating about that...

If you do not have the appropriate material to submit, then don't enter the competition.

--

Robert Capa said 'you can never get close enough'. Well, he did.... He also often visited my daily photoblog at http://logatec.blogspot.com/
 
coreyh said:
I can't afford $500 dollars in Filters
and holders right now and the only way I can accomplish the same
thing is with HDR or multiple eposures.
Click to expand...
Sorry, but that's a lame excuse. There's no way you HAVE to use graduated ND's that cost that much.
 
Problem is, HDR does the same thing as Filters? So what am I missing? Why the ignorance towards HDR?

I know it is the rules of the makers of the contest. National Geographic is leading the way with allowing this type of photography, but so many others look at it as negative or wrong.

I'm just saying there is no difference to a properly done HDR vs Filters. Just one is done post process and the other pre.

--
Canon 10D
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 MKII
Sigma 10-20mm EX DC
 
coreyh said:
Problem is, HDR does the same thing as Filters? So what am I
missing? Why the ignorance towards HDR?

I know it is the rules of the makers of the contest. National
Geographic is leading the way with allowing this type of photography,
but so many others look at it as negative or wrong.

I'm just saying there is no difference to a properly done HDR vs
Filters. Just one is done post process and the other pre.
Click to expand...
They also "discriminate" against painters...

No filter is going to give you an HDR image. If you're than desperate, go and buy a cheap polariser... :)

Try to keep in mind that a level playing field is NOT discrimination.

Dave
 
what's the worst thing that can happen if you don't enter, don't win?

If HDR images are important to you maybe these contests are not a good sandbox to play in.

V
 
....don't allow any Photo Shop manipulation other than cropping and blemish removal.
--
Bob

Use the preview feature before you post your message to see if you any words or letrs out. You can check your links to see if they work too.
 
very simple, if you object to the rules DO NOT ENTER THE CONTEST.

i do not see the problem. the contest people are simply saying that you take the photo in the camera and add a absolute minamum of pp skills. if that is what you are doing submit your work if you wish; if that is what you do not do then do not enter the contest.

there could and probably are other photo contests that do not even care if you took the photo in a camera but allow anything in the pp end.
 
It might be that the people who started the contest are just tired of looking at the poor quality of many of the HDR images.

Many HDR images look so ugly you get tired of looking at them. By not allowing them in their contest they made their job much more enjoyable.

Greg

When HDR is done right, its wonderful......push it to far and it often becomes ugly!
 
This has little to nothing to do with the stated purpose of this forum, so it's probably not your best bet. There may be some easily incensed lurkers, but the actual working professional photographers will probably be far more pragmatic than you've hoped. If you want to stimulate debate, try Open Talk.

Or, write the same question to the contest organizers instead of here. Probably won't be any more helpful, but the people who matter will have heard from you. You'll find it difficult to generate much concern amongst people actually making a living through photography, because we'll either use it or not, as it suits the needs of the image or job. It's not the same thing as contest submissions at all.

Here we don't even agree on how "special" a tool HDR is, since it's essentially a digital variation on in-camera/in-darkroom masking techniques that have been around for over 100 years. (I know, ready the flame suit) It's just simpler to master now. By the way, confusing masking techniques (which is closer to what HDR is) with filters (whether lens add-ons or Photoshop) is a mistaken perception.

So the organizers have decided to ban HDR; so learn to work without it. They could have just as easily said "No digital", " 4x5 film Only" or "No RAW" or No Canon" or "No-manipulation". You see "No professionals" all the time.

It's just not that important, really it's not. The most important thing in a contest is how one functions within the rules.
--
jrbehm
http://www.jeffbehm.com
 
People keep bringing up the contest rules and I should just not enter if I don't have material. Well of course, that is stating the obvious and sidesteps the point of this thread.

What any person has failed to adequately state is WHY hdr/exposure blending should be dissallowed?

This really has little to do with contests and more towards the perception that HDR is just not "okay" with most photographers.

Anyways, I guess some people just feel threatened with hdr and post processing as a whole.

--
Canon 10D
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 MKII
Sigma 10-20mm EX DC
 
coreyh said:
Anyways, I guess some people just feel threatened with hdr and post
processing as a whole.
Click to expand...
To make the above statement on this forum takes a lot of courage. I salute your bold willingness to prove the book of proverbs right. After this classic post, I think you really ought to take the advice of another poster, and post this on Open Talk... :)

Dave
 
coreyh said:
This really has little to do with contests and more towards the
perception that HDR is just not "okay" with most photographers.

Anyways, I guess some people just feel threatened with hdr and post
processing as a whole.
Click to expand...
whaaaa?? From what twisted crack in the universe did that come????

OK. I have a gripe now with the forum rules that don't allow me to express adequately just what a completely s_ d statement the above quote is.

Implying that because we can't get exercised on your behalf over something that is just another tool, we have a bias or feel threatened? Whoa!

If you were reading at all, you saw some posts that said it's often a poorly used technique and when poorly used, makes ugly images. Or my own post that says it's been around in one form or another over a hundred years and is just another tool we use. As such, one uses it when necessary. I use it.

Doesn't mean I want to sign up for whatever drives you to say something like the quote above. It's not like it's a piece of the True Cross or something. It's just a freeking tool that seems to have driven you round the bend as to it's importance - or lack thereof.

--
jrbehm
http://www.jeffbehm.com
 
Whoa,

I didn't mean that comment towards you guys. I meant it towards the makers of the contest and their rules.

Wow, touchy group. Don't get your backs up against the wall over a little amateur like myself!
Jeff Behm said:
coreyh said:
This really has little to do with contests and more towards the
perception that HDR is just not "okay" with most photographers.

Anyways, I guess some people just feel threatened with hdr and post
processing as a whole.
Click to expand...
whaaaa?? From what twisted crack in the universe did that come????

OK. I have a gripe now with the forum rules that don't allow me to
express adequately just what a completely s_ d statement the above
quote is.

Implying that because we can't get exercised on your behalf over
something that is just another tool, we have a bias or feel
threatened? Whoa!

If you were reading at all, you saw some posts that said it's often a
poorly used technique and when poorly used, makes ugly images. Or my
own post that says it's been around in one form or another over a
hundred years and is just another tool we use. As such, one uses it
when necessary. I use it.

Doesn't mean I want to sign up for whatever drives you to say
something like the quote above. It's not like it's a piece of the
True Cross or something. It's just a freeking tool that seems to
have driven you round the bend as to it's importance - or lack
thereof.

--
jrbehm
http://www.jeffbehm.com
Click to expand...
--
Canon 10D
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 MKII
Sigma 10-20mm EX DC
 
No matter what contest you enter there is never a level playing field. The chances are that some other entrant will have better equipment than you or better shooting opportunities. That's life!

The real difference between competition photographers is in the way that they approach the contest. The successful entrants will make the rules work for them and will think 'outside of the box'. Complaining about rules will make no difference to anyone but yourself.

--
Greg

When you've got a moment, have a look at my newly updated site including my blog:
http://www.wrightphotos.co.uk
also http://www.wrightphotos.co.uk/FromeInFocus

Winner of the South West Rural section of the BBC's Picture of Britain Competition.
 
coreyh said:
Whoa,

I didn't mean that comment towards you guys. I meant it towards the
makers of the contest and their rules.

Wow, touchy group. Don't get your backs up against the wall over a
little amateur like myself!
Click to expand...
hey....

but it's THEIR contest!

What do you lose by finding another sandbox to play in?

V
 
"What any person has failed to adequately state is WHY hdr/exposure blending should be dissallowed?"

the answer is still simple. the rule makers of the contest say so. and it is their contest. and that is that.
if you do not like that go to another contest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top