Pro photographers only?

[dodolah]

I am just wondering..I'm sorry if i offend anybody..
should we separate the contest according to the camera used?
you know: have 2 separate contest where 1 for people without access to SLR and the other one for the pro photographer or people with SLR

I am starting to feel that in order to win this contest, you have to take the picture with at least a Nikon D40 or better.. (it's almost like an unspoken rule)- there's almost no chance for someone with ordinary digital camera can win.
Not that i am complaining..

 

[Canopy Chameleons]

It's all about how you use the camera... I don't use an SLR or anything. Here's what I use:
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3204

 

[Will Hayward]

I am just wondering..I'm sorry if i offend anybody..
should we separate the contest according to the camera used?
you know: have 2 separate contest where 1 for people without access to SLR and the other one for the pro photographer or people with SLR

I am starting to feel that in order to win this contest, you have to take the picture with at least a Nikon D40 or better.. (it's almost like an unspoken rule)- there's almost no chance for someone with ordinary digital camera can win.
Not that i am complaining..

With all due respect, it's not entirely the camera being used, it's the person using it. Even a POS Point and Shoot, in the right hand's can take photos that are pleasing and top contenders in the contest. Heck there is this new fad in the photography world that is "Cell Phone Photography". Some of the photos being produced are done so well that you wouldn't be able to guess it was a cell phone. It's knowing your tool, and making the best of it.

If you are having trouble taking chameleon photos, then post about it in the photography forum. Many members are ready and willing to offer advise on improving.

Contrary to what you may think, a lot of the winners are likely not using high end cameras, but just market standard ones, that they have figured out how to operate well enough.

In addition to that, some of the winners or top voted images, have been of poorer quality, but make up for it in the subject and capture itself.

So let's rephrase that last sentence of yours: "there's almost no chance for someone with ordinary digital camera can win." if they aren't going to put effort into making the photo, and mastering the camera.

 

[royden]

Yeah, the Canon G9 isn't an SLR at all and it's really breaking ground for a digital point and shoot. Someone with a G9 would have a lot of advantages in a non-SLR class.

I agree that it's not the size of your lense, it's how you use it. BUT...I would still consider those with really lower level point and shoots are at a slight disadvantage. I'd agree with Will, know your tool and it's limits.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I'm a forensic specialist and you can great pictures with a point and shoot if that's all you have. I use a Nikon N80 currently and will be using a D80 shortly

A great photo involves a few things....framing the picture...lighting..shadow...distance...holding the camrea steady as you depress the button....and don't forget the subject has to be immoblie. A chameleon can be a trick to photograph, not to mention getting that "perfect" pose or moment.

There is alot more to a picture than just the gear.

 

[CrazyChameleon5]

Well this is funny cause i spend quite a bit on my digital cam a few years ago and i have always loved it for taking pics but to take one of the cham is horrible. But this is the funny part my cell phone actually takes way better pics look here is the difference..

the first 2 are with my dig cam the last 3 are my camera phone it's crazy!!!

hey dodolah remember when i tried to get a shot of her foot to determine sex lol well it was so blurry it was driving u nuts lol look at pic #3 what do ya think

 

[Justin Carl]

Everyone has a great point, but if you look back through the contest archives how many P&S have won?
Unless it was a funny or cute picture a SLR has won.
A lot has changed in the past couple years during the photo contest too.
The amount of pictures entered every month is huge.
Only the clearest and sharpest 12 pictures usually make it to voting.

 

[SuperRad]

You have to remember, someone who does pro photography, or photography as a hobby just doesn't take 1 picture. i'm sure they take hundreds and fine the perfect shot. Most point and shoot users are going to take 1 or 2 pictures.
If you have a point and shoot, take tons of pictures adjusting your settings in between. don't just leave it on auto and expect a pic to have perfect lighting and exposure.
I don't use a slr just a standard 5.1 finepix z1. Some pictures are just like picture perfect when playing with all the settings.

This morning i just ordered a Hybrid. Canon s5 IS, Which is an advanced point and shoot camera. What would this be classified under? slr or p&s if they WERE to separate contest???? It's like a point and shoot except i have much more manual settings?

Maybe instead of talks about dividing the contest, there should be a contest on creativity. Regardless of how crisp and clear the camera is.
Right now there are tons of pics of chams with either headshoots, or just sitting on a branch. How exciting is that huh?
That may solve the issue on slr vs ps.

 

[Amy J]

I am into photography and use a very poor camera, but manage to take some beautiful artistic pictures. I'd post some examples, but I still haven't been able to work out the attachments thing yet. It keeps saying there are errors on the page. But I do wish the no editing rule was taken away. A lot of inadequacies of a poor camera can be fixed with the simplest of photo-editing system. My camera always makes pictures turn out very dull in color so I like to edit a bit. This levels out the playing field too. The editing process is something that is integral to the work of nearly all professional photographers today as well. It is not looked down upon because a photograph is art, and the editing process is simply a chance for the photographer to finalize his or her creative vision. That's why I am a bit frustrated about the no editing rule in the competition. I can do it, but I feel like it restrains me from showing my pictures the way that I intended.

 

[Amy J]

Let's see if this works...

 

[dodolah]

Amy, i 100% agree with you.
w/ photoshop software i can sharpen and soften focus while using a PS camera.
while at the same time maintaining the true color of my chameleon.

too bad, many people don't see editing software as a medium.
and more see it as a "cheating" tool.

O well.

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

Yea but where do you stop the editing...you can enhance anything on a computer. Anyways, I haven't replied in any of the former threads. This is absurd, if there are "professional" photographers I don't think they are competing in this contest, they are probably doing their profession somewhere else. And if they are working with chams they aren't putting their pictures on our forum...I don't see any Bill Love or Zig Leszcynski on here. I mean there will never be a purely even playing field and that is what makes it a competition; everyone does not have the same species, color, maturity, locale, number, settings...I mean people in FL and CA have more opportunities to have their chameleons outside...does that make it not fair. This isn't communism, you are never going to find a completely level playing field. This is ridiculous, if people keep complaining I am sure that the contest will be scratched from this forum and that would truly be a shame.

Now look I have only entered maybe once or twice and have yet to win and I honestly have lots of photos that I think may have a chance, even with my point and shoot. I think that OldChamKeeper hit the nail on the head saying "A great photo involves a few things....framing the picture...lighting..shadow...distance...holding the camrea steady as you depress the button....and don't forget the subject has to be immobile." and also with a little bit of luck. Anyways I think no matter what camera you have the key is taking tons of photos and picking out the best, plain and simple.

-chris

 

[dodolah]

hahaha yeah.
I don't know why people start resurrecting old threads (this thread and the other one was started wayyy back then).
I am pretty content with whatever result there is. Honest.

I took a simplest way to solve this.
If you don't approve the contest, then don't bother to enter.
(like what i did).

PS SLR PS SLR, seriously i don't care anymore. plus, it's a free contest anyway. Now, if i have to pay to enter.. it's a different game altogether (lol).

I understand both sides really.
ludicrous or not, i think both points are valid.

To me it's a bit weird that people can use fancy mediums such as magic lenses and state of the art camera) and all but are afraid letting others use editing software. After all, they are just another medium to create a wonderful photography. What the difference, really?

I think the line is crossed when we start to see a rainbow veiled chameleon..
Sorry if i offend anybody. No intention to make others mad.
but seriously, let's move on from this old topics.
I (the one that start this thread) have resolved my issues

merci,

 

[nightcrawler]

i think this is a very controversial topic.
i don’t know nothing about taking photos or even what SLR means,
but i do know that its as fair as it can get.
you cant really complain much if some people can afford great cameras,
spend the time to use the great cameras, and even take the 29385283756278584375 photos it takes to get a winner.
i have a point and shoot and for every contest that ive entered there are
clear differences with the pictures i take and the ones the winning 10-12 take.
theirs are much better. they might not have a super camera, but i can see
why i didnt get into the finals. im not mad because everyone that does
usually get into the finals deserve it.
i bet if i spend the time getting great shots and all that jazz i could be a finalist.

you have to remember we are getting to post a picture for free, and if
you win you get $50 towards something.
you cant argue that things arnt fair if you dont have to pay to participate.
if we did split it up i bet it wouldent be two separate $50 award, and how
would it split up anyways? 30-slr 20-pas? that wouldent be fair.

there really is no way to do this where everyone has the exact same chance
as the next. some peoples chams are regular bland chams that we see
all the time. then you have some amazing fired up panthers. even some
parsonii. if you have a more expensive or rare cham then the other doesnt
that make it a little unfair? if we split it up by cameras then we would have
to split it up by chams too. a veild contest, a panther, and so on. then
you would have to take out the way people vote. you cant vote for yourself
you only vote for the clear loser. all this crazy stuff.

it was meant to be for everyone as a whole to have a chance to post a pic
of their cham and maybe win some prizes.

what i think is simple. spend the time taking good photos of your cham,
and dont worry if you win. be glad that people are spending the time
looking at the great photos of your cham. if you win that is just a
bonus.

im happy with not winning as long as you all look at the picture i submit.
i look at everyone that is submitted.

 

[dodolah]

i think this is a very controversial topic.

you have to remember we are getting to post a picture for free, and if
you win you get $50 towards something.
you cant argue that things arnt fair if you dont have to pay to participate.

Agreed! Like what i've been saying again and again...

 

[tryme]

I agree there should be diff comps. my photo wasnt originally excepted due to "quality" even though it wasn't poor

 

[Bullsnake]

My 2 cents as a Wanabe pro...

I can't really call myself a pro photographer since I actually make very little money with my photography, but I am a very serious photographer, so I like to tell important people that I am a pro . I can see both sides of the argument so here is my 2 cents; it is just my my opinion and I don't want to insult anyone. This is a contest. If the contest has a standard, and you do not meet that standard, then you need to raise yourself to the standard, not have the standard lowered to you. This does not mean that you have to get a better camera! If you really do think that your camera is holding you back, there are excellent point & shoots available for very reasonable prices, but to be honest, odds are the problem is not the camera, but the person using it !!! I have sold AS MANY OR MORE photos with my "ancient" Nikon Coolpix 4300 as I have with my Nikon D300 ! Why ??? Because I had it with me all the time and I really took the time to learn everything about that camera so that I could push it to the limits of it's abilities. Yes, if I had had the D300 with me all of the time (and if it had been released 7 years earlier) I may have gotten better photos, but I have no regrets because I still love my little 4300, and I developed the skills using 4300 that now allow me to use my D300 to the best of its abilities. If you are having problems taking good photos with your P&S, post your photos with your questions on the general photography forum and I do what I can to help you, as will many others who could possibly be even more experienced than me ! Lol... So, as I said, if you want to be able to win the contest, than work for it and you will feel much better about winning. But now that I am going to be getting my first cham soon, don't bet on winning a lot cause I intend to dominate the competition !!!

 

[ThisNewCham]

Camera makes no difference really...sure it might help with depth of field and such, but in all, it's the eye the photograher has. I'm a photographer and I work with a Nikon D80. Now that being said, I can take pretty much the same picture with my point-and-shoot.

One thing to be considered though, is use of such things as photoshop and other editing programs which can be used to enhance colours and such.

 

[Nicodemayo]

I think Gesangs contest entry that won the "tails" theme further proves you don't need a professional camera to win.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

I used a Fuji digital camera set on automatic , with focus on macro. Not much skill there, I'm afraid. The photo wasn't edited, or even cropped, for that matter (thought I probably should have cropped it). Just resized. But I did spend 4 different nights taking photos, throughout the month, and probably took about 100 photos, before settling on that one. My subject got so bored he fell asleep .