Simple question.
You better start work on your definition now.It could be the first Nature Aquarium only contest
Depends on the number of contestants really. But biotope/specialised should have its own category outside of that, its difficult.So what are people’s thoughts on having categories? Or is simply having one competition to enter more appealing?
Depends on the number of contestants really.
But biotope/specialised should have its own category
Good idea, that could work.Ultimately each contestant needs to decide which creative ‘style’ their scape best fits into based on their goals when they designed it, and the scape will be judged on the criteria specific to that category.
Voting has been set to private so no names, just an overall count for each option. Enables honest voting without being associated with your vote.
There is always the option to change your vote as time goes on should the proposed competition become more/less desirable. ‘Change Vote’ button at the top of the thread in the bottom right corner of the polling box.
If anyone has any thoughts/gripes/insights about how competitions are currently run this is an opportunity to discuss this. If prior feedback is taken into account, the hope is to create a competition the community agrees is inclusive to as many levels of skill and entices people to enter and discuss future improvements for them in a supportive manner. Encourage everyone to comment on what they think and feel is a APLC they would want to be part of.
I personally I think there needs to be a way to level the playing field on the photography side somehow.
I agree with @Wookii
Also not sure of solution. Video? Smartphones only?
However others struggle to get decent shots because they don't have the gear, or don't have the skills to get the best shot or the best from the final shot in post.
grab a prize winning photo.
There has been no conversation around what the prize would be. This is a big one as it will influence people’s behaviour towards fellow competitors drastically, shaping the nature of the competition.
This is a good point.If we want this to be an aquarium scaping/plant layout competition that is as inclusive as possible, and encourages beginners to participate, I personally I think there needs to be a way to level the playing field on the photography side somehow.
When I look across this site alone, there are some people that take some amazing photos of their tanks, who clearly have decent quality cameras and who have a good level of skill and working knowledge for getting the best from them both within the camera, and within post (and by that I mean legal post - editing exposure, levels etc etc). However others struggle to get decent shots because they don't have the gear, or don't have the skills to get the best shot or the best from the final shot in post.
The difference in photography skills can make a good tank look great, but conversely the reverse - can make a great tank look only average. It's particularly evident when you occasionally see IAPLC prize winners interviewed on video next to their tanks. Ignoring the illegal editing that has been the source of recent discussion, those aquariums never seem to look nearly as impressive in the videos as they do in the submitted contest photo.
I don't really have a credible solution to offer (yeah, I know, "don't bring me problems, bring me solutions"), however I can envisage it might be a factor in both judged competition results (judges can't necessarily be expected to see past a great photo, and likewise the potential though a poor one), and also potentially in the willingness of many to submit their aquarium images to the competition if they feel they can't grab a prize winning photo.