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DPChallenge Forums >> Administrator Announcements >> Extending Challenge Submission Periods
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08/14/2016 04:30:46 PM · #1
Folks, one of the complaints we hear is that the one-week "window" for challenge submissions makes it very difficult to participate sometimes, and we've decided to experiment for a month or two. Some of you may have noticed that the "Double Exposure" challenge has a 2-week window. At the time, that was done so people would have time to experiment with what for many may be an entirely new technique. But we HAVE been talking about changing the window in SC Forum for a while, and starting tonight we will do it.

From this point forward, for at least the next 2 months or so, all the regularly-scheduled challenges (not the Free Studies) will have a 2-week submission period. The voting period will remain unchanged at 7 days. One consequence of this will be that for a while the front page winners section will look a little strange, but it will stabilize out as we move on and voted-on challenges roll in on a weekly basis again. Another change, obviously, will be that the "Challenges in Submission" column on the left will become more densely populated.

After we've given the new schedule a couple months, we'll probably poll the membership to see how they feel about the change. And of course we welcome discussion in this thread, but the experiment IS going forward regardless. Another possibility that's been floated is to make ALL challenges 4 weeks in the submission window, *possibly* coupled with running the two Free Studies on alternate months over a 2-month submission window for each. But that's further down the road, if at all; let's see how the 2-week period works first.
08/14/2016 04:45:40 PM · #2
I'm curiously whether people think that this would help DPL or create more difficulties?

(Is there a chance of DPL in the fall)?

The first heat would take two weeks, but there after we'd have results each week...
08/14/2016 05:12:48 PM · #3
fantastic
08/14/2016 05:19:38 PM · #4
I think I like this. Although it might extenuate my natural procrastiness.
08/14/2016 05:28:44 PM · #5
DPL is NEEDED, the site comes back to life when we run a league... it's what the people want, sort it out, pretty please with bells on it.
08/14/2016 06:29:38 PM · #6
I strongly oppose an extended submission period. This will exacerbate procrastination. The motivation to think, plan and execute will be extinguished. Deadlines promote picking up the camera and performing photographic activities. These actions often result in serendipitous experiences. That has always been the BEST feature of DPC for me. I am sad to hear we are departing from the one thing that has been exciting about the challenge process. I'm not part of any clique, so I really don't wish to see another DPL.
08/14/2016 06:31:42 PM · #7
I'm officially on the fence about this, but I believe that in its current state, with withering participation, DPC can certainly benefit from this.

I'm assuming that once this takes effect we'll see two weeks worth of challenges on the front page (plus free studies) with 3 challenges to vote on (knowing that for a while we'll have 4 or 5). Don't love it, but I think it could boost participation for sure, so I like that.
08/14/2016 06:42:23 PM · #8
Originally posted by hahn23:

I strongly oppose an extended submission period. This will exacerbate procrastination. The motivation to think, plan and execute will be extinguished. Deadlines promote picking up the camera and performing photographic activities.

I'm not understanding this. How is "You have ONE WEEK to plan and execute your shot for the "Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious" challenge!" inherently or fundamentally different from "You have TWO WEEKS to..."? It's a challenge, it's a time-frame... Is it possible, using your reasoning, that the BEST "challenges have always been the Speed Challenges, 24 or 48 hours?

Given that most of the DPC family is comprised of working stiffs (many with families), the Sunday challenges in particular have been problematical, making it very difficult to those who salivate at "Challenge X" when it's announced but realize they'd have to take a mini-road trip to shoot for it and find themselves hog-tied by prior commitments. We're trying to make it a little easier to participate. If you REALLY want the more limiteed challenge, knock yourself out! Set a personal goal of shooting for every challenge within, say, 5 days. Keep doing that consistently and for you (or anyone else who feels this way) nothing has changed...
08/14/2016 06:44:08 PM · #9
Originally posted by JakeKurdsjuk:

I'm assuming that once this takes effect we'll see two weeks worth of challenges on the front page (plus free studies) with 3 challenges to vote on (knowing that for a while we'll have 4 or 5). Don't love it, but I think it could boost participation for sure, so I like that.

You're correct about more challenges being "open" at once, and that the voting's not gonna change, once we're up to steam: same number of challenges rolling in/out on the same days, same number of challenges in voting and displaying results on the front page as always.

Message edited by author 2016-08-14 18:45:04.
08/14/2016 07:01:41 PM · #10
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

... Is it possible, using your reasoning, that the BEST "challenges have always been the Speed Challenges, 24 or 48 hours?

Given that most of the DPC family is comprised of working stiffs (many with families), the Sunday challenges in particular have been problematical, making it very difficult to those who salivate at "Challenge X" when it's announced but realize they'd have to take a mini-road trip to shoot for it and find themselves hog-tied by prior commitments. We're trying to make it a little easier to participate. If you REALLY want the more limiteed challenge, knock yourself out! Set a personal goal of shooting for every challenge within, say, 5 days. Keep doing that consistently and for you (or anyone else who feels this way) nothing has changed...


I never said anything about Speed Challenges. Please don't put quotation marks around something I never said!

My preference for no change to submission length was simply my opinion, which I thought was something for which you asked. As it is right now, I start thinking, planning and executing my photo for a challenge as soon as it is announced. I am often one of the first ten to submit to any challenge. And, it has always been my style to join as many challenges as I can. Conversely, if I can't complete a challenge idea in 7 days, it's very unlikely a stale idea will be interesting in the second week. I work seven days a week, so my weekends are as much consumed by work, as my week days. You do make a good point about those who are only free to photograph on weekends.
08/14/2016 07:56:24 PM · #11
Originally posted by hahn23:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

... Is it possible, using your reasoning, that the BEST "challenges have always been the Speed Challenges, 24 or 48 hours?

Given that most of the DPC family is comprised of working stiffs (many with families), the Sunday challenges in particular have been problematical, making it very difficult to those who salivate at "Challenge X" when it's announced but realize they'd have to take a mini-road trip to shoot for it and find themselves hog-tied by prior commitments. We're trying to make it a little easier to participate. If you REALLY want the more limiteed challenge, knock yourself out! Set a personal goal of shooting for every challenge within, say, 5 days. Keep doing that consistently and for you (or anyone else who feels this way) nothing has changed...


I never said anything about Speed Challenges. Please don't put quotation marks around something I never said!

My preference for no change to submission length was simply my opinion, which I thought was something for which you asked. As it is right now, I start thinking, planning and executing my photo for a challenge as soon as it is announced. I am often one of the first ten to submit to any challenge. And, it has always been my style to join as many challenges as I can. Conversely, if I can't complete a challenge idea in 7 days, it's very unlikely a stale idea will be interesting in the second week. I work seven days a week, so my weekends are as much consumed by work, as my week days. You do make a good point about those who are only free to photograph on weekends.


Consider that not everyone lives next to the mountains like you do. Also consider when many people have the most time, and the best subjects to take photos. When they are on vacation. So people who go away for a vacation in a beautiful place (say the mountains), for a week, and take the perfect picture for a challenge or two. Now if they are lucky enough to have a good laptop computer with them, and all their editing tools, and if they want to spend the time editing while on vacation, perhaps they can enter in the present situation. More likely, they can't. This would, among other things, allow them (usually) to edit when they get home and then submit. It would likely even increase the quality of entries for those who can at least manage to submit something while traveling.

Yes, we do have the Free Study, but in fact, I believe the reason that works so well, besides the open topic, is the longer submission period. If the free study only started at the end of the month, for one week, do you think we'd have as many entries?

There are also a lot of other use cases we can come up with. It's hard to argue that this won't make it easier to participate, and that's what we need/want.

Message edited by author 2016-08-14 19:57:27.
08/14/2016 08:01:35 PM · #12
I'm totally against this. Part of the "Challenge" in DPChallenge is the short turn-around period. Coming up with an idea and going out and getting that shot in a one week period. Totally awesome concept in the beginning and still is today.

Lengthy submissions exist already for Free Studies ... please don't take the "Challenge" out of DPChallenge.
08/14/2016 08:10:58 PM · #13
I'm excited to see this. Work gets in the way, so I will definitely appreciate the extra time.
08/14/2016 08:41:07 PM · #14
I'm all for it. Those who need more time have it. Those who don't, will have more time for commenting. It's a win-win.
08/14/2016 08:56:14 PM · #15
I'm all for the longer submission time, great idea in my book.
08/14/2016 09:00:49 PM · #16
Originally posted by hahn23:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

... Is it possible, using your reasoning, that the BEST "challenges have always been the Speed Challenges, 24 or 48 hours?

Given that most of the DPC family is comprised of working stiffs (many with families), the Sunday challenges in particular have been problematical, making it very difficult to those who salivate at "Challenge X" when it's announced but realize they'd have to take a mini-road trip to shoot for it and find themselves hog-tied by prior commitments. We're trying to make it a little easier to participate. If you REALLY want the more limited challenge, knock yourself out! Set a personal goal of shooting for every challenge within, say, 5 days. Keep doing that consistently and for you (or anyone else who feels this way) nothing has changed...

I never said anything about Speed Challenges. Please don't put quotation marks around something I never said!

Richard, I didn't put quotes "around" anything, and I wasn't talking about anything you said either. An extraneous quote mark showed up in front of the word "challenges", I'm not sure why. As to your larger point, that you are stating your opinion, absolutely! That's just what we want. And I'm responding to that, "debating" if you will, citing and expanding on a line of reasoning that's been articulated within Site Council as we considered experimenting with this change.

Let's just give it a try and see how it affects things, OK? With an open mind. If there's one thing that's obvious, in the DPC context, it's that change is badly needed, and yet at the same time we don't want to lose sight of what we are. We believe that a 1-week extension of the submission period may have a salutary effect on site participation and satisfaction. If not, well, that's a failed experiment and we can go back to 1 week, no problem :-)
08/14/2016 09:53:00 PM · #17
I will keep an open mind but I wish that maybe the two week challenges would be interspersed with the weekly ones.
I do realize that the number of challenges will ultimately be the same:)
08/14/2016 10:02:56 PM · #18
I don't have a real opinion about this, but in any case what can really change having two weeks instead of one? Nothing so big to be disappointed with. As for me, having very few time for challenges than I had before, I'm surely happy about that (but of course this is why 2 weeks are better than one when you have no free time for challenges)
08/14/2016 10:05:41 PM · #19
I kind of like the weekly submission challenges, but if you have to go fortnightly so be it, I understand how busy everyone is, I don't have small children any more so I have more time. As long as you promise to give us exciting challenges, no more "mess" or similar type challenges please ;) which don't push us at all to produce beautiful pictures.

Message edited by author 2016-08-14 22:06:36.
08/15/2016 05:01:04 AM · #20
My opportunities to shoot are few and far between so being able to enter more challenges from any given 'day out' will certainly enable me to participate in a greater number of challenges.

I think it's a good idea and I don't think it fundamentally changes how you meet a challenge, it just increases the likelihood that you can.
08/15/2016 05:39:30 AM · #21
These days, I don't enter enough challenges to be entitled to a real opinion and a vote.

However, the thing that attracted me to DPC in the first place - over 13.5 years ago - was what makes us different........ having to adhere to a topic within a tight time frame.
This move brings us closer to a zillion other photographic type sites..... and away from what makes us unique.

I will probably still renew my subscription for a bit longer. I will continue to submit an occasional photo. But I will grieve about losing another piece of DPC, because this brings us closer to all the others. I will again start looking around for alternatives, and who knows..... maybe THIS is what will push me over the edge of saying good-bye to my darling, beloved DPC. Mind you...... I really, really, really don't WANT to leave.
08/15/2016 06:40:58 AM · #22
Originally posted by Neil:


Consider that not everyone lives next to the mountains like you do. Also consider when many people have the most time, and the best subjects to take photos. When they are on vacation. So people who go away for a vacation in a beautiful place (say the mountains), for a week, and take the perfect picture for a challenge or two. Now if they are lucky enough to have a good laptop computer with them, and all their editing tools, and if they want to spend the time editing while on vacation, perhaps they can enter in the present situation. More likely, they can't. This would, among other things, allow them (usually) to edit when they get home and then submit. It would likely even increase the quality of entries for those who can at least manage to submit something while traveling.

Yes, we do have the Free Study, but in fact, I believe the reason that works so well, besides the open topic, is the longer submission period. If the free study only started at the end of the month, for one week, do you think we'd have as many entries?

There are also a lot of other use cases we can come up with. It's hard to argue that this won't make it easier to participate, and that's what we need/want.


Most challenges are urban oriented. That's where most of the people live, so I certainly comprehend the reason for the bias. Living in the rural mountains is not often an advantage in challenge topics, but I have always accepted the increased degree of difficulty. I do wish for the SC experiment to succeed. Hope you are successful.
08/15/2016 08:07:03 AM · #23
Originally posted by hahn23:

Originally posted by Neil:


Consider that not everyone lives next to the mountains like you do. Also consider when many people have the most time, and the best subjects to take photos. When they are on vacation. So people who go away for a vacation in a beautiful place (say the mountains), for a week, and take the perfect picture for a challenge or two. Now if they are lucky enough to have a good laptop computer with them, and all their editing tools, and if they want to spend the time editing while on vacation, perhaps they can enter in the present situation. More likely, they can't. This would, among other things, allow them (usually) to edit when they get home and then submit. It would likely even increase the quality of entries for those who can at least manage to submit something while traveling.

Yes, we do have the Free Study, but in fact, I believe the reason that works so well, besides the open topic, is the longer submission period. If the free study only started at the end of the month, for one week, do you think we'd have as many entries?

There are also a lot of other use cases we can come up with. It's hard to argue that this won't make it easier to participate, and that's what we need/want.


Most challenges are urban oriented. That's where most of the people live, so I certainly comprehend the reason for the bias. Living in the rural mountains is not often an advantage in challenge topics, but I have always accepted the increased degree of difficulty. I do wish for the SC experiment to succeed. Hope you are successful.


Are you honestly, with a straight face, trying to claim that living where you do is a real disadvantage? I'm sorry Richard, but that's laughable. Especially considering Denver is closer to you than majestic nature is to most.

I mean, think about someone who lives in say, west Texas, or maybe southern Illinois, or perhaps anywhere in Kansas .. Those are challenging locations.

As for the change? I think I actually tend to side with you, I'd only because of the pride of being able to produce great work under these conditions. With that being said, I think this is a fine experiment, and I look forward with interest to the results.
08/15/2016 08:17:12 AM · #24
Well, either way, doesn't matter ... I'll still end up entering crappy photos. LOL

Best of luck to all with the extra week.

I agree with Karin ( Beetle).
08/15/2016 08:48:07 AM · #25
I suggest to do it gradually, or the front page will feel deserted during the transition.
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