# SDMB Monthly Photo Competition - rolling discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** photo\ **Created:** [November 27, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642 "2022-11-27T20:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 49
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/964 "2024-04-01T17:16:26Z")
It’s a zoomed in side view of an underlit suspension bridge so there are cable from top right to bottom left on both the near & far sides as well as two sets going from top left to bottom right. It should rotate thru colors but there was a problem in that the one section of lights were ‘stuck’ on blue so I detoured to get some shots of it. As an added bonus, there were some spinners doing donuts in the parking lot where I parked so I got some shots of them, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/965 "2024-04-09T18:14:41Z")
Just posting this here as we were discussing this in the thread for last month’s competition. @Strinka and I have selected “change” as the theme for next month’s competition. Not sure who sets these up and runs these now. Hoping @TwoCarrotSnowman is okay but happy to let @Mean_Mr.Mustard continue to deputise or I can do it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/966 "2024-04-09T18:58:35Z")
[April competition thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-17-april-2024-change/1000055) is up. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/967 "2024-04-09T19:08:34Z")
Nice one thanks for doing it ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/968 "2024-04-09T20:41:29Z")
Thanks for taking this on. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/969 "2024-04-09T21:50:42Z")
You’re a peach, Mr. Mustard! Hmmm, peach mustard? Maybe… ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/970 "2024-04-09T21:56:37Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > Hmmm, peach mustard? Maybe… That is a thing. [https://mustardmuseum.com/products/terrapin-ridge-peach-honey-mustard?\_pos=9&\_sid=da3d99c27&\_ss=r](https://mustardmuseum.com/products/terrapin-ridge-peach-honey-mustard?_pos=9&_sid=da3d99c27&_ss=r) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/971 "2024-04-12T20:45:52Z")
I went for an interesting (albeit cluttered) image of change, but the other option was to take it very literally… [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/4625/39676020674_ea076cee1d_b.jpg "Road trip") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/cttm/39676020674/) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/972 "2024-04-13T12:34:41Z")
Beautiful shot @beowulff ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/973 "2024-04-15T01:50:45Z")
> [@TwoCarrotSnowman](#): > > It’s OK to post-process photos, but please remember that this is a photography competition and not a digital art one. It’s a fine line, **but as guidance, if you’ve added significant elements to a picture that weren’t there when you took it, you’ve probably crossed the line into digital art.** For the avoidance of doubt: cropping, adjusting white balance, exposure, saturation, contrast, fixing geometry, removing minor distractions etc. are all fine. I am quoting TwoCarrot’s original guidelines (bolding mine) in reference to @beowulff’s entry into [this month’s contest.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-17-april-2024-change/1000055/5) I support TwoCarrot’s rule and, as such, I do not think the composite image should qualify for entry, as significant digital manipulation was involved (melding several images into one). I am interested in others’ opinions and will go with the majority. And no offense to you, @beowulff. Your image is magnificent. mmm _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/973))_ ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/974 "2024-04-15T02:44:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I am quoting TwoCarrot’s original guidelines (bolding mine) in reference to @beowulff’s entry into [this month’s contest.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-17-april-2024-change/1000055/5) > > I support TwoCarrot’s rule and, as such, I do not think the composite image should qualify for entry, as significant digital manipulation was involved (melding several images into one). > > I am interested in others’ opinions and will go with the majority. > > And no offense to you, @beowulff. Your image is magnificent.   In this specific case, I would be in favor of allowing @beowulff 's entry.  It is, after all, a depiction of a single event, not a composite of unrelated items.  It could get tricky to try to objectively nail down a line between what I would think should be allowed, and what I would think should not, but in my opinion, this image is on the correct side of that line.   What would you think about images produced using certain High-Dynamic Range (HDR) or focus-stacking techniques, which involve taking multiple pictures of the same scene, in order to get detail that couldn’t be shown in a single shot? [![](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/zsc_9317-9320_9325-9326_9335_9338_9340_9342__4000x1841-jpg.401131/) ](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/zsc_9317-9320_9325-9326_9335_9338_9340_9342__4000x1841-jpg.401131/)   Or panoramic image, made by taking multiple shots as the camera scans across a scene, to produce a single image taking in a wide field of vison than the camera can take in in one shot? [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/5505/13416593825_8cf5c22c61_b.jpg "EdselGraveyard\_20140325") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bob_blaylock/13416593825/) ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/975 "2024-04-15T02:58:56Z")
Here is an example of an image that might be on the wrong side of the line, as far as composites go, but I would not say that it is clearly so… [![](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/curves_9245_12487672144_ef50989424_o_g3000x1854-jpg.401061/) ](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/curves_9245_12487672144_ef50989424_o_g3000x1854-jpg.401061/)   This is a composite of two different images, taken about ten years, and a similar number of miles apart. First this image, taken in Rancho Cordova, about ten years ago… [![](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/12487672144_ef50989424_o1k-jpg.401060/) ](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/12487672144_ef50989424_o1k-jpg.401060/) …and this image, taken just a few months ago, of @Seanette posing on our couch, in our living room. [![](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/zsc_9245-topaz-sharpen_2008x2000-jpg.401067/) ](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/zsc_9245-topaz-sharpen_2008x2000-jpg.401067/)   I mirror-flipped the Rancho Cordova image, just because the slope of the foreground tuft of grass better fit @Seanette’s pose. that way, and painstakingly cut out that foreground tuft into a piece I could past at the very front of the image, as well as cutting @Seanette herself out of the picture of her on the couch, giving me three layers to combine to make the fictitious image of Seanette laying in a field of grass.   I had actually done this for a different challenge, on another forum, but on asking for clarification on the rules, this turns out not to qualify because in that case, all of the images going into it were required to have been taken and processed within the period of time covered by that challenge. The picture of @Seanette on the couch was taken during the challenge period, but the grassy scene was, as I said, taken about ten years before.  I ended up rather hastily looking, shooting, and processing a different grassy scene, for the same purpose, that would fit within the parameters of that challenge. [![](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/curves_9245_zsc_9271-topaz-denoiseraw-sharpen3000x2000-jpg.401064/) ](https://nikonites.com/forum/attachments/curves_9245_zsc_9271-topaz-denoiseraw-sharpen3000x2000-jpg.401064/) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/976 "2024-04-15T03:30:35Z")
FWIW: There is another thread for digital compositions: > [@SDMB Photo Manipulation Thread -- Show us what you can do](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-photo-manipulation-thread-show-us-what-you-can-do/953310/1): > > As many of you undoubtedly recall, for years, Cracked ran what they called “photoplasty contests,” where the idea was to use picture-manipulation software (e.g. Photoshop, GIMP, or even Paint) to produce an artwork that accorded to a theme. Winners there won cash; runners-up won bragging rights. We tried the same thing here, in Thread Games, here: … but it didn’t gain much traction. We did, however, have a few enthusiastic participants, and after discussion, realized that we weren’t really… Oh, wait, this may not be the thread I thought it was… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/977 "2024-04-15T12:02:36Z")
My opinion is that HDR and panoramic shots would be acceptable, largely because the image is portraying what you are seeing with your eyes. You are able to look and see both of those scenes in real time. You are not manipulating reality. You cannot look up into the sky and see seven suns. > [@Bob\_Blaylock](#): > > Here is an example of an image that might be on the wrong side of the line, as far as composites go, but I would not say that it is clearly so… I would say that the woman in the grass is absolutely ineligible for our contests. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/978 "2024-04-15T13:05:17Z")
We have so far avoided rules. Our contest is an ad hoc affair in which we individually interpret even the topic. Beowulffs’ image well represents the letter and spirit of ‘Change’. To reject it would set a destructive precedent. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/979 "2024-04-15T13:31:46Z")
I think @beowulff’s image should be allowed. I think it’s more like a long exposure shot than a composite image that combines unrelated scenes. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/980 "2024-04-15T18:16:06Z")
I like these photo competitions because a casual photographer, like me, can both participate by submitting my photos, and learn from others how to frame good shots with the camera I have (my phone). ISTM once we start allowing manipulated photos we are straying from the spirit of these threads, because not everyone here has access to tools or processes or know-how that allow us to manipulate our photos in ways depicted above, and in the monthly thread. I mean, they are great photos and all, and I wont take anything away from them, but eventually these friendly monthly competition threads will get less casual photographers, like me, participating when professional-level efforts end up blowing everything else away. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/981 "2024-04-15T18:26:55Z")
Agree with @snowthx. I am not a fan of manipulated photos in general and especially not for this particular competition. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/982 "2024-04-15T19:03:16Z")
Regarding the eclipse, I just requested that the mods change the subject of this thread to encourage people to post their eclipse photos there: > [@Post your April 8, 2024, eclipse pictures (April 8, 2024)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographers-what-are-your-eclipse-plans-april-8-2024/998491): > > On April 8, 2024, another total solar eclipse will pass over parts of the US. Fortunately for me, this one will go right over where I live. A fellow photographer friend who lives out in the country not far from me is hosting an eclipse “day camp”, so I’ll be out there all day and hopefully avoiding the traffic. My plan is to have two bodies shooting. One will be on my Star Adventurer tracker with a 100-500mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter. I plan to have this one going the whole time, using… ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642/983 "2024-04-15T19:19:26Z")
But so many people had no chance to see the eclipse 😭 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-monthly-photo-competition-rolling-discussion-thread/975642.md?page=50)