CLOSED: POLL: 2.0 Advanced Competition: Week 16 (WINNER: CCXRacer)

[SlipZtrEm]

• Do not vote for your own entry.
• Have confidence in your photo; don't try to sway the poll.
• Poll is up until the week's Friday.
• In the event of a tie, a 24 hour poll is created to end Saturday.
• In the event of a second tie, judge's vote is deciding factor.
• Don't forget to vote in both polls during H2H weeks!
• Winners have 48 hours to get their new theme to the host.
• If the winner can't provide it in time, the runner-up gets to choose.

25.03.11

 

[amazeCRAZE]

My photo....IT DID NOT MAKE IT D:

Oh well, I like them all. I'm putting my vote in now!
EDIT: Ok so I kinda voted for the wrong one. Is it possible to change?

 

[gtuned]

I love 440 Charger's. Looks like it's straight out an initial D manga.

 

[Terronium-12]

Mine didn't make it either.

I am ready to write a full-fledged conspiracy theory article.

 

[Nicknamealguem]

The Rumble Strip shot is pure orgasm.........I mean it, it's like GT5 pr0n or what you call it.

 

[Pebb]

The Rumble Strip shot is pure orgasm.........I mean it, it's like GT5 pr0n or what you call it.

You know, you could catch germs for voting on a rumble strip. Seeing how you are in love with it.

Moving On:​

I think sixtoes has jinxed me this week.

 

[MetalBeerSolid]

Absolutely love the shot of the Furai.

 

[ZEROX]

Thought so. I didn't make it. Which is good.
Well, the bright side, i don't have to worry about my vote.

Voted for the shoots from the above.

 

[Ru-fus]

didn't make it but ah well, there was a load of entries, maybe next time

 

[Nicknamealguem]

You know, you could catch germs for voting on a rumble strip. Seeing how you are in love with it.

Not if I'm protected.... Wait, what?

 

[aidan8500]

dam didnt make the cut

 

[Pebb]

@ ceiling_fan: Thanks for the vote.

 

[sixtoes]

Congrats to those of you who made the poll this week - my task was made quite difficult by a number of your entries! 👍

With 76 total entries, I could barely keep one out of every four - so I thought I'd let you all know a little bit of the process I used when determining which images would make the final cut.

The primary thing, of course, was whether or not the photo really exemplified the theme of black and white. This is a bit more difficult to quantify, but here are some specifics I looked for, and some examples of each:

• Use of strong contrast for enhancing subject (TVR, Vonie)
• Willingness to lose all detail in highlights or shadows for visual impact (akuyuku, Sprite)
• Use of B/W in a purely graphical style (ThaSyn, 440Charger)
• Dramatic environmental lighting and surroundings (Aleman, Gtuned)
• Photorealism (sheferd)
• Great use of B/W in shots with no cars (CCXracer and Moglet)

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should give you some indication of what I was hoping to see in a black-and-white photograph. Basically, if the use of black-and-white made the image better than it would have been in color, then it had a good chance of making the poll.

The other thing I looked for, since this is a 2.0 Advanced Competition, was quality post-production work. Often times, I'd see really evident banding, or artifacts - sometimes the dreaded pixellation. But in a 2.0 comp, I'd hope to see those things worked on a little. Sometimes, bad editing would show up in the full-size images - which, by the way, is good reason to make sure that you voters all look at the full-size images before voting! Also, you might notice that, of the 20 finalists, only four or five still have the GT logo in the upper-right. Frankly, I'd expect to see that gone in a 2.0 competition - so I was surprised to see how many of them were still on contest submissions. Picky, I know - but hey... I'm the judge.

Finally, if images were technically flawed -- out of focus, poorly cropped, etc -- or violated the rules (double-posts or too large a preview), I didn't consider them at all.

I'm fully expecting that there will be lots of questions as to why certain images didn't make the poll. Please feel free to ask here in the thread - I'll jump in now and then and will provide constructive criticism and feedback where it's requested - and I'll try not to provide it where it isn't requested.

 

[xAmilli0n]

I didn't make it, but thats not completely unexpected lol. I'm slowly getting better (I think) and hopefully I can make the poll soon 👍

As for those selected, it was a pretty easy decision for me.

Best of luck to all selected.

 

[ponga]

Breathtaking shots guys. What is it about B&W pics that give it the edge??

 

[Jason_B]

Thank you for picking my shot this week.

 

[Rossticles]

• Use of strong contrast for enhancing subject (TVR, Vonie)
• Willingness to lose all detail in highlights or shadows for visual impact (akuyuku, Sprite)
• Use of B/W in a purely graphical style (ThaSyn, 440Charger)
• Dramatic environmental lighting and surroundings (Aleman, Gtuned)
• Photorealism (sheferd)
• Great use of B/W in shots with no cars (CCXracer and Moglet)

I'm guessing mine didn't contrast the black from the white enough. I took the picture of the Skyline, I guess you can always go back and look. I would honestly like to know. Feel free to hate on the rest of my pictures in my signature. No one gets better at anything being praised all the time and I aim to get better.

 

[MetalBeerSolid]

Any tips on my shot? (http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9561/nrburgring24h0.jpg)

Not removing the watermark was laziness lol.

 

[ziggedzag]

I'm quite surprised that Dolp's Jag shot didn't make it. It's hands down the most striking b&w GT5 image I've seen. Tough week to judge though, lots of great entries.

 

[Fezz_ST]

I had a feeling I shouldn't have changed my entry

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

My first time not making the poll, but it had to happen sooner or later.
Besides, I kind of expected it. B&W isn't my strong side.

 

[CCShaft7]

wow... @sixtoes - based on all the criteria and your technical eye for imperfections/flaws etc I am so chuffed to have made the poll, I had little hope of making it that far when I entered due to the fact I think my shot is probably too 'GT5 generic' but this will spur me on to improve and get more creative.

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

There is just one thing... Why is there a photo with a yellow hue in the final poll when it was stated clearly to be strictly B&W?

 

[Fido_le_muet]

Damn I didn't made the poll !
But it was a tough week and all the selected entries are great 👍

 

[CCShaft7]

There is just one thing... Why is there a photo with a yellow hue in the final poll when it was stated clearly to be strictly B&W?

Can't see it? which one do you mean? or maybe you shuold PM the judge to raise your query.

 

[35mm]

The other thing I looked for, since this is a 2.0 Advanced Competition, was quality post-production work. Often times, I'd see really evident banding, or artifacts.

This is definitely the area where my entry lacked and I think it was the main reason for not appearing here.

Anyway, it's a nice poll, with excellent choices. 👍

 

[[Nor]MclarenF1]

Can't see it? which one do you mean? or maybe you shuold PM the judge to raise your query.

My apologies, the preview of the Corvette image I was thinking of differed from the actual image it linked to. My bad.

 

[Raphaele]

... Also, you might notice that, of the 20 finalists, only four or five still have the GT logo in the upper-right. Frankly, I'd expect to see that gone in a 2.0 competition - so I was surprised to see how many of them were still on contest submissions.

-

Right Your Honour – you are The Judge
Rules say you may remove the GT5 watermark...

For me the watermark still is reliable evidence of conformity.
I really expect some day entries taken in reality - not in the game :-)

And don't underestimate:
the watermark pays homage to our beloved PD development team.

 

[Pebb]

I want to thank the other people, who voted for me.

 

[sixtoes]

Just a few responses to posts since the poll opened... again, I'll try to avoid directly commenting on your entry unless my opinion is sought. No promises, though...

amazeCRAZE: Sorry yours didn't make it, but I was unable to consider your image for the polls because the preview image was larger than 500 pixels.

Gtuned: 440Charger's was definitely the most graphic looking entry and that's why it made the poll. Unique and well-executed.

aidan8500: If it helps, yours was one of the last ones cut... I really liked the use of B/W with the miniature filter.

Rossticles: It's always good to seek constructive criticism - you're right, we don't get better if all we get is praise. As for your shot, it wasn't a bad shot, but it just didn't pop like the ones that made the poll. Part of it is a lack of contrast in the car, as you suggest - but mostly it's just that the lighting is sort of meh. Composition's a little too tight for my taste, too. Like I said, not bad - but with 70+ shots to compete with, it just didn't quite get there. Better luck next time!

MetalBeerSolid: I liked your shot quite a bit (great retro look with the grain and heavy vignetting) and it was one of the last - possibly the last, if I remember correctly - ones to get cut. (It was either yours or Revolution's - I know that much.) Composition's nice, good use of B/W, fits the theme nicely. If I had 25 shots instead of 20, yours would definitely have made it. 👍 (The last five that I cut were really hard to choose.)

[Nor]MclarenF1: It was a tough call; I know yours was at least in the middle of the pack... maybe not in the last 5 cut, but it was certainly in the last 10. B/W is a challenge, no doubt - so I'm sure you'll be in the next poll! (Oh, and I'm glad you figured out the hue issue - I'd been extremely careful to prevent any shots like that from getting in, so I'd have been very disappointed had I been snookered like that.)

CCShaft7: You made it because you did a great job with the B/W conversion (or you really used the in-game filter nicely). Textures look real, the reflections (esp. on the hood) are crisp and clean and the shot had a great sense of motion. It may not be in the running to win the poll, but yours was one that was never in doubt in my mind as to making the poll.

Raphaele: The watermark is, unfortunately, not reliable evidence of conformity. Someone could still make edits that are outside the scope of the contest rules (HDR, removing objects from the background, adding objects, etc.) and leave the watermark present. For me, it's just a matter of visual distraction - even a signature, if it's too big and contrasty, can take away from the visual impact of a photograph. In your image's case, it certainly wasn't the GT watermark - it's barely visible and thus not distracting. But I certainly understand where you're coming from.

All: It was much more difficult to judge and select 20 images than I thought it would be. It almost provides a perverse incentive not to win again, but I don't think I can do that.