Still voting, or at least, trying to.

I'm now in trees and shrubs most of which looks an awful lot like landscapes to me. But there is one very, very beautiful picture there that I really REally want to vote for but can't bring myself to because it's very clearly in the wrong category.

Or is it? I don't know. But OMG, it's so gorgeous. Really having a hard time with this category.

Thoughts?

I also entered and have looked and voted. Some beautiful pictures out there and hard to decide. I enjoyed looking at every single one. Already thinking I should make a pic file just for the 2018 contest.
Good luck to all.

Joanna - Can you tell us why you think said picture is in the wrong category? Maybe we can help you decide. Or if you like it that much then just go for it.

One of my favorite pictures is not in the least bit garden related. Still tempted to vote for it.

tx_flower_child said:Joanna - Can you tell us why you think said picture is in the wrong category? Maybe we can help you decide. Or if you like it that much then just go for it.

One of my favorite pictures is not in the least bit garden related. Still tempted to vote for it.

No, I specifically am not describing it because it'll be a complete giveaway and I don't want to say anything that might have an influence.

Ok.

Just go for it. I have a feeling that it's what a lot of people do.

On a semi-related note, I found that combining trees and shrubs made the category harder to judge. I felt like the shrubs kinda got short shrift, so to speak. I guess shrubs could also go into other categories so maybe that's where more of them were posted. I dunno. I just know I better hop to it to finish voting.

I would prefer more categories and perhaps less entries per category (3?). Bushes and trees definitely are different to me. The wildlife category could easily be expanded to bugs/reptiles, birds, and mammals. Landscape, oh my. Anything goes I guess. And Miscellaneous?? I was taught early in my office days that one should never have a Miscellaneous file, figure out where it goes and put it there. I'd rather vote on fewer photos that are specific to a category rather than trying to choose from a total mish-mash. I don't pay any attention to the 'prize' aspect, but that could certainly be tweaked with nuts I would think. Folks seem to really enjoy those.

In any event, I renew my thought that next year's categories be decided and identified early in the year so all you lovely photographers can focus (pun intended) on creating even more beautiful shots for us inept folk to enjoy in the dull-drums of winter.

I agree with you, Deb.

Not being extremely well versed in plant identification, there were many pictures that I liked but felt uncomfortable voting for. If I wasn't sure if a plant was really a bulb, (for example only, not picking on bulb growers) then I didn't feel I could vote for the picture of that plant. I did star some pictures and tried to do a little research, but that turned out to be extremely time consuming and not very fruitful.

Great example: I don't think of a dahlia or crocosmia as being a bulb. As lovely as they were, none got my vote in the bulb category. Perhaps the category could be expanded to include corms and tubers. Or give them each their own (my preference).

Most contests and competitions provide instructions to the judges.

This is what we have:

vote on your favorites

That alone might account for a lot of the commentary in the thread.

Then there's the question of categorization levels (note that I didn't use the term taxonomy because...). By that I mean, we have a category for "rose" but also a category for rose-one-level-up (perennials).

That's inherently problematic for a lot of reasons (and, yes, I'm going somewhere with this post).

Then, to poke a little further, I guess you could put a rose not only in "roses" and "perennials", but also trees and shrubs, landscape and garden, misc., and whatever else I'm forgetting.

Then you've got this critter, for example:


I didn't enter that one in the contest, but if I had, I'd have tossed it in "bulbs", but apparently it's a "corm". Decent photo that maybe deserves some votes. But somehow disqualified on some ballots and not on others.

SOOOOOOOOOOO? (told you I was going somewhere with this):

SO many things wrong. So much to complain about. So many opinions. What to do?

I've looked at a lot of photo contests on a lot of sites. Most of them are scoped more tightly and are, truly, more precise. And there's probably an argument to be made for that here if you want to go there.

But in considering the purpose of this site and the community here and the reason that people spend so much of their recreation/entertainment time here, I think the contest, as it is, is prettymuch spot-on for the site, its purpose, and its audience.

Sure the categories are a little loose. The criteria are even looser. The quality is all over the map. But that's probably true, metaphorically at least, of the people the site serves (as evidenced in the photos).

By that I mean, we're primarily gardeners - who happen to have cameras. And an eccentric lot at that. And I think the contest, as it is, is a pretty good broad reflection of the site and its participants.

And I'm okay with that. I like that.

evermorelawnless said:By that I mean, we're primarily gardeners - who happen to have cameras. And an eccentric lot at that. And I think the contest, as it is, is a pretty good broad reflection of the site and its participants.
And I'm okay with that. I like that.

So do I.

Well said, Asa. What I truly like about the contest is that absolutely anyone can enter without being a pro at photography. I know my pictures aren't the best, but it's always nice to see a few of them get a couple of votes. At least that tells me that somebody liked them, lol!

Asa - right on! And Joanna - go vote for that tree - it's a tree! If you recognize it as such, then it's in the right category anyway - LOL!

Oh, and Asa - love your blue photo - a corm is a bulb in my book.

samhain10 said:Asa - right on! And Joanna - go vote for that tree - it's a tree! If you recognize it as such, then it's in the right category anyway - LOL!

Only, it's not. Still thinking on it.

Asa, I love that picture too. I think that, if there is that type of question, it would probably be best to post it in perennials or annuals.

Joanna I say if you love the picture go for it.

Just voted for the ones I like, nothing more, nothing less 😀

I didn't worry too much about the plant taxonomy when deciding if something was in the right category or not. I did wonder briefly if a water lily was really a "lily". I have no idea, and didn't care enough to look it up. After all the category just said lily, it did not give the latin botanical name for the lily family (or whatever taxonomic level it would be). The common name "blackberry lily" is actually an iris, right? But the common name is lily, so....... The natives and wildflowers is pretty open too. To my understanding a wildflower doesn't have to be a native just a flower found in the wild. There are quite a few non-native species introduced long ago that have taken off and can even be invasive, yet they are a wildflower. Plus, I know we have some users from other countries who are posting their natives and wildflowers.

My version of trying to vote for category appropriate photos was a little simpler. Since I realize the wildlife photos tend to be the most popular, I tried to only vote for them in the wildlife category. For instance a bird in a shrub where the bird is clearly the subject of the photo, to me belongs in the wildlife category and not trees/shrubs. I completely understand why the wildlife photos dominate. I love taking pics of animals of all kinds, and looking at other peoples animal pics. Anyone who has even tried to take animal photos realizes it can be a lot more challenging than taking a photo of static plants or landscapes. You usually have to be quite patient yet fast and really understand your camera to get a decent picture of a wild animal. Plus, it's really hard to not get drawn in to a cute animal picture. It's like that old show business saying, "don't work with kids or animals... they always steal the show!"

Maybe to make the categories a little more varied each year, there should be a contest of category selections for the next year. People could submit ideas for themed categories (and the criteria for the category). Then site admins could narrow it down to a manageable list, and let users vote on what categories they would like to see in future contests. Like someone else already said also...announcing the next year's categories well ahead of time to let people have time to take more targeted photos and narrow their selections.