Hello everyone,



I am very happy to announce that an idea we've had in the back of our minds for a good while has finally been brought to life! Today we're officially unveiling the PentaxForums Exclusive Gallery, which is conceptually similar to Pentax's PPG. At first, we wanted this gallery to also appear fancy and have cool effects, but we found that other solutions wouldn't offer the level of integration that this one did. So, let's jump right in to what we're looking at here.

Our Exclusive Gallery will become a collection of only the best photos taken by our users. Only PentaxForums.com users will be able to submit to this gallery. We will also be imposing certain quality standards to make sure the photos are at their very best.

To submit a photo to the gallery, simply click the 'upload' link in the upper gallery toolbar, or click here. The submission form is the same as that in our other gallery categories, so you should already be familiar with the controls. The following will be required of each photo:

• JPEG format and compression at 90%-100% (9-12).
• A resolution of at least 1024x700 (WxH or HxW) pixels; preferably around 1500 or 2000px on one edge
  
• Full EXIF left intact in the file, if digital
• Manual addition of EXIF metadata, if film
  
• A photo description and complete camera/lens fields
• If you choose to place copyright text in your photo, please do so in the lower-right or lower-left corner only
• No added frames, borders, or drawings
  
• Taken with a Pentax camera (no exceptions)
• Limit 2 submissions per user day (to be fair to our judges)
  

If your photo conforms to these regulations, it will then be evaluated by the site staff. If the photo is good enough, it'll be approved into the gallery; if not, we'll simply move it to a regular category. You will be able to submit as many photos as you'd like until 10 have been approved in the gallery. This limit is currently going to be in place so that every photographer gets about equal exposure, but may increase in the future.

Why this is going to be better than the PPG:

• Not a slow flash-based gallery
• Large resolutions will be available for your viewing pleasure
  
• Comments can be made
• More great photos will be posted!
• Feedback on your photo will be e-mailed to you once a decision has been made
• The approval decision will be made within 1 week at most (apply to be a judge)
  
• Status tracking at https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/galleryapprove.php?do=status and updates on status via e-mail
• It's integrated with your favorite photo forum
  

And, best of all:

• If 5 or your photos get approved into the gallery, you will be invited to become an Exclusive Gallery judge

So, why wait? Upload your best now!

A note to newbies: the gallery is accessible through the 'photos' button in the navbar. Simply click it and then select 'User Photo Gallery' from the menu.

Enjoy, guys! I'm very excited to be bringing you this.

Photos accepted into the gallery will also be tagged as "exclusive" in gallery searches and listings, and within the exclusive category, supersized thumbnails will be shown!

[Photo_Man_Dan]

We are now rejecting all photos that do not contain the camera information as part of the EXIF data. You will need to add this information to the photo itself using an EXIF editor if you want your photo to be considered for the PEG. Sorry for the inconvenience, but we've had to make this a strict requirement in order to streamline the approval process.



Then your photo is unfortunately not eligible for the PEG. You're welcome to upload it anywhere else in the gallery, though!

Thank you Adam for that clarification. Hope you add the word camera to that last rule so no one else has to wonder.
In the mean time I need to borrow my sisters Pentax :-)

[Adam]

FYI the minimum resolution requirement has been upped to 1024x700, as all PEG thumbnails will now be made much larger to make each photo more appealing.

[margriet]

I just received feedback on a photo, as far as I can see there where a lot more judges taking part in this as before (2012) Quite funny some have complete opposite opinions. I wanted to use this spot here to show my gratitude as I do really appreciate the feedback!
* How many judges are there now or have to rate one picture?
* How much post processing can be done on a picture to still get in the exclusive gallery (f.e. can I do part black and white part color?)

kind regards,

Margriet

[Adam]

I just received feedback on a photo, as far as I can see there where a lot more judges taking part in this as before (2012) Quite funny some have complete opposite opinions. I wanted to use this spot here to show my gratitude as I do really appreciate the feedback!
* How many judges are there now or have to rate one picture?
* How much post processing can be done on a picture to still get in the exclusive gallery (f.e. can I do part black and white part color?)

kind regards,

Margriet

The post-processing is up to you, but be careful about over-processing! You should expect 20-30 comments.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



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[Tamia]

... I wanted to use this spot here to show my gratitude as I do really appreciate the feedback!...

I second Margriet's sentiment. I appreciate the feedback, and also that some judges sign their name. Thanks to the judges for taking time to offer opinions and suggestions.

[Racer X 69]

Quite funny some have complete opposite opinions.

I found the same thing. It is interesting how a single image can illicit diametrically opposed comments.

[slowpez]

Just had another photo rejected but this time it didn't bother me nearly so much. The feedback in most cases was excellent and I agree with margriet and Tamia. The improvements are fantastic.

[ramseybuckeye]

I just received feedback on a photo, as far as I can see there where a lot more judges taking part in this as before (2012) Quite funny some have complete opposite opinions. I wanted to use this spot here to show my gratitude as I do really appreciate the feedback!
Margriet

I second Margriet's sentiment. I appreciate the feedback, and also that some judges sign their name. Thanks to the judges for taking time to offer opinions and suggestions.

It is interesting how a single image can illicit diametrically opposed comments.

I found the same thing about opposite opinions. I've only submitted one photo to the gallery and it was rejected. I did accidentally submit a unsharpened version that was requested by Outdoor Photographer, but that was really only commented on by one judge. I also appreciate the feedback. but you have to realize any judging is subjective to the likes and dislike of the one judging. The editor of Outdoor Photographer had already selected this photo for their online wallpaper calendar when I submitted it to PEG, so I was interested in what the opinions would be. You can't be upset over people's opinions, I know I may have a completely different view of a photo from one day to the next. Only one comment really had me scratching my head, "Either the barn or the moon should be the focus, but not both.". I just don't get that one!

[slowpez]

Little miffed because I just got slammed for submitting a duplicate image to the exclusive gallery. When in actuality I received a submission error so I resubmitted it and received the same error message. I assumed the photo didn't go through and didn't try again. Really made me angry because most of the reviewers commented on how I was not to do that. One said "DO NOT post twice. One will be reviewed, one discarded because of being a duplicate. Votes could be diluted." Another reviewer said " Duplicated. Not sure which is the first so both fail." Just wanted to let them know that I am not an idiot it was not intentional.

[Nass]

I found the same thing. It is interesting how a single image can illicit diametrically opposed comments.

I've experienced this myself and I sympathise.

The way judging works is there are lots of judges but once a certain number of people have put down marks it is considered 'scored and judged'. Within the 'lots of judges' there are people who like and will mark up or down certain genres, so it's pot luck whether you get people who do or don't like what you do. In my case 90% of people liked but a couple gave it really low marks because their view of what makes an appealing photo was very different to everyone else's. That was enough to kill of some of mine. As a judge I know how tricky it can be so personally I think PEG would be better if the marking ignored extreme marks on either side and maybe just took 80% of the scores in the middle into account only, to prevent such cases. Up to Adam.

[romansolar]

good suggestion, like with ice skating ignore lowest and highest score

[Ash]

Just wanted to let them know that I am not an idiot it was not intentional

Just submit again, once.

The editor of Outdoor Photographer had already selected this photo for their online wallpaper calendar when I submitted it to PEG

For the purposes of the magazine, this image suits them very well. For the purposes of PEG, it was voted on to not suit the gallery and I'm sure there were other reasons given as to why.

[Dr Orloff]

Little miffed because I just got slammed for submitting a duplicate image to the exclusive gallery. When in actuality I received a submission error so I resubmitted it and received the same error message. I assumed the photo didn't go through and didn't try again. Really made me angry because most of the reviewers commented on how I was not to do that. One said "DO NOT post twice. One will be reviewed, one discarded because of being a duplicate. Votes could be diluted." Another reviewer said " Duplicated. Not sure which is the first so both fail." Just wanted to let them know that I am not an idiot it was not intentional.

That issue has been discussed amongst judges. The message that pops up after submission is not well worded. It starts something like 'unfortunately your image cannot be displayed' so looks at first glance like it hasn't uploaded. I've done that too and so have others. I don't think some judges realise it is an error and maybe that was reflected in the comments. I scored each of the images the same but only commented once. It's very likely that the marks for the image(s) would have been artificially low.

[slowpez]

That issue has been discussed amongst judges. The message that pops up after submission is not well worded. It starts something like 'unfortunately your image cannot be displayed' so looks at first glance like it hasn't uploaded. I've done that too and so have others. I don't think some judges realise it is an error and maybe that was reflected in the comments. I scored each of the images the same but only commented once. It's very likely that the marks for the image(s) would have been artificially low.

Actually, there was a real error message. I am familiar with the wording of the site after the upload. Not sure what was going on that day but it was the only time I had gotten a message like that after an upload so there must have been a glitch somewhere. Still doesn't make the comments to me go down any better. By the way, your comments are some of the most constructive out there. Keep up the good work.

[dane.dawg]

I just stared submitting photos to this gallery on the weekend and the feedback is great. I may not agree with some comments but all and all the judges seem fair and some give you there score. I do find the photos soft that I submit which bothers me. I would like to thank all the judges for there time and effort..