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!

[slowpez]

A generalized statement like this simply reflects a prejudice unbecoming of a person in the judge role, not to mention providing a semi-literate display of poor diction.

Susan, I'd wear a hat of bemusement and let it wash over me. The feedback says far more about the so-called judge than it does about your image.

M

Great image Susan! I like the contrast between the soft texture of the clouds ad the hard, sharp texture of the rocks.

Thanks Miguel and Racer. Appreciate the kind comments. I have to admit, with all the awful unkind comments the judges can come up with these objections to B&W images really floored me.

[Anton Magus]

There does seem to be a school of thought that promotes the idea that converting every image to B&W somehow makes them "better" and more "artistic".
That, of course, is quite erroneous. A poor colour image seldom results in anything other than a poor B&W image when converted. B&W conversion is not a cure-all for poor shots.

Conversely B&W images can only rely on the interplay of light and shadow to accentuate shapes and textures, hardness and softness. The lack of contrasting or complementary colours to draw the eye to the subject can, depending on the image, be a blessing or a curse. Consequently your mind should see a scene as a B&W image or a colour image even before you reach for the camera, and then you shoot the image accordingly. To me it is that process that makes B&W a valid photographic medium. That's far different to looking at a mediocre colour shot and wondering if running it through Silver Efex will magically change it into a keeper.

The image under discussion appears, IMO, to have been shot as an intentional B&W image. The colour image would have accentuated the green grass on the bank and drawn the eye away from the rocks and their textures - obviously not the photographer's intention.

Some Judges obviously need to realise that photographers have a legitimate right to submit entries in B&W if they wish and to have the entry sensibly judged for its technical, compositional and creative merit, as presented. Some of the PEG judges would reject the Mona Lisa because Leonardo da Vinci didn't use enough colour and made the face too sallow...

[builttospill]

Well said Anton. I don't shoot B&W very often on my DSLR, but I will occasionally shoot a roll of B&W film. It's not easy to get a nice B&W image. Maybe I can find one and submit it to the PEG. Maybe a bunch of us can submit outstanding B&W images to help educate some judges.

[slowpez]

there does seem to be a school of thought that promotes the idea that converting every image to b&w somehow makes them "better" and more "artistic".
That, of course, is quite erroneous. A poor colour image seldom results in anything other than a poor b&w image when converted. B&w conversion is not a cure-all for poor shots.

Conversely b&w images can only rely on the interplay of light and shadow to accentuate shapes and textures, hardness and softness. The lack of contrasting or complementary colours to draw the eye to the subject can, depending on the image, be a blessing or a curse. Consequently your mind should see a scene as a b&w image or a colour image even before you reach for the camera, and then you shoot the image accordingly. To me it is that process that makes b&w a valid photographic medium. That's far different to looking at a mediocre colour shot and wondering if running it through silver efex will magically change it into a keeper.

The image under discussion appears, imo, to have been shot as an intentional b&w image. The colour image would have accentuated the green grass on the bank and drawn the eye away from the rocks and their textures - obviously not the photographer's intention.

Some judges obviously need to realise that photographers have a legitimate right to submit entries in b&w if they wish and to have the entry sensibly judged for its technical, compositional and creative merit, as presented. Some of the peg judges would reject the mona lisa because leonardo da vinci didn't use enough colour and made the face too sallow...

amen!!!!!!

[Racer X 69]

Thanks Miguel and Racer. Appreciate the kind comments. I have to admit, with all the awful unkind comments the judges can come up with these objections to B&W images really floored me.

You're welcome Susan.

I can't get my head around the objection to B&W as a reason to disqualify an entry into PEG. It just doesn't add up. As Anton points out, and as is said all the time, photography is an art form. Choosing a photograph to change to B&W is simply part of the artistic process.

[whitelotus9]

I don't even want to think about how many rolls of Tri-X B&W film that I went thru before getting into doing my own bulk loading. I'd venture to say that most of us that have been into photography long enough probably cut our "photography teeth" in B&W. Color was too expensive and too unforgiving for a home darkroom.

I may just take some of my RAW photos and see how they look in B&W.... Could be interesting.

[tuco]

...
Color was too expensive and too unforgiving for a home darkroom.

C-41 is not that difficult to do at home. I still do it on occasion (but I mostly develop BW). It's not as convenient as BW, however, and easier than E6. For C-41 you only need to hold the critical temperature for 3.5 minutes during developing stage and after that you have a slightly wider temperature tolerance ban for the blix stage.

You put some 101 deg F water in a beverage cooler and place the daylight tank in it between agitations. The temperature of hot water in the cooler will not change enough in that 3.5 min to be significant.

[Dr Orloff]

All judges are going to have preferences on genre and it is very difficult to judge without some form of bias towards or against certain images. I'm sure I am guilty of favouring my favoured subjects and 'looks' to some degree. However, I think judges should still be capable of recognising excellence in areas that aren't to their taste and most certainly should not dismiss a genre simply because they don't like it. There is always the option not to judge and maybe this would be the better option for those that seem to insist colour is better regardless. I think that black and white is absolutely the right decision for the tonal range in this photo.

[Couscousdelight]

The last 3 pics i've send thru PEG are displayed with wrong colors on PentaxForum...

...

[klosov]

Despite my poor language skills, I try to read everything with great curiosity. Sometimes also with a laugh.
I understand the concern of the authors and the doubts how done is the process of evaluating?
But it is always accompanied by the reporting work for each competition. Always!
And We all agree that, given the challenge the competitions.

Sorry for my bad English, but beyond my head I have a must to use online translator.
I saw some beautiful "shoots" in these posts, and also want 2 take not verbal PEG part before it runs out my donation.
Maybe it will happen?

piotrekk

[dian11]

These pictures are very good

[Racer X 69]

These pictures are very good

That is why they are in the exclusive gallery!

[dcBear78]

How long does it normally take to receive the feedback email? I'm awaiting some info as to how I can improve my latest rejection.

[Racer X 69]

How long does it normally take to receive the feedback email? I'm awaiting some info as to how I can improve my latest rejection.

It varies, depending on the rate at which the judges post comments. If there are a lot of them (the judges) signed on to the forum and they move through them making their ratings, the process should go pretty quickly.

If there aren't many on, it could take a while.

Adam is the only one who knows the threshold for approval/rejection, and even then I doubt he could answer definitively the time frame for the process.

I have had submissions go through in about 24 hours, and others take several days.

[dcBear78]

It varies, depending on the rate at which the judges post comments. If there are a lot of them (the judges) signed on to the forum and they move through them making their ratings, the process should go pretty quickly.

If there aren't many on, it could take a while.

Adam is the only one who knows the threshold for approval/rejection, and even then I doubt he could answer definitively the time frame for the process.

I have had submissions go through in about 24 hours, and others take several days.

It's already been rejected. Just would've thought the feedback would be done at the same time. I can't see anyone clicking on the no button, then coming back later to write feedback/comments.