MOTM contest

[SpooledupRacing]

How about we start a MOTM or COTM vote..

I like the COTM (car of the month) that would so awsome..

MOTM (member of the month) would be sweet to

HOWEVER we have so many awsome people it would be hard to choose just one..


what do u guys think?

[njaremka]

i say "Car of the Month" would be cool - something similar to what 247 does, with the winner on the front page somewhere.

[SpooledupRacing]

that would be awsome.. I'm not into MOTM to much.. but COTM would be awsome..

have a submission list.. once the deadline is up then there is a vote that narrows it down to the top 10 then a vote for the best...

[SATimko]

I'd be up for it. Mine aren't that cool, but I'll definitely vote. :)

[SpooledupRacing]

I would deff vote.. doubt the baby eater would win anything but its ok.. just for fun!

[DemonIAm]

as long as there's a rule where the same car can not have the win more than once. It would suck to have the same 12 cars winning every year. I'm all for you winning twice, if you have 2 different badass cars, though.

[MazdaTom]

I think TMF would need to come up with a unique twist for the contest. Otherwise it's way too much like 247.

I know this board is mostly Protege members, but maybe dedicate one month to each car: one month Proteges (POTM), one month to RX-7s, one to 3/Speed 3, one to 6/Speed 6 (or group them by 3/6 and Speed 3/6 or even seperately), one month other random car in YOUR stable (like I have a Saturn VUE), maybe bike of the month (either motorcycle or pedal bike).

I don't know if the membership base here is such that it could support a COTM each month. Maybe have some months be camera of the month, or garage of the month or something.

Just some ideas.

[SATimko]

I like the ideas.

[njaremka]

I know this board is mostly Protege members, but maybe dedicate one month to each car: one month Proteges (POTM), one month to RX-7s, one to 3/Speed 3, one to 6/Speed 6 (or group them by 3/6 and Speed 3/6 or even seperately), one month other random car in YOUR stable (like I have a Saturn VUE), maybe bike of the month (either motorcycle or pedal bike).



i like this idea too

[DemonIAm]

We did have a photography contest at one point. It quickly turned Insipid, and failed.

FACT: TMF members all have ADD. ooh a puppy outside...

[MazdaTom]

ooh a puppy outside...

Does it have a bushy tail?

[iLisa]

i like a lot of the ideas here....

[pro5x2]

I'm all for you winning twice, if you have 2 different badass cars, though.

:)

Let's do what we did before. Set out the rules and discuss.

I say you can only enter a set number of times per year, and can't be back to back.

I also think a nomination should be done.

Someone nominates a car, someone else seconds it in, then owner accepts. Say, first 5 cars nom'd, sec'd, and accepted are in

I think the way 247 does it is an absolute mess!



I think TMF would need to come up with a unique twist for the contest. Otherwise it's way too much like 247.

I know this board is mostly Protege members, but maybe dedicate one month to each car: one month Proteges (POTM), one month to RX-7s, one to 3/Speed 3, one to 6/Speed 6 (or group them by 3/6 and Speed 3/6 or even seperately), one month other random car in YOUR stable (like I have a Saturn VUE), maybe bike of the month (either motorcycle or pedal bike).

I don't know if the membership base here is such that it could support a COTM each month. Maybe have some months be camera of the month, or garage of the month or something.

Just some ideas.

And Emor8 would win every time MS6 comes up. Isn't he the only one? And we have, what, 4 RX8's? If that? 2 RX7's?

We aren't diverse enough for that setup just yet. Just my opinion.


I like the idea though!!!

[iLisa]

the p5's would need a few months since there are so many of us here.. :D

[chico]

I know this board is mostly Protege members, but maybe dedicate one month to each car: one month Proteges (POTM), one month to RX-7s, one to 3/Speed 3, one to 6/Speed 6 (or group them by 3/6 and Speed 3/6 or even seperately), one month other random car in YOUR stable (like I have a Saturn VUE), maybe bike of the month (either motorcycle or pedal bike).

+1

[MazdaTom]

And Emor8 would win every time MS6 comes up. Isn't he the only one? And we have, what, 4 RX8's? If that? 2 RX7's?

We aren't diverse enough for that setup just yet. Just my opinion.

Yeah, I agree actually. Just threw it out there to get some other ideas rolling.

And since there are so many Proteges on here, maybe break them up into sedans one month and p5s the next- cuz you know how we sedan guys don't like to associate with the wagon guys! ;)

And depending on how many MSPs there are, split them into their own month too.

[SATimko]

:)

Let's do what we did before. Set out the rules and discuss.

I say you can only enter a set number of times per year, and can't be back to back.

I also think a nomination should be done.

Someone nominates a car, someone else seconds it in, then owner accepts. Say, first 5 cars nom'd, sec'd, and accepted are in

I think the way 247 does it is an absolute mess!





And Emor8 would win every time MS6 comes up. Isn't he the only one? And we have, what, 4 RX8's? If that? 2 RX7's?

We aren't diverse enough for that setup just yet. Just my opinion.


I like the idea though!!!


We have several MS6's. Fez's is freaking hot.

[yaggie1]

I think the nomination idea would be pretty cool.

[SpooledupRacing]

I dont understand the nomination idea

[pro5x2]

I dont understand the nomination idea

Really?

Ok

I like Pat's car, so, i nominate Pat's car for COTM.

You also like it, so, you second Pat's car.

Pat accepts the nomination and he is now lock'd in





If a car is nominated but not 2nd'd it isn't in COTM, and if the owner doesn't accept the nom, he is not in COTM.

That make any more sense?

[MazdaTom]

Motion to adjourn.

[njaremka]

Really?

Ok

I like Pat's car, so, i nominate Pat's car for COTM.

You also like it, so, you second Pat's car.

Pat accepts the nomination and he is now lock'd in





If a car is nominated but not 2nd'd it isn't in COTM, and if the owner doesn't accept the nom, he is not in COTM.

That make any more sense?

sounds like it would get confusing:kopkrab:

[pro5x2]

How is that confusing?

Bah, you guys are hopeless

[CTt3P5]

I like Tom's and Tylor's ideas.

In regards to Tylor's idea, someone would have to take on the responsibility of creating a nomination thread for say two weeks and then after closing it down start the voting thread???

[SATimko]

Sounds like a great idea.

[SpooledupRacing]

and how many members do we have...

and how would we do this.. would there be a list of "X" amount of cars to be "nominated from"

[njaremka]

i "nom-nom" nominate my car for every month...

[njaremka]

i "nom-nom" nominate my car for every month...

i second that!

[SpooledupRacing]

ummm humm this seems like it is going to be to worked up for just a poll.

[njaremka]

i second that!

sweet! i'm in!

[MazdaTom]

i "nom-nom" nominate my car for every month...
Point of conjecture- if you're gonna "nom-nom" nominate your car, you must include pics of it with cake.

[njaremka]

ummm humm this seems like it is going to be to worked up for just a poll.

i hope thats the point i just got across...

i actually like how 247 does it - everyone can submit thier own car, but it takes the forum to vote for you for the month. but, here is what i would change...
1. pictures must be recent, car must be in current condition
2. NO campaigning or you're out

[CTt3P5]

and how many members do we have...

and how would we do this.. would there be a list of "X" amount of cars to be "nominated from"

Let's say Tylor takes on this role.

He starts the 'nomination thread' on the 15th of the month and members must post who they want nominated. On the last day of the month he would shut it down, tally up the nominations and then start the 'voting thread' on the 1st of the following month. I guess if the number of cars being nominated every month started getting out of hand, the rules would have to be tweaked.

[njaremka]

Point of conjecture- if you're gonna "nom-nom" nominate your car, you must include pics of it with cake.

picture of me in the car eating cake?

[CTt3P5]

i hope thats the point i just got across...

i actually like how 247 does it - everyone can submit thier own car, but it takes the forum to vote for you for the month. but, here is what i would change...
1. pictures must be recent, car must be in current condition
2. NO campaigning or you're out

I like those changes Nik!

[pro5x2]

and how many members do we have...

and how would we do this.. would there be a list of "X" amount of cars to be "nominated from"

I think a set number of cars should be able to be nominated, 2nd'd and accepted.

Once that number has been hit, voting starts.

If that number is not hit, say after teh 2 weeks is up, voting starts anyways


And you CAN'T NOMINATE yourself

[njaremka]

so, i would have no chance if no one ever nominated me? thats retarded.

[pro5x2]

Not if you have a nice car. We can have a specific thread each month to whore your car out, and if people like, it gets nominated.

[njaremka]

Not if you have a nice car.

then i have NO chance ;)

[SpooledupRacing]

I think the only big thing should be

one 1 picture per car per MOTM (no using duplicat pics)

you cannot be in the contest the next month after winning (1 month lapse IF you win)

1 picture 1 car per contestant per month (if u have two cars pic 1 pic)

[SpooledupRacing]

so, i would have no chance if no one ever nominated me? thats retarded.



I have to agree here... if somebody does NOT get nominated that person may take it to think their car is not liked or they are not liked..

sorry guys but I think this will cause more problems with friends voting for friends then not..

I also think that the car should not have to be in current condition but a recent pic (a month or two old max)

my car changes daily.. and what if somone gets in an accident and smashes up the front.. they should still be able to put their car up if they have it.

I like the idea of on the 10th of the month everyone sends in ONE picture of their car then that person will take the pic and upload it and post it on the 15th.. then the voting will go for 5 days to weed out the pics to the top 10 (or top 5 depending on the amount of noms)

then from the 20th to the last day of the month the votes count for the remaining pics..

[MazdaTom]

I like the idea of on the 10th of the month everyone sends in ONE picture of their car then that person will take the pic and upload it and post it on the 15th.. then the voting will go for 5 days to weed out the pics to the top 10 (or top 5 depending on the amount of noms)

then from the 20th to the last day of the month the votes count for the remaining pics..

I don't think we have the population here to be that picky about who is in the contest and who isn't (especially if the month is further narrowed down by Protege, RX-7, 3/6.....). I say it's a free-for-all--> as many can enter in the contest as long as they fit the criteria.

And I think there needs to be more than ONE picture per entry. I like the way 247 does it with an exterior pic, an interior pic and an engine bay pic. One pic just can't capture the entire car well enough.

[pro5x2]

I agree with the exterior, interior, and engine bay pics

And you guys are making it too confusing, And, if someones car doesn't get nominated, it doesn't mean teh car isn't worth it, it is just that, well, if you put your car in, and you think it's great, but it really isn't and noone votes, how do you feel then?

Same as if it wasn't nominated, so I don't feel that is an issue

[CTt3P5]

I have to agree with Tom on the pics.....one exterior, one interior and one engine bay.

[SpooledupRacing]

this is just as much about the shot as it is the car

sorry but not everyone has a nice looking car but a shitty car with a nice photo can make a winning car..

if this is going to be ALL about the car and IT'S beauty then count me out.. my car has dents, and it is old I cant compete with anyone who has a car 25 YEARS newer then mine..

1 picture makes it tougher to judge.. I dont want to show my cracked bash and missing vents and red interior.. some on.. seriously this is getting way to envolved for a FUN thing

[njaremka]

i still think pictures should represent the car in its current state. if you had an accident, you dont enter that month, because your car is wrecked. if you were to enter a local show, and get in an accident the day before, what do you do? you dont enter.

[TreFlip999]

i still think pictures should represent the car in its current state. if you had an accident, you dont enter that month, because your car is wrecked. if you were to enter a local show, and get in an accident the day before, what do you do? you dont enter.

Teh voice of reason..Nothin but the truth

[SpooledupRacing]

I have to agree with Tom on the pics.....one exterior, one interior and one engine bay.

ok I will leave this up to u guys then.. I have no desire to post up any pics of my nasty interior or grundgy engine bay...

Atleast I got the ball rolling.. enjoy guys.

[njaremka]

ok I will leave this up to u guys then.. I have no desire to post up any pics of my nasty interior or grundgy engine bay...

Atleast I got the ball rolling.. enjoy guys.

dude, thats why we're discussing. i have no problem with only one pic, just how the entrys are decided.

[pro5x2]

number one...every post in this section is under strict review by the admin. nothing, and I mean NOTHING is to be posted here that is non-COTM related. the way it will work: someone will announce a start day for nominations. to be nominated, the member must be an active member. by active, i mean that members who haven’t posted since July of 03 are not eligible. before anyone asks, lets set it at this...to be active, it means you must have at least 5 posts in the month in question, and the month before. you can not nominate yourself. nominations will be limited to 5 per month. the nominations will be closed once we reach 5, or after 2 weeks.

The way nominations will officially work:

1. Someone nominates Pat's Turbo'd MP3
2. Someone else seconds that nomination for Pat's Turbo'd MP3 (at this point, the nomination is official)
3. Pat accepts the nomination, thus locking it in for voting.

If, in the first hour of nomination week, 50 people are nominated, and seconded, the first 5 to accept are officially entered in the contest.


once nominations are closed, the members who are nominated are permitted to post more pictures in the voting thread. Users are not to start any topics in this section without permission.

[TreFlip999]

That makes sense but it could get ugly

[njaremka]

too strict

edit - i think any one that wants to enter can enter

[SpooledupRacing]

number one...every post in this section is under strict review by the admin. nothing, and I mean NOTHING is to be posted here that is non-COTM related. the way it will work: someone will announce a start day for nominations. to be nominated, the member must be an active member. by active, i mean that members who haven’t posted since July of 03 are not eligible. before anyone asks, lets set it at this...to be active, it means you must have at least 5 posts in the month in question, and the month before. you can not nominate yourself. nominations will be limited to 5 per month. the nominations will be closed once we reach 5, or after 2 weeks.

The way nominations will officially work:

1. Someone nominates Pat's Turbo'd MP3
2. Someone else seconds that nomination for Pat's Turbo'd MP3 (at this point, the nomination is official)
3. Pat accepts the nomination, thus locking it in for voting.

If, in the first hour of nomination week, 50 people are nominated, and seconded, the first 5 to accept are officially entered in the contest.


once nominations are closed, the members who are nominated are permitted to post more pictures in the voting thread. Users are not to start any topics in this section without permission.



Who made u a mod?

and btw have ANY of you taken a nice pic of the interior on an RX7...

try it just once my car is HALF the size of your cars on the inside..

[TreFlip999]

*sigh* just have anyone who wants to enter but limit it to say maybe, 10 cars per month..The first 10 to enter...Just please god no dirty engine bays :D

[TreFlip999]

Who made u a mod?

and btw have ANY of you taken a nice pic of the interior on an RX7...

try it just once my car is HALF the size of your cars on the inside..

Dude it was just an idea, he never said he was a mod.

[SpooledupRacing]

too strict

edit - i think any one that wants to enter can enter

MY POINT EXACTLY.. your taking the fun out of it.

and not only that but who is to say I wont have a sick kid and I cant get online that day to accept my nomination... I mean seriously your acting like we only have one day to do this..

to damn strict

[njaremka]

Who made u a mod?

and btw have ANY of you taken a nice pic of the interior on an RX7...

try it just once my car is HALF the size of your cars on the inside..

pop the rear hatch, fold the seats back as far as possible, and shoot. when i take dash pics of my car, i can get the whole thing from the back seat that way. i wide angle lens will help out, too.

[MazdaTom]

1 picture makes it tougher to judge.. I dont want to show my cracked bash and missing vents and red interior.. some on.. seriously this is getting way to envolved for a FUN thing

I don't think the 3 pics should be a requirement- more of a limit. If you want to enter with only a single pic, then that's up to you.

And it's human nature to gravitate to the better presented object (car in this situation). If you can take a beater and photograph it in such a way that it looks really presentable, then that's awesome. And conversely, if you take a really nice car and photograph it with a 4 year old cell phone camera with a really horrible back drop, then it will not come across as nice as it is. Digital pics are the main form of communication on this internet medium. And besides, this is a competition- put some effort into it.

And I think we are getting way too involved in this and making it too complicated. KISS- keep it simple stupid!

[pro5x2]

Who made u a mod?

and btw have ANY of you taken a nice pic of the interior on an RX7...

try it just once my car is HALF the size of your cars on the inside..

Dude, i just copy pasted from another forum. Easy killer

I do pass on heading up this ordeal. I agree, it will end up ugly

[SpooledupRacing]

I have racing seats and no back seats.. if I fold the seats down (cant go to far because of the back shield) all u get is the crappy dash

and there should be no photoshop (at all) no over exposure to make the car look good .. if it can be done on the camera itself sure but no using other programs to "doctor" the photo

This was supose to be fun honestly this has gotten way to picky for me.

[SpooledupRacing]

Dude, i just copy pasted from another forum. Easy killer


thats the last thing we need.

[pro5x2]

If it isn't picky, there will always be someone to bend the rules that are too lax.


And it isn't from "that" forum. It's from cbrforum.com

And it works well there

[SpooledupRacing]

I think this community is to laid back for all the rules honestly.. we have a great group of guys who wont break the rules.. just make a few small rules that any 2 yr old can follow and it will stay in check..

[njaremka]

these are the rules from 247 -

Entry RULES:
1. ANY form of cheating will result in immediate disqualification and removal from the contest.
2. You must own the Mazda you are entering into the contest.
3. Any form of photo/image manipulation is not allowed except for adjusting and enhancing image color, contrast, tone and levels etc.
4. If you become a MOTM winner, you may not enter the same Mazda again until at least 12 Months after the month you had won. However, if you own several Mazdas, you are welcome to enter those as well.
Note: Each Member may NOT enter more than one Mazda per MOTM contest.
5. Once you have entered (posted) your Mazda, you may not withdraw from the contest.
6. The MOTM contest & rules are subject to change in order to maintain a fair & fun environment for the Mazda Forums community.

Contest Requirements:
* Each contestant must submit a maximum of three high-quality high-resolution images of their Mazda. One image must be of the exterior, another the engine bay and finally an interior shot.
* Each contestant must follow the format shown below or your entry will not count!!!
* Any form of photo/image manipulation is not allowed except for adjusting and enhancing image color, contrast, tone and levels etc.

FORMAT:
1. Username
2. Name
3. Model name + (Year)
4. ONLY 3 Images (one exterior + one engine bay + one interior shot) NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE!
5. "Mod" List *NOTE* It must be posted in default "Verdana" text size 2. No colors and No funky formatting! Please make your list CLEAR & CONCISE! -------

i would change them as follows:

Entry RULES:
1. You must own the Mazda you are entering into the contest.
3. Any form of photo/image manipulation is not allowed except for adjusting and enhancing image color, contrast, tone and levels etc.
4. If you become a MOTM winner, you may not enter the same Mazda again until at least 12 Months after the month you had won. However, if you own several Mazdas, you are welcome to enter those as well.
Note: Each Member may NOT enter more than one Mazda per MOTM contest.

Contest Requirements:
* Each contestant must submit a maximum of three high-quality high-resolution images of their Mazda.
* Any form of photo/image manipulation is not allowed except for adjusting and enhancing image color, contrast, tone and levels etc.

FORMAT:
1. Username
2. Model name + (Year)
3. MAXIMUM of 3 Images (one exterior + one engine bay + one interior shot)

[SpooledupRacing]

I still say NO touch ups at all.. not brightening etc.. just take the car in its raw state..

sorry btu honestly somone people are just TO good with photoshop to make it fair to those who dont know how or those who DONT HAVE that program
and 1 YEAR before u can list yoru car again.. thats crazy.. im thinking u can only do it again after u skip a month if u win

[emor8t]

Last line of rules

Emor8t wins every month with a stock car. Because of this, the "winner" is actually second place, but for repetitions sake we will annouce it as the winner.

[TreFlip999]

If you like the shot but its under exposed i dont see any reason you shouldnt be able to lighten it up it up...You said there is too many rules, you are just adding on. You should feel free to edit how you please, I.E B&W, LOMO, HDR...Just no photshopping extra parts or colors ya know?

[MazdaTom]

Here's my cut at the rules:

Monthly submissions can start on the first day of the month or whenever the mod in charge opens the thread. Anyone can enter given they fit the criteria for that month, but a user can enter only once per month. A limit of 3 pictures per entry (can be 3 pics of your choice) sized something fairly small and manageable like 640x800. No photoshopping or post production of pics allowed. Car must be in current condition. List brief description of all mods/features CURRENTLY on the car. Do not mention "future" plans or parts waiting to be installed. Submissions are cut off after the established deadline (like the 15th or so of the month). Thread is closed. The COTM mod then compiles the submissions into a voting thread and reopens the thread for voting. Voting continues until the deadline (like the end of the month or a day or 2 before). If a tie breaker is needed, then a new voting thread containing only the tie breaker COTM is created (this would be a good reason to end regular voting a day or 2 early) and is opened for voting. The winner is featured on the main page and/or in a banner across the top of the forum that would be visible on any page of the forum (www.coloradomazdaclub.com does something similar with a rotating members banner visible on every page of the forum) for the entire month following the end of the voting.

Pretty simple, I think.

[njaremka]

ok, revised rules...

Entry RULES:
1. You must own the Mazda you are entering into the contest.
2. Any form of photo/image manipulation is NOT allowed
3. If you become a MOTM winner, you may not enter the same Mazda again for a consecutive month, after the month you had won. However, if you own several Mazdas, you are welcome to enter those as well.
Note: Each Member may NOT enter more than one Mazda per MOTM contest.
4. "emor8t" may not enter for any month that the contest is actively going on

Contest Requirements:
* Each contestant must submit a maximum of three high-quality high-resolution images of their Mazda.
* Any form of photo/image manipulation is NOT allowed

FORMAT:
1. Username
2. Model name + (Year)
3. MAXIMUM of 3 Images (one exterior + one engine bay + one interior shot)

[emor8t]

I still say NO touch ups at all.. not brightening etc.. just take the car in its raw state..

sorry btu honestly somone people are just TO good with photoshop to make it fair to those who dont know how or those who DONT HAVE that program
and 1 YEAR before u can list yoru car again.. thats crazy.. im thinking u can only do it again after u skip a month if u win

I'm too good with a camera that I don't need photoshop.

Seriously I love when people freakout about photoshop, cause it's nothing new. You could rub out scratches and post process just the same 30 years ago.

With just my camera I could take a picture of a car, extend the exposure, tweak the lighting and make just about any car awesome.

So what if you don't have the program, are we judging the car soley based on a picture alone? Besides, theres no way you can enforce a no-photoshop policy. Strip or edit the Exif data and nobody can say anything with out facts.

And furthermore, post-processing has been a part of photography for years, adjusting the photo for correct exposure, color, and things like noise reduction isn't faking a photo, it's making the photo more true to life.

[njaremka]

i think i agree with the deletion of the "no photoshop" rule. a little enhancement never hurt anyone. we might have to have a poll on that.

[SpooledupRacing]

ok well im out because I think this should be a FARE FUN contest.. for me its no fare to put my car and my camera skills against ANYONE that can manipulte the color of a photo to make it look how they want..

remember this is for FUN.. no money, no cash prize just FUN.. why do u have to adjust the quality of your photo unless u think your car is shit..

this is about the car not about the photo..

**the best point to be made**

OBVIOUSLY nobody is going to be happy 1 way or another.. so lets just drop the idea and resume the board as we normally did..

to many people out there striving for perfection to have a fun contest..


another thing...

I dont see the difference between

posting your car as it was BEFORE an accident and photo enhancing..

if I cant post a pic of my car before I got hit then u cant enhance the you cars image..

[njaremka]

ok, i just did some thinking.... (i know...)

if this Car of the Month thing is only going to be a bragging rights kind of thing, let whoever wants to enter, enter. 247 has all those friggin' rules because the winner gets a gift certificate from one of the vendors or something. so, here's what i'm proposing...

1. any one can enter, but they need at least one pic of their car
2. entry's must be submitted between the 1st and 14th of the month
3. voting will take place between the 15th and the end of the month
4. winner will have bragging rights as "Ride of TMF Month" for the following month

done.

[TreFlip999]

Wow...this whole idea has gone to shit...Lets let pat decide the rules and leave it at that, Seriously, This isnt that big of a deal, jesus christ.

[njaremka]

just too many opinions... pat is the chief, let him decide.

[emor8t]

why do u have to adjust the quality of your photo unless u think your car is shit..



because compared to your eyes, any camera sucks. Adjusting for noise reduction, color correction, and exposure is a more accurate photo.

If you put all this work into a car, new paint, turbo, all these little details, but you have a cell phone as a camera doesn't adequately show off your work either.

[iLisa]

we can just say my car wins every month.. that will make things so much easier.. and cause less drama.. :)

we all have opinions guys.. lets talk about them all without chastizing people.. this is just an idea someone had for fun.. lets keep it drama-free. :)

[fez]

then get a friend to take a picture for you.

I say - no p-shop. People make their cars look absolutely amazing with those, and because I have no skillz - my car looks like crap... blah.

[SpooledupRacing]

well I just figure it would be nice to make it fair... I mean people with 800.0 camera when then clean up the car on top of that will ALWAYS have a better pic then somone with a cell phone and photoshop..

I have a cheap digi cam and a cell phone cam and cant use pshop.. so I guess I will always loose..

seems fair to I am sure u all agree then to right?

[njaremka]

what about all entrys are made between a certain time, then a random generator picks the winner. kinda like a raffle, and the only stipulation is if you win, you cant enter for another 2-3-4 months or something?

[emor8t]

well I just figure it would be nice to make it fair... I mean people with 800.0 camera when then clean up the car on top of that will ALWAYS have a better pic then somone with a cell phone and photoshop..

I have a cheap digi cam and a cell phone cam and cant use pshop.. so I guess I will always loose..

seems fair to I am sure u all agree then to right?


I think it's fairly ignorant to be honest. It's not my fault you can't use photoshop. Photoshop is a legitimate part of photography, because someone invested the time in learning how to use a camera and a piece of software to polish up a picture you're going to fault them for it? That's how you process digital images, before digital cameras thats like saying, we're going to judge you car off the negatives of the film you just took, you're not allowed to develop them.

It's not like I'm saying people should be allowed to 'chop turbos and stuff on there. I'm not going to purposefully take a shitty picture just to match someone elses skills that are beneath mine. And if we are judging it on the car, then there will be a mod list. i don't think to many people are going to look at say my car vs you car and go "Uh he put a set of rims on it (me) vs. he completely redid his car, suspension and added a turbo (you) but his exposures off so he losses"

[fez]

but that's the thing - the better you pictures look, the more votes you will get.
And even if people will be like - oh, hey, we are not judging by the quality of pictures, subconsciously they still do. That's how our brains work - we always go for the looks first.

[njaremka]

that why i am changing my suggestion to a random selection

[MazdaTom]

that why i am changing my suggestion to a random selection

Then I say skip the whole COTM thing and go with a random rotating member banner like at www.coloradomazdaclub.com.

[iLisa]

I nominate MY car. :D

[DemonIAm]

Dave, what you are not looking at with your objection to photo editing is that a $1000 will shoot better pics than a $100 camera. Unless we make a rule that everyone must use the exact same model of camera, then the contest is ALWAYS goin to be biased towards those with the better equipment/softwares.

If you have a Flickr account (yes the free one is just fine) they include an online software called Picnik. It lets you adjust your color levels, and is very user friendly. Anyone (including my grandmother, who told me about it, btw) can use it.

[SpooledupRacing]

but that's the thing - the better you pictures look, the more votes you will get.
And even if people will be like - oh, hey, we are not judging by the quality of pictures, subconsciously they still do. That's how our brains work - we always go for the looks first.

thats my point exactly this should not be about one personal skills with a camera or with software but on the car.. this is not picture of the month... it is CAR of the month

[emor8t]

but that's the thing - the better you pictures look, the more votes you will get.
And even if people will be like - oh, hey, we are not judging by the quality of pictures, subconsciously they still do. That's how our brains work - we always go for the looks first.

So damn, we're going to expect people to think for a few seconds? What are we judging on? Looks or Mods, or what? What's the criteria. I mean, what if I had $30k to blow on a car and I just went through a catalog and sent my car off to be built professionally? Then someone would be complaining that I didn't build my own car, and that I shouldn't win compared to someone who did their own work.

I honestly don't see the whole point in a COTM contest any ways, I could care less and would never enter because it would mean nothing to me maybe I'm just uncompetitve. I just think it's silly you're going to make a requirement be pictures but they can't be "good" pictures.

It's like saying you have to judge a person from their drivers license photo. Sure it's them, but those photos always suck.

[njaremka]

unfortunately, humans cannot be total objective in their choices, like we would want to be. our personal experiences and feelings will always be involved in any choice we make.

[MazdaTom]

But then isn't the contest really about who has the better skills with their car? Or to take that even further- who has the ability to spend the most money correctly on their car? Cuz lets face it, no stock Mazda would ever win a COTM contest on a board full of enthusiasts like this.

[DemonIAm]

It's like saying you have to judge a person from their drivers license photo. Sure it's them, but those photos always suck.

I agree

Cuz lets face it, no stock Mazda would ever win a COTM contest on a board full of enthusiasts like this.

Which makes it a money contest.

There's no "Fair" way to do this. You just gotta do it, and live with the rules, jealousy, et c. or don't do it at all

[TreFlip999]

Dave, what you are not looking at with your objection to photo editing is that a $1000 will shoot better pics than a $100 camera. Unless we make a rule that everyone must use the exact same model of camera, then the contest is ALWAYS goin to be biased towards those with the better equipment/softwares.

If you have a Flickr account (yes the free one is just fine) they include an online software called Picnik. It lets you adjust your color levels, and is very user friendly. Anyone (including my grandmother, who told me about it, btw) can use it.

Photobucket even offers some pretty cool photoediting sofware too..I used it to make my Sig..Anyways, Just submit what pics you can and if you win...You win..Simple as that...Were all gear heads here so im sure everyone here will look into the serious mods and work youve done regardless of the photo presented...Unless you post a filthy engine bay, then you fail

[SpooledupRacing]

Dave, what you are not looking at with your objection to photo editing is that a $1000 will shoot better pics than a $100 camera. Unless we make a rule that everyone must use the exact same model of camera, then the contest is ALWAYS goin to be biased towards those with the better equipment/softwares.

If you have a Flickr account (yes the free one is just fine) they include an online software called Picnik. It lets you adjust your color levels, and is very user friendly. Anyone (including my grandmother, who told me about it, btw) can use it.

I just dont see why anyone needs to touch up their photo...

why cant the raw image THE CAR be good enough.

[fez]

randomized COTM is a big fail.
The whole idea of COTM is braggin right - and if you were picked for it by a computer - what is there to brag about??!!! ya know.

There are no rules for judging, but it is pretty obvious that the better your car looks on the pictures - the more people will vote for you. That's pretty much a given.

I say - Ditch the whole idea altogether. We don't need to create - "My car Is Better Than Yours" shit. We can do it in "off topic" once in awhile, jokingly, of course, but once it becomes competitive like this - it can get really ugly really quick.

I like the rotating banner idea though. A month for one car might be a bit too long though... how about a day? two days? a week is a max, just to make sure everyone gets a spot, you know. :)

[njaremka]

randomized COTM is a big fail.
The whole idea of COTM is braggin right - and if you were picked for it by a computer - what is there to brag about??!!! ya know.


you get to brag that you car is featured on the front page of the forum

[DemonIAm]

It can, but be honest. which of these 2 photos do you find more appealing?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2650241570_d7e4aa31cf.jpg

or

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2650361840_f8ed959853.jpg


And this is the most subtle of examples

[MazdaTom]

I like the rotating banner idea though. A month for one car might be a bit too long though... how about a day? two days? a week is a max, just to make sure everyone gets a spot, you know. :)

At that local club's site I posted, each time you load a new page, you randomly get a new image of whoever is in the "member banner database".

[emor8t]

I just dont see why anyone needs to touch up their photo...

why cant the raw image THE CAR be good enough.



Alright Dave. I won't use photoshop, I'll buy you a $2500 camera, but you have to shoot at 1/25 of a second at 3600 ISO at noon on a bright sunny day.

You know what that's going to give you? a big white image with a lot of noise.

That's a "raw" image.

Is it an adequate image of your car?

[SpooledupRacing]

ok let me try this again... last time then I will quit and give up..

the contest is about THE CAR...

the winner should be chosen not on how the picture of the car looks but when u look at the 5 or 10 cars you say to yourself..

I would love to have that car

that car is the best car in the set

not ooh look its really shiney and blue and the other one is a bit duller blue...

this is abotu the CAR not about the picture of the car..

[MazdaTom]

You'll never be able to remove the human subjectivity from something like this.

edit- if we had the contest completely void of pictures and only had it based on the mod list, that would suck too.

[SpooledupRacing]

I know thats why "touching up" the photo will make it even harder

I saw forget it all

[MazdaTom]

I know thats why "touching up" the photo will make it even harder

But even then, I may touch up a photo so that I like it, but someone else perfers it touched up differently or even not at all. Parting of being good with touching up is knowing when and how much to touch up.

I think we're placing too much emphasis on the quality of the picture of the car for this contest. Sure a better set of pics might suade you one way or the other if it's down to the wire on two cars, but I think the mod list really is the primary deciding factor.

Although I am guilty of not voting for someone based on a dirty engine bay and/or dirty interior. But that isn't about the photo quality, that's more of their lack of effort.

[pro5x2]

This thread is epic fail so far. lol

[TreFlip999]

This thread is epic fail so far. lol
:screwy:

[DemonIAm]

word.

I say we just like each others cars for what they are.

[pro5x2]

And we all know Mazdas win. By majority vote! lol

[emor8t]

I know thats why "touching up" the photo will make it even harder

I saw forget it all

I'm not arguing with you so much as you miss the point that I am trying to make.

Post-processing allows the photographer to make the image more accurate, or true to life. I can take a picture that according to my meters, is exposed correctly, and all that jazz, or use a P+S camera with auto-adjusting everything and take a picture that is suppsoed to be alright, but for a variety of external and internal conditions the photo doesn't come out right, the exposure is off, it's a little blurry, I shot with two high an ISO, something of that nature. Any variety of reasons, but what it boils down to is that the image isn't a true-to-life representation of the car.

You keep saying it's about the car, not the picture, but what you're arguing about is the opposite. If I take a photo of my car, and it's adjusted to correct exposure and all that, aka true to life, then it's an accurate representation of the car. If you take a picture with a low-end camera, and don't process it, and it comes out bad, then it isn't an accurate representation of your car. It isn't that I've exaggerated my car, it's that you've understated your car. Do you understand what I'm saying? It isn't about photoshops ability to over-blow the quality fo the photo or make things hella unrealistic, it's about photoshops ability to make the photo more accurate. It's about REALISM.

Essentially what you're arguing for (whether you realize it or not) is for you to take an unrealistic picture of your car. It just happens that your side of the argument is based your thought that the photo you will take will look unpleasant or bad. Nevertheless, it's still unrealistic, just at a different end of the spectrum. Your motivation is in the right place but your logic is not.

[wes.pro5]

i think that the main part of the COTM contest is that we should separate it into N/A and forced induction categories. do N/A for certain months and forced in certain months. there are a lot of nice cars on 247, but since they don't have a hair-dryer they usually don't get voted. i don't think that turbo should decide a vote, so i think that we should separate them.

[MazdaTom]

^^I like that idea! Seperate into NA one month and turbo/supercharged another month.

[JC-MP5]

And we all know Mazdas win. By majority vote! lol

I second that.

[BRIAN MP5T]

I personally thought that Anotines "MOTM" was a totally FUCKED contest. There were idiots that begged for votes, nOObs with noting done beating out members such as TERBO who is the only person I thing who has ever Liquid IC'd his mazda.

Fuck It.

How hard would it be for us the staff to make a main page slideshow. Everyone who wants to be in the slideshow has to submit a photo that is 400x300 and it goes into a rotation.

basically, every time the refresh button was pushed, a new photo would show up.

[Red5_02]

wow, that went downhill quick

[JC-MP5]

We need our own. Now.

[Red5_02]

We need our own. Now.

no we don't it just made everyone bitch and moan.

[JC-MP5]

I suppose. We've done good without it anyway.

[condor888000]

I say we forget about this thread. The point has been made that a COTM style event would be appreciated. Let the mods and admins sort this out.

[Riff.Raff]

We did have a photography contest at one point. It quickly turned Insipid, and failed.

FACT: TMF members all have ADD. ooh a puppy outside...

Does it have a bushy tail?

And we all know Mazdas win. By majority vote! lol

LOL...... i totally like that ADD one... that's funny...

but seriously it's not we ALL have ADD... some of us..HEY LET'S RIDE BIKES!!!

OH, LOOK!! A SQUIRREL!!!

[kansei]

Yeah I read page 1 and page 12 (2g cell phone connection ftl) and I'm just not going to go into the filler pages, so pardon me if I missed something. I kinda like the ideas MazdaTom brought up on the front page, have some sort of monthly contest each month but have it change each month. For a "car of the month", I'd have to say no admins (or maybe no supermods or other staff as well) allowed. Let's face it, you have Pat with his ridiculous MP3, Focus with his.. very vague but somewhat large and quite modded stable of Mazdas --let's face it, all Quebecers have a KL-ZE in a third gen Protege somewhere in their garage :P, and me with a very modded old junker that I can hide the many major flaws with in photos :P.

Hmm can we think of 12 car or not strictly car contests? I like things like garage of the month, bargain mod of the month (zipties +5hp anyone?).. my brain is dead I can't think of any more haha

I did like the photo contest; I pass the buck to Rob (for everything generally) for dropping the ball on that one ;) --it'd be cool to bring back.

[kansei]

Yeah I read page 1 and page 12 (2g cell phone connection ftl) and I'm just not going to go into the filler pages, so pardon me if I missed something. I kinda like the ideas MazdaTom brought up on the front page, have some sort of monthly contest each month but have it change each month. For a "car of the month", I'd have to say no admins (or maybe no supermods or other staff as well) allowed. Let's face it, you have Pat with his ridiculous MP3, Focus with his.. very vague but somewhat large and quite modded stable of Mazdas --let's face it, all Quebecers have a KL-ZE in a third gen Protege somewhere in their garage :P, and me with a very modded old junker that I can hide the many major flaws with in photos :P.

Hmm can we think of 12 car or not strictly car contests? I like things like garage of the month, bargain mod of the month (zipties +5hp anyone?).. my brain is dead I can't think of any more haha

I did like the photo contest; I pass the buck to Rob (for everything generally) for dropping the ball on that one ;) --it'd be cool to bring back.

[MazdaTom]

How hard would it be for us the staff to make a main page slideshow. Everyone who wants to be in the slideshow has to submit a photo that is 400x300 and it goes into a rotation.

basically, every time the refresh button was pushed, a new photo would show up.

I really like the idea of a random rotating photo or banner. Just not on the main page- why: because who actually goes to the main page of this site? I have my bookmark to go straight to the forum page. I imagine so do a lot of other people.

[kansei]

I really like the idea of a random rotating photo or banner. Just not on the main page- why: because who actually goes to the main page of this site? I have my bookmark to go straight to the forum page. I imagine so do a lot of other people.

yeah my bookmarks all go to /usercp.php

the homepage, at least as I see it, is to be used as an incentive to lure n00blets into the TMF madness. I think Focus already enabled a "random gallery image" somewhere.. maybe at the bottom of that home page already?

I'd rather a "random image on flickr tagged with 'themazdaforum'" or something along those lines, I don't know about you guys but I like having all my photos in one place and don't expect people to put their photos on the galleries here.

[RockinVs]

This is not working so well.

I just enjoy pictures.

I also enjoy... oh a kitty!!!

Oh boobs!!!

Bye now.

[MazdaTom]

Where!?!?!?!

[RockinVs]

Too late.