What is the reason you think our participation in the contests is so low? This is not a poll

[postatomic]

25. Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines of the Virgin Mary

Photography, as I know it, has died.



There are fewer 'contests' online these days. I recall recently seeing one that has been going for years... shut down. Why? Lack of interest and heated discussions regarding what was acceptable processing. Since the winner in this contest received actual stuff people would get a little testy.

My word vomit:

1. There is too much emphasis on the contests. There are so many other things that this group can do that might actually be useful to those that crave such things. And who doesn't? I noticed a subtle attempt at posting Rose Photos. That would have been a wonderful thread to have everyone pile on.

2. The voting is largely juvenile. I'm always blown away by photos that are fucking awesome getting only a few "pity votes". And when there is a tie...... the children come out to play.

3. If you enter a photo you should NOT be voting. It's like entering a Pie Baking Contest and you get to judge which is the best Pie. I never vote, even if I don't have a pic in the contest. It just doesn't seem right.

4. There are many times I see a photo and I think "if they just did this, that, and this it would be a better photo". But, I never say it out loud because I don't want to piss off the person who took the photo. However, threads that dealt with critiquing would be quite nice. A great learning tool. I believe there are still a few people out there that want to be able to take better photos.

5. This is the Photography Group. Not the Photography Contest Group.

6. I'm looking through my shoe box and can only find a few spring flower pics. Well, that genre is already well represented. And I'm not going to look for a new photo. I'm going out tomorrow with camera. Maybe I'll get something that represents Spring. Or maybe not.

and....

Cadillacs, blues jeans, dixieland playing on the ferry



On edit: I realize I never actually addressed your inquiry. I'm going with: lack of interest, don't want to host, and it has run its course. I am going to speculate that it had a different 'vibe' to it in years past that it does now. Nothing stays the same.