dp+ photo challenge - what's it about?

What is the dp+ photo challenge?

photo by Camilo Corpuz

dp+ photo challenge is a monthly photo competition open to all members of Digital Photography Plus. It is the group's way for members to interact, hone their craft more and show photography skills and creativity in a level playing field. It is not a prize-based competition, just a fun group activity that would not just challenge  skill and creativity as a photographer but would also show how members' works will be appreciated or received by fellow members of the group. It also aims to gauge the level of appreciation of each of the members as they vote on their preference. All members are welcome, professional or otherwise. If you are a professional, you can show the kind of stuff you are made of as a photographer, don't let amateurs intimidate you, hahaha... and as an amateur, it is your chance to see how you would fare with the shooting stars. And what better way to show what sets you apart as a photographer than having only just one theme to explore and being able to shine in your most creative best.

There are two ways to win the dp+ photo challenge. One is to win through Popular Votes Pick and another is to win through the dp+ Pick.

the Popular Votes Pick
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-popular-votes-pick.html

the dp+ Pick
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-dp-pick.html

Why join dp+ photo challenge?
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-why-join.html

dp+ photo challenge - the Popular Votes Pick

What is the dp+ photo challenge?
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-whats-it-about.html

the Popular Votes Pick

entry with the second most number of votes in the 2nd dp+ photo challenge by Pritam De

Winner by Popular Votes Pick is the one with the most number of votes through Likes by members of Digital Photography Plus.
Why there is a Popular Votes Pick? It is the group's way to encourage participation not only of entrants in the photo challenge but of all members of the group to participate through their likes or votes. Through the Popular Votes Pick, we get to gauge members' level of appreciation. It is also a general consensus of what kind of photos appeal to majority of dp+ members. It is for this reason why only members can Like or Vote on a dp+ photo challenge entry. Being the Popular Votes Pick means that you were able to touch and appeal to more people in general in whatever level of photography knowledge they belong.

the dp+ Pick
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-dp-pick.html

Why join dp+ photo challenge?
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-why-join.html

dp+ photo challenge - the dp+ Pick

What is the dp+ photo challenge?
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-whats-it-about.html

the Popular Votes Pick
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-popular-votes-pick.html

the dp+ Pick

self portrait of photographer in action photo by Gina Villanueva Uyan, a dp+ Pick judge

dp+ Pick winner, on the other hand, is the one with the highest score given by a select panel of dp+ judges. How to be the dp+ Pick? a set of 5 judges from the members of the group completes the panel of judges, main administrator included as the chief facilitator. Each judge chooses their top 3 picks from among all the entries and score them according to a given percentage with each set of criteria.

Existing set of criteria and their percentages are as follows:
Quality or the technical aspect of the photo - 30%
Creativity and originality - 30%
Theme adaptation - 20%
Overall impression - 20%
TOTAL - 100%

A perfect score from all criteria will give an entry 100% from each judge. Top score from all 5 judges is 500%.
Why there is a dp+ Pick? Since the photo challenge is open not only to newbies but also to professional members, too, it is dp+ way of ensuring that the efforts being put through by members who made it a point to submit quality works that adhere to all criteria set by the dp+ photo challenge, even if unpopular to all, be recognized also.


Why join dp+ photo challenge?
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-why-join.html

dp+ photo challenge - why join?

What is the dp+ photo challenge?
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-whats-it-about.html

the Popular Votes Pick
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-popular-votes-pick.html

the dp+ Pick
http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-dp-pick.html

Why join dp+ photo challenge?

an entry to the first dp+ photo challenge by Lennox Tpc

dp+ is a mixture of members from different countries and cultures coming together in one place to show the stuff they are made of as photographers. Winning in the dp+ challenge means winning a photo challenge being participated in by people all over the globe. But apart from the winning side of things is the experience and being able to participate in the group activity. It is the challenge of being able to respond to a photo challenge. It is being able to show your most photographic best despite the odds. It is the ability to make your style shine in whatever playing field. It is being able to come up with concepts and the challenge to think out of the box and explore the extent of what you can do within certain parameters and being able to compare what you were able to come up with with other people's photos. It is being content of what you were able to achieve or it is a learning experience of what you could and should be able to do the next time. Regardless of whether you win the challenge or not, you win through the learning experience. So just let your images speak for you as a photographer and let that photographic voice be heard through the dp+ photo challenge.

photo challenge 1 judges certificate of appreciation

A panel of judges decides the winner of the dp+ Pick award in the photo challenges. For our first photo challenge with the Christmas theme, dp+ is grateful to Benjax Rivera, Matthew Matchinsky, Omar Jordan de Guzman and Juanito Vinluan. Gina Villanueva-Uyan, main administrator, moderated the judging. The following are the dp+ Pick Judges Certificate of Appreciation. Only certificates posted to this site are certification issued by dp+.

                

            

Please click on each image for an enlarged view.

photo challenge 1 certificates

Certificates to dp+ photo challenge 1 - Christmas theme winners in both Popular Votes Pick and the dp+ Pick. Only winners posted in this site are certified as dp+ winners.

Popular Votes Pick Winner Certificate

dp+ Pick Winner Certificate

first dp+ Pick winner

First dp+ photo challenge theme: Christmas is...

dp+ Pick winner: Leo de la Rosa

title: Christmas is around the corner

camera: LUMIX LXS

Among 5 judges 3 judges voted for this photo as first place.

Judge No. 1

remark: This photo gives you a potent combination of technical know-how and adaptation to the theme. A skillfully crafted photo, a play of lights, and a touch of Christmas spirit makes this entry my top pick.

score: 83/100

Judge No. 3

remark: His photo is well balanced and technical. Even the colors and the exposure is spot-on.

score: 90/100

Judge No. 5

remark: Although not as deep in interpreting the photo-challenge theme - this is Christmas with an exclamation point! Very few technically well-crafted photos are as equally visually appealing - this is a combination of both!

score: 95/100

total score: 268/500

It was a close fight between this entry and Paeng Balen's entry. Congratulations for emerging as the dp+ Pick winner, Leo!

judges' picks, scores and remarks on the first photo challenge

Judge No. 1


3rd pick : Entry 20 - Janeth Nitoral

Quality (Technical) - 30/40
Originality (Theme) - 30/40
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 75/100
These ornaments are one of the common symbols of the season and are one of the most photographed subjects in Christmas pictures.
This photo is a balance of technicality and fair adaptation to the theme. A simple play of composition and lighting, it gives off a warm glow and feel to the viewers. Message-wise, this picture says only one thing, "It's Christmas!"

2nd pick : Entry 38 - Paeng Balen

Quality (Technical) - 27/40
Originality (Theme) - 40/40
Overall Impression - 13/20
TOTAL - 80/100
Whatever this photo lacks in technicality, it makes-up with a strong message and adaptation to the contest theme. I don't read the photographer's comments in order to understand the picture. By just looking at the photo, you can read a message loud enough that your thoughts begin to write stories about it. The picture speaks for itself.

1st pick : Entry 22 - Leo Dela Rosa

Quality (Technical) - 35/40
Originality (Theme) - 30/40
Overall Impression - 18/20
TOTAL - 83/100
This photo gives you a potent combination of technical know-how and adaptation to the theme. A skillfully crafted photo, a play of lights, and a touch of Christmas spirit makes this entry my top pick.


Judge No. 2


3rd pick : Entry 16 - Joseph Nocom

Quality (Technical) - 15/40
Originality (Theme) - 40/40
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 75/100
I like how he made an effort to make such a scene on the image, I mean it's like one of those image that you will see on local and foreign magazines which REALLY explains its title. I like it because I really appreciate how he had thought of the idea. Creative. Definitely not technical but CLEAR.

2nd pick : Entry 34 - Edmund Chan

Quality (Technical) - 40/40
Originality (Theme) - 20/40
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 80/100
Definitely a technical one. Long exposure. I like how he combined technicality and theme. Even though the theme's weight on the image is not too much I'm still glad he was able to deliver it. And i think there are only two techncal shots on the entries.

1st pick : Entry 13 - Lourdes Inosanto

Quality (Technical) - 40/40
Originality (Theme) - 40/40
Overall Impression - 18/20
TOTAL - 98/100
A wow for me. this image can win on different themes, generic if i may say so. But i like the peaceful and warmth feeling of this shot. IT IS VERY SIMPLE but definitely striking. And I am not sure if the photographer herself is aware of that what she made was a technical shot. I like the warm rim light that hugged the skin of the kid. the rim light which gave detail to the shadow of the subject and the perfect exposure on the candle, she captured the perfect shape of the candle, the shot is like serenity and peace,which i think perfectly describes Christmas.


Judge No. 3


3rd pick : Entry 20 - Janeth Nitoral

Quality (Technical) - 30/40
Originality (Theme) - 35/40
Overall Impression - 16/20
TOTAL - 81/100
Her photo is really common but somewhat bluesy .. what sets it apart is the darkness that evokes.. some sort of longing for something..


2nd pick : Entry no. 34 - Edmund Chan

Quality (Technical) - 35/40
Originality (Theme) - 35/40
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 85/100
Just for the sheer technicality of the shot and for a Christmas theme, his is a concept of his own and I admire that.

1st pick : Entry 22 - Leo Dela Rosa

Quality (Technical) - 35/40
Originality (Theme) - 35/40
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 90/100
His photo is well balanced and technical. Even the colors and the exposure is spot-on.


Judge No. 4


3rd pick: Entry 18 - Wilz Dida

Quality (Technical) - 38/40
Originality (Theme) - 35/40
Overall Impression - 16/20
TOTAL - 89/100
Very nice color and composition, provides plenty of visual interest. Original in the use of the types of ornaments used, although the use of tree ornaments in general not very original. Visually nice but lacking a clear point.

2nd pick: Entry 8 - Nada Stambuk

Quality (Technical) - 37/40
Originality (Theme) - 38/40
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 90/100
I enjoyed the composition but thought the colors were somewhat subdued. The birds looking skyward brought in the universality of the season.

1st pick: Entry 38 - Paeng Balen

Quality (Technical) - 37/40
Originality (Theme) - 38/40
Overall Impression - 19/20
TOTAL - 94/100
Nice composition. The combination of the subdued colors of the window sill and thatched roof contrasted with the bright green star add to the message. The child's expression of concern really makes the point, what will her Christmas bring?

Judge No. 5

3rd pick : Entry 8 - Nada Stambuk

Quality (Technical) - 38/40

Originality (Theme) - 37/40

Overall Impression - 14/20

TOTAL - 89/100

Definitely Christmas and the birds giving a subtle and deeper meaning to the piece. The overall look, however, just doesn't create that much impact to move people.

2nd pick : Entry 38 - Paeng Balen

Quality (Technical) - 35/40

Originality (Theme) - 39/40

Overall Impression - 19/20

TOTAL - 93/100

A painful imagery of the uncertainty in the poor child's eye looking for hope at Christmas time - very strong imagery that speaks volumes that people can relate to especially in today's trying times. 

1st pick : Entry 22 - Leo Dela Rosa

Quality (Technical) - 40/40

Originality (Theme) - 35/40

Overall Impression - 20/20

TOTAL - 95/100

Although not as deep in interpreting the photo-challenge theme - this is Christmas with an exclamation point! Very few technically well-crafted photos are as equally visually appealing - this is a combination of both!

dp+ pick judges (not exactly in their respective order):

Gina Villanueva Uyan

Benjax Rivera

Omar Jordan de Guzman

Juanito Vinluan

Matthew Matchinsky

top 8 dp+ Picks in the first photo challenge

There were 5 judges who scored for the dp+ pick. Each one picked their top 3 choices and scored them according to dp+ pick criteria. Here is the result of the total scoring from judges. The one with the highest score wins!

# 1 - Entry no. 22 - Leo de la Rosa - 268

# 2 - Entry no. 38 - Paeng Balen - 267

# 3 - Entry no. 8 - Nada Stambuk - 179

# 4 - Entry no. 34 - Edmund Chan - 165

# 5 - Entry no. 20 - Janeth Nitoral - 156

# 6 - Entry no. 13 - Lourdes Inosanto - 98

# 7 - Entry no. 18 - Wilz Dida - 89

# 8 - Entry no. 16 - Joseph Nocom - 75

If all judges will vote for one singular entry with a perfect score - total score would be 500.

dp+ photo challenge no. 1 judges:

Members:

Benjax Rivera

Omar de Guzman

Matthew Matchinsky

Administrators:

Gina Villanueva Uyan

Juanito Vinluan

top 8 Popular Votes Pick in the first photo challenge

# 1 - Entry no. 38 - Paeng Balen - 62 votes 

# 2 - Entry no. 13 - Lourdes Inosanto - 37 votes

# 3 - Entry no. 34 - Edmund Chan - 20 votes

# 4 - With 17 votes each: Betty Jo Jones, Karen Eaquinta Sharkey and Pritam De

# 5 - With 15 votes each: Nada Stambuk and Jonathan Park

# 6 - With 14 votes - Lily Vinluan

# 7 - With 13 votes each: Lara Juan, Randy Villanueva, Joseph Nocon, Janeth Nitoral, Lennox Tpx and Zandro Cenizal

# 8 - With 12 votes each: Leo de la Rosa, Joanna Lyn Ong, Bong Castillo, Edison Cerilla, Jeffrey Callos and Spinal Man

first ever dp+ Popular Votes Pick winner

dp+ 1st photo challenge winner by Popular Votes Pick
photographer: Paeng Balen
title: Waiting for Christmas
theme: Christmas is...
camera: Canon 1000D

dp+ Pick judging criteria on photo challenge 1

Apart from gauging dp+ members’ response to dp+ photo challenge entries through Likes, there will also be a dp+ pick. It will be judged by selected group member judges and dp+ admin.

photo by Nada Stambuk - 3rd Place - dp+ Pick dp+ photo challenge 1 -
Christmas theme

The following are dp+ pick criteria for judging:

1. Quality – 40%
- the technical consideration of an entry
- if technical specs on the mechanics of dp+ challenge are met

2. Originality – 40%
- how uniquely interpreted is the theme
- an entry’s substance and relevance
- how aptly and creatively the message imparted was translated visually
- overall creative approach
- if overall elements shows the spirit embodied in the theme
- to consider submission date of entries on similar concepts

3. Overall impression – 20%
- the overall impact of the photo
- general appeal
- how well it was appreciated by members of the group

photo by Wilz Dida - 7th Place dp+ Pick - dp+ photo challenge 2

How to score

A score of 40% for Quality if the photo meets the technical standard 100%
A score of 40% for Originality if it is 100% in this criteria
A score of 20% for Overall impression as perfect score in this criteria
Total perfect score would be 100% after all scores on the different criteria are added.

How entries will be judged

After all member Likes are voted on the entries, judges will then each pick top 3 choices and score them according to dp+ criteria. A short explanation on why they like a particular piece will be included. dp+ main admin will tabulate the result and post it to dp+ site. There will be 3 to more odd number of judges to vote on the dp+ pick to tie-break.

Why there is a dp+ pick

It is basically to gauge the level of appreciation of members and as an added incentive or consolation award for the photo challenge. dp+ pick may or may not be the Winner in terms of Likes or member votes.

Awarding of winning pieces

The winner with the most Likes or votes emerges as the overall winner. It gets to be the profile picture of dp+ for a period until such time when another dp+ challenge is won. It gets to be the official calendar photo for a particular month of dp+ Best of the Best calendar. It will be posted on affiliate sites as dp+ photo challenge winner and will also be included in the photo gallery of dp+ photo challenge winners.

dp+ pick is a Special Award. It will placed in one album and included in dp+ calendar as dp+ photo challenge pick and will also be posted on dp+ affiliate sites as such.

dp+' first ever photo challenge "Christmas is..." - full mechanics

photo by Gina Villanueva Uyan

a. who may join
The contest is open to all Digital Photography Plus MEMBERS casual, amateur, hobbyist, enthusiast or professional.

b. number of entry per member
A practice in selecting your best work, only one (1) entry per member will be accepted.

c. how to submit your work
To be identified as an entry, all entries must be posted to Digital Photography Plus official page wall
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Digital-Photography-PLUS/242285489128553) together with the following:
a) your best shot as an entry
b) indicate photo challenge number and theme, example for the first dp+ photo challenge, please include this with your entry: 
dp+ photo challenge no. 1 - "Christmas is..."
c) photo title
d) member name
e) camera used in taking the photo

d. how it works:
1. All entries should be submitted to dp+ official page wall (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Digital-Photography-PLUS/242285489128553). 
Submission starts on December 17 and ends in 
December 26, 2011, 12 midnight Philippine standard time.
2. Upon submission, photos will be put together in a single photo gallery or album in the group site 
(http://www.facebook.com/groups/164854913587122/?ap=1) within the day after it was submitted under the album title:
dp+ photo challenge no. 1 official entries. It is where all members will click Like to signify their vote/s.
3. Winning photos will be judged according to the number of Likes they received.
4. Liking starts as soon as an entry is posted to the official entries album.
5. ONLY members of dp+ can vote or Like an entry.
6. Members can like as many entries as they want including their own entries.
7. Deadline for liking photos will be on December 27, 2011, 12midnight Philippine standard time.
8. Entry with the most number of Likes wins.
9. Members are encouraged to vote or Like their preference according to their level of appreciation not of the photographer but of their work.

d. entry photo specifications:
1. All entries must be in digital format. It can be taken using a mobile, analog, manual or digital camera. Digital submission must be higher than 1Mb, must be in JPEG or JPG format, with a resolution of 300dpi.
2. Photos which have previously won in any photography contest worldwide is NOT acceptable.
3. Since this is a photography challenge all major photo manipulation is not acceptable like effects created through Photoshop or any other editing software. 
4. Minor editing, like cropping, color enhancement, color balance and correction, focus adjustment is acceptable. The object is to retain the integrity of the actual photo taken.
5. Entries must be taken within 3 to 4 years prior to the date of submission.
6. It must not contain any watermark or any identifiable signature.
7. Photo submissions must be entered by the actual member who took the photo. 
8. dp+ assumes that all entries are original photos of the entrants. It does not accept entries that violate any right to privacy or publicity, moral right or other people's intellectual property rights. Entries should be free of any copyright or trademark infringement.
9. dp+ reserves the right to disqualify an entry with inappropriate content or are defamatory, abusive, objectionable, obscene or sexually explicit in nature.

e. photo challenge theme
Entries to the first ever dp+ photo challenge submitted should revolve around this theme:
"Christmas is..." Photos not in keeping with the theme will be disqualified.

f. what you will get out of this photo challenge
Like what we said in the initial announcement, this photo challenge is not a prize-based competition just a fun activity for the group, an exhibition of prowess in a level playing field for the shooting stars and a challenge or goal to be reached for newbies and amateurs. What dp+ can offer INITIALLY is for the winning entry to be dp+ profile photo of the month or until such time when another winning entry is won. Another thing you will get from the competition is exposure. Winning entry will be featured in dp+ site (http://dpplus.blogspot.com/) and posted on other groups dp+ is affiliated with. There may or may not be additional prizes at stake but for now, this is all the group can offer.

g. dp+ right reserve
This competition will be in preparation to dp+ prospective year-long project for 2012, a photo calendar entitled dp+ best of the best. dp+ reserves the right to publish and include winning photo challenge photos to this print or digital publication project or for any of its promotion and marketing purposes with full credit to the photographer.
dp+ also reserves the right to award dp+ pick as it deem fit which will also be featured in dp+ site (http://dpplus.blogspot.com/).

For questions, suggestions, comments or additional prizes ;-) please send your pms (personal messages) to any of dp+ administrators. May the best of the best win!

An invitation to the first ever dp+ photo contest

photo by Glenmark de Guzman of Glenmark de Guzman for Digital Photography plus

Due to insistent members' demands, Digital Photography Plus will now be having its first ever photo contest. It is the group's way for members to interact, hone their craft more and show photography skills and creativity in a level playing field. It is not a prize-based competition, just a fun group activity that would not just challenge your skill and creativity as a photographer but would also show how your works will be appreciated or received by fellow members of the group. It also aims to gauge the level of appreciation of each of the members as they vote on their preference. All members are welcome, professional or otherwise. As a professional you can show the kind of stuff you are made of as a photographer, don't let amateurs intimidate you, hahaha... and as an amateur, it is your chance to see how you would fare with the shooting stars. And what better way to show what sets you apart as a photographer than having only just one theme to explore and being able to shine in your most creative best.

This is an invitation to all members to join dp+ first ever photo contest. Let your images speak for you as a photographer and let that photographic voice be heard!

Note: Full details of the mechanics of the photo contest will be posted as soon as it gets finalized.