Photoshop Exersice Participation

[ATsucks]

This message is aimed at those who used to take part in the twice monthly photoshop competition but for whatever reason don't;

I'm just curious to know what your reasons are. I'm sure most of you have reasons like school or work are simply the priority holding you back from spending time doing this. Even a more active social life is cool too. I for one have work keeping me busy 7 days a week and my social life is especially active lately, but yet I manage to find time to make a chop and participate.

For those who aren't bothered, I'm curious as to why that is and possibly how the competition could be made more appealing for you to participate. I personally enjoy making chops anyway and would be doing this regardless of the competition, but obviously the fun factor goes down slightly when there is a lack of entries.

Why did so many participate before but not any more? The voting threads accumulate up to over 200 views, I'm sure some of those are the same viewer but that still means there could be between 15-20 entries which would be way more awesome than a mere 4 or 5.

I look forward to hearing from everyone

[pdanev]

Well, I think I mentioned a few times why I don't participate anymore. However I'm planning to participate because I haven't been chopping for quite a while yet, and I like doing it. Got an exam next week, but I should be in the next competition.

[Renesis]

Not enough free time!!! level of skills became too high for me too.

[Raheel]

ha ha ha...my level of skill is still down there but i am doing something....another major problem is that anyone hardly participates from Dieselstation these days...

[ATsucks]

Originally Posted by Renesis

...level of skills became too high for me too.

That shouldnt be an excuse, that should be motivation to improve! I remember when I started out and saw chops so much better than mind, I onlu wanted to learn more! I always come across chops or art pieces that I wonder, wow, I wonder how they did that and how I could learn!

[tranceshakeel]

Originally Posted by ATsucks

That shouldnt be an excuse, that should be motivation to improve! I remember when I started out and saw chops so much better than mind, I onlu wanted to learn more! I always come across chops or art pieces that I wonder, wow, I wonder how they did that and how I could learn!

Absolutely right

[SL65]

Nothing stopping me from participating Just close your eyes when you see my work


If you really want to know why people dont participate, I rekon its cos the standards are just so damn high these days. Im amazed at some of the work some ppl can do!

[tranceshakeel]

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~604BHP!!!!!!!

Nothing stopping me from participating Just close your eyes when you see my work


If you really want to know why people dont participate, I rekon its cos the standards are just so damn high these days. Im amazed at some of the work some ppl can do!

hey but u gotta consider that the high standards dont stop the likes of us from participating, u know practice makes perfect. Im gonna try the ATsucks method this time LOL > Try haha, u know try to be different ! Raheel tells me that the entries are really good this time.

[hansvonaxion]

im only a newb, but maybe it could be made easier for people to vote? like having a poll where u just have to click and submit rather than e-mailing?

also for the people who think their skills are lacking, possibly different categories could help. i try to judge based on how much better the car looks rather than the skills involved but i think a lot of people judge solely on the photoshopping skills. id rather see someone concepyualize and follow through on an idea rather than just whacking on wheels cos they fit the space well. know what i mean?

[tranceshakeel]

different categories might be hard if not impossible seeing that we dont get many entries nowadays.

[ATsucks]

Originally Posted by hansvonaxion

...id rather see someone concepyualize and follow through on an idea rather than just whacking on wheels cos they fit the space well...

That is the assumption; to create a concept because it's what you want, not because it's what you can do.

All valid points but it seems that the most common reason is because people feel that the level of competition is too high, and I think that that is unfortunate. I don't think creating different catagories would solve this, even if you're talking about splitting entries into beginers and advanced, who decides what accords to what? And with currently so few entries, there might not be enough entries to split. I'm not for it as I think this takes away competitiveness from the competition. I feel that with each exercise, entries should be improving and that the number of entries should increasing as people should WANT to participate.

I'll come clean and admit that I held back with the worry of sounding conceded, but the reason I started this thread is because I had this suspition that my chops were perhaps pushing people away from participating. I have been working with graphic design for over 9 years, granted that I haven't been doing car chopping for very long, but it pretty much utilizes the same methods and processes.

As such, I will give consideration to making this Volvo V50 my last exercise participation. I will chop the chosen car though but simply post it seperately from the competition.

Reading over what I've writen, it does indeed sound like I'm very full of myself. Mancs, Pdanev and raheel_qamar have created some awesome chops, and I don't recall off the top of my head, but Mancs hasn't participated recently if I am correct. In any case, please don't take this post as me trying to show anybody up, simply as trying to find a solution towards improving the situation.

[tranceshakeel]

c'mon u dont need to stop entering the comp !

[wceend23]

My internet connection was gone for 2 months, so it's a bit hard to join than And now, well, i forget it or (and that's very often) i just don't have any idea what to do with the car.

[MXM]

Well, I'm just simply out of ideas. Whenever I start thinking about doing something, it feels like I'm doing a work. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. Lately it was not. No other reason to not paricipate really...

[fleshbox]

Originally Posted by MXM

Well, I'm just simply out of ideas. Whenever I start thinking about doing something, it feels like I'm doing a work. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. Lately it was not. No other reason to not paricipate really...

thats where I am comjng from as well.

[ATsucks]

Maybe its because it's part of my job, but I think finding that idea and creativity is part of the job, even if you envisioned the car the way you wanted it right away, there are going to be tweaks along the way.

So the two main reasons are level of competition is too high, and lack of creativity so far

[Z3R0 117]

Hey I Suck At Photoing Shopping But What the hell i'll give it a try just as long as you won't laugh

[hansvonaxion]

what i meant by different categories was not to split up the entries, but still have the one competition just with a few different judging criteria.

for example, best technically, wildest, funniest etc.
that way there could be a number of winners and people wouldnt feel disheartened because theyre always technically outdone, and we could show our appreciation for what they bring to the competition.

like in a car show, theres an overall winner, but lots of different sub-categories.

[Rinmax]

Well I feel that I should comment on why I've not done any chops here for a while. One reason is time, but that's not much of an excuse, as anyone can find time for what they like. I have also done ather photochopping for friends so its not like I just stopped. As for the competitions, I was here when the idea first came to light and I did well in a few of the early competitions (think smashed commodore ss). I stopped doing them when I was annoyed with the level of people giving negative feedback on other's chops. I felt it got a little carried away, but as i read alot of the recent stuff (I havn't logged on in a few months) it seams alot of this has gone away. I may have another crack at it and i hope that the level of support for this pastime can grow and be positive.

[Raheel]

@ ^^ ...We hardly get any feedback these days ....I would like to say this to the beginners, don't hesitate to enter if your skills are not good....

To the regulars, its upto you guys to see if chopping fits into your schedule...if it does...then implement any idea that comes in your head.