Best Paint Competition - Sept 2005

[Piggy89373]

Contender, would you do us all a favor and post up the results from 11th place to last place? The amateur class is one that benefits the most from the judges comments and rulings. I know it's a bit to ask, but it'd really benefit all those who didn't see their scores.

[Mik]

8. At the number 8 spot is the car entered by Mik with his Lamborghini Diablo 200mm. I like the design and the color choice. I would have preferred not to see so much purple as I believe it’s a bit heavy on the top, but besides that, it’s a well done body.

Design 4
Execution 5
Difficulty 4

Total 13

:eek: 8th :eek:
Thanks very much for your opinion. I was stoked to have made the top 10, sure wasn't expecting to with such incredible contenders. :D

I guess now its time to go all out with my next body.

[JDAWG53]

I have a question. How are some people getting such large pics. I cant get over 61,000 bytes but some of the pics on here are huge, as big as 399,000 bytes. If we are going to be judged on picture quality from now on in the "paint" comp then it needs to be laid out so everyone is equal.
Thanks

[Piggy89373]

JDAWG, those that post larger and higher res pictures do so using a pic hosting site such as Photobucket.com and Villagephotos.com.

[C0NTENDER]

Contender, would you do us all a favor and post up the results from 11th place to last place? The amateur class is one that benefits the most from the judges comments and rulings. I know it's a bit to ask, but it'd really benefit all those who didn't see their scores.


Well folks, I have gotten this request by two others already, so I guess I can release the order and comments for 11 to last place.

The reason I only did the top 10 and put the remaining in a HM grouping is because I didn't want anyone to think that they came in dead last. Just thought they would still feel encouraged if they were grouped with others as not making the top ten. But since I have had the request more than once, I'm sure I can release 11 though last with comments. You will see this order something after tomorrow, "hectic week at work". So please stay tuned.

[LEADFOOT]

I have a question. How are some people getting such large pics. I cant get over 61,000 bytes but some of the pics on here are huge, as big as 399,000 bytes. If we are going to be judged on picture quality from now on in the "paint" comp then it needs to be laid out so everyone is equal.
Thanks

From the Contest rules:

"The photo and background will not be judged but a clean, well-lit photo that clearly shows the body is needed. Too often, muddy or poorly lit pictures limit the cars chances of winning. Please limit your entries to 3 photos per car. Keep in mind that a better picture will attract more attention for the People Choice."

You should not have been judged on photo quality. The judging was not performed according to the rules.

As far as getting bigger pics goes, this forum limits you in pic size. Go to a 3rd party pic host (photobucket, imageshack, etc) and then use the insert pic function instead of the attach function.







(And yes, you were robbed)

[Piggy89373]

Contender, thanks bud. You're not alone in the hectic work week.

[Nutter]

wow, I can't believe I tied for second with so many entries! That's an absolutely awesome feeling. Thanks Contender! Thanks to all the other entries too, especially Brian Metz and Farwar - and Spam for judging the other class. :)

I hope I can find time this month to paint an entry, after how fun the September comp was with the number of entries and level of competition, I look forward to it again.

[savagepicco26]

Savagepicco26 – with his HPI Corvette. Nice design, just need to work on your color choices and some more execution. Still a nice body that I looked at several times.
thanks man! colors were stuff that i had laying around. i like them, but i know not everyone will. still, i'm just happy that i was given an honorable mention for my first real attempt at airbrushing. i've got a revo and a savage body to do next. maybe i'll get one of them done for next month's competition. thanks again man.

[savagepicco26]

I have a question. How are some people getting such large pics. I cant get over 61,000 bytes but some of the pics on here are huge, as big as 399,000 bytes. If we are going to be judged on picture quality from now on in the "paint" comp then it needs to be laid out so everyone is equal.
Thanks
i host mine on photobucket since it's free and link them here. photobucket limits the size some, but it's plenty big for an awesome pic on here.

[Piggy89373]

"The photo and background will not be judged but a clean, well-lit photo that clearly shows the body is needed. Too often, muddy or poorly lit pictures limit the cars chances of winning. Please limit your entries to 3 photos per car. Keep in mind that a better picture will attract more attention for the People Choice."
Dangit! Thought I had edited that one a bit. Thanks for pointing it out.

JDAWG, judges are allowed a bit of leniency in how they judge. At the beginning of the contest, all were made aware that photos would be included in the judging...to some extent. Judging this month was such that photo quality would only effect ties. However, an exceptionally well painted body would easily overcome poor photo quality.

Sorry if you feel robbed. The point of putting up good photos is to show off the full detail of your work. This can be done without using a photo hosting site, but requires significantly more time with your camera. It all comes down to how much effort you're wanting to put into it.

[FESTER2004]

jdawg-try paint.net,its free,i think the adress is :


www.paint.net

if ia m wrong can soemone post the right web address please.

the program is really easy to use.

[JDAWG53]

Piggy
I used the limitations that the forum set for pics. Simple as that and I was punished for it. I have never had to use a host to post pics, and didnt even know how.
I scored really well on the paint portion of the contest but the score was greatly reduced because of pic size. I realize the judges want crisp clear pics, Ive judged before. I know how hard it is. I am not trying to make a big stink, but I am a little dissapointed in how the "PAINT" comp was judged so heavily on the pics.
This is not to bash the judge but to clarify for future contests. I am sure that I am not the only one either. I love the contests and realize it is all just for fun and that the judging is based on opinion alot of times.
I would like for the contest to have rules and for them to be followed so we dont have to jump through different hoops for different judges.

[Hachi_Roku]

Even though I haven't participated in many contests, I think that if photography should count, it would only be in the event of a tie. However, if some judges prefer to count photography as part of the criteria, I think that there could be 2 or 3 points for photography at most instead of multiplying the whole score by the photography mark. This way somebody wouldn't be penalized by 30% of their score if the background wasn't perfect or if there was some glare on the body. I agree that it is important to have a clear well lit photo, but it shouldn't matter too much whether the angle or background is perfect, or if there is any glare etc. I think the largest problem is when people post webcam pics or cell phone pics of their paint jobs. As long as a proper camera is used I think that photography shouldn't be weighted too much.

[Piggy89373]

This is the first time a photo related so heavily to the total score. Right now, the fight is for bragging rights. Later, it may figure differently. So, the lesson learned this time is that photo scores (if used) will be added to the final score instead of being a multiple. Chalk this one up as a learning point, take the criticism given as constructive, and work for better photos next time.

These contests need to continue evolving to keep up with the increase in talent showing on the boards. Members (not mods or admins) run this contest, so some of these changes may not be agreeable to all entries. As long as everyone hangs in there, we'll find a happy medium.

Sorry if the judging was not amenable to all. Hopefully, we'll work out the bugs to make the rules fairer as well as improve our skills.

[JDAWG53]

Thanks Piggy
Cant wait for the Nov comp.

[Aluma]

geez cmon guys, y'all gotta get over it. If you add your points without the photo thing you know who did better. Just cuz I got officially 11th and not 2nd doesn't matter to me cuz I KNOW I did really well, I just cant take a good pic. :D Kinda like in racing...sometimes it isnt the "winner" who drove the best, its the guy that was in last and moved up to 6th or something...he truly won that race.

[FESTER2004]

i know everyone isnt the best at taken pics but i do say practice.u do wnat everyone to see your beutiful paint jobs! if u are haven probs with post a pics, ask the board 4 help b4 u post!if u need a program to post yr pocs here use paint.net,its free n easy to host yr pics.

i was at target yesterday n saw a cheap digital camera for 20 bucks! u would be surprised how good the photos come out with a cheap camera .my first camera was a cheap 1 off ebay n i sold a tom of things with that camera so i couldnt complain! so when i dropped it n it broke,i couldnt complain! (plus i did drop it)

[RespirologyRC]

I for one can't take pics to save my life. I have a digital camera but I can't figure the thing out! I try and try and try and still my pics look like doggie dung. I don't blame the judges for changing the rules. I personally think that all my pics look like crap. I tell the people who buy bodies from me to trust me, and that i promise what they see on screen will look 1000x better in person. Take a look at my photos and you will see that they are either too dark or too light or too something. I think I should take a class on how to take a proper pic. My colors don't even come out right; if I paint something purple it looks blue, if I paint something red it looks burgundy. Point is that taking a photo well should be a priority because we should want everyone to see our nice work. I personally am reluctant to purchase anything on ebay if the photo looks like crap; in other words if it don't look good others will think the same!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aluma]

i know everyone isnt the best at taken pics but i do say practice.u do wnat everyone to see your beutiful paint jobs! if u are haven probs with post a pics, ask the board 4 help b4 u post!if u need a program to post yr pocs here use paint.net,its free n easy to host yr pics.

i was at target yesterday n saw a cheap digital camera for 20 bucks! u would be surprised how good the photos come out with a cheap camera .my first camera was a cheap 1 off ebay n i sold a tom of things with that camera so i couldnt complain! so when i dropped it n it broke,i couldnt complain! (plus i did drop it)

no way, I took my pics with a $100 digi camera and its just point and click. no zoom, nothing.

[griz11]

If your camera has manual settings for exposure and aperature experiment with them to get the best picture for the lighting. One major problem with cheaper cameras is that the exposure meter is a "spot" type. This can impact you in several ways worst of which is pointing the camera at a dark spot on the car and then coming away with a pic that is all washed out or too light. Outside during the golden hour (1 hour after sunrise or before sunset) is the best time to get the warm glow to the colors. The sun is more oblique during these times and it accents the colors in a way that is most pleasing to people. If you only have an automatic exposure then try pointing the camera at different parts of the car hold the button down for the focus but move the pointing of the camera back to frame the car then finish taking the pic. You will be suprised at the differences in the outcome depending on where you point the camera for the auto exposure to figure out the settings. Cropping the image properly also adds to the impact of the picture. You don't need all the background stuff just the car so crop it tight and not necessarily perfectly centered.

Griz

[RespirologyRC]

Griz those are awsome suggestions! I never would have thought of aiming the camera on a different spot of the car to see how it comes out. I have always just pointed at the object and made sure that it was centered--and prestooo. I will try it out and see what happens

Thanks; now if someone could show me how to make millions $$$

[griz11]

Just make sure you keep that button partially pressed while moving the camera so the light meter won't try and get a new setting. Some other things you might try if you have a camera that allows you to set the exposure and aperature. If you set the aperature to a high value say f4.8 or more the background will be blurred and the car will come out much better. Look in your manual and see if it has a setting called exposure following aperature or something like that. Its where you set the aperature and the camera figures out the exposure setting. Also some digital cameras have a plus minus setting in this mode. You can set it for say +2 brighter if the shot doesn't come bright enough. Same with the minus numbers. If you have a light background sometimes you need to go to the minus settings. Remember when you go to a higher F number or aperature you are closing the hole the light comes through so you will need a longer exposure. You might have to move the car a little towards you or away from you to maximize the blur effect for the background. One other thing if your camera has an asa setting which corresponds to the film speed set it for 100 asa. This will make you shoot a longer exposure but the depth of color is enhanced most of the time. Usually cameras are set to 200 asa as that is the most popular film speed.

Griz

[Racin Rev]

You can also pick up a tabletop tripod for less than $20. It will enable you to "lock in" the subject while you play with the settings, it will also allow you to use a slower shutter speed without blurring the picture with your shaking. Some cameras also have a remote button so you don't even have to touch the camera while taking the picture.

[Merc4Stroke]

What is the grille made out of? or is that just a decal?
killer job!




Here's my second airbrushed body, but since i've had people as me if i'l paint one for them i'll enter the pro class.

Body: Proline F150 EXT
Paint: Pactra Racing Finish, Faskolor, Alclad Chrome II
Mask: Hand Cut vinyl tape
Class: Pro

http://members.shaw.ca/frosty85/f150.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/frosty85/f150(2).jpg