photo contest

[Anonymous]

just a little question, Is anyone here sending pictures to the MR photo contest?

[Anonymous]

just a little question, Is anyone here sending pictures to the MR photo contest?

[Anonymous]

What's the point, it's geared to the professional photographer or computer graphics illastrator due to the magazine's judges constantly picking photo composition over model quality as winners? When they allowed and encouraged digital images that were manipulated that was the final nail. How can we be sure that the model portrayed in the pictures is a model, or even really exists in this universe? So I no longer waste my time, money, and postage to enter. I can't compete with professionals doing their craft. I don't begrude the professionals their skill, but let's not pretend that it's an open contest. The name should be "MR's Professional Photo and Computer Generated Image Contest". How about contests geared to modelers, like no backgrounds allowed? Model only? That's what the name of the magazine implies, it's MODEL Railroader, not Model Photography Gazette. Maybe it's time for a name change. FRED

[Anonymous]

What's the point, it's geared to the professional photographer or computer graphics illastrator due to the magazine's judges constantly picking photo composition over model quality as winners? When they allowed and encouraged digital images that were manipulated that was the final nail. How can we be sure that the model portrayed in the pictures is a model, or even really exists in this universe? So I no longer waste my time, money, and postage to enter. I can't compete with professionals doing their craft. I don't begrude the professionals their skill, but let's not pretend that it's an open contest. The name should be "MR's Professional Photo and Computer Generated Image Contest". How about contests geared to modelers, like no backgrounds allowed? Model only? That's what the name of the magazine implies, it's MODEL Railroader, not Model Photography Gazette. Maybe it's time for a name change. FRED

[ndbprr]

It is just a waste of postage sending photos to Kalmbach only to be rebuffed. I quit sending any when I witnessed a train wreck and had 35mm shots of the entire event. When I called immedeiately to see if they were interested I was told they already had them. That is when I figured it out.

[ndbprr]

It is just a waste of postage sending photos to Kalmbach only to be rebuffed. I quit sending any when I witnessed a train wreck and had 35mm shots of the entire event. When I called immedeiately to see if they were interested I was told they already had them. That is when I figured it out.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I was going to enter my port of Melmatt. Now I'll just save the cash.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I was going to enter my port of Melmatt. Now I'll just save the cash.

[Anonymous]

oh boy, that means I just wasted lots of cash in those slides (not to mention one painstaking weekend when I went to shoot outdoors... and it rained).

[Anonymous]

oh boy, that means I just wasted lots of cash in those slides (not to mention one painstaking weekend when I went to shoot outdoors... and it rained).

[CNJ831]

I think some of the posts above are being a bit harsh on MR. I'll say up front that I'm not entering this year, nor have I the past 2-3 years. However, as someone who had a number of photos published in MR during the 1990's, and who did place in at least one of the annual photo contests, I would urge anyone who feels that they have a really outstanding image to submit it. While not every photo submitted to the contest can be a winner, many do turn up later in the Trackside Photos department and the photographer still collects a nice stipend.

The only problem I've had with MR's photo contests is what I feel is the extreme inconsistency in the judging. You never seem to get any idea from the results as to what the judges feel makes for a winning photo. Several winners in recent years would never have gotten any points from me (and I've judged in some regional photo contests). They were either just plain gimmicky or suffered seriously from soft focus or striking lack of depth-of-field.

I do applaud MR for recently splitting the contest into digtal and film, as the two are totally differing formats and can not be fairly compared. Incidentally, in some area photo contests out my way digital is totally banned.

CNJ831

[CNJ831]

I think some of the posts above are being a bit harsh on MR. I'll say up front that I'm not entering this year, nor have I the past 2-3 years. However, as someone who had a number of photos published in MR during the 1990's, and who did place in at least one of the annual photo contests, I would urge anyone who feels that they have a really outstanding image to submit it. While not every photo submitted to the contest can be a winner, many do turn up later in the Trackside Photos department and the photographer still collects a nice stipend.

The only problem I've had with MR's photo contests is what I feel is the extreme inconsistency in the judging. You never seem to get any idea from the results as to what the judges feel makes for a winning photo. Several winners in recent years would never have gotten any points from me (and I've judged in some regional photo contests). They were either just plain gimmicky or suffered seriously from soft focus or striking lack of depth-of-field.

I do applaud MR for recently splitting the contest into digtal and film, as the two are totally differing formats and can not be fairly compared. Incidentally, in some area photo contests out my way digital is totally banned.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flee307

What's the point, it's geared to the professional photographer or computer graphics illastrator due to the magazine's judges constantly picking photo composition over model quality as winners? When they allowed and encouraged digital images that were manipulated that was the final nail. How can we be sure that the model portrayed in the pictures is a model, or even really exists in this universe? So I no longer waste my time, money, and postage to enter. I can't compete with professionals doing their craft. I don't begrude the professionals their skill, but let's not pretend that it's an open contest. The name should be "MR's Professional Photo and Computer Generated Image Contest". How about contests geared to modelers, like no backgrounds allowed? Model only? That's what the name of the magazine implies, it's MODEL Railroader, not Model Photography Gazette. Maybe it's time for a name change. FRED

I’m curious as to how you know winners in the contest are professional photographers? I don’t think I’ve ever read info on winners that indicated this information.

I’ve had the good fortune in past MR contests to have won each level from First down to Honorable Mention, and I'm not a professional. I am an amateur photographer with many years of experience in many phases of photography, but I did not make my living from photography. I recently retired after 35 years as a federal civil servant here in Canada.

With my experience in photography, good quality photo equipment, and my modeling abilities, I was able to translate my ideas into photos that I submitted in past contests. My hobby pursuits in the past while have resulted in fewer modeling projects, which led to fewer photos, and a lack of suitable entries for MR’s contests. But I’m still thinking about it!

As to the name, it is a contest of model railroad subjects, not a model contest. High quality modeling and scene setting is a major requirement to win in the contest. A very nice model posed on a workbench or a table wouldn’t make much of a contest. How would such a photo be judged anyway?

Bob Boudreau
Canada

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flee307

What's the point, it's geared to the professional photographer or computer graphics illastrator due to the magazine's judges constantly picking photo composition over model quality as winners? When they allowed and encouraged digital images that were manipulated that was the final nail. How can we be sure that the model portrayed in the pictures is a model, or even really exists in this universe? So I no longer waste my time, money, and postage to enter. I can't compete with professionals doing their craft. I don't begrude the professionals their skill, but let's not pretend that it's an open contest. The name should be "MR's Professional Photo and Computer Generated Image Contest". How about contests geared to modelers, like no backgrounds allowed? Model only? That's what the name of the magazine implies, it's MODEL Railroader, not Model Photography Gazette. Maybe it's time for a name change. FRED

I’m curious as to how you know winners in the contest are professional photographers? I don’t think I’ve ever read info on winners that indicated this information.

I’ve had the good fortune in past MR contests to have won each level from First down to Honorable Mention, and I'm not a professional. I am an amateur photographer with many years of experience in many phases of photography, but I did not make my living from photography. I recently retired after 35 years as a federal civil servant here in Canada.

With my experience in photography, good quality photo equipment, and my modeling abilities, I was able to translate my ideas into photos that I submitted in past contests. My hobby pursuits in the past while have resulted in fewer modeling projects, which led to fewer photos, and a lack of suitable entries for MR’s contests. But I’m still thinking about it!

As to the name, it is a contest of model railroad subjects, not a model contest. High quality modeling and scene setting is a major requirement to win in the contest. A very nice model posed on a workbench or a table wouldn’t make much of a contest. How would such a photo be judged anyway?

Bob Boudreau
Canada

[Anonymous]

good point Bob, I've given this issue some though (and yes, those early posts were harsh), and I think it doesn't matter whether your a professional photographer or an amateur (such as me), the thing that really matters is the quality of the model depicted. I have gone through some really painstaking afternoons trying to get a scene to look right, trust me. I'll submit my best slides this year and hopefully they'll be published next March. (in fact, I don't give much importance to getting the big prize, I'll be happy as long as I see my work in MR.)
By the way Bob, when did you win the contest? (your name rings a bell but I can't place it)

[Anonymous]

good point Bob, I've given this issue some though (and yes, those early posts were harsh), and I think it doesn't matter whether your a professional photographer or an amateur (such as me), the thing that really matters is the quality of the model depicted. I have gone through some really painstaking afternoons trying to get a scene to look right, trust me. I'll submit my best slides this year and hopefully they'll be published next March. (in fact, I don't give much importance to getting the big prize, I'll be happy as long as I see my work in MR.)
By the way Bob, when did you win the contest? (your name rings a bell but I can't place it)

[vsmith]

Seems to me it shouldnt be too hard to find someone whos a good amatuer photographer to shoot your layout. Its not an uncommon hobby, and most photographers I've known could be bribed with a good bottle of wine to do photos.

[vsmith]

Seems to me it shouldnt be too hard to find someone whos a good amatuer photographer to shoot your layout. Its not an uncommon hobby, and most photographers I've known could be bribed with a good bottle of wine to do photos.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flyingscot

By the way Bob, when did you win the contest? (your name rings a bell but I can't place it)

I placed in the contest the following years:
1986- Third Place
1987 - Honorable Mention
1989 - First Place
1990 - Second Place
1991 - Third Place
1993 - Honorable Mention
1995 - Honorable Mention

My other published photos are listed on my website: http://www.geocities.com/fundynorthern/

Remember - you cannot win a contest that you don't enter! Give it a try!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flyingscot

By the way Bob, when did you win the contest? (your name rings a bell but I can't place it)

I placed in the contest the following years:
1986- Third Place
1987 - Honorable Mention
1989 - First Place
1990 - Second Place
1991 - Third Place
1993 - Honorable Mention
1995 - Honorable Mention

My other published photos are listed on my website: http://www.geocities.com/fundynorthern/

Remember - you cannot win a contest that you don't enter! Give it a try!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Mr Boudreau, I am truely impressed with your photo work and number of wins, but proclaiming to be an amatuer is like Micheal Jordan claiming to be an amatuer basket ball player and a professional spokesman because he made more money endorsing products than playing roundball. The old definition for amatuer was they got NO money or reward other than the pride, then it somehow all changed to mean anyone was an amatuer who proclaimed they were an amatuer, ie. the USA Olympic Basketball team. I am sure you have and could make money as a professinal photographer. Your first place win alone would disqualify you from being a classic amatuer. Good quality photo equipment required to compete in this contest would be, $250 to $1000 for a SLR with macro lense, $50 to $250 for a tripod, ans $100 to 1000+ for lighting. Add to that film cost, filters, batteries, just stuff that any model railroader should have just laying around. Maybe I mispoke a little by saying professional photographer in light of the new definition for amatuer, but the contest isn't something the average modeler on a budget can compete in and have a serious chance of winning. Your record of wins speak to that. The contest is geared more towards photographers and computer geeks who can make less than perfect models and scenes seem to be better than they may really be by manipulation of light, angles, focus, and now data. Even slides could be dummied up by a geek today to appear as a scene that doesn't exist anywhere but on a computer. Do you feel that's fair to the real photographer like yourself? FRED

[Anonymous]

Mr Boudreau, I am truely impressed with your photo work and number of wins, but proclaiming to be an amatuer is like Micheal Jordan claiming to be an amatuer basket ball player and a professional spokesman because he made more money endorsing products than playing roundball. The old definition for amatuer was they got NO money or reward other than the pride, then it somehow all changed to mean anyone was an amatuer who proclaimed they were an amatuer, ie. the USA Olympic Basketball team. I am sure you have and could make money as a professinal photographer. Your first place win alone would disqualify you from being a classic amatuer. Good quality photo equipment required to compete in this contest would be, $250 to $1000 for a SLR with macro lense, $50 to $250 for a tripod, ans $100 to 1000+ for lighting. Add to that film cost, filters, batteries, just stuff that any model railroader should have just laying around. Maybe I mispoke a little by saying professional photographer in light of the new definition for amatuer, but the contest isn't something the average modeler on a budget can compete in and have a serious chance of winning. Your record of wins speak to that. The contest is geared more towards photographers and computer geeks who can make less than perfect models and scenes seem to be better than they may really be by manipulation of light, angles, focus, and now data. Even slides could be dummied up by a geek today to appear as a scene that doesn't exist anywhere but on a computer. Do you feel that's fair to the real photographer like yourself? FRED

[ndbprr]

Bob, I have no compalint with you and you do excellent work. So do I. I use a 35mm Pentax with a pinhole lens that has almost infinite depth of field. I have shot as many as three rolls fo film to bracket an exposure including different lighting. I have won photo contests but never had a photo even considered by Kalmbach. Yet you have won several times being judged by people using name recognition over just quality in my opinion. The contest is just one of my peeves with Kalmbach. The giveaways that cause subscription prices to be raised to fund and ultimately financing a few at the cost of all are not something I take lightly. You have asll been published. I wrote to ask if there was interest in a Schnabel car construction article and didn't even get my SASE back. Not ways to encourage people to participate in my opinon. I get the message, "go away" so I have.

[ndbprr]

Bob, I have no compalint with you and you do excellent work. So do I. I use a 35mm Pentax with a pinhole lens that has almost infinite depth of field. I have shot as many as three rolls fo film to bracket an exposure including different lighting. I have won photo contests but never had a photo even considered by Kalmbach. Yet you have won several times being judged by people using name recognition over just quality in my opinion. The contest is just one of my peeves with Kalmbach. The giveaways that cause subscription prices to be raised to fund and ultimately financing a few at the cost of all are not something I take lightly. You have asll been published. I wrote to ask if there was interest in a Schnabel car construction article and didn't even get my SASE back. Not ways to encourage people to participate in my opinon. I get the message, "go away" so I have.

[Anonymous]

I am going to take off the gloves for a second here and say a reason the photot contest exists is it's a cheap and easy method for MR to get filler pics that they can the publish at a minimal cost to them through out the year for "filler". So they give you a few bucks for an honorable mention. It wouldn't even cover taxi fare to the airport if they had to send field reporters out to find items to publish. So why is the magazine price so high? They claim the readers are the writers of articles, yet they don't answer mail with offers from a reader to write? Can it be MR uses better quality paper than say newsweek who pay big bucks to correspondants? Why does the mag cost so much? FRED

[Anonymous]

I am going to take off the gloves for a second here and say a reason the photot contest exists is it's a cheap and easy method for MR to get filler pics that they can the publish at a minimal cost to them through out the year for "filler". So they give you a few bucks for an honorable mention. It wouldn't even cover taxi fare to the airport if they had to send field reporters out to find items to publish. So why is the magazine price so high? They claim the readers are the writers of articles, yet they don't answer mail with offers from a reader to write? Can it be MR uses better quality paper than say newsweek who pay big bucks to correspondants? Why does the mag cost so much? FRED

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flee307

Mr Boudreau, I am truely impressed with your photo work and number of wins, but proclaiming to be an amatuer is like Micheal Jordan claiming to be an amatuer basket ball player and a professional spokesman because he made more money endorsing products than playing roundball. The old definition for amatuer was they got NO money or reward other than the pride, then it somehow all changed to mean anyone was an amatuer who proclaimed they were an amatuer, ie. the USA Olympic Basketball team. I am sure you have and could make money as a professinal photographer. Your first place win alone would disqualify you from being a classic amatuer. Good quality photo equipment required to compete in this contest would be, $250 to $1000 for a SLR with macro lense, $50 to $250 for a tripod, ans $100 to 1000+ for lighting. Add to that film cost, filters, batteries, just stuff that any model railroader should have just laying around. Maybe I mispoke a little by saying professional photographer in light of the new definition for amatuer, but the contest isn't something the average modeler on a budget can compete in and have a serious chance of winning. Your record of wins speak to that. The contest is geared more towards photographers and computer geeks who can make less than perfect models and scenes seem to be better than they may really be by manipulation of light, angles, focus, and now data. Even slides could be dummied up by a geek today to appear as a scene that doesn't exist anywhere but on a computer. Do you feel that's fair to the real photographer like yourself? FRED

FRED: I don’t think the analogy between myself and a multimillionaire professional basketball player is suitable. I do not and did not make my living taking photos, it’s always been another HOBBY of mine. The money I’ve won in contests and for published material has helped pay for my photo equipment. Your definition of an amateur is yours alone. Many model railroaders are amateur photographers too, using their cameras for model and prototype photography.

Who would you have the contest open to? Modelers with Instamatic cameras and flashcubes? How about Polaroid cameras? Now they would produce some memorable photos that a magazine would want to publi***o show of the best of our hobby!

If a modeler is a hobby (or full time) machinist, should he be eliminated from model contests because he has the tools and the skills to hand make brass models and the rest of us don’t? This is the same for the photo contests, those with the skills and proper equipment are normally the ones who produce the best results.

My first place-winning photo in MR’s 1989 contest was relatively simple. I had two kitbashed wedge snowplows facing each other, framing a CN GP-35 diesel by Athearn. The scene was posed on a piece of Styrofoam on which I had mounted two pieces of track. The backdrop was a printed one by Faller. Lighting was with three 500-watt photoflood bulbs (under $5.00 each) in reflectors. I bought the three reflectors complete with lightweight stands when I first got into photography for around $75.00. The camera I used was probably a Canon A-1, which at the time was one used by advanced amateurs. I had traded previous cameras up to get this second hand one. The lens was an old and inexpensive Vivitar 28mm in which I had added a home made pinhole opening. So that’s the setup I used, not overly complex or expensive at the time. It could have been duplicated with a less expensive camera too.

I’ve seen similar sentiments before when I was in camera clubs. Some people seemed to think it was the expensive photography equipment that allowed some to take their prize-winning photos. In reality it’s the eye of the photographer that makes memorable photos. Better equipment allows more control over the photo process, and therefore more chances at capturing the desired scene or effect.

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flee307

Mr Boudreau, I am truely impressed with your photo work and number of wins, but proclaiming to be an amatuer is like Micheal Jordan claiming to be an amatuer basket ball player and a professional spokesman because he made more money endorsing products than playing roundball. The old definition for amatuer was they got NO money or reward other than the pride, then it somehow all changed to mean anyone was an amatuer who proclaimed they were an amatuer, ie. the USA Olympic Basketball team. I am sure you have and could make money as a professinal photographer. Your first place win alone would disqualify you from being a classic amatuer. Good quality photo equipment required to compete in this contest would be, $250 to $1000 for a SLR with macro lense, $50 to $250 for a tripod, ans $100 to 1000+ for lighting. Add to that film cost, filters, batteries, just stuff that any model railroader should have just laying around. Maybe I mispoke a little by saying professional photographer in light of the new definition for amatuer, but the contest isn't something the average modeler on a budget can compete in and have a serious chance of winning. Your record of wins speak to that. The contest is geared more towards photographers and computer geeks who can make less than perfect models and scenes seem to be better than they may really be by manipulation of light, angles, focus, and now data. Even slides could be dummied up by a geek today to appear as a scene that doesn't exist anywhere but on a computer. Do you feel that's fair to the real photographer like yourself? FRED

FRED: I don’t think the analogy between myself and a multimillionaire professional basketball player is suitable. I do not and did not make my living taking photos, it’s always been another HOBBY of mine. The money I’ve won in contests and for published material has helped pay for my photo equipment. Your definition of an amateur is yours alone. Many model railroaders are amateur photographers too, using their cameras for model and prototype photography.

Who would you have the contest open to? Modelers with Instamatic cameras and flashcubes? How about Polaroid cameras? Now they would produce some memorable photos that a magazine would want to publi***o show of the best of our hobby!

If a modeler is a hobby (or full time) machinist, should he be eliminated from model contests because he has the tools and the skills to hand make brass models and the rest of us don’t? This is the same for the photo contests, those with the skills and proper equipment are normally the ones who produce the best results.

My first place-winning photo in MR’s 1989 contest was relatively simple. I had two kitbashed wedge snowplows facing each other, framing a CN GP-35 diesel by Athearn. The scene was posed on a piece of Styrofoam on which I had mounted two pieces of track. The backdrop was a printed one by Faller. Lighting was with three 500-watt photoflood bulbs (under $5.00 each) in reflectors. I bought the three reflectors complete with lightweight stands when I first got into photography for around $75.00. The camera I used was probably a Canon A-1, which at the time was one used by advanced amateurs. I had traded previous cameras up to get this second hand one. The lens was an old and inexpensive Vivitar 28mm in which I had added a home made pinhole opening. So that’s the setup I used, not overly complex or expensive at the time. It could have been duplicated with a less expensive camera too.

I’ve seen similar sentiments before when I was in camera clubs. Some people seemed to think it was the expensive photography equipment that allowed some to take their prize-winning photos. In reality it’s the eye of the photographer that makes memorable photos. Better equipment allows more control over the photo process, and therefore more chances at capturing the desired scene or effect.

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

QUESTION: If a modeler is a hobby (or full time) machinist, should he be eliminated from model contests because he has the tools and the skills to hand make brass models and the rest of us don#8217;t? This is the same for the photo contests, those with the skills and proper equipment are normally the ones who produce the best results. ANSWER; If all he has is a Polaroid because he bought a lathe then you already answered the question. He would loose the photo contest, that's what we are talking about, not a model contest, a photo contest. The name of the magazine is Model Railroader, not Model Photography. So why are they having a contest that always favor the photographer? That's the question!!!

[Anonymous]

QUESTION: If a modeler is a hobby (or full time) machinist, should he be eliminated from model contests because he has the tools and the skills to hand make brass models and the rest of us don#8217;t? This is the same for the photo contests, those with the skills and proper equipment are normally the ones who produce the best results. ANSWER; If all he has is a Polaroid because he bought a lathe then you already answered the question. He would loose the photo contest, that's what we are talking about, not a model contest, a photo contest. The name of the magazine is Model Railroader, not Model Photography. So why are they having a contest that always favor the photographer? That's the question!!!