Even with multiple visits to look at posts/replies, I suspect that means that a lot of people are not interested. However if only half of that 24 actually enter each time then it should be worth trying it out, I think. I know I said the poll would run for 10 days, and I'm not stopping it, but I can't see a lot of point in waiting any longer since there has been no further input for 4 days.
That said, and taking into account the various comments and thoughts, these are the rules:
1) To reduce the chances of focusing (!) on the photoshop arguments, it will be called "The Quarterly Garden Railway Gallery" ( QGRG) i.e. not a 'competition' although there will be voting for the best entry each quarter- best being defined however the individual voter chooses.
2) Only one picture may be submitted by each entrant, but that picture may be replaced up until the closing date. Each picture must have a Title.
3) A picture does not have to be taken specifically, it can be one you took years previously, if you think it fits the theme.
4) The photographs submitted must be taken by the entrant themselves, and preferably either of their own models, or of visitors to their railway, or their own stock when visiting another line.
5) The same photograph may not be entered into the QGRG more than once, but that does not exclude a picture which has been seen, for instance, in a thread on the forum, a blog, magazine article, etc.
6) Basic editing will be allowed. i.e straightening, cropping, resizing, but advanced techniques such as adding smoke or steam effects, adding background pictures, etc, will not be permitted. This does not exclude for instance, using temporary physical screens to hide unsightly backgrounds before taking a photo.
7) The winning entry allows the submitter to choose next the quarters theme, but he/she is barred from entering the theme they have chosen, to make things fair. The theme chosen should bear in mind that the membership stretches from the Antipodes to northern Canada and Russia, so climatic conditions vary hugeley at any given time!
There will be 4 Quarterly Galleries per year, December, March, June, September ( not Winter, Spring, etc, to avoid 'seasonalising', given the international membership).9) Entries will be permitted up to 15th of the Quarter month and voting will take place between 15th and 25th. All members may vote irrespective of whether they have entered. The winner will be confirmed by 30th/31st of the quarter month. The winner will be expected to propose the next theme by 7th of the following month.
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To get things rolling, I am going to propose the theme for the first Gallery, which will be "My Railway". This can be whatever you want - choose one picture which you think shows off your railway to its best advantage, and for those who are not lucky enough to actually have a working line, a nice piece(s) of stock on a length of track suitably placed in front of a bush, could just be a winner - be creative and think outside the box!
I will start a new thread for entries to be posted too. This will obviously be a short quarter, so entries will need to be submitted to the thread by 15th March.
Not that I have any that would compare with some of the excellent ones I have seen on other threads mate.
