Andy, I suggested a beginner's section (for the reasons that you outlined) when I first joined WPF and got slapped around for it. It'll be interesting to see if opinions have changed in light of declining entrants.

Having dual competitions running simultaneously sounds like a recipe for confusion. We get enough confused new members as it is not knowing where to post things.

The decision as to what gets done with the competition is very much down the membership, not the mods or admin. The infrastructure is all there, it's up to the members to use it as they wish. The moderators job is to do just that, to moderate, not to generate all the content on the site. Any member wishing to start a competition run on whatever lines they want to is free to do so, they can be a self appointed competition mod by doing so. ;)

Here's my take on things, note, this suggestion has no more influence than anybody else's suggestion(s), it's just an idea, feel free to adapt as you see fit.

1st to 21st of the month is the period to enter pictures
entries have to be taken during that period
person who set the theme judges during period 22nd to 27th
person who set the theme offers short critique, awarding places for 1st, 2nd, 3rd
winner chooses theme for following week and announces it before the 1st of the following month
person who set the theme cannot enter their own competition

This basic idea is used by many other photography fora. A few points to note from experience of this sort of thing....
People are sometimes put off entering from fear they may win and then have to critique/judge, 2nd place is much coveted. :rolleyes:
People sometimes get the huff because the judge's opinion did not match their own. That's life, get used to it.
A winner takes all approach can result in parochial judging where the same couple of people ping-pong the win between themselves for several months before one feels guilty and gives it to another. By forcing the judge to give reason/critique, this is effect hopefully reduced.
Different judges use different criteria to judge, this can lead to some very odd results, but that's life.... see above.

The point I'm trying to make is that whatever scheme someone comes up with will not be perfect. Whatever you guys want to do, the forum structure is there for you to do it. The competition format will be whatever the person who sets it up wants it to be.

Poll system as was for me..I like the fact that you cant see who's winning till you've voted:D
Al.

Me too. Otherwise, I like Duncan's suggestions. Although, I dont see why voters couldnt add a post in the voting stage explaining why they voted as they did, if they want to - might make for some interesting reading.

I support the poll system as well, it's a very nice facility on the site. All the other points add up to a sound plan.

Graham

I also like the poll system.

I go along with Duncan on this one. I have several misgivings with the poll system.
In it's favour it is simple to setup and nobody has to think about the vote too much.
Against because the images cannot be submitted anonymously other factors can affect the vote.

I've not been too active recently, either the topic has not inspired or recent events have taken up much of my time.

I think fortnightly maybe a better time frame. If you decide to opt out for one then a month is a long time to wait for the next.

The discussions about the competition format seem to be going in circles a bit so I've decided to add a poll to this thread so we can see what if the prefered option. I've looked at suggestions put forward here and elsewhere and have come up with some choices:

1. reverting to monthly - 1st-21st for entries with a week for voting
2. reverting to monthly - 1st-21st for entries with a week judging by comp starter
3. fortnightly - 7 days for entries, 4 days for voting
4. fortnightly - 7 days for entries, 4 days for judging by comp starter
5. sticking to the weekend challenge in it's current format

I've added a poll to this thread which will run for five days (ending next Friday) and suggest that we start the next competition using whichever formant wins.

I've not entered often because I rarely have the time over a weekend, even when you lengthened it slighly to close a midday Monday, I would still only have Saturday and Sunday, one of which is my sport togging day, the other a family day on which my wife prefers I leave the camera at home unless I'm togging 'family moments'

It is a difficult one though and this post isn't helping much is it?

I like the all in one comp way things are run on here though, having two sections would only confuse matters and anyway, I want anything I enter to be judged alongside the best ;)

Definitely all for a longer time frame. I voted for the current favourite but would be very happy with the other popular option. Either way lets give it a go for 6 months or so, it can always be refreshed after that.