The Crema Challenge - People and Coffee

[gstark]

As many of you would know, Feldy, a member here, publishes Crema Magazine, which is a high quality lifestyle magazine with a strong bent towards good coffee. And many of you, like me, enjoy a good cup of coffee, as well as good photography.

Feldy has contacted me and offered to help us with a challenge with a bit of a difference, combining our love of good coffee with our love of photography: the prize will be publication in the next (Autumn) issue of Crema Magazine. What's on offer is a full page for the winner, a half page for the runner up, and a quarter page for the third place getter.

The theme for this challenge is that the image must be set in a commercial setting, and it must depict either the relationship between the customer and their coffee, or the relationship between the customer and the coffee shop. How this is depicted is open, but it should be evident within the image that the setting is within a commercial environment, and the image needs to try to depict one the other of these relationships. If you have any doubts with respect to your image concept, then our usual method of providing a pre-qualification opinion is open to you, and should be used.

Judging for this challenge will be a little different from the norm, in that Feldy and I will be the joint judges of the images entered.

Entry for this challenge is as per the usual qualifications, meaning that any full member may enter, excepting of course that, because of the different method of adjudication being used for this challenge, clearly it is not appropriate for either of the admins (or Feldy) to enter. The usual restrictions apply on EXIF data included in your images, and no identifying information should appear in either the image, nor within any of the EXIF data. At this point, only global actions within Photoshop (or similar PP applications) are permitted.

I still have some housekeeping issues to address, so I will let you know shortly about how and where to upload your entries, but the challenge will accept entries with images made commencing today (January 8, 2007) and up to and including January 31.

Any general questions, please ask within this thread ... any specific image related questions should be directed to me via PM. These rules are, as always, subject to review.

Go forth and shoot.


Melbourne Photoshop Workshop

We're trying to organise a photoshop workshop - and perhaps a bit more - for our Melbourne members. Please visit this thread for more details and to register your interest in this.

[Willy wombat]

Gary perhaps you could include rules regarding submission of urine samples to make sure contestants do not overstep the caffeine doping levels.

Cool comp and given the proliferation of cafes around our fair country, something we will all be able to photograph.

[mattyjacobs]

Perfect timing!

I'm heading up to Noosa next week, with a cafe or two to visit up there ... in regards to 'relationship between the coffee and the customer', how much of the customer has to be seen?

[Geoff]

Since I heard that this comp had coffee invovled in it, I've bean very excited about it and enthusiastic. Great comp theme and idea.

[gstark]

in regards to 'relationship between the coffee and the customer', how much of the customer has to be seen?

I can certainly see potential for an image wgere there would be very little of the customer evident in the image, but the coffee, and a relationship, would be quite evident, so I guess it doesn't have to be a whole lot, but the evidence of a relationship would certainly need to be evident.

make sure contestants do not overstep the caffeine doping

Surely you mean "understep" ?

[mattyjacobs]

I can certainly see potential for an image wgere there would be very little of the customer evident in the image, but the coffee, and a relationship, would be quite evident, so I guess it doesn't have to be a whole lot, but the evidence of a relationship would certainly need to be evident.

Awesome. I've had some ideas for something like this for a while ... if it all works out for me, I'll definately enter!

[gstark]

Remember too, though, that it has to obviously be within a commercial setting.

I can see that this could be overlooked within the scenario that I have in mind as noted above, but I can also see how I might make that image to ensure that this rule is observed.

[mattyjacobs]

It'll definately be in a commercial setting, but how clear does that have to be?

[gstark]

It'll definately be in a commercial setting, but how clear does that have to be?

It needs to be evident that it's a commercial setting. A casual viewer, looking at the image, should be easily able to determine this fact.

[mattyjacobs]

ok, thanks for that ... might have to adjust my ideas a bit ...

[Yi-P]

Gary, can you please clarify the meaning of 'commercial setting' ?


Does that mean that we must include brand names of coffee shops? Or be more over like stock photo like?


If so to include any business' name or identifiable location of the shop or person, shall we ask for permission (model/property releases) for the shooting beforehand? Since this is going published if it ever gets selected.

[gstark]

Does that mean that we must include brand names of coffee shops?

Not necessarily. What does a coffee shop look like, in comparison with, for instance, a domestic kitchen? There's a big difference, I might suggest, and one should be easily able to discern the differences with little more than a passing glance.

Similarly, there might be a window with signwriting, on a street frontage, on it in the background, or it might be a street cafe, or perhas tghere's a big commercial espresso machine on a countertop ...

And none of those instances fit into my earlier scenario.

I think I've said more than enough - it's a challenge, after all, and you're the one who needs to work out how to best address the problems thbat the challenge presents to you.

[radar]

Great challenge Gary,

It will likely require more work and setup, for me anyway, but there should be some interesting results in the end. I had been wondering about that challenge listed in the events Now the beans have been spilled

thanks also to Feldy for sponsoring this,

Good luck to all,

André

[Matt. K]

Tea drinkers...please don't interfere.

[Reschsmooth]

So, if I charge my wife for her hot chocolate (and issue a tax invoice) does that make it a commercial setting?

Well, I think this comp pretty much excludes me as I don't really have a relationship with any coffee shop!

P

[sheepie]

Well, I think this comp pretty much excludes me as I don't really have a relationship with any coffee shop!

P

Maybe you should consider having an affair

[Reschsmooth]

But then I would be lowering my standards

P

[Killakoala]

But then I would be lowering my standards

P

OUCH!!!!!!


Hmmm, coffee and photography. Two of my three hobbies most favorites things in the world.

[Reschsmooth]

But then I would be lowering my standards

P

OUCH!!!!!!

See, the problem I have is that I have only been to 1 cafe in the last who-knows-how-long that served decent coffee, and given their location, they are very, very busy and may not appreciate someone stuffing about with a camera in their store. And I don't necessarily want to take a photo of a place that I get some coffees from where it is only a function of convenience rather than good coffee, if you know what I mean?

Y'see, I had an idea for this, but the commercial setting part of it has thrown that out the window...

P

[Nnnnsic]

Go to a Starbucks with BYO.

[Matt. K]

Reschsmooth
A relationship with a waitress at a coffee shop would make you elegible!

[gstark]

Reschsmooth
A relationship with a waitress at a coffee shop would make you elegible!

I can't help but wonder what Mrs Reschsmooth might think about that.

[Reschsmooth]

Reschsmooth
A relationship with a waitress at a coffee shop would make you elegible!

I can't help but wonder what Mrs Reschsmooth might think about that.

I don't think there is any doubt as to what Mrs Reschsmooth would think! (And I am not going to prove it).

P

[Reschsmooth]

Gary, I think your wording makes it pretty clear, but to avoid ambiguity, I thought I would ask: the "customer" can be anyone, not necessarily the contestant?

Cheers

P

[gstark]

Gary, I think your wording makes it pretty clear, but to avoid ambiguity, I thought I would ask: the "customer" can be anyone, not necessarily the contestant?

Patrick,

Yes, and due to the requirements for anonymity of the contestant (entrant), I would think it's highly unlikely that the customer and entrant would be the same individual.

Note too that within this context, if a family member of your's is known to other members here, that might be likely to affect this aspect too.

[Reschsmooth]

Gary, I think your wording makes it pretty clear, but to avoid ambiguity, I thought I would ask: the "customer" can be anyone, not necessarily the contestant?

Patrick,

Yes, and due to the requirements for anonymity of the contestant (entrant), I would think it's highly unlikely that the customer and entrant would be the same individual.

Note too that within this context, if a family member of your's is known to other members here, that might be likely to affect this aspect too.

Thanks Gary, and you have explained the reasons why I asked

[Oz_Beachside]

PP Question...

Can anyone dumb down "Global Actions" for me?

Is adjustment of levels, contrast, brightness, colors, considered global?

Can layers be used, but not masked?

Does global mean ANY change can be made, provided the entire "layer" or "image" is selected?

I'm thinking it means no touch ups, and no blending of layers etc. No masking of layer to apply an "adjustment" to one section of the image from another.

Am I on track?

[daniel_r]

Can layers be used, but not masked?

Does global mean ANY change can be made, provided the entire "layer" or "image" is selected?

I'm thinking it means no touch ups, and no blending of layers etc. No masking of layer to apply an "adjustment" to one section of the image from another.

Am I on track?

I think you are...

I've always interpreted the global rule as if the the action will or has the ability to influence every pixel in the in the image (ie adjusting brightness can/will influence the whole picture). Curves also in my interpetation are a global action.

Not allowed as my interpretation is something like an area selected by colour, some feathering on the selection, layer this and and that etc - so small area layers are out. Say you also clone the background layer and play around with it etc and then blend it back for extending dynamic range and so forth, I've always not bothered incase it gets snagged up by the multiple frames rule.

My simplest guide is to limit any post processing to that which is obviously global, and what's achievable by the simpler editing tools. As I interpret it, it's actually the image and your ability to capture something that meets the core ideals of the challenge rather than how masterful you are of the more advanced aspects of Photoshop

[gstark]

As I interpret it, it's actually the image and your ability to capture something that meets the core ideals of the challenge rather than how masterful you are of the more advanced aspects of Photoshop

Daniel,

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Thank you.

[Oz_Beachside]

that what I was thinking, thanks for the confirmation.

[Willy wombat]

Quick question - Has the gallery for this challenge been organised yet?

[gstark]

Steve,

Not as yet.

Scott will be on to it pretty soon, once he gets over his jetlag.

I'd expect it to be operational by early next week, giving you lots of time to upload your image.

[Willy wombat]

Thanks Gary

Im sure I will leave this till the last minute anyway

[mattyjacobs]

umm ... do I have to register somewhere to login to the gallery?

I tried my dslrusers.com login name and password, but that didn't work.

[radar]

umm ... do I have to register somewhere to login to the gallery?

I tried my dslrusers.com login name and password, but that didn't work.

Matty,

have a read of the challenge rules, goes over all that:

http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php?t=4753

cheers,

André

[mattyjacobs]

ahh, thanks mate.

First time I've done this ... didn't know where to look.

cheers!

[MHD]

You should be registered now...

And two notes to all...
*Get your entries in early, you can delete an entry and submit a new one if you want
*Dont forget to hide your entry

[mattyjacobs]

Hi MHD,

I uploaded my entry, but it seems to have resized it to thumbnail size.

I also clicked the tab that said 'hide image' or sommat like that, so I hope it's hidden ... Sorry, I'm a competition virgin ...

[BT*ist]

I was wondering what the procedure was for getting the entry 'validated' if it's a little more than PG-rated

[gstark]

I was wondering what the procedure was for getting the entry 'validated' if it's a little more than PG-rated

That sort of thing has rarely been an issue here. Please send a PM to Scott (MHD) to let him know what you have in mind (or have done) and he can take it from there.

Because of the different nature of this challenge, we may decide to refer this to Ashley, but Scott should be your first port of all in this regard.

[BT*ist]

Thanks - will do!

[mattyjacobs]

have I missed something, or is there any word on when the winner will be announced?

[gstark]

have I missed something, or is there any word on when the winner will be announced?

You've probably missed this.

I'm still open to suggestions ...

[mattyjacobs]

ok, thanks