Snag in contest***Vote your Opinion now*** or forever hold your peace

[Mira]

Poll question: Snag in contest***Vote your Opinion now*** or forever hold your peace

It would have been so nice had the contest run without a hitch.
But one problem arose that I hope we can solve together, and then hopefully all will be seamless after that.

I have not paid close enough attention, and therefore did not do my job well. I did not catch that the submission from Elfin Yeti being a photo of her sister does not follow the rule I myself laid down about this being about a portrait of a true stranger. I did not, at that time, include metaphorical strangers in that rule. I'm sorry this happened.

I got caught up in the emotion and the sadness depicted, and that it was an instantly popular photograph. All that masked the obvious for me, which is that it may not be fair to the group who struggled to take good portraits of "real" strangers.

I sent a message to Elfin Yeti, and she wrote back that she thinks a poll is the best way to address this, as do I.
She asked if she could include a few words on the onset, and here they are:

=======================================

I interpreted the contest title, "Stranger", more figuratively
than literally which I think is the essence of the art of
photography. My sister, Judy, is in every sense of the word a
stranger as she is dramatically changed physically and
mentally as a result of her frontal lobe dementia. She
recognizes no one from her "former life", is unable to
articulate, lives truly in the moment with no memory of the
past or sense of the future, and requires total care 24/7. A
stranger indeed. If it helps, the two in the background are
strangers to me(!).

======================================

On to making a decision, please let's get this solved, and please submit some more photos.
I will stop this poll at 9 am sharp, EST tomorrow, Tuesday.
Please no ties :)

The submission thread ends at NOON Tuesday, EST.
I hope we get a full 30 photos !!!!!!!!

[Raster]

1. Quite frankly, I think the story about your sister makes the contest theme even more haunting.

Please, leave the photo in. It, like any good photograph, speaks far more than words ever could.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. We've had "figurative" interpretations of topics

many times before. I say let it stay.

[NV Whino]

3. I think this is an excellent interpretation of stranger

I say let it stay.

[babylonsister]

4. I think it should stay, too. These contests are just for fun, and

that picture is powerful.

[JeffR]

5. It's a resonant photo and it should stay.

In fact, it should probably win over what's already a strong field.

This contest is going to be pretty popular, I believe.

[regnaD kciN]

6. I guess I'm the one contrarian...

...who thinks the photo should go.

It's not a judgment on the quality of Elfin Yeti's photo, let alone her integrity in submitting it. However, one of the challenges of the contest, for me, is that there is a certain "outside the comfort zone" quality in taking the photo of a total stranger, since it's normally something that "just isn't done." Overcoming that discomfort is, IMHO, a key part of the contest, and isn't the same when taking a picture of a close family member, no matter how much they might have changed.

I'm obviously in the minority here, and I'm sure the poll will result in the photo being admitted. But, were I running the contest, I would have a hard time justifying letting it stay. YMMV, of course.

[Mira]

7. I'm closing the poll, it is 9 am EST

The photo # 19 by Elfin Yeti is retained by popular demand. As I type the vote is 17 in favor and 3 against.
Thanks everyone for pitching in to get this behind us.
:grouphug:

[alfredo]

8. I voted anyway, and voted to force you to decide. PPPPBBBBTTTT!!!!

I think the image should stay. We are Democrats, we don't follow orders.

[Celebration]

9. I have a libertarian streak

If someone submitted a macro image for this contest, I'd probably keep it if I were in charge. Everyone knows the contest theme, and can vote accordingly.

[Mira]

10. If you knew how little I follow rules when they are arbitrary...

BUT
Imagine the photo had won. Maybe over someone who feels strongly the other way, and who either then raised objections, and or made everyone feel awful for having to take sides belatedly.

Or that person could remain quiet about it but stay slowly and simmeringly angry at the forum members (or me).

We did not need that.
So I took it on ahead of time, as soon as it came to my attention and I thought it through.

Thanks for your vote, Alfredo, somebody had to do it, I'm glad it was you.
I like your sense of humor.

[Celebration]

12. I kind of like this contest

All sorts of little decisions have to be made, and it is insight into people's thought processes.

I think my favorite thing about it is the use of the random number generator. I'm going to see if it produces any "coincidences" this month.

But all the polls within polls-- those are interesting too. More groups should make use of polls.

I find it really interesting that three people did not want the picture of a "stranger" as a family member to be able to be entered. While I do understand the notion that this didn't fit the original idea, it kind of amuses me in an odd way that three people would feel that way. It is so diametrically opposed to the way my brain works that it gives me a double take. I just find it really, really interesting.....and, well, I can't quite put my finger on it.

I think I would trust DU to not vote on a picture that they felt didn't fit the theme. Perhaps we should put that as one of the "jury instructions" if we don't already. "Fitting the theme" would be/is a large part of how I vote, and the best macro picture in the world wouldn't get my vote in a contest featuring strangers, if it didn't fit the theme. Would I trust GD Duer's to do the same? Yes, if so advised. But, you never know--which is why guilty people go free sometimes, and the innocent are sometimes jailed.

Size requirements/non-requirements are another matter, but those have been thoroughly discussed.

[Mira]

14. I found the random generator fascinating as an idea.

Because until I learned about it, I always thought that there must be quirky subliminal and suggestive ways to arrange photos for advantage.
The generator would completely disallow that.

So, before I got my grid, I swore to myself I would accept the first set of numbers and not deviate.
That's what I just got through doing, and I think you, Celebration, think somewhat like I do (see what you just wrote for instance), I can give you a heads up that the sequences are more interesting than I could have made them.

[mth44sc]

11. well alright then...

...meet today's "stranger" :-)

[Mira]

13. AWWW Man, this needs a larger forum than a worn out

closed down thread of polls.....

edited to re-arrange my excited words

[Celebration]

15. I take it ALL BACK!!!

I would vote for your stranger!!

:rofl:

[alfredo]

16. I like playing with the meaning of the theme. Sunset? How about the

opposite horizon?