New Contest Category for Up-Coming BASH ?

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magpens

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Would there be interest in a contest for "Pen Photography" ?

I was inspired to ask this question when I read today's thread by @jrista here :

 
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jrista

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I would definitely be interested. My two main hobbies besides software development (my day job) are photography and woodworking. ;)
 

magpens

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I thought for the most part that all of the pen contests were also partially photo contests.

Yeah . . . I guess you are right Joe . . . obviously, I did not think too long before I started this thread. You make a good point ! ! !

What I was thinking about . . . I think ( ! ! ! ) . . . was developing and using techniques for achieving "extra special" PEN PHOTOS . . .

. . . techniques that enhance the appearance of even an ordinary pen, whether or not it is prize-worthy in its own right for any contest.

Some pens win contests regardless of whether their photo is "outstanding" . . . by virtue of their design & fabrication & skills of the pen-maker.
And, yes, of course, their chances of winning are enhanced by photos that are out-of-the-ordinary.

I was thinking of a contest to use and present photographic techniques which push towards getting "out-of-the-ordinary" photos . . .
. . . something which we would all like to be able to do but may not normally do, for whatever reasons.

We know that we can learn to MAKE NICE PENS, . . . and some of us can learn to MAKE NICE PHOTOS of pens.

A contest could encourage the latter, just as our long-standing contests encourage the former.
 
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jrista

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We know that we can learn to MAKE NICE PENS, . . . and some of us can learn to MAKE NICE PHOTOS of pens.

A contest could encourage the latter, just as our long-standing contests encourage the former.
Well put!

I think if this did become a category, the judging would need to be less about the pens themselves, and more about how they were presented, and lit. Such a contest might help spur more interest in developing good pen photography skills as well as pen making skills.
 

sorcerertd

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You'd almost have to make the contest limited to certain pens and materials, something like a basic walnut or cherry slimline, and then see who could make it look the best? Hmm, I'm not sure that's quite right, either. There are a lot of things to consider for sure.
 

jttheclockman

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When was that, John ? Do you remember the year(s) ?

My memory ain't workin' so good lately.
Mal it is a little hard looking back at the past Bash contests because some are crypted but there were a few different photo contests over the years. I remember a shop photo contest, I remember an overall photo contest where you could submit any photo. But then there was the Pen Photo contest and this is one of the years I remember. As I said when was the exact first date I do not know.

https://www.penturners.org/threads/pen-photography-contest-vote-here.138901/
 

magpens

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Mal it is a little hard looking back at the past Bash contests because some are crypted but there were a few different photo contests over the years. I remember a shop photo contest, I remember an overall photo contest where you could submit any photo. But then there was the Pen Photo contest and this is one of the years I remember. As I said when was the exact first date I do not know.

https://www.penturners.org/threads/pen-photography-contest-vote-here.138901/
@jttheclockman

Thanks, John. . . That reference you posted is helpful. . There seem to be vastly different interpretations of "best" ! ! (as one might expect ! ! )
 
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