2011 Photo Contest Rules

Reef-Geeks Photo Contest Rules

Please take the time to read and follow the rules for 2011. We have made a few changes from the last set of rules - especially regarding participation (please refer to new rules #1 and #2). We did this in response to member feedback to even the playing field for all .

1. In order to enter any one of the photo contests you must have made at least 5 valid, aquarium related posts on this forum (per that month). What this means is that you can no longer enter a photo and then go away. We run these contests as a perk and for the fun of our members. So if you want to participate in the contests you will now need to participate in the community also. Lets face it, its only 5 posts for that month, is that asking too much?
   
2. In order to vote in the contests you will now need to make at least 10 valid aquarium related posts that month. We're no longer allowing people to just jump on in to vote - it's not fair to our members who enter and who actively participate in the community. These are fun photo contests not popularity contests
   
3. Only pictures that have been taken by the contest entrant can be entered in the voting.
   
4. All photos must be reef-related and pertain to the theme of the month (includes reef diving),but do not have to be pictures of your tank.
   
5. Once you submit a picture for the contest, it can not be switched.
   
6. Do not post multiple photos and then ask the members which one to enter...the choice is yours.
   
7. Since many members do not have a photo editing program (i.e. Photoshop), pictures can not be manipulated. But, since all of us who enter a photo do have a photo share program(photobucket, snapfish etc.), minor edits - like cropping, adding watermarks or your name,and adjusting the lighting - in your photo share program is permitted. Water marks can not be URL's to other websites or blogs. Watermarks are intended to protect your photos not advertise your website.
   
8. If your picture wins it will no longer be eligible for re-entry.
   
9. If you win, you are not eligible to win the next 3 photo contests.
   
10. Once a winner is notified by RG admin of their prize, they have 72 hours to reply to the notification. If the winner does not reply within 72 hours then their prize will be given up to the entrant with the next highest votes.
    
11. By entering your picture in any of our contest's you give permission to Reef-Geeks.com to use your photo as we wish (i.e. the portal picture, mass emails etc.).
    
12. RG admin has the right to disqualify any entry for any reason.
    
13. Entries will be allowed for the first 3 weeks of the month and the last week will be the voting period.
    
14. In the event of a tie the winner will be chosen by RG moderators.

Sounds fair to me.

Great news! It's sounding really fair for everyone from the new ones to RG Vets.

Originally Posted by chris&barb

Reef-Geeks Photo Contest Rules

1. All photos must be reef-related and pertain to the theme of the month (includes reef diving),but do not have to be pictures of your tank.
   

sounds fair but does it include fresh water

Originally Posted by Snook11

sounds fair but does it include fresh water

Thats a tough one. This site is focused on saltwater and most of the categories in the list are salt only.

im pretty new to all of this and I may be wrong but aren't reefs located in the ocean? I have yet to hear anyone refer to the reef and include any freshwater inhabitants in their discussion.

Originally Posted by ccollins618

im pretty new to all of this and I may be wrong but aren't reefs located in the ocean? I have yet to hear anyone refer to the reef and include any freshwater inhabitants in their discussion.

an estuary-A semi-encolsed body of water having connections to the ocean at the downstream end and freshwater streams at the upstream end. Water in estuaries thus tends to be at an intermediate and variable salinity and temperature

also many fish are born in fresh water and move to saltwater as adults to breed. example- spotted puffer

also variations of different species alow them to adapt to different water qualities but having being near the same species example- eels, gobies

although reef in our hobby is know as a synonym to a coral tank in scientific terms it means a area where rock among other things come near to the surface of water

Thanks for the correction Snook. Like i said i am new to this and more than willing to learn any and all that i can. After your post I did a search and it looks as though reef includes alot. I see now that that when people refer to reefs we assume that they mean "coral" reef. Thanks again for the info.

Its Reef-geeks not estuary-geeks or saltwater-geeks... reef, a place with coral and reef fish. lol.

Originally Posted by TimH07

Its Reef-geeks not estuary-geeks or saltwater-geeks... reef, a place with coral and reef fish. lol.

yes and im not saying thats wrong
what im saying is that freshwater deserves the chance in the contest s also
im not saying change the rules, prizes or topics im just saying in some photo contest topics freshwater should be able to enter these....
February: Fish
April: Anything goes
June: Full Tank
August: Anything goes
October: Out of the ordinary
November: Crustaceans
December: Full Tank

in these we can not enter because we cant have these
January: SPS
March: Clams (sometimes)
May: Anemones
July: LPS
September: Softies

thats all im saying

hb this....
honestly I just want in the competition (I love competition) so hb freshwater can enter but can not win the prize.
is that reasonable?

Originally Posted by Snook11

hb this....
honestly I just want in the competition (I love competition) so hb freshwater can enter but can not win the prize.
is that reasonable?

Just get a reef tank!

This seems to be what could be a highly debatable subject. I have read several articles and definitions of reef and I have not read anything that said it has to be in saltwater to be a reef. They just state that they are by far the most common. Maybe the moderators could jump in here and let us know if freshwater could be included in certain months.

Imo....no

these rules are excellent methods of preventing cheating scammers votes.
no opinion on the fresh debate on fresh/salt entries. i've had some amazing-looking arawanas, but wouldn't consider them as photogenic as a clownfish.

This site has a freshwater forum and hence I think freshwater should be included in those contests where appropriate (crustaceans, fish, anything goes, etc.). I would also include terrestrial crustaceans in the crustacean category.

Originally Posted by IanH

Just get a reef tank!

im in the process cant wait to get it set up

ccollins618

As much as we would like to include every photo anyone wanted to enter we have to draw the line somewhere. This forums primary focus is on the marine/reef aquarium (saltwater)so thats where the line should be drawn for the contests.

We added a fresh water forum because a lot of people that have salt tanks also have fresh water so we wanted to give them an area where they could talk. We also added a herp forum for this same reason but if we allowed fresh and herps into the contests the contests would become confusing and messy.

chris is right....need to draw the line....otherwise we'll have all kinds of photos entered....this forum is primarily a reef aquarium forum....the sponsors that are interested in joining us sell primarily reef-related livestock and products so the contest needs to focus on reef-related entries...and we need to cater to the majority of our members too....most do not have freshwater or herp aquariums....we're more than happy to host a wide variety of contests but getting prizes for all of the contests that are not focused on the majority of our members or sponsors will be even harder (and believe me, it's extremely time-consuming and difficult to get prizes as it is).....so....IF the members here decide that they want freshwater, herp or any other contests then we can do that but without prizes....hope you all understand our reasons.......nathan....the pics do NOT need to be of YOUR tank either....you just need to be the photographer to enter.....and don't you work at a fish store?

Originally Posted by ccollins618

im pretty new to all of this and I may be wrong but aren't reefs located in the ocean? I have yet to hear anyone refer to the reef and include any freshwater inhabitants in their discussion.

well hello there ccollins! and .... what a first thread eh?! ....would be interested in seeing a "hello" thread from 'ya so we can learn a bit about YOUR hobby! (hint)

Originally Posted by Barbara

....IF the members here decide that they want freshwater, herp or any other contests then we can do that but without prizes....hope you all understand our reasons.......nathan....the pics do NOT need to be of YOUR tank either....you just need to be the photographer to enter.....and don't you work at a fish store?

ok thats fine i think we should do it but ill need alot of freshwater pple to back me
and ya ill take som pics at work and hopefully soon it will be of my tank