Contest 55 - Discussion and related Pictures

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:34 pm

This the place to diccuss Cactus Picture Contest 55 - Arrangement of 3 or more C&S

Have fun arranging.

Buck Hemenway · Post by **Buck Hemenway** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:08 pm

Hi Jens,

I'm not sure if it will make any difference, but you should state whether or not the 3 plants need to be on separate roots (that is self explanitory but not obvious to some) and whether or not they should be or are required to be different species.

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:29 am

Good point Buck.
I think the C$S plants on the picture should be three separate plants (not three or more heads of the same plant).
To make the picture more interesting it is often more suitabe to select a group of different species growing together but it is not necessarily required for entering.
Sometimes it is fun to show the variability and or similarities in one species by capturing different individuals in a group picture (it´s quite often done with the species homo sapiens

)
...and not so often in Turbinicarpus krainzianus ssp. minimus

Buck Hemenway · Post by **Buck Hemenway** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:22 pm

I haven't any idea what I will finally enter, but here's a couple of shots that Mom arranged. I still can't believe the first one, at least 10 species of plants under one bush:

And how about a Conophytum, Glottiphyllum and Haworthia sharing space

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:29 am

I just love these open air shots!

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:35 pm

I was considering this one, but decided it was a bit too busy.

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:27 pm

I too think that the diversity in different shapes and textures is hard to be topped by any deliberately arranged group of plants - but in arranged settings you could maybe take some more time for a good composition of the picture by varying the position and relation in the picture.

Desert botanic garden in Vienna /Austria

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:50 pm

Come on guys and gals.
The contest is almost over. Just take a good group photo and post it.
I tried to arrange three cacti from my outdoor highbed in one frame the other day.
(didn´t bother to pull out the tags first

)

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:00 pm

Or you could go like that and show some in the collection using the focus to emphasize certain parts of the picture

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:24 pm

This is taking up some speed near the end here

iann · Post by **iann** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:53 pm

Here's my idea of what three or more plants should always look like

Lithops on a rainy day

Lithops on a sunny day

Copiapoas are nice too

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:22 pm

I think this one will be hard to judge because it will be difficult to decide how to "weigh" the content, the composition, and the technical aspects of the various photos. I have three favorites and I can't decide if I go with the best image (technically) or the biggest gut reaction (composition), or the one with my favorite "view" (content)!

Jens · Post by **Jens** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:36 pm

Hi, I just consulted the voting ´rules´.
About judging it says that you should take into consideration:

- Quality of the picture (technique)
- Originality (moment or the species of cacti)
- Composition (a cacti in landscape or a particular situation)
- Relevance (how well the picture represents the theme)

I would think that composition is a little more important in this one than usually because it says arrangement in the title but maybe people always tend to vote for the species they like best in the contest.
Quality of the picture always is an issue.
This will be fun to look at the results of the poll.
It would be very interesting to hear from those who cast the vote what was the main point for each and everyone to select just that winning picture.
Have fun voting anyway.

iann · Post by **iann** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:51 pm

Looks like there is quite a spread in the votes. Maybe that is down to people giving different weights to the various criteria for this contest.

Post by **daiv** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:53 pm

That is about as even a spread as we've ever had, I think!