2005 Fall Styling Contest Rules

Will_Heath

2005 Contest Rules!

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BonsaiTalk 2005 Styling Contest Rules

Back by popular demand, the BonsaiTalk 2005 Fall Styling Contest!

We have made some changes to the rules this year, please read them carefully to prevent misunderstandings and possible disqualification later.

If you have QUESTIONS about the rules, post 'em here:

CONTEST RULES

CONTEST SUMMARY:
The objective with this contest is to obtain nursery stock for US $50.00 or under and style it into the best bonsai you can within the time frame. The stock must be purchased from a nursery but cannot have been worked in any way. It must indeed be raw material. This is a styling contest so re-potting need not be done. Leaving the bonsai in its original nursery container is perfectly acceptable and all judges will be informed not to take the container into consideration.


THE RULES

1. Material Selection

a. Obtain the best stock you can for US $50.00 or under from any nursery, box store, or the like. Beware of bonsai nurseries, as most these trees have been worked. Any entry that is determined to have been previously worked will be disqualified.

b. NO COLLECTED MATERIAL - we want this to be mainly a styling contest!

c. No past material will be accepted so don’t go digging out those old pictures. Go out and select new stock.

d: Staked Trees will be allowed only if the tree is tied to a stake for support (to hold it up) but not wrapped around the stake as a styling method. Staked entries, due to their nature will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

e. Stock Styling work must be your own, workshop trees will be disqualified. Sorry, no tanukis, groups, forests or virtuals are allowed.

f. One Entry per person.

2. The BEFORE Photographs
Photos must be posted to the bonsaiTALK Forum as attachments to a message. Do not link to images on another server.

a. Provide "Before" pictures of the stock. The tree should be in its original nursery container and unstyled for bonsai. Previous work will disqualify the entry. We are using the honor system to assure that the price paid is $50.00 USD or below. Please save your receipt in case a question arises.

b. The "Before" Pictures deadline is midnight, Monday, October 31st, 2005 (all times Pacific). You may submit sooner if you like. The submission of the before pictures will qualify you for the contest.

c. You must submit THREE (3) pictures of your stock selection. Identify FRONT, BACK, AND ONE SIDE. Assuming you can't tell which side is the front yet, we'll accept your best guess.

d. Include the following information, if known:
· The tree
· Species and common name
· Tree approximate age
· Purchase price
· Unstyled height
Please don't post any other commentary, explanations, apologies, jokes or trash talk with your submission.

e: Post your entry in this Styling Contest Forum, using this excellent example from last year as a template. Please preface your first submission with the statement,
"I HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE CONTEST RULES"

f: Your before photos and entry will be approved within 48 hours. You might want to wait for photo approval in case there is a problem with the entry or photos before you begin your work. We have had issues here in the past! In the event the judges need a retake or a question answered, up to 48 hours may be allowed for you to respond with an answer/photo.

g. Photographs - Photographs should be formatted as JPEG (.jpg files) and the maximum upload size is limited to 75 kilobytes. Photos should be at least 400 pixels on the major axis with a maximum of 800 pixels. Please keep in mind that larger photos look better, so we strongly suggest 600 pixels is a good target. Photos under 400 pixels in the long dimension will be rejected.

Do not watermark, add borders or otherwise manipulate the photos. However, cropping and basic contrast, color and brightness adjustment(s) are acceptable.

Please try to take quality photographs with a non-distracting background. Quality photographs will show your tree at its best and not distract from it. For tips see this article or refer to our past contests for ideas about presenting your work in the best light.

h. Submitted photos become the property of bonsaiTALK. This doesn't mean you can't reuse or publish them elsewhere yourself, but it does give bonsaiTALK or its designees the right to publish them in any form, in any media, for any purpose.

3. Work with your Tree!

The sooner you start, the more time you'll have to work. You must carry out all the work yourself.

4. Submit the THREE FINISHED photographs.

You must submit THREE (3) pictures of your finished Bonsai. FRONT, BACK, AND ONE SIDE and all pictures must be identified as front, back, or side.

a. Finished entries can be presented in the owner's pot of choice; however, the judges will be asked to ignore the pot and judge on the quality of design itself.

b. No bonsai is truly finished (unless it's dead!), but for the purposes of this contest you need to enter a FINISHED photo so we know how you've developed your material.

c. The "Finished" pictures shall be submitted by midnight, November 30th, 2005. (ALL TIMES PACIFIC) This will give everyone ample time to complete his entry.

d. The first "finished" pictures you post will become your official entry. Once again, no exceptions here. If you are not finished with your tree by the time it is time to get it in under the deadline then send it in unfinished, otherwise you are out of the running. We can accept only Three Finished Views. Alternate views will be rejected, so decide on your best first.

e. Let us know the finish height.

5. JUDGING:

a. All trees must be real and alive. No Virtuals of pot or tree! Any touchups on the finished picture will disqualify it.

b. Popular vote to determine first five places. Popular vote will run from December 1st through December 7th. Please vote as soon as possible so we can get a fair vote. Vote only once and please vote for all entries. There will be no exceptions to the ending date this time. Popular vote closes December 7th. If someone is found to be attempting ballot box stuffing (we record IP addresses and usernames) that person's votes will be disqualified and the user may be subject to harsh discipline.

c. The five winners of the popular vote will go to a finalist round that will judged and critiqued by Walter Pall. I will post the five finalists for Walter to judge, and the winners will be posted when Walter has had the opportunity to give each entry the time they derserve.

d. Decisions of the judge are final.

6. PRIZES:

a. Contest Prizes: Prizes will be announced in a separate thread as the donations become known. Thanks to all who have donated in the past and in the future, you make the contest. If you have a prize you'd like to donate, you can contact me by PM.

b. Special Voter's Prize: At the end of the contest, all those members who voted on all the entries will be put into a virtual "hat" and a winner will be drawn from amongst them. This winner will receive a special prize. Those entrants who voted on all entries except their own will also be included in this drawing.

7. Eligibility:

a. Contest is open to members of bonsaiTALK in good standing.
b. Contest is void where prohibited by law.
c. Principals of bonsaiTALK and its advertisers and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate as entrants (but we do like to have a vote in the popular voting round.)

Good Luck to all and have fun!

Note: The above rules and dates are subject to approval by Matt. These rules may be revised a few times today....

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Will_Heath

These rules are now finalized and approved! It's contest time boys and girls!

You have until October 31st to submit your before photographs.

Remember to wait for approval before starting your styling work.

Good luck to all,

Will

Misspeled_Name

The deadline is a little over a month away, so this means the trees will still have wire on them. So you are only going to be looking at the basic shape of the tree?

- Misspeled_Name

__________________
"When practicing the art of bonsai, Not only are you growing a tree, but the tree is growing you"

- $h@rKByte -

CONSTRUCTION
(!UNDER CONSTRUCTION!)

Joanie

Misspeled name, go look in the gallery at last year's entries. It's a good way to understand how the trees will look, as well as what is possible...

Wire will be a big part of the contest...

Joanie

__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry

Will_Heath

You can find the 2005 Spring Styling Contest entries here.



Will

Misspeled_Name

Ok, thanks for the link. I took a look at the trees, and I think I could manage it. Do I half to sign up? or do I just post my photos? I'm not 100% sure if I can do this or not yet. I need to gather some funds but I should be able to.

Thanks,
- Misspeled_Name

__________________
"When practicing the art of bonsai, Not only are you growing a tree, but the tree is growing you"

- $h@rKByte -

CONSTRUCTION
(!UNDER CONSTRUCTION!)

Joanie

Read the rules very carefully.... you submit pictures of the untouched tree, and that is how you sign up. Make sure to read the rules and if you don't understand them, ask! My tree last year only cost $10.00, but my mistake was to repot it and trim a lot of roots. Don't do that! Try to find a tree that has a nice trunk, and good branches.

Good luck!
Joanie

__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry

Misspeled_Name

I've fully reads the rules. I will look around and see what I can find .

Thanks,
- Misspeled_Name

__________________
"When practicing the art of bonsai, Not only are you growing a tree, but the tree is growing you"

- $h@rKByte -

CONSTRUCTION
(!UNDER CONSTRUCTION!)

darrellw

A few questions:

-Does the $50 limit include sales tax?

-If we find a tree on sale, do we count the sale price or original price?

-Can we enter more than one time?