Macro Photo Contest - sponsored by Mr. Coral

[jimsflies]

http://www.captivereefs.com/misc_images/mrcoral-macro-potm-lg.jpg


http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/images/dto_vendor/banner/1033_1.gif (http://www.mrcoral.com/)

September's Photo of the Month topic is "Macro" Photo. Capture your best macro/zoomed photo of a reef animal and enter it in the contest.

Post your best shots and win a $50 gift certificate to Mr. Coral (http://www.mrcorl.com).

POTM rules are as follows:

1. You can enter only ONE photo
2. The submitted photo should be at least 640x480 resolution.
3. Your photo entries MUST be uploaded in your User Album (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/album.php).
4. After uploading in your Album you must post it here....use the img tags to link it from your album.
5. The contest will close on the last day of the month.
6. The winner will be chosen by CR Staff or designated judges.
7. The winning photo will be featured on the CaptiveReefs' homepage next month.
8. Submitting a photo entry is acknowledgment that it may be modified and used for future site graphics on CR (header area, etc.)...with credit given to the owner.


The contest runs until September 30.|

[Myteemouse]

I'll go first
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=870

[jimsflies]

Off to a good start!!!

[youngtimothy]

Here's mine, a marco of some macro!

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=58&pictureid=874

[jimsflies]

What kind of macro are we looking at there?

[youngtimothy]

coraline leafing out, I believe coraline is considered a macro.

[FlynnFish]

here's my macro pic of a blue line nudis mouth and all it's whiskers.

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af336/reefsolutions/20100317_39.jpg

[EMUreef]

Jim if we post a picture that you deem not a macro picture are we allowed to change it?

[XSiVE]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=124&pictureid=876

[nate_newton]

Here's my entry. Note the black, 3/8" eggcrate for a size reference

"macro of a micro"
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=109&pictureid=878

[jimsflies]

Jim if we post a picture that you deem not a macro picture are we allowed to change it?

Sure you can edit photos right up to the close of the contest.


I got this shot of BriGuy's Red Planet while taking photos for him at his house today.. Brian Ok'd me to use it but if its not okay to use the photo since it's not something in my possession.


You don't need to own the item you are taking a picture of, but it does have to be your photo. :)

[shovelhead91701]

I wish I could take pics like that! You guys make me sick! My camera stinks!

Great pics everyone though! I can at least be a cheerleader on here for ya'll!
:applause: :clap: :cheer:

[Skyhigh]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=898

[iyachtuxivm]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=962
I like this one better and I did it right this time

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Clove polyp
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=83&pictureid=887
Recognize this ReeferRob?

[Simona586]

This is my first macro picture so i hope this is right....

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=168&pictureid=889

[Myteemouse]

OOO from the looks I may have this one this month...(crossing fingers)

[ReeferRob]

Don't get too excited Mytee, I haven't even busted the camera out this month yet! J/K my pics suck anyway.

[CalmSeasQuest]

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy141/tconwell/Zoa_Chong_Bong.jpg
Not sure how to link this back to the user album, but the photo is in my album (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/dto_showcase.php?do=preview&g=1028#)

[Myteemouse]

uugg WHY ME!!!
what a great shot of an even greater coral..
is that a word? greater?

[shovelhead91701]

I'm not gonna win but I am proud of this picture....I am working hard at trying to become a better photographer!

http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af233/shovelhead91701/newlivestock9-13-10036.jpg

[koralkrab125]

well it took me forever to get this pic but here it is

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=134&pictureid=899

[jolson10450]

ok here is mine. Red monti. taken from my camera phone!! are we judged better considering i am using a camera phone rather than an actual macro lens camera??

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=100&pictureid=909

[John]

Oh... a photo contest... I wish I did't lose all of my images...

*After realizing I had some stuff in my imageshack account...*

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=170&pictureid=910

[BK's Reef]

THIS IS MY SHROOM
http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=148&pictureid=944

[Bella127]

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Prand15/DSC_0044.jpg

Here is Reefer Robs tube anemone . My Pic

[ReeferRob]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=943
I am determined to get me a golden camera icon some day, but probably not from this pic.

[EMUreef]

my entry.

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=163&pictureid=947

jim i know we are suppose to upload the pic here, but i've noticed that posting here compared to photobucket totally dulls the colors out. The top pic is posted from captivereefs hosting.
here is photobuckets.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/082610_6-2.jpg

[XSiVE]

jim i know we are suppose to upload the pic here, but i've noticed that posting here compared to photobucket totally dulls the colors out. The top pic is posted from captivereefs hosting.
here is photobuckets.


wow good eye, it must be something to do with the compression used when we upload here.

[BriGuy31+]

http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt67/BriGuy31p/pinklemonade.jpg

[jimsflies]

wow good eye, it must be something to do with the compression used when we upload here.

Interesting...probably is the resizing/compression. What size/resolution was the pic before you uploaded?

The reason I have the pics uploaded here is so we can display them on the home page. It also helps get members more familiar with the site and where things are/how to do stuff. For newer members the albums can be helpful so they don't have to go to another site (photobucket, etc.) to create an account to post pics here.

I'd recommend for everyone to retain the larger resolution original of their photo. That way if you win or we decided to use them for header images, etc. I can get the better version to work with.

[John]

If you see any pics that I have taken that you're interested in LMK, I'll find a full resolution copy for you.


Interesting...probably is the resizing/compression. What size/resolution was the pic before you uploaded?

The reason I have the pics uploaded here is so we can display them on the home page. It also helps get members more familiar with the site and where things are/how to do stuff. For newer members the albums can be helpful so they don't have to go to another site (photobucket, etc.) to create an account to post pics here.

I'd recommend for everyone to retain the larger resolution original of their photo. That way if you win or we decided to use them for header images, etc. I can get the better version to work with.

[jimsflies]

Come one guys...only one more day to get your best macros/closeup shots in the contest.

[jimsflies]

You've made a believer out of me with the difference in quality between CR uploads and photobucket. I'm going to look into other options for uploading images here. We may change the posting requirement for next month's contest.

[John]

I don't see a major difference between the two... besides size.

[jimsflies]

EMUreef's bottom photo looks a lot more red on my monitor.

[XSiVE]

I don't see a major difference between the two... besides size.

just look at the center polyp thats the best focused in the acan pic, the colors in the one uploaded here are more muted and a little darker and it looks like the contrast is lower too... All can be results of different types or amounts of file compression.

[ETBReefer05]

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=173&pictureid=954
Macro Hammer

[jimsflies]

We've got some good pics this month....last day to enter this one!

[John]

Or it could be because they are different sizes.

I would suggest uploading the same size pics, that way you can compare apples to apples.


just look at the center polyp thats the best focused in the acan pic, the colors in the one uploaded here are more muted and a little darker and it looks like the contrast is lower too... All can be results of different types or amounts of file compression.

[EMUreef]

Or it could be because they are different sizes.

I would suggest uploading the same size pics, that way you can compare apples to apples.

I'm just gonna stop you. I posted those pictures and pointed out the difference knowing full well what i was typing. Both images are the same size, same exact picture.

Jim even admitted that he could see a difference, i don't understand what your trying to prove.

I the first picture here, which might host images differently than an actual photo hosting website.

The pictures are the exact same in every way. Though CR/Photobucket might have adjusted the pic itself.
The picture i posted on photobucket is the true picture that i have saved on my computer. If you can't see the pictures differences in color please upgrade your web browser or switch to Firefox.

[jimsflies]

Regarding the image quality issues...we're all learning here.

What I found is that the photos are different because CR uses GD2+ to compress and resize images on upload. After talking with our host, we cannot change to a better script with our current shared hosting plan. A much better alternative available is called ImageMagick however is not an option on a shared host. My guess is that photobucket and others likely use the better script or their own technology to process images on the upload.

So...basically you are both right. The pics are different sizes. But Russ's started out as the same picture. The difference happens on the server.

[EMUreef]

Regarding the image quality issues...we're all learning here.

What I found is that the photos are different because CR uses GD2+ to compress and resize images on upload. After talking with our host, we cannot change to a better script with our current shared hosting plan. A much better alternative available is called ImageMagick however is not an option on a shared host. My guess is that photobucket and others likely use the better script or their own technology to process images on the upload.

So...basically you are both right. The pics are different sizes. But Russ's started out as the same picture. The difference happens on the server.

I don't really mind jim i was just posting that second pic because the actual pic i have was being changed by the server and i didn't want my chances of winning to go down because it wasn't the true picture.

Its not ur fault or the sites i just wanted to point out what crazy things happen on the internet from website to website.

[XSiVE]

Simple solution: Use your own web host with gallery and tell it to not re-compress ;)

okay okay not really a solution for this site as a whole, or for most people realistically.. i just like to be a smartass ;)

[jolson10450]

I don't really mind jim i was just posting that second pic because the actual pic i have was being changed by the server and i didn't want my chances of winning to go down because it wasn't the true picture.

Its not ur fault or the sites i just wanted to point out what crazy things happen on the internet from website to website.

good point but another point is everyone else also uses this site to upload the pictures for the contest so they all have the exact same advantage as yours that you uploaded on this site. adding the photobucket picture actually gives you more of an advantage than the rest. no offense though just stateing

[XSiVE]

good point but another point is everyone else also uses this site to upload the pictures for the contest so they all have the exact same advantage as yours that you uploaded on this site. adding the photobucket picture actually gives you more of an advantage than the rest. no offense though just stateing

that is... if the reader considers the photobucket one better looking ;) maybe someone wont?

[jolson10450]

that is... if the reader considers the photobucket one better looking ;) maybe someone wont?

on my monitor i can clearly see it looks better than the other one but oh well the contest is closed now.

[jimsflies]

The votes (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10412) are in. This month's winner is Bella127 with his awesome tube anemone macro shot:

http://www.captivereefs.com/potm-pics/vote/2010Sept/16.jpg

[Bella127]

Thanks Jim and gang,

Although I have not been posting as of late, I'll try and be more active in the forums as I had a hectic summer.
This is awesome my very own gold camera !

[jimsflies]

Your getting a nice CR trophy room there! :)

[XSiVE]

Thanks Jim and gang,

Although I have not been posting as of late, I'll try and be more active in the forums as I had a hectic summer.
This is awesome my very own gold camera !

Congrats! :jester:

[Sir Patrick]

Congrats man!! Great pic!!!

[CalmSeasQuest]

Congratualations! - Thats a great shot.

[Rabidgoose]

Congrats Bella!!