We know we're way overdue for the results of the Engadget photo contest, but we wanted to make sure it was done right. We had a good seven hundred entrants (including all of you who submitted nature photos -- huh?) but we finally have a
massive gallery set up with our top 120 picks. You should really check it out, Engadget readers took some really phenomenal photography -- which is exactly why we had such a difficult time deciding who should take home the prize.
We did narrow it down to our top 10 favorites, though, and we're expecting you to vote for the one you think is best (we'll leave it open
until the end of the day for a couple of days). As you know, the D80 is the grand prize, but because we appreciate your kind patience in getting this contest together (well, that and your fine photography), we're offering up four prizes to the runners up, listed with the voting form after the break. Big thanks to everyone who submitted, even if you weren't in the top 120! Now go get lost in all the pretty pictures.
Poll closed! Grand prize
Runner-up prizes
- JVC noise canceling headphones
- Samsung YP-UJ2 MP3 player
- Xbox 360 wireless headset
- Samsung Trace
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
soul7963 @ Feb 1st 2007 1:13PM
I have one of these. Has to be the greatest bit of kit i ever owned!
Lucky guy whoever gets one for free
Josh @ Feb 1st 2007 1:19PM
I personally had to go with Juan's but I've gotta give big props to David Browning for what I think was the most creative of the bunch.
I really wish I'd known about this when it started. Will there be a next time? Are they annual? Or just whenever there's a spare digital camera worth giving away layin around?:)
Phil Perman @ Feb 1st 2007 1:19PM
I thought this was a photo contest, not a photoshop contest? If so how come you've allowed Patrick Fletcher's entry which is quite obviously the inside of the Eiffel Tower with a CPU stuck in the middle? If you don't believe me have a look at this:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/livingroomonthelawn/8d00645d.jpg
Quite a striking similarity, no?
airpolgas @ Feb 1st 2007 1:19PM
Damn. I thought I'd missed out on an opportunity when I wasn't able to make the deadline. Those photos are humbling. I have years of clicking to go through before I even remotely take something as interesting as these.
My vote goes to David Browning, then AJ Mast as #2
Ryan Block @ Feb 1st 2007 1:22PM
Yes, he showed me his before and after -- a photo he took of the Eiffel tower, and his composite with a chip. Both were very high quality and expertly done. I didn't set any rules about photoshopping specifically for this reason -- it's not a photoshop contest, but photographers do often use post-production tools.
Richard @ Feb 1st 2007 1:27PM
Um, post production is quite a big difference than image manipulation, Ryan.
Ah well, whatever. Good luck to the top 10!
wiriamou @ Feb 1st 2007 1:41PM
man i missed out. wish i had put my entry in on time.
Phil @ Feb 1st 2007 1:42PM
I don't want to sound like a sore loser (honestly, I don't), but can someone tell me what was so awful about mine that it didn't make the top 120? At least on concept, I thought I had a shot.
http://www.pbase.com/ac773/image/69204749/large
The large version:
http://www.pbase.com/ac773/image/69204749/original
js @ Feb 1st 2007 1:58PM
awww there there.
You wanna cookie?
Brad @ Feb 1st 2007 2:00PM
I'm with ya. I do like yours... very clever. But I'm also feeling a bit rejected with my entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/listrophy/283102608/
I'm not complaining about missing the top 10, but how did we not make the top 120? Surely Phil's and my pics are better than a laptop in front of a chain link fence?
Note to self: time-lapse photos of humans tend to blur. d'oh!
Ryan Block @ Feb 1st 2007 2:37PM
Well, for one it wasn't submitted to our contest address!
Jake @ Feb 1st 2007 2:23PM
Hate to be a whiner, but I'll whine anyways. The contest was supposed to be about how we use technology, but all the nominees appear to be gimmicks, and only 2 or 3 actually show the tech being used. Not that Photoshop should be against the rules, but I didn't realize overt manipulations would be so wildly rewarded. To my eye, it looks like, at best, 1 photo was of someone actually using the technology as opposed to just being staged.
This is the kind of clever photo that should have made the top 10:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/engadget-photo-contest-gallery/149026/
Or some of these, too:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/engadget-photo-contest-gallery/149028/
http://www.engadget.com/photos/engadget-photo-contest-gallery/149020/
I know a lot of hard work went into selecting the finalists, but I'm a little bummed to see so few photos that simply feature the, "finest, most creative photo of (or making use of) electronics or consumer tech." Understanding that "Slightly photoshopped images are ok," but half of the finalists go way beyond slightly photoshopped. Love engadget, love many of the photos, but these finalists leave me cold. Nevertheless, the top 10 pictures are all wonderful creations and do demonstrate a fine talent.
Aaron @ Feb 1st 2007 2:37PM
I'm in 100% agreement with Jake.
kanzaki @ Feb 1st 2007 2:25PM
Personally, Dave Milton's 2-Player photo is my favorite.
Gil @ Feb 1st 2007 2:35PM
While the Last Supper one is great, the actual photo is terrible. Learn to love the Curve option.
theattack @ Feb 1st 2007 2:37PM
what a bunch of whining bitches. Its a freaking contest, get over it. Browning's shot was comedic and original, and on topic and thats why he's getting the votes.
mitch @ Feb 1st 2007 9:30PM
lmao
NitroNeo @ Feb 1st 2007 2:44PM
Some of those are nice. I'm just glad to see this contest finally coming to closure.
This is a link to a photo similar to my entry. The difference is my entry had a pupil which was much more dilated.
Enjoy http://www.flickr.com/photos/23091358@N00/376731825/
shelterpaw @ Feb 1st 2007 2:45PM
I prefer some of the more natural photo's as apposed to some of the clever ones. I liked Paul Weavers. It has irony, humor and nature all wrapped into one good package.
EDawg @ Feb 1st 2007 3:05PM
I liked Benjamin Warde's ---- the canvas tents with the satellite dish. Awesome
EDawg @ Feb 1st 2007 3:06PM
or were they animal skins? Even cooler
Shaun @ Feb 1st 2007 3:13PM
Browning has definitly got this one...the creativity of the modern age Last Supper, or should I say Last Conference?
novice @ Feb 1st 2007 3:49PM
Phil & Brad, both of your submissions lack coherent and esthetic lighting. With that, you MIGHT have made the top 300 out of 700.
Cypher @ Feb 1st 2007 3:58PM
They should have a zip file with all of these for download, or archived somewhere.
NitroNeo @ Feb 1st 2007 4:18PM
FYI... the original rules. before anyone wants to whine.
"and to take home the D80 we want you to send us your finest, most creative photo of (or making use of) electronics or consumer tech. We know it's open ended, but we want you to do something that stands out -- the key is to grab our attention and stand out from the crowd. (In other words, just having a dramatically lit, well framed shot of an iPod probably won't win you this camera.) Slightly photoshopped images are ok, but the source image(s) must be yours, but judging will be about the merit of the photo, and not of your ability to manipulate it."
pwfletcher @ Feb 1st 2007 4:21PM
Wow ... I made the top ten :-) I didn't mean to create such a controversy and I stayed within the confines of the rules. Yes, it is the Eiffel Tower and pieces of my MacBook Pro scattered throughout the photo. Also, I spelled out "Engadget" in the girders on the right side.
I also really like the "Last Supper" submission. Even though the photo is terrible, what a great idea ... I wish that I had thought of it!
dangit @ Feb 1st 2007 4:30PM
A lot of great photos! I don't agree with some of the top 120 tho. Like the skateboard taped to lawn chair, cool pic but where's the electronics or use of consumer tech? In the words of Engadget "(In other words, just having a dramatically lit, well framed shot of an iPod probably won't win you this camera.)" but a b/w of ipod headphone in a somebody's ear will get you in the top 120? huh?
Matt @ Feb 1st 2007 4:30PM
Scott Owen's pic gets my vote. HI-larious!
James @ Feb 1st 2007 5:24PM
Ryan. While you didn't explicitly state any rules about photoshopping you did state that photoshopping should have been kept to a minimum. Now, rationally, I would assume any photo that depends on photoshop to exist would be outside the bounds of this spirit. Sure photoshop is used to enhance the photo, but in one case the difference between using photoshop and not using photoshop is a slightly better version of the picture. In the other case the difference between the photoshopped and non-photoshopped is infinite because the photo can't possibly exist without photoshop. A majority of your finalists fall into this latter category. Therefore, this was a photoshop contest 1st and a photography contests 2nd. Would you care to comment in detail on this? I guess my question is this: if these photos count as "photoshop used at a minimum, what would maximum photoshop use look like? We're already at the maximum of photoshop use with many of these photos!
Aside form this issue it just boils down to opinion, so here's mine:
Aaron Rincover: Looks kind of cool, but I have no idea what this is supposed to be. The shot of a planet in the background implies heavy photoshop manipulation.
AJ Mast: Great idea, great lighting, fits the spirit of the contest and it is an actual picture that doesn't require photoshop to exist. If this doesn't win compared to the others than the world is crazy.
Anthony Yim: Cute. Well within contest boundaries, at least.
David Browning: Clever idea, not really well shot, but I have to ask if the cell phones had any point other than to qualify for a contest like this? The cleverness of this picture has nothing to do with technology, and the cleverness is all it really has going for it. I like the shot though.
Devin Bryant: An aesthetically pleasing picture of or involving technology. This picture is within the spirit of the contest, although it doesn't evoke much deeper meaning. Good.
Juan Carlos Lopez: If this is a real photo, it's amazing. If this is a photoshop composite then we have the same situation where the entire photo was photoshop dependent in that this was not a photo that was taken. This is seriously looking like a photoshop contest.
Kurt Heumiller: Good, but this should be the absolute boundary of photoshop trickery allowed. Once again: the photo was impossible without photoshop. This is not post-processing "touch-up"!
Patrick Fletcher: No offense Patrick, but this is horrible.1) Photoshop dependent 2) not even aesthetically appealing 3) the gimmick is poor. Macbooks everywhere... why and who cares? The fact that this is even visible, implying it is in the top 120, is crazy. Seriously, Ryan?
Paul Weaver: Good. Fits the spirit of the contest well. No photoshop trickery!
Scott Whiting: The photo is *completely* dependent on photoshop. Clever, but well outside the bounds that were at least implied by the rules
Anyway, as long as AJ Mast wins then all is well. But I still think a lot of people feel shafted by the photoshop thing, and I think we would all appreciate some explanation other than "You should have ignored the rules and used photoshop as much as you wanted".
Thanks in advance.
Ryan Block @ Feb 1st 2007 5:32PM
A lot of people did a lot more photoshopping than those people, and where that was the crux of the image we left them out. I'm not interested in a debate of semantics or taste for our top 10, or whether you think they're meritorious; we can't please everyone, and we went back and forth for a long time over these entries. These were the ones we agreed on -- not everything can be Digg.
Brendor @ Feb 1st 2007 9:17PM
It wouldn't suprise me if Juan Carlos' image depicts a cellphone dropped in mineral oil, which would be a way of dropping a device in clear liquid without frying it on the first attempt.
Nelg @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:20AM
AJ Mast had a great idea? That is forced art at its worst, and complete bs. I can't even see what the idea is. What does a dead iPod stand for? It's not even dead because it's screen is on, so the idea falls at least there.
The picture is visually great, but ideally below the bottom. Anyone can take an
iPod, scribble chalk on the floor and get some small spotlights, but who can actually go to a backwater Africa village, and see an iPod there? Granted, it could be the photographer's iPod, but the idea is lightyears away.
Mast's picture is too dramatic, and tries too much.
Michael @ Feb 1st 2007 6:19PM
Anyone notice that it seems to be shaping up as a contest between Leonardo Da Vinci and Leonardo Da Vinci?
HJKim @ Feb 1st 2007 6:48PM
any better idea to see the top 10????
or do I have to search all 120 pics to find which one is which
so that I can cast my vote?
Brendor @ Feb 1st 2007 8:12PM
There are many excellent entries here. It's tough to winnow my fav 30, forget 2 or 3. I understand the lag time in the judging. Those whom weren't sure how much 'shopping was too much - I'm with you. After seeing these, I wish I hadn't limited my scope as much as I did. C'est la Vie. Anyone who wants to comment on my entry I'd love to hear comments, it's phonecurve.jpg on http://web.mac.com/brendan_eaton_/iWeb/Images/Mag%20Lines.html (bottom of the page). I won't pretend I'm not bummed at not being in the top 16% of entries. I probably was on the nature-ish side of the spectrum, but maybe one of the gracious Engadgeteers will hit me with the clue stick. Finally to the eventual winner - you're going to get a great camera (as if you did not know that). I've been borrowing a d200 on and off for the past 6 months; I'm sure the d80 will rock. Off to think about contenders!
pwfletcher @ Feb 1st 2007 6:58PM
Wow ... we have a few whiners here. If you want to see the original picture, click the following link and scroll to the bottom of the page:
http://www.artwanted.com/artist.cfm?ArtID=21087&SubGal=&Page=0
Drew @ Feb 1st 2007 7:29PM
*Most* of these photos are not only very well polished with software (something I just assumed would be against the rules) but most of them actually also appear to be taken with a pretty decent camera. What I'm trying to say is whoever wins this thing will most likely not need it. Oh well. Browning got my vote.
Phil @ Feb 1st 2007 8:07PM
@ novice
I might (hell, I would) agree with you if the objective of this contest was supreme photographic quality, but it wasn't. R. Block asked for the most creative photographic representation of something involving consumer tech.
Brendor @ Feb 1st 2007 8:31PM
Sorry to post again, but I'm a bit confused. Are the top 10 the first 10 images in the large photo gallery? Or are we allowed to vote for our favorite overall?
Ryan Block @ Feb 1st 2007 8:35PM
The top ten are mixed in -- the gallery is alphabetical by first name. The top ten are linked in the poll.
Brendor @ Feb 1st 2007 9:05PM
Thanx. I feel foolish. The previous Da Vinci v. Da Vinci comment makes a lot more sense now!
jexican @ Feb 1st 2007 8:42PM
I just submitted a picture I had done a while ago for a case fan review of mine. For me I think the contest should have been about non photoshopped pictures people did that shows their photography skills to earn a bad-ass camera. But that's just my view, I'm just happy to be in the 120 (even though having that camera would be awesome)
James Knowles @ Feb 1st 2007 9:16PM
there's a weird delay when after selecting a radio button on which to vote, and then clicking on the name adjoining said radio button when the page jumps up so that, when voting as i did for a name lower down on the list, another name above get's selected. worst part of it is - one cannot actually then be certain if one's vote was properly counted. i suggest to you that someone check this thoroughly before finalizing the voting as in my case, when I clicked i was shown the photo with the most number of votes. And as the person I was voting for had the second most votes, I suspect that this glitch is actually causing some votes to be cast for the wrong photo.
devwild @ Feb 1st 2007 10:54PM
Even though I know I won't win, I'm honored to be in the top 10, thanks guys.
Sure you don't have an swag for the failing five? ;)
Best of luck to the leaders!
pwfletcher @ Feb 2nd 2007 12:53AM
Congratulations Dev ... I'm gaining on you! And by all means, for making the top ten we should at least get an Engadget pen :-)
Anthony Yim @ Feb 2nd 2007 12:59AM
Yay! Top 5 :D Thanks Engadget! I'm honored. Wow Juan caught up like crazy :o
Michael @ Feb 2nd 2007 1:08AM
If not a pen, surely they must have an Engadget mug to give the runners-up.
Yeah, Juan has come out of nowhere.
James @ Feb 2nd 2007 4:03AM
I'm pretty sure Mast's idea is fundamentally the same as Paul Weaver's: a commentary on how prevalent iPods are in our current society. Even at a crime scene you will find an iPod. Notice how the arrest is pictured on the iPod's screen: doesn't really make logical sense, but it helps push the symbolism. This is not about a "dead" iPod anymore than it's about empty shell casings. The difference between these two similarly themed pictures is execution: Mast took time and set-up a unique shot while Weaver handed an iPod to a guy while he was on vacation.
Handing your iPod to some guy while you're on vacation or photoshopping a bunch of shit on the Eiffel tower hardly counts as inspired, in my opinion, and is way more "forced" as you put it. Since when is the quality of a photograph dependent on how far the photographer had to travel to take it? Every time I go on vacation I'm suddenly a great photographer?
A 5-second search turned up these pictures of ipods in Africa:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/endrevestvik/81537804/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/durran/27814505/
If having a sense of drama and showing signs of effort signal poor photography, then I pray that I'm a horrible photographer.
James @ Feb 2nd 2007 4:01PM
I agree wholeheartedly, James - and not just because we have the same name.
Mast's photo has plenty of artistic value - and if there was no effort in art, I wouldn't likely care to look at it as much as I do. Let's not confuse conceptualization or expenditure of time with "forcing" anything. I think you (Nelg) have a very close-minded perception of the artistic process.
Z @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:18AM
There are some great photos here...
But the one I think I like best so far is the one by Paul Weaver of the African man listening to an iPod. The expression on the man's face is fantastic.
The image overall is great - it has great color, and the stark contrast of the modern, new world iPod with the man's old world clothing and lifestyle speaks a lot about the world today in that technology has become so prevalent in our society, that it can be found even in the most remote regions on earth.