Increasing Calendar Participation

[ChallengerHK]

Last year we had 32 entries for the calendar contest. At the end there were a handful of people who got in just at the wire.

I put out a few reminder threads over the course of the year, especially when there were long weekends and things that would help make good pics, like fall color. I tried to set up a couple of people with photographers who could help them get shots, and hunted down a couple of people from last year who didn't make the deadline. And this year...we had 31 entries 

I want to make that as many people as want to participate are participating. So the purpose of the poll is to help me get a picture for what the problems are, and then I'll be able to figure out what to do about them, if anything can be done. Feel free to add comments below.

Oh, and if there's any good fall color where you are, go get some pics! 

[brads70]

My car paint wise is a 20 footer. Not calender material IMO.

[dodj]

I had good intentions all year, but whenever I went for a cruise, the camera was always left behind.

[dodj]

My car paint wise is a 20 footer. Not calender material IMO.

Take the pic from 25' 

[72cudamaan]

Brad, you're just being humble. You have a great looking car.
Or, if you don't like it, you could donate to the "Andy" cause. 

[ChallengerHK]

You do bring up a great point. Every year that I go to Carlisle I see a lot of the cars from this site, and while they're beautiful cars, they tend to photograph better than they look in person. Little things like stone chips and dings in the chrome that show up in person, especially if you're looking for them, don't show up in a lot of pics.

[67vertman]

My car paint wise is a 20 footer. Not calender material IMO.

Mine a 50 footer, and no where close to being done.   

We, my daughter and I took photos from an angle and distance that hid the flaws.   Did it work........you bet it did! 


Thanks to everyone who voted for me and my car!

Therefore, don't be afraid to take some pictures and submitt them next year.

[femtnmax]

CHK - this is a great thread you are posting, proactive, and good questions on the opinion poll.   I submitted a photo to the contest only because you made me aware of it.  I guess I've been too busy to browse thru all the sections of the forum...and still haven't.   My wife was pleased with our calender submittal because she took the picture:).
My car's paint job is a 25+ footer, and as we edited thru our photos we had to be careful which pictures "hid" all the problems.
I agree with the comments....Submit your photos!  There is always a place for a pic from the "back of the pack" that blows away the pros.

[Jamiez]

As a newer member (joined in June), time was an issue for me.  The calendar really didn't appear on my radar until I saw a post about it in late August/early Sept.  I'm sure there probably were a ton of posts that I missed but I was busy trying to catch up and follow the threads that related more directly to my car.  By the time I decided to give it some serious consideration there was a host of bad weather and work commitments that it just didn't work out.

Maybe something that increases the visibility of the calendar for new members?  Like a monthly "Calendar Classic" post that shows the car from a few years old calendar to get people interested?  Not sure if you have the files for earlier calendars.

And I always feel the worst about my car after I give it a good detailing/cleaning.....getting up close with each and every scuff, dent and imperfection heh.

[femtnmax]

Maybe something that increases the visibility of the calendar for new members?  Like a monthly "Calendar Classic" post that shows the car from a few years old calendar to get people interested? 

[CrazyPete]

i didnt enter cause mine looks like this slightly incomplete

[sprecks]

My car was in the calender last year and I didn't feel comfortable submitting again this year. I'm not saying I would have been chosen again but why even take a chance of keeping someone else from being chosen. 

[willhaven]

You can count me in for next year's calendar for sure. I have a few photographer friends. At least one who I KNOW wants to shoot my car. Likely moving highway shots while he leans out the back of a truck of minivan. He seems to like to do those.

[ChallengerHK]

My car was in the calender last year and I didn't feel comfortable submitting again this year. I'm not saying I would have been chosen again but why even take a chance of keeping someone else from being chosen. 

That is very gentlemanly, Jay.

You can count me in for next year's calendar for sure. I have a few photographer friends. At least one who I KNOW wants to shoot my car. Likely moving highway shots while he leans out the back of a truck of minivan. He seems to like to do those.

At least make it  truck, so there's a tailgate between him and the road 

[ChallengerHK]

For those who indicated that it slipped your mind, and for the person who wasn't sure about there being a calendar or contest, would it be helpful if there was a permanent calendar thread or threads?

I'm hesitant on this, because I've tried to do this in the past and there hasn't been a lot of participation. In addition to the reminders every 2-3 months, I had a thread at one point for tips and tricks in getting good shots, and a place to post shots for comments. One possibility is that there are only so many people who are interested, and I'm not sure it's worth it to have a dedicated child board if only 5 or 6 people are actively participating in it. Any other ideas?