Have i missed something

[bigbob]

I can't find a subject for this month's competition where is it, after all a monthly competition should start on the first of the month.
For those of you new to the site it is permissible to have a go at AD otherwise known as Mark however the top prize for messing up AD'S head goes to Ross the rest of us are armatures. PS AD is adnin dood

[Tim N]

No topic yet as winners of each category have not been decided ...

I cant even remember how we are going to decide who chooses the next topic
Are we going to take the top voted pic of each person in the comps and add up the totals and whoever has the highest total chooses the next topic ... I seem to remember something like that being mentioned !

[Analog6]

Where is admin dude?

[bigbob]

Here we are now 5th of October still no winner of September comp and no subject for October.
Have to ask what is the cut off time for voting bearing in mind time differences around the world as i think that some votes have been cast after what i would concider a reasonable time.
Sorry to sound like a winging pom but i feel that a competition should close on time and only point's gained in that time should count as it would be unfair to all to let voting go on some months and not others.
NOW i stand and await the verbal boot up the jacks

[Ross and Cher]

Here we are now 5th of October still no winner of September comp and no subject for October.
Have to ask what is the cut off time for voting bearing in mind time differences around the world as i think that some votes have been cast after what i would concider a reasonable time.
Sorry to sound like a winging pom but i feel that a competition should close on time and only point's gained in that time should count as it would be unfair to all to let voting go on some months and not others.
NOW i stand and await the verbal boot up the jacks

Far from kicking your butt Bob (my legs are long but not that long) , I agree! Guidelines need to be set/clear - As much as I enjoy ragging our AD, it is much more fun doing so when he is around rather than when he is off doing trivial stuff like raising kids and earning a living!!!!

So as a suggestion (take it to a poll if you like)

Comp topic should be chosen by the winner of the month prior (ie October comp nominated by August winner) so even if there is a delay in opening galleries, the theme can be published

Competition closes on the xth day - insert a number by popular vote - Odille and Tim are Moderators so could declare the voting as at set date!

Lets accept that AD does have a life without us :'( and just put some protocols in place!!!

[Carmyllie]

Well said Ross! I'm with you on this one. We're fortunate indeed to have such a Forum to share our ideas and experiences. It's just a 'housekeeping' aspect, and not the primary reason everyone's here.

[Truckman]

Lets accept that AD does have a life without us :'(

We're supposed to have lives too?... ...This is a demanding site... :'(...Ben

[bigbob]

I agree with a poll but have no idea how to set one so would appreciate it if you could set one on my behalf.
along the lines of closing date for entries 24 hours after last day of month voting closes 48 hours later.agree with you about winner.
It may be possible that Mark could set it up to automatically disable voting at the set time that way delays don't matter.
Now i don't want to sound blasphemous but I'm not that sure that AD exists i think he is just a figment of an over active imagination, someone we are all supposed to sit back and look up to.

[admin]

Dare I show myself?
I think I do. Guilty as charged - my list of excuses continues, school holidays in this corner of the world, my middle daughter, Hannah's 12th birthday, celebrated with family, a trail of visiting relo's with their respective sprogs due to said holidays, the delayed birthday beach party for said 12 year old due to incelment weather over the weekend, etc etc etc.

Just like all of you, from time to time these things pile up. In a weird kind of way, I am touched by your avid follow through each month and the friendly 'reminders'. Fortunately there are 31 long days in October for shooting and in the case of this month Carmyllie managed to seperate herself with a 2 of 3 win in the theme comps....and we are back on track with Carmyllies choice for the October theme.
On closing time, the last members t see the close of the month would be those on the west coast of the USA, so if we said midnight US pacific time as the close, that would be near enough.
The most important concept of Light Art is to encourage a feeling of community amongst people who love their photography as a hobby, or an art form - and as a resut to enourage people to pick up the camera put on those "seeing goggles". Outside of the themes don't forget that there are a plethora (lots) of ongoing topics that will cater to your creative needs and that anyone (yes anyone can throw down a photo challenge, or request a topical board or gallery - just ask and it shall be done.
The 3 challenge thing went off quite smoothly.
If you like, we can create a second theme by say a colour each moonth to keep the creative juices flowing.

[Tim N]

AD,

Is it possible for other users to create a new topic/board such as a competition theme board or is that only possible for the administrator ?
If it was possible for 1 or 2 other people to have the forum "rights" to create boards then if you were busy with real life then a new monthly comp board could be created in your absence !!!

[admin]

While it is not entirely rocket science, there are quite a few steps required and access to a lot of the backend.
1. visit gallery to do the count, no worries there.
2. Login into news and newsletters section to update the news scroller (requires general admin access)
3. Update and 'make sticky' the the outcome in the board for that month and await a resonse from the winner with new theme.
4. Post new theme in Monthly theme board (requires permission for the board admin area for that board)
5. Login to news scroller and post news item for that month's theme (general admin)
6. Create new board for the new monthly theme (general board access)
7. Create new gallery for the monthly theme and manually update order of galleries
8. Link the new gallery to the new associated board (a manual step requiring acces to general admin and the specific board and gallery.
Combined it is a follow the numbers job, but requires access to a lot of the admin back end and database.
Now I do not have any trust issues with our moderators (truly) but I am reticent to have the site potentially altered or left unsecured.
While I am unintentionaly tardy in timing of late with other issues, I do view the site as something created with some care and a little pride and something of interest (certainly not doing it for the money!).
For the moment, I will do my best to be on time with the results of the theme challenge and set up of the above items.
I'll regard this as a formal warning from you all and try  to lift my game a bit.

[Truckman]

We appreciate your efforts, Mark...As administrator on my own board, I understand all too well the demands on your time to keep it running well... ...Ben

[bigbob]

I think that it is very selfish of you to want to spend time with you wife and children when you have all of us here on LAF who 'LOVE YOU'
 So please remember you also created us as a family and we are only just over a year old, i ask you? would you have left your daughters to fend for themself's at that age of coarse not so why us DADDY.xxxxxxxxxxx.


On a more serious note my main concern is the voting because if it is open ended one month and not others it could become unfair we do need a cutoff time, if it can't be set automatically then perhaps that could be done by a moderator even if only by posting a competition closed notice. I also think that Ross's idea about the winner choosing not the next month but the one after is a better one as there will allways be a subject waiting and they must post there subject on or before the 1st of the month again this is just another point that i think some of us have concerns about.

Here i would like to give Mark a pat on the back as this is the best run site of the 4 i belong to so WELL DONE

[admin]

Sheesh! I feel like I might tear up a bit.
Can't set an automatic cut off - there is no switch other than manual - but images are time stamped, so no biggy.
So do we pull a spare topic for next month and have this month's winner declare December. Fine with me.
I could set the server date / time to Hawaii or Tahiti, that would make sure we capture most likely particpants.

...and does thar mean I get to select a theme for November, in the interests of probity.

[Ross and Cher]

Or maybe, just maybe AD - you could give me a go at choosing a theme - something you have denied since way back when I won the bowl of fruit challenge (crying into my beer))!!!!!!

[Tim N]

1. visit gallery to do the count, no worries there.
2. Login into news and newsletters section to update the news scroller (requires general admin access)
3. Update and 'make sticky' the the outcome in the board for that month and await a resonse from the winner with new theme.
4. Post new theme in Monthly theme board (requires permission for the board admin area for that board)
5. Login to news scroller and post news item for that month's theme (general admin)
6. Create new board for the new monthly theme (general board access)
7. Create new gallery for the monthly theme and manually update order of galleries
8. Link the new gallery to the new associated board (a manual step requiring acces to general admin and the specific board and gallery.

You can keep it 

[bigbob]

Ross do not cry into your beer it only dilutes it and makes it salty

[admin]

Dearest Ross.
Oh fellow of light, come forth. Kneel and be whacked somewhat harder than appropriate on each shoulder with a medium sized sword.
Arise Sir Ross and step foward into the glow of your adoring throng (not thong).
Pick a Theme and we are off!  
Name it and we are done. Please email to admin @ in case I miss it.

MJ

[Ross and Cher]

Dearest Ross.
Oh fellow of light, come forth. Kneel and be whacked somewhat harder than appropriate on each shoulder with a mediam sized sword.
Arise Sir Ross and step foward into the glow of your adoring throng (not thong).
Pick a Theme and we are off! 
Name it and we are done. Please email to admin @ in case I miss it.

MJ

Me kneel in front of you with any sort of instrument in your hands.... not going to happen AD!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully for all those looking on, neither is me in a thong, or tights!! Moving right along!!

Obviously this challenge must involve the dark side so let the theme be (in the best Iron Chef type voice) "The Dark Side of the Moon" - open to any interpretation from night shots to dark humour to ...! Only two rules - must be tasteful and must be taken between 26 October and 26 November!!!

Go forth and post fellow knights of the round LAF!!!

[admin]

It is done then!
"The dark side of the Moon" whether in the Astrological or metaphysical sense is the November 09 Theme and we are approaching some weird kind of organis(z)ed state - unheard of and makes me feel dizzy.
Now, keep your powder dry - as while the board and the gallery have been created, according to current legislation recently passed through the senate, only images posted during Novemeber would be eligible for voting (I'd still be inclined to enter into acts of anarchy, bu that is just me   )
Now off you all go and polish your lenses.

[Ross and Cher]

(I'd still be inclined to enter into acts of anarchy, bu that is just me  )

I was going to try and be good but...! Mind you, I bet he boobytrapped the damn thing - anyone else want to play crash test dummy for a change!!!!!!

[bigbob]

My guess here Ross is that you tried to get haloween in to tour theme, good try but i think AD just may have picked up on that and stated it on 1 st of November

[Ross and Cher]

My guess here Ross is that you tried to get haloween in to tour theme, good try but i think AD just may have picked up on that and stated it on 1 st of November

You'd be off the mark Bob - we don't bother with halloween in this part of the world - my thought process (as warped and twisted as AD's) was that if people are going to start voting before the end of the month, we need to close the month off early!!!!!!!!