An X Marks photo contest

**Steve Ashton** · 17th February 10, 04:46 PM

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to announce the first X Marks Photo Contest.

We are currently re-designing the look of our forum and I would like to have a good Kilt related photo for the top banner of our site.

Here are some of the criteria for the photo;

1) The photo would appear in the gray space behind the forum logo. It will span the entire width of the forum window. The ratio of the space is approx. 9.6 times wider than it is tall. (The actual size in pixels is 100 tall X 960 wide.)
This means that panorama type formats would be best.

2) Any photo submitted must be the own work of the person submitting it. There must be no copyright limitations on the image or the copyright must be transferable to the forum.
This means you cannot pull someone else's work off the web or from another site.

3) Photo should be posted to this thread where everyone can see them.
The membership and staff will vote on the photos submitted and the winner will have the honor of having their photo become a permanent part of this forum.

4) Special consideration will be given to any photo that has the Scottish Saltaire flag and a Kilt or piper incorporated into the design.

5) Composite photos or Photoshop'ed work are acceptable.

If you would like the bragging rights to the photo that will become the Hallmark of this site please submit your best effort for consideration.

This contest will end in 60 days.

**Paul** · 17th February 10, 05:39 PM

Steve, are you looking for just one straight picture or a composition of images?

**MacBean** · 17th February 10, 05:40 PM

Not my photo, so I have no reason to suggest this except I thought it might brighten up the place.

http://api.ning.com/files/xAj39eHmjq...nStAndrews.JPG

from this web site just posted: http://clancouncil.ning.com/photo/on...context=latest

**Steve Ashton** · 17th February 10, 06:05 PM

Paul,

If you wish to submit a composite that would be fine. In fact a composite may be easier to do and would look better than a single shot photo. And a whole lot easier than trying to get the framing of a single shot just right.

**skauwt** · 17th February 10, 07:45 PM

id imagine also that the photo and various compositions are to be taken by oneself due to copyright issues with other sites ,
this is a great contest though ,
anyone not tech savvy should check out the photo guide.. i know there is a few on the forum that have bother with posting images but i would love to see members interpretations all over

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 17th February 10, 08:03 PM

Can we have a size in pixels that we need to fill?

i.e. the current banner is 95 X 400.

Thanks

**Steve Ashton** · 17th February 10, 09:12 PM

The final size is yet to be determined.

We are thinking about going to a fixed width format and that will change everything.

Currently our forum is floating width and putting a photo at the top would not work.

I will announce the final size as soon as I have it.

But don't let that stop you. Any photo can be modified for size or cropped.

Just keep in the back of your mind where the photo is going and plan accordingly.

GG · 17th February 10, 10:22 PM

Hi Steve,

I think it’s a very good idea with a new top banner. However, reading the rules of the photo contest made me a little bit puzzled:

“Special consideration will be given to any photo that has the Scottish Saltaire flag flying on the left side, a Kilt or piper on the right side and a landscape of a Scottish scene in the background”.

However, in the welcome statement you say or it is said:

“X Marks the Scot is an international community of kilt wearers… You do not have to be Scottish to post here or to wear a kilt. The name of this forum was chosen a while ago for different purposes and yet this website has evolved into what it is today…”

The new top banner shall certainly be fine if the purpose is to (re)position X Marks the Scot as a Scottish forum, but in my humble opinion less so, if X Marks the Scot is to remain "an international community of all kilt wearers" and where accordingly emphasis should probably be more on the kilt, less on Scottish national symbols.

Just my thoughts and best regards

Greg

www.dress2kilt.eu

http://www.mansfeldt.net/p0001.htm

**Steve Ashton** · 17th February 10, 11:18 PM

It is not my intent to, as you say "(re)position X Marks the Scot as a Scottish forum".

Our Logo is, and we get our name from the Scottish Saltaire Flag.
We wear Kilts, which are to many, a symbol of Scotland.

But frankly, the reason is, Scotland is a really pretty place. Almost anywhere you point a camera you can come up with a great photo.

So, GG, if you submit a photo from your country, and the members vote for it, you will have the honor of seeing it grace our forum.

I edited my post.

**Steve Ashton** · 17th February 10, 11:22 PM

And yes to an earlier post. The photo must be free from copyright. Or the copyright must be transferable to the forum.
You can't just pull a photo off the web, or from another site, and submit it.