crazy homeless guy

i think it was a good thing to get people outside of cgarchitect to enter the competition. it is important that we know what is going on in both arch illustration, as well as related cg industries. if we close our community, we limit a way in which we can grow and expand in our skills, our vision, and our understanding of cg environments.

that being said, it crossed my mind that there was a chance the competition would be taken over by special effect extraordinaires from the cgfx communities and industries. i don't think that happened. i think we saw a lot of arch illustrators come in and post. people that are very good and competent, but for whatever reason, have not participated in the forum in the past.

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travis schmiesing

akzit

I also feel that it is great that this competition is open to EVERYONE, and if only a 10% of those who participated stay and contribute to cgarchitect is more than enough, I bet you that the people that are selected as the final 30 the majority of them are going to stick around, even to follow the competition and maybe they will look at other sections...

Eric I have to ask you what is the technique that you used in the B&N renderings that you have on the blogger site? They are just great watercolor effects!

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"That you are here--that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse."
Walt Whitman

ShaunDon

There's some humbling work in the qualifications forum, and I've gotta say the vast majority of us who won't qualify for the competition should learn a great deal from those posts. Kudos to Jeff for making this happen -- it's an overwhelming reminder that I've got a ways to go before I can even think about getting cocky!

Shaun

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Shaun Donnelly
TANGRAM 3DS

evanmoses

As one of the people for whom the competition represented their first post, and one whose competition entries were admittedly mediocre (they were first attempts of a sort!), I'm extremely glad that the competition was open to everyone. Even if I have zero chance of getting into the top thirty, the dream of prizes (and very valuable prizes at that!) can be a tremendous catalyst in turning a mere interest into a serious hobby or profession. As a case in point, though I had been to cgarchitect a couple of times before the competition, I have visited nearly every day since I discovered it, and my passion for cg architecture and my still very limited knowledge of it have grown exponentially as a result. I plan on sticking around and posting more in the future, when I have more time to work on and tweak projects and hence solicit critiques and help. And hopefully one day, I'll be able to help out future newbies that may one day find themselves in the same boat as myself. From what I've seen and what little I know, the fact that this competition was to better cg architecture as a whole and not just cgarchitect.com is testament to how wonderful this community is, and does more to help it than exclusion ever could.

Evan


PS Thanks so much for the site more generally Jeff, it really is invaluable.

Da_RoCk

I guess all the clutter regarding wether a member should be atleast a frequenter to the site is a big deal. I guess making them enter the forum and becoming an instant member is the only way that the officials will be able to attract and monitor the incoming entries. Yes, their are members that i dont see in the forums, however they are on the other forums which they feel that have contributed more to their works.

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MD8 Design Solutions + X3MFXSTUDIOS

Continuumx

The fact that this contest has brought them here means that some of them may wander over and become participants. None of this possibility could be an option if there had been instituted some sort of minium post quota, or tenure quota system. To go this route is closed and not open, it is completely out of alignment with the concept of the internet and public forums.

I think the way this has been handled is the best, it is much slower and uncertain but defintely much more humane.

wda

Just to point out........
Ive been around since either 1006 or 2006 members, enticed by the CGTALK once combined with CGA challenegs. Now, there were like 6500 members before the Big competition, after the deadline well over 7000. There are probably 1000 members who are actually active on the boards here, I think that may be very generous. Just don't see how being a previous member would do anything but hinder the contests potential.

The real value of an open contest is two fold, imho.
First: of those new members drawn by the Big competition they are truely dedicated to archviz, making them much more likely to become very active members.
Second: This is a big plus for Jeff & CGA. High Visibility and recognition of the site, more members, more advertising, making this site the 'goto' place for this form of CGviz.

Well it's great to see so many responses and entries-many more than I thought would enter. Considering that "ArchViz" really seems to be the "red headed child" of the CGVFX world. That 'world' should check it's own hair color .

WDA

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From the calm seas.... Into the CG Fire...... Into the Heart of Texas

Bradley Stone

oh that deserves and amen

IC

What a great metaphor! Being Scottish, a lot of my friends might take offence at that though