April Foolishness 2024 'Signup Thread'

Sign Up Now for 2024 April Foolishness

Participants:
01. pegelli
02. Harm vb
03. gregja
04. Mestari
05. darosa
06. minolta_mutley
07. Dopol
08. addy landzaat
09. ffrolvaag
10. jarenas
11. Phil Wood
12. C_N_RED_AGAIN
13. fennetje
14. bonneville
15. onplekkie
16. alpha_in_exile
17. ...
XX. There is room for you too


The season of April Foolishness is almost upon us.
This thread is to invite you to sign up for the 2024 version of one of Dyxum's classic challenges.

INTRO

April Foolishness is a month-long photographic challenge that is part of the rich Dyxum Challenge tradition. Please read the guidelines below before you start.
If you do not understand the guidelines, do not worry. You will understand when you see - just sign up.

April Foolishness is definitely challenging. However the challenge is not from Dyxum to you. You challenge yourself! The objectives are: (i) to get you out shooting more pictures; (ii) to develop your photographic skills; (iii) to enjoy photography; (iv) to enjoy photography; v) to get to know the other photographers and fellow Dyxumers in the challenge.

This challenge is for everyone! It does not matter if you are a professional, seasoned amateur or a beginner. Everyone will learn something and everyone can enjoy it.

GUIDELINES
1) Take photographs every day and post one picture for each day in the thread. Pic-a-day (but 7/week or 5/week or 3/week is okay - see FAQ below).

2) Shoot for the whole month with one (or two), prime lens(es) (if you do not have a prime (=fixed focal length), you can use a zoom, fixed to one focal length; but you cannot change the focal length). Any lens is okay, but you should decide in advance.

3) Use only Sony/ Minolta “A-mount” or Sony E-mount bodies; but the old Minolta mount (SR-mount) bodies are allowed too because in a way that’s where we come from. Any brand/style/mount lens is allowed (directly mounted, via an adapter or even free-lensing if you're into that way of shooting)

4) Because the point is to shoot only one point of view, only minimal cropping is allowed to straighten, etc. However, you may crop ONE SIDE in order to present a picture in a square, panoramic or other format planned when you took the shot (the point is that you compose in the viewfinder/LV and not on the computer). Occasional stitching of photos is allowed to show a "broader view"

5) You are expected to comment on the photographs posted by others – there will be a Talk Thread for this purpose.

6) State your challenge when you sign up. Add as many details and conditions as you want. You can change it up until the start date. A perfect challenge will be difficult but not impossible.

7) Read the Talk Thread every time you post in the Photo threads, so that you do not miss out on announcements or comments – please try to join in.

8) If you cannot post frequently due to problems with internet access that is okay. You can still join and catch up with posts when you can. If you do not have time to process your photos fully, don’t worry – post them with minimal processing. This is not a beauty contest.

Trust me, it is both a great learning experience and good fun...

FAQs
Please ask questions below - they are very welcome! But here are some answers to some common questions... numbers relate to the guidelines above.

1) If you cannot shoot every day (aka pic-a-day), you can choose to shoot 7 pics-a-week or even 5 or 3 pics-a-week instead. But challenge yourself to shoot much more than usual. If you need to use another lens for an event like a wedding or to make a living, or because the bear living in your toolshed has decided to cut the grass for you, you can claim an “event pass”. However, try to shoot with only one (or 2) lens(es) if you can – it is a good challenge (e.g. if you are not the paid photographer at the wedding try to do it with only your chosen lens first).

2) One or 2 lens(es) only – do not change. If you use a zoom, we suggest you tape it to fix it at the focal length you choose (but don’t use tape that will pull the paint off your 70-200G!).

3) If you need to crop more than a “minimal amount” you can post those pictures in the “Outtakes” thread with a notice “cropped”. For your daily picture, use your feet to zoom and compose more carefully. Cropping to straighten is fine. Cropping to remove distortion is okay sometimes – but don’t do it every day ; learn to include the distortion in the composition. If you want to post in a non-standard format do it in the Outtakes.

4) It is important to encourage other people during the challenge…. everybody benefits from a little help and positive feedback to get through it, and it is much more enjoyable when there is communication. If your English is not so good, don’t worry… nobody minds. This is an international forum and if you tell me “ I like your self-portrait very much but I think your bottom is underexposed “, I will know it is the fault of Google translator. If you do not like “chat” you can just post regular lists of your favorite pictures for the past few days.

5) For special events (eg. family gatherings, one-prime days, parties, weddings, DPC's etc.) that you have during the month and need to use other lenses you can give yourself an "event pass" and use any lens you need to cover that event. However you are encouraged to use your chosen prime(s) for all shooting that is not covered by an "event pass" for a special occasion.

Your challenge can be anything! Express it like this:
“I’ll do pic--a-day with the Minolta 16mm fish. Restrictions are no crops at all and at least 3 night-time shots a week taken without flash.
“I’ll use the Sony 50/1.8 and go 3 pics-a-week (I will try to shoot more if I can). Restrictions are minimal or square crop and that all pictures will be composed using the LV.”
“I’ll try 7 pic-a-week with the Minolta 500/8, but I will try to shoot every day. No restrictions.”[/QUOTE]

Note that these are Guidelines - participation is key and the main thing is to challenge yourself and take part.

Sign-up below with your challenge to yourself and try to be like Popeye:





Edited by pegelli - 01 April 2024 at 07:44

I'm in. I am tempted to include my 300mm f4, but am put off by the thought of carting it around for a month.

Lenses TBD.

I'm in. No camera, no lens. Commenting Only. I'm a fool

I am in, not sure about the lenses though. I was thinking of having the 200-600 @600 as one and something light as the other. Maybe the 35GM?
I am not sure though if I will be dedicated enough to drag that 200-600 everywhere with me. Then again, I do not have any other prime for E-mount, and all other for A mount are big and heavy, with the exception in 50/1.4 which is not that good until you close it to f4...

I need to get out of my winter sleep - so count me in - but all specifics are for the end of march to be filled in.

I guess this fits my 7x52 challenge. I'll join. 7 a week (duh). Lenses? Camera? Don't know yet, too many options.

Did some thinking. First camera - The A6400 or A7r4? I lean towards the A6400 because it and its lenses are smaller.

Lenses. I am considering the Sony 11/1.8 and Sony 50/1.8 OSS - I could replace the 11mm with the Sony 20/2.8 and/or the 50mm with the 35/1.8 OSS. Any thoughts?