Jim,
Willing to help out in any way I can, be it with the comp or elsewhere.
As for the competition, I think that it should be run regularity, not necessarily frequently. Every other month may be appropriate? I have seen other competitions suffer in a wave of enthusiasm, a period of toleration and then a speedy decline, and I'm not referring to those on other pen turning forums but on more general wood working forums. We need to think carefully what the objectives of a competition are. We will submit and be judged on the basis of photographic excellence or, in my case, lack of it, and to that end have to be careful to be inclusive. Face it we're not the biggest forum in the world nor do we want to be but we will need the commitment of entry to make it worthwhile. Elsewhere there is a forum with thousands of members whose competition regularity attracts three, four of five entries? And the point of that is? To be honest there is little to distinguish many of the pens that are posted here, all are of a highish standard.
I believe that we should have a comp, possibly run every other month and that it should involve a degree of innovation. Coupled with what I have said above about the standard of entries that members are capable of, I see little point in having a competition where the objective is to make a standard pen or pair of standard pens, not exactly pushing the boundaries?
The recent long wood adaptations by Ian and the bullet pen entries all showed variations to the standard designs and all are designs that could be easily made and, if so desired, sold, they were of a high enough standard.
So my vote is to have a bi monthly comp, standard pens out of the window, pens made out of unusual materials, reconfigured components, but all something that can be achieved by someone with the basic kit -a tall order to think it up.
Anyway that's my thoughts.
plus travel time.....
