Dr S":2psbvftv said:Many are missing the point. BoTM should be about excellence. That doesn't mean mega bucks Yetis and Kleins, it's about passion. I'm just as impressed by the lengths someone goes to to restore and present a mid range bike- again may I reference WD Pro's Marin. An obsessive restoration of a Raleigh Mustang is just as likely to get my personal vote than a cheque book Klein resto. Part of that passion should be reflected in presentation too. Modern cameras are fantastic, hell even the camera in some phones are great. Just a little care and effort is all that is needed. You don't have to carry a shrink wrapped bike to the top of Snowdon to get a good photo, a well lit plain backdrop is as good as anything and can be found within 100 yds of the door! How hard is it?
Dragging something out of a hedge and taking a photo of it leant up against the bin isn't making any effort is it? Jesus, my four year old daughter has taken better photos!
Don't just throw any old lump of tripe into the BOTM ring and expect to be treated the same as those that actually care is all I'm saying. To then cry 'elitism' and 'snobbery' whilst attacking those that have made an effort is pretty piss poor in my book.
Si
I agree with a lot of this. I personally have voted for bikes that have had dreadful photo's, because the quality of the photo doesn't enter into my selection method.
That said, I have learnt that presentation is a big part of BoTM. Why spend months sourcing and building something lovely and then not show it off to the best of your abilities.
As a personal example, I entered a bike into BoTM a year or so ago. I thought it looked ok and could see most of the detail, but it didn't get a single vote (the tyres I had fitted didn't help either!).
I re-entered it last month with a much better photo and it won. I know it was a much watered down month, as it was a 'special', but I know if I'd re-submitted the previous photo it wouldn't have got near winning.
I made the effort to ride to a good spot for a good photo, and on a sunny day and reaped the reward.
Another thing to consider is that lots on here (me included!) will be swayed by a photo of a bike being ridden, or at a retrobike ride.
That's really not a hard one to do is it, but it goes a long way.