Interesting night in Detroit

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Interesting" is a good choice of words.  Lots of people came to the 
this first meeting, many new faces.  Lots of slides.  This year for the 
first time we limited the entries to 3 (vs. 4) and still broke a record 
of slides (84, I think, 28 people competing, that's a lot!).  The 
quality of slides was excellent, much improved over the previous 
years.  The tough competition is driving everyone to do their best.

The projection went fine thanks to "show no mercy" projectionist Derek 
Gee.  I was watching him with a long stick to make sure that he does not 
touch those horizontal and vertical adjustments!  But he did not have to 
make any adjustments because most slides were mounted properly (except 
for one average slide with terrible *vertical* misalignment that got a 
2nd place! -- see comments on judging below... also, I think someone 
submitted an anaglyph... hard to believe, isn't?)

What made the competition even more interesting (frustrating?) was the 
judging.  First slides were getting very low points, last slides were 
getting very high points.  Many excellent slides got killed and some 
average or below average slides got rated high.  (Those comments express 
personal opinion, ONLY!).  That did not bother me much, especially 
since MY slides did well, placing 2nd, 2nd and 3d (which puts me to an 
early lead).  I am learning to be immune to judging, since it does tend 
to vary from time to time, place to place and individual to individual.  
I just do my best and hope that the "law of averages" applies.  Yes, 
judging varies and you have to accept this fact to lead a healthy and 
long life competing in 3D!

This competition was open.  Next month the subject is "Nostalgia".  I 
just hope that this is as tough to others as it is to me! (I am also 
open to suggestions... we still have a good month of 3D shooting!)

The program last night was the great slide show "Michigan Magic".  It's 
worth going to these meetings only for the programs, for people not 
interested in competing (most people in Detroit participate to the 
competitions, that's why it is hard to find 3 judges every night.)  

The meetings are the second Wednesday every month at 7:30 in the Livonia 
Civic Park Senior Citizen Activity Center at Livonia, west of Detroit.  
Anyone within 300 miles (!) from Detroit should make an effort to come 
to these meetings... A great experience!

George Themelis, Cleveland OH USA.


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