Ok. For the most part, PSC is the same good ol', way better than worth1000, awesome, photoshopping, picture chopping, Marco's still winning, website.
Then I noticed a trend in some recent entries.
What's up with people using pathetic filters like emboss and sketch to cover up their bad chops?
Even more: What's with everyone giving them so many votes. I've seen several images that would have received next to zero votes had it been in full color with all bad edges and seams evident. But with it B&W, "sketched", or embossed, it gets more votes than many more deserving pieces.
I for one am boycotting these entries.
I have seen plenty of great images that were B&W, emobossed, or , yes, even sketched but there was talent evolved. You could see the efforts put into these images.
Cookie cutting the subject out and (badly) slipping it into another picture isn't impressive. Adding filters shouldn't change that.

Anyone like to explain this to me?

(BTW, Good to be back.)

Isn't this the oh-so-popular "vote exchange" feature?

A. Welcome back

B. I gots no explanation other than the one that was posted above.

C. STFUAC

D. Where is the bitter button?

People have always exchanged votes. (Something I've always loathed) but why the sudden influx of people applying last minute filters?
It seems like these and gifs are given more votes than most others. Even those in the "Vote Exchange".

Can you give us examples? I am sure, there is an answer in everything.

E. STFUAC... wait just STFU no AC

Sorry I used the bevel filter:
http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/95101/good-boy.html

"There is no greater impotence in all the world like knowing you are right and that the wave of the world is wrong, yet the wave crashes upon you." - Norman Mailer

Or, never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Probably talking about me, B&W and embossed.

http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/138066/ohh-happy-day-update.html

I used Gaussian & motion blur
I sorries

http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/139355/be-not-afraid.html


w/b RG

Stevster, FILTERS aren't wrong. Giving somebody lots of votes because they spent 5 minutes on a chop and then ran it through the emboss filter is.
In your case, it looks good.
I use filters all the time. Mostly Gaussian Blur, Motion Blur and Bump Map. (I use Gimp) I don't slap the target onto a background and run it through the computer and call it art though. 0 creativity, 0 effort, should be 0 votes.

Here are some examples.

Piece of Art: http://photoshopcontest.com/view-entry/101576/black-and-white-iris.html

There are plenty of entries that exemplify the afore mentioned problem. I don't need to show you them.

Oscar, your stuff it filled with B&W, but it's used tastefully and as an element of art. I like your stuff.
I don't see any of your stuff being slapped through an assembly line consisting of (Cut), (Paste), and (Run through the Edge Detect Filter)

I am so glad that the resident geek is not the only person who tells us what the standard is. Because in that case we would only be making chops with the shadows all messed up, and simple alterations of details in the original. This may seem like something out of a book, but in fact is is lack of originality.

And before you go look at my portfolio and have something to say about my entry, I can tell you that it was perfect in original, but in original it would not have looked like a cartoon, hence the use of the filter. It saves having to draw the entire image with pencil and paper.