In yesterday’s post, I recounted the journey of modifying a digital camera with the intention of creating something that would deliver outstanding out-of-camera black and white results; I had the rich, deep shadows and light but subtle highlights of film in mind, plus the crispness of the best non-AA-filtered cameras. The result, after three days of work and testing – on a camera generously donated by a reader – is a Sony NEX-5 that has no filtration in front of the sensor other than the Bayer pattern – no UV or IR or anti-aliasing. You’re looking at bare silicon if you stare down the lens mount.
Today, I’m happy to announce a competition which will give a reader a chance to own a camera personally modified by me. The camera is as-new cosmetically, is complete with box, kit lens and all accessories as sold (except the strap, that seems to have gone missing); it is out of warranty though (and will be anyway since I ripped out the filter pack).
Since this is a photography site first, and this camera was supposed to be a monochrome machine, it can only mean one thing: a black and white challenge!
I’ve created a new group on Flickr here: The Mingthein.com B&W Challenge specifically for this purpose.
1. Like the site’s Facebook page – title your submission with your Facebook username so I can check. Entries without Facebook usernames will be disqualified.
2. To submit an image, enter it in The Mingthein.com B&W Challenge Flickr group pool.
3. Your image must be in black and white; toning is NOT allowed.
4. Any subject, medium or cameras is fair game. You can shoot large format sheet film if you are so inclined.
5. Postprocessing is allowed, but anything overly done will almost certainly not win on aesthetic grounds.
6. Judging will be by me and the anonymous donor of the camera; our decision is final. The best image will win. And yes, it’s subjective etc – but this is a photography contest, photography is art, and art is a matter of taste.
7. Images will have a better chance of winning if they meet most or all of the important factors; you can find a lengthy discourse here…
8. You must own the rights to the image you submit.
9. The competition will run until the end of January 2013; closing time is 00:00 1 Feb 2013, GMT+8 (i.e. the end of the 1st of Feb when it hits midnight in Kuala Lumpur; easier to give the people in odd timezones a fair chance)
10. Multiple entries are allowed, but I’m going to restrict the pool to one per person per week: think carefully before you submit. You can remove and replace if you shoot something better.
11. You will need a flickr account to post images to the pool, but it’s free to sign up.
12. By entering, you give me and the mingthein.com site the right to re-post your image as part competition announcements and posts.
13. The winner will be announced in the first couple of weeks of February 2013 – depending on when I can meet up with our donor for the judging. We’ll ship the camera to you by EMS shortly thereafter.
14. There is no time limit on when images have to have been taken.
Shoot me an email if there are any questions. I think that’s about it – good shooting, and good luck! MT
Ming Thein | Photographer 
Hi Ming! Have you deliberated on the winner of the competition? Will the winner be announced via flickr and/or your blog? Thanks.
Results will be announced on the blog tomorrow 🙂
Thanks for putting on the contest, I still drool a bit when I look at that camera! (even with out the mods).
I don’t envy the judging – there are a lot a great shots submitted so far.
And that task is going to take up the better part of my day today…
Hi…i’d like to know, the price will be shipped anywhere? Thanks
Sorry…auto-text messed my post. I mean prize
Yes.
599 images and still a couple of days to go, this is getting harder to win by the minute. You’ve certainly got your work cut out judging this competition, Ming ! Good luck mate !
oh, and I’ll second the motion for workflow DVDs, or a portfolio critique, as runner-up prizes if it sways your opinion.
Hey, it was never meant to be easy… 🙂
Interesting! this would be my dream street camera..I’ll submit but here goes nothing..
Definitely no way to win if you don’t try! Good luck!
Can I share this information in social page?
Sure, please do.
Ok Ming Thein… I’ll definitely pickup my camera for this challenge… Thanks for running the contest:)
There’s some very good submissions already. I’ll have no chance in this competion. But I’ll give it a try anyway. May result in an entry, and it may not. Doesn’t really matter it’ll be a good learning experince.
There’s also nearly a month left to shoot, so don’t write yourself off yet 🙂
3. Your image must be in black and white; toning is NOT allowed. What is toning here means? must shoot in black and white? cannot shoot in color then convert to B&W, sorry for the N question. hah thanks
You can shoot in color and convert to B&W. The submitted image can’t be a sepia or cyanotype etc – luminance information only.
Oh man, judging by the photos already there, it’s way out of my league… will still try though. The prize is too good to pass up 🙂
Any chance you would give a workflow DVD as a prize for the runner-up(s)?
I could certainly be persuaded 😉
Well, consider this an official persuasion attempt :-). A runner-up prize gives some hope for everyone – otherwise it’s bound to feel hopeless for some if not many of us.
Will you be posting step-by-step instructions on how to make our own multispectral Sony Nex5?
No. I didn’t record the process as I was too busy trying not to break the connectors. It’s fiddly, there are a lot of small, fragile parts and tricky steps. I certainly don’t want the liability – same reason I don’t post how-tos on Leica M rangefinder calibration…
Haha, funniest answer ever 🙂
I understand that it’s a lot of work but would it be possible for you to post a critical review of the top five or ten submissions (like you did in your first competition)? That would be great. Cheers, T.
All depends on time…we’ll see. The winner and general commentary, certainly – not sure I’ll get into detailed discourse of individual submissions though.
Great — thanks a lot. Looking forward. Cheers, T.
Hi MT,
Can you elaborate a bit more on the definition of “toning” in item 3. E.g., do you consider cameras’ built-in and/or photo editors’ filters as “toning” too ?
Yes if it converts to sepia for example. There should be no color in the image at all. Otherwise, you’re free to convert with photoshop etc.
To simplify, there shouldn’t be any other colour other than b&w, including silver toning not acceptable. I assume converting built-in HDR into b&w is acceptable.
Thanks.
Teoh YC.
Yes. Acceptable but if done tastelessly…
Photo Contest! 🙂
Thanks for the contest Ming!
Time to get shooting!
Absolutely! 🙂
Hi Ming,
What if we don’t have a FB account? Should we just create a “dummy” account for this purpose?
Thanks 🙂
You can if you like, or just make a note in the title that you don’t have a fb account – your email address is fine, too. Basically, I’d like the camera to go to somebody known to the site either as commenters, readers, or flickr contributors…
Got it, thanks Ming 🙂
Thanks for the contest. There are already some terrific entries there and it is gonna be hard for a beginner like me. Good luck to all of you.
ps: Since I do not have a facebook account I made a remark in the description of my entry on flickr. I hope that is sufficient, otherwise please tell me what else you need.
No problem, just submit anyway – plenty of time left to shoot and get inspiration from the existing entries!