Dinosaur Toy Forum Diorama Contest 2023

[DinoToyForum]

After a three-year hiatus, the Dinosaur Toy Forum Diorama Contest is back! In fact...

The 2023 contest is now open! There is no sponsor this year but there will be prizes.

Rules, regulations, terms and conditions

Anyone can enter. All members of the Dinosaur Toy Forum, including staff, can participate. Non-members who wish to participate are invited to register an account on the Dinosaur Toy Forum (this is free).

Dioramas. Dioramas must feature prehistoric creatures: from belemnites to Brontosaurus. For the purpose of this contest the definition of "diorama"  is open to interpretation. It could be anything from a traditionally constructed self-contained diorama scene, to a photograph of toys arranged outside, whatever you like. So, get creative! Dioramas must be new (never published or shared on the internet before) and must have been produced by the entrant. Stealing somebody else's diorama will result in disqualification.

One diorama per member. Entrants may submit one photograph of their diorama. Once submitted it cannot be exchanged for an alternative entry.

Title. Entries must be accompanied by a creative title.

Photoshop. Photoshop is allowed, but the original photograph(s) used in the diorama must be your own. Using somebody else's photographs will result in disqualification.

Winners. There will be three winners in first, second and third place respectively (no joint positions). These will be selected by an anonymous public poll open to all Dinosaur Toy Forum members, which will take place within seven days after the closing date (see below). A tie-break poll will be created in the event of any tied positions. There will also be three additional honourable mentions for dioramas in positions four to six.

Prizes. This year the forum's Admin will provide cash prizes:

1st place prize: £50 (GBP)
2nd place prize: £30 (GBP)
3rd place prize: £20 GBP)

Prizes will, preferably, be transferred to winners via PayPal, and if this isn't possible, then via bank transfer. Currency conversion or transfer fees will come out of the prize money. Winners will be contacted by email in October 2023 after the winners have been selected and officially announced.

How to enter

Entry fee. This year were are suggesting a small but optional £4 donation from everyone entering the contest. This will help support the contest and the Dinosaur Toy Forum, contribute towards the prize fund, and help to ensure the contest will run again in future years. However, for anyone unable to donate, for whatever reason, that's okay: entry remains, ultimately, free. To donate, here is the PayPal link:

£4 donation link (PayPal)

Note, the donation process is separate from the contest entry process, so you can donate at any time before or after you submit your entry.

Entries must be anonymous until the winners are announced. We therefore request that entrants do not watermark or sign their entries or discuss them on the forum until after the results are announced.

Submission. Entries should be submitted as a jpeg (.jpg or .jpeg) image file at least 1000px wide. Larger sizes will be accepted but will be resized by the contest organiser for ease of viewing on the web. Send your entry as an email attachment to [email protected] with the following format:

The email title should read as follows: "diorama contest 2023 [ forum username ]"

Include the diorama title in the email body.

A confirmation reply email will be sent to entrants within seven days of receipt. Please be patient. If, after seven days, you have still not received a confirmation reply, then feel free to email again to ask if your entry was received.

Deadline. The contest is open from today (Saturday 7th January 2023) until the deadline on Saturday 30th September 2023 (entries received after 00:00 hours AST on 1st October will be invalid.)

Additional terms and conditions

By entering this contest, you agree to give the Dinosaur Toy Blog and Dinosaur Toy Forum the right to share your entry in the public poll, in public blog and forum posts, and on social media, for the following purposes: the public vote, announcement of the winners, and promotion of this and future Dinosaur Toy Forum Diorama Contests.

Donations are non-refundable, even in the event of disqualification or failing to submit an entry before the deadline.

Good luck! We hope you have a great Dinosaur Toy Forum Diorama Contest 2023!

Need inspiration? Check out all the entries to the last contest in this video. And also look for the entries to other past contests.

[Halichoeres]

Excellent news. I may actually submit this year...

[Mellow Stego]

This is great!

[triceratops83]

Thanks @dinotoyforum - these contests are always a blast and I can't wait to see the new crop of photos!

[Brocc21]

I've missed the diorama contest in its absence, I've even had a few ideas for some dioramas in the during the time. I'm very happy to see it return! I wish everyone participating good luck.

[Ramose]

I've really missed doing the contest the last couple of years and am really looking forward to it this year! (plus now I can finally finish the half complete diorama in the basement so it won't drive my wife up the walls anymore)

[Perotorum]

May I be as so bold as to ask if there are any rules on the use of 3d printed models for such a contest by chance?

[Avian]

May I be as so bold as to ask if there are any rules on the use of 3d printed models for such a contest by chance?

3D printed models should be fine, as long as they represent some sort of prehistoric species.

[Perotorum]

Thank you greatly, I was a bit concerned as some may make debate over weather it is fair play due to the limiting nature of such

[DinoToyForum]

May I be as so bold as to ask if there are any rules on the use of 3d printed models for such a contest by chance?

3D printed models should be fine, as long as they represent some sort of prehistoric species.

Confirmed! So long as you take the photo(s).

[DinoToyForum]

There's already been a trickle of contest entries come in. 

[Over9K]

Could I get a rule clarification please?

In the rules it states:

Photoshop. Photoshop is allowed, but the original photograph(s) used in the diorama must be your own. Using somebody else's photographs will result in disqualification.

Below is a before/after set I recently took.







As you can see, the image is generated in camera, no photoshop involved. I correct the color and lighting with photo-editing software, but the image itself is not manipulated.

The backgrounds are obtained from any number of "Free" Laptop/Desktop wallpaper websites.

Is this technique prohibited?

[DinoToyForum]

Could I get a rule clarification please?

In the rules it states:

Photoshop. Photoshop is allowed, but the original photograph(s) used in the diorama must be your own. Using somebody else's photographs will result in disqualification.

Below is a before/after set I recently took.







As you can see, the image is generated in camera, no photoshop involved. I correct the color and lighting with photo-editing software, but the image itself is not manipulated.

The backgrounds are obtained from any number of "Free" Laptop/Desktop wallpaper websites.

Is this technique prohibited?

Technically, yes, this example is prohibited according to the rules because you didn't take the wallpaper photograph yourself. Otherwise, this technique would be allowed, so long as the photograph in the background is your own work.

I suppose I should update the rules to say

Photoshop and other techniques. Photoshop and other techniques (rear-projection, digital backdrops etc.) are allowed, but the original photograph(s) used in the diorama must be your own. Using somebody else's photographs will result in disqualification.

[Antarion]

That sounds so cool.  I might enter this year

Just one question: A "diorama" is sth. artificially created to me, but reading through the diorama forum I think it just means "photography" in this context? Because many people shoot outdoor pics.(which is totally fine with me, just confusing at first )

So anything goes (as long as it is yours)

[DinoToyForum]

That sounds so cool.  I might enter this year

Just one question: A "diorama" is sth. artificially created to me, but reading through the diorama forum I think it just means "photography" in this context? Because many people shoot outdoor pics.(which is totally fine with me, just confusing at first )

So anything goes (as long as it is yours)

Essentially, yes. A diorama is a reconstructed scene. Many entrants build a traditional 3D diorama from scratch, with all the vegetation and landscape. But, of course, to enter the contest, those people have to take a photo of it. They are the diorama 'purists'. But many others will reconstruct a scene by taking their toys into the wilderness, or back garden. Again, to enter the contest that way you have to take a photo of it. So, there are many ways to generate a reconstructed scene or diorama, but only one way to enter the contest - with a photograph. If you look through the entries to previous years contests you'll see how diverse it can be!

[DinoToyForum]

Just a quick reminder to say there's still a couple of months left to enter the 2023 Dinosaur Toy Forum Diorama Contest, but note that the deadline of September 30th is fast approaching, so make sure you don't miss it!

[Crackington]

Just submitted my entry Dr Admin - look forward to seeing the others in a couple of months  

[DinoToyForum]

just bumping to remind everyone that the deadline for the 2023 diorama contest is coming up later this month. So, you have about four weeks left to submit your entries!

[DinoToyForum]

Don't miss the contest deadline on Saturday 30th September – it's less than two weeks away!

[Lanthanotus]

Don't miss the contest deadline on Saturday 30th September – it's less than two weeks away!

Within the last stages of preparing