public & private chains
These chains are very similar to the Hero Chain. They start with a single photo and a tag that should inspire other photographers to get out there and take the next shot.
Unlike the Hero Chain however, Public chains:
- can be created by anyone that is a member of photochains
- are subject to different timelines and due dates
- must be given a name. This name can be as broad or specific as the creator wants it to be, but choosing an interesting and inspiring name for a chain is likely to make it more popular amongst other photographers! So while a chain called ‘Niagara falls’ might sound like a good idea, realistically, how many people would have taken photos at Niagara?! It’s probably a bit limiting. So consider more accessible names/themes for your chains and remember that the simple ideas are often the best.
how they work
Members of photochains can be involved in public chains in one of two ways: Creating or Submitting.
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1. creating
Anyone can create their own chain. All you need to do is:
Give the chain a name and upload the first photo (as well as set the first 'TAG') to inspire submissions from other photographers. This makes you the current chain owner and you can now sit back and wait for photos to be submitted to your chain.
You can make your chain ‘private’. This means that photographers can only submit to the chain it if they have been invited by the current chain owner.
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2. submitting
By looking through already existing chains on the Browse Chains page, simply find a photo and a tag that inspires you to take the next shot. Submit your photo before the due date and it could be selected as the next link in that chain! If this happens, you will become the chain owner and other photographers will now submit their photos based on your 'TAG'. It will then become your responsibility to pick the next link in the chain.
If the chain has been created as a Private chain, you will also need to invite the next particpants.
timelines
So a public chain has just been created and the first link has been set. Other photochains members can now submit their own photos to this 'TAG'. As soon as the first photo is submitted, the countdown starts.
- From here there remains one week for all other photochains members to submit their photos to this 'TAG'
- After this submission period, the current chain owner is given one week to pick the next link in the chain.
- If the chain owner does not select the next photo after 7 days, Canon will make a selection instead.
This is to ensure that public chains remain active and continue to grow as much as possible.
Please Note: if a chain has not received any submissions to its current link after 7 weeks, Canon has the right to remove this chain from the site.