Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I announce the AusBonsai Shohin Progressive Styling Competition.
The objective of the AusBonsai Shohin Progressive Styling Competition is to create the best possible Shohin sized bonsai from raw, untrained stock over a period of 14 months.
This competition is open to all members of AusBonsai residing in Australia provided they abide by and agree with the rules of the contest.
STOCK
Stock can be obtained from anywhere provided NO PRIOR STYLING has been done other than trunk chopping and root work. You can collect, purchase from a bonsai or general nursery, take a cutting/layer from an untrained tree or you may already own suitable stock. It just cannot have had any previous Styling! There is no price restriction and any species can be used.
SUBMISSIONS
To enter, you must start a "new topic" in the AusBonsai Shohin Styling Competition forum and make the "title" your name and the species of your stock, in this format, e.g.- [Your Username] Species name.
Your first post must contain the following;
• At least 2 photos of your chosen stock before any work commences.
• Species name (any species is allowed)
• Original height of stock
• Where you obtained it from
• Cost of stock
Limit of 3 (three) entries per person.
PHOTOGRAPHS
• Photography is not being judged however the best possible picture/s should be submitted. Review our section on photographing bonsai for tips.
• Photographs must be of good quality, be a minimum of 500 x 500 pixels and in full colour
• Photographs are to be uploaded to AusBonsai and not linked from other sites
• Sub-standard photographs will not be accepted. A PM will be sent to the entrant explaining what was wrong and an opportunity to resubmit will be given. Failure to resubmit with better photographs may be cause for disqualification.
PRIZES
There will be three prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd as judged by the members of AusBonsai.
Vic Harris from ERIN BONSAI had kindly donated 3 beautifully hand crafted Shohin pots with matching Accent pots.
REVIEW AND JUDGING
• Submissions will initially be reviewed by the Moderators of AusBonsai for compliance with the requirements.
• Judging will be done by the members of AusBonsai via an online poll. Judging will be opened after the competition closes and will take place over the following two weeks. Winners will be announced on AusBonsai.com.
TIME-FRAME AND COMMITMENTS
• Entry posts must be made no later than Midnight EDST on 31st August 2011. No new entries will accepted after this date.
• You must make a minimum 3 monthly progression update including photos, an overview of work completed and experiences. Monthly updates would be preferable.
• Work can be done between 1st September 2011 and 31st October 2012. Final submissions and photographs must be submitted no later than Midnight EDST on 1st November 2012.
• Entrants are encouraged to display the final tree in Bonsai pot but this should not be done to the detriment of the tree.
• The final pictures must include at least one paragraph of text describing the final outcome and what is planned for the future of the tree.
• Final submissions must contain at least two photographs, one with a plain background and one with a ruler to verify the finished size of the tree is under 250mm tall. You may submit as many photographs as you like from as many angles as you like.
The fine print:
• Please read all rules and refer back to them before submitting your before, progression or final photographs to prevent misunderstandings or disqualification.
• Contest is void where prohibited by law.
• Photos cannot be altered in any way other than adjusting contrast, lightness and colour saturation. Cropping and rotating to level the photographs is also allowed. No Photoshop, manipulation, editing etc.
• All work must be completed by the submitting artist.
• Discussion, advice and comments in the entry threads is encouraged, but please "No Virtuals".
Most importantly, have fun!
Yours in bonsai,
Steven
taking the top half of trees of since 2005! 
this should be a ripper! I always love seeing progression posts, now we'll see a whole swag more 
I think the better quality entrents we have the more we will learn 
Started in on all my best stock trees already, wish I had saved one now 
