There needs to be a better way to judge and basically make sure that the rules on contest arent just something thats that fineprint in the bottom that no one has to go by.

1.As in making sure NO ONE is just reposting something on a contest that they did various times last year on various 3D sites. and then rewarding them for that?(its not too hard..i seen it..a few times and wasnt even looking for it!) unless the person picking the winners didnt care that the image was just a old repost of another art site.. ) then that rule needs to be wiped so the rest of us that did follow the rules can do the same also in the future.

2.I think it should be either/or, not both..as in either users,pick or just the staff or other outside person pick..reason..when you say users comment and ratings would be taken into account (Im not talking 2-3 comments by same person either) and not saying they should have won or not..but the images according to the communitys votes and comments arent even mentioned or runner ups? makes one think..something is wrong there or whoever is choosing the images knows art a little bit more than the rest of us artist who voted and comments on said images??

Just some thoughts, you should try to enforce your own rules,

Maybe next time some artist as myself wont be saying...why even bother