I just don't understand a design wich has only white backgrownd and thiny letters can be rated with five stars... WOW :D

lots of stock photos design? i thought its not allowed? so sad :( *sigh*

I painted my design using watercolor and I entered my own handmade artwork because I avoided on using photograph on my work. I made sure I followed the rule by not using any of stock photos from the web.. The rule is clearly stated by the CH

Hi everyone. I'm not gonna calculate witch are the top ranked designs, and way. I'm certainly not gonna waste my time on searching who used stock images and who didn't. I just want to say that I don't understand how it is possible that designers with amazing photoshop and drawing skills (for example: Sherman Jackson http://99designs.com/contests/28531…entry-1332 , Lopez4 http://99designs.com/contests/28531…entry-2667 , Samuel Lorincik http://99designs.com/contests/28531…entry-2841 etc...)are not top ranked. I mean, you can see that those work took few hours to design, and they are not just a stock photo with a tile and the name of the author.

@ BombardierBob, was other than as a designer you have another job that is a catcher THIEF ... hahahaha thank you for saving the CH stolen iStockphoto, GOOD WORK!!!!

and for all of you mad, its cause spec work stinks... 3200 designs of which maybe 1500 were done on professional software, of which 200 we done by actual graphic designers... and only one based off of little information takes home the price. I mean I truly believe Rick Warren has the best intentions by high lighting a unsung artist, but for the 3188 designs that go in the garbage, it kinda stings a little. I just truly hope that a professional wins or at least someone with true professional skills. Regardless Rick Warren's Book will change lives..

Its not because his church submitted, its because he is a high profile guy who tweeted the fool out of this contest.

I've noticed as well that MANY of the higher ranked designs came from those whom when you look at their profile have entered ONE contest- THIS ONE.

Which makes me wonder- perhaps members from Rick Warrens church (the church with 20,000 members).

Perhaps it went like this at church the sunday before contest began:

"okay folks, we are doing a contest for the new book cover, go to 99Designs and enter. Then send us a PM letting us know that you are a member of Saddleback. We'll be sure to pay extra close attention to those designs. Oh an also, we're gonna tell all them hard-working designers who will flock from 99Designs that we are not gonna allow stock-images. But don't worry- we will. We just want to make sure that the truly talented designers and photographers participate so that we can get a sense of what a good, professional and HONEST design looks like. Don't worry though- a Saddleback member will win this contest."

Well- it may have went something like that. :)

half of works with stars are stolen from somewhere but

Money makes the world go around
The world go around
The world go around
Money makes the world go around
It makes the world go 'round.

A mark, a yen, a buck, or a pound
A buck or a pound
A buck or a pound
Is all that makes the world go around,
That clinking clanking sound
It makes the world go round....
Money money money money money money
Money money money money money money
Money money money money money money
Money money

BRAVO BombardierBob
#144 hahahaha 5 stars j can see many artworks without stars but ISTOCKPHOTO rule hahaha next time j am soooo gona chit there is hope j am going to win

@ Bob, thanks for pointing out designs that broke the rules on here. Also thanks for the support. After seeing what has stars and what Bob pointed out leaves to wonder is the money worth the price of your dignity when you have to resort to breaking the rules to win? I feel even my best on this one never had a chance with no feedback or even acknowledgment that the host even seen mine with all this mess going on here! I have hope but my faith I will not misplace it on any false hope after tonight on here!

#144 http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-ph…-light.php

@caly82 I agree with you fully and it burns me too for all the work put into
my own designs to have it all done for nothing cause to many can't seem to want
to follow 99designs own rules as well as the Contest Hosts. There are several
designers on here that did honest work like you caly82, Silverleafartist and
myself with our own photos that will get passed up for a text based book cover.

~Bob

because of all the talk about stock photos it looks as if now the ch is steering away from the book covers with photos on it I know there are some of us like myself who worked hard on our covers using our own images our own designs. Good luck to everyone