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05/15/2006 07:34:16 AM · #1
A portrait is a painting, photograph, or other artistic representation of a person. Portraits are often simple head shots or mug shots and are not usually overly elaborate or creative. The intent is to show the basic appearance of the person, and occasionally some artistic insight into his or her personality.

wikipedia.

I am seeing alot of non-portraits in the current challenge.

Just a thought.

Let the pouncing begin.

05/15/2006 07:36:25 AM · #2
I'll back you up. Lots of non-portraits. Some very good shots, just not meeting the challenge.
05/15/2006 07:37:42 AM · #3
i also see alot that ARE portraits but have no "environment". the background is a wall, blurred beyond belief, or the shots so closely cropped there is no background to speak of. am i worng in assuming the environment was the surroundings(usually background) but in some cases forground?
05/15/2006 07:45:20 AM · #4
So answer this. What do you call a photo of a face of a cat or dog. Or even a cow or bird. I'd say portrait, but maybe my dictionary isn't correct. I think I'll vote all non-human shots up a bit to off-set nit-pickers. Pounce, pounce, :)
05/15/2006 07:47:32 AM · #5
Originally posted by American_Horse:

... not usually overly elaborate or creative.

*pounce*
Good point. 1\'s for all the creative entries.

;)

Strangely enough, I don\'t see \"or creative\" on Wikipedia. Did you make that part up?
05/15/2006 07:50:49 AM · #6
Originally posted by bod:

Originally posted by American_Horse:

... not usually overly elaborate or creative.

*pounce*
Good point. 1\'s for all the creative entries.

;)

Strangely enough, I don\'t see \"or creative\" on Wikipedia. Did you make that part up?


look here.

//www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-08,GGLG:en&q=define%3Aportrait

animals can have portraits as well, never said that. I said " there are alot of non-portraits". Clear?

Message edited by author 2006-05-15 07:56:03.
05/15/2006 07:58:02 AM · #7
Originally posted by American_Horse:

look here.

//www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-08,GGLG:en&q=define%3Aportrait

Fair enough. Looks like Wikipedia have now decided to allow creativity in portraits :D
05/15/2006 07:59:42 AM · #8
Originally posted by American_Horse:

Clear?

Originally posted by bod:

;)

Jeez, I even made it bold so you wouldnt miss it. :-|
05/15/2006 08:01:55 AM · #9
Enviromental does not have to be actually seen in the background, as a type of job can also means enviromental, or a country lifestyle can also be enviromental, or clothing, as an example, a uniform or protection gear, can also means enviromental. A place where one can live and work in the protection of the enviroment.

I am disappointed at the number of images, that are not in the portrait format, and many of them are either square or landscape. I just feel that they seem to look better when in this format.

I may be wrong in thinking like this, as yes, we do see some very good, actually, excellent portraits, in landscape format as pointed out to me, so very sorry if I have offended anyone.....

I think I am way passed my bedtime, and very tired..... Please forgive me, as I think there are some really great photos in this challenge, and look forward to the final results.....


Message edited by author 2006-05-15 08:19:23.
05/15/2006 08:04:40 AM · #10
Originally posted by sherpet:

Enviromental does not have to be actually seen in the background, as a type of job can also means enviromental, or a country lifestyle can also be enviromental, or clothing, as an example, a uniform or protection gear, can also means enviromental. A place where one can live and work in the protection of the enviroment.

I am also disappointed at the number of images, that are not in the portrait format, and many of them are either square or landscape. A portrait format is usually a 5x7 or a 8x10.


A portrait doesn't have to be in portrait orientation. Eesh.
05/15/2006 08:06:49 AM · #11
Originally posted by sherpet:

I am also disappointed at the number of images, that are not in the portrait format, and many of them are either square or landscape. A portrait format is usually a 5x7 or a 8x10.


I cannot believe this...someone better explain that theory to librodo. :)

Message edited by author 2006-05-15 11:01:06.
05/15/2006 08:09:12 AM · #12
Does the subject of a portrait have to be looking at the camera? If the subject is looking away frmothe camera does that make it a candid rather thana portrait?
05/15/2006 08:13:02 AM · #13
i think portrait subjects "should" be looking at the camera. im no expert though but shots that seemed like candids did get a lower score from me than the same shot would have gotten if the subject had been posing. however low scorers didnt make a difference. a bad photo is a bad photo. i rarely score below 4 anyhow.
05/15/2006 08:14:18 AM · #14
This entire thread just makes me want to run screaming for the hills.

I can't *BELIEVE* the ignorance of so many of you! ARRRRGGHHH!!

There's no hope.
05/15/2006 08:15:03 AM · #15
Mine doesn't look into the camera..it was set up that way.

Originally posted by jaded_youth:

i think portrait subjects "should" be looking at the camera. im no expert though but shots that seemed like candids did get a lower score from me than the same shot would have gotten if the subject had been posing. however low scorers didnt make a difference. a bad photo is a bad photo. i rarely score below 4 anyhow.
05/15/2006 08:17:58 AM · #16
Main Entry: por·trait
Pronunciation: 'pOr-tr&t, 'por-, -"trAt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French, from past participle of portraire
1 : PICTURE; especially : a pictorial representation (as a painting) of a person usually showing the face

I don't see anything about the orientation of the portrait mentioned in the definition. Nor do I see anything about environment or eye contact or what freaking colour the subject is supposed to wear.

Ask yourself two things:

1. Is it a pictorial representation of a person (i'll even throw pet in there because i'm not an anal retentive)? Then it's a portrait.

2. Do you get some sense of their environment through their clothes or the setting? Then it's an environmental portrait.

Can we please get the hell over ourselves for at least one challenge and vote on the photograph for a change?
05/15/2006 08:19:05 AM · #17
Originally posted by Artyste:

This entire thread just makes me want to run screaming for the hills.

I can't *BELIEVE* the ignorance of so many of you! ARRRRGGHHH!!

There's no hope.


I'll second that!
05/15/2006 08:22:26 AM · #18
Originally posted by Artyste:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This entire thread just makes me want to run screaming for the hills.

I can't *BELIEVE* the ignorance of so many of you! ARRRRGGHHH!!

There's no hope.

I'll second that!

come on guys! no one can know everything. thats why i was ASKING if my opinion was in error. not like i cant go change votes seeing i was being short sighted. no need to call others ignorant.

text
05/15/2006 08:28:26 AM · #19
Originally posted by Pedro:



1. Is it a pictorial representation of a person (i'll even throw pet in there because i'm not an anal retentive)? Then it's a portrait.

2. Do you get some sense of their environment through their clothes or the setting? Then it's an environmental portrait.

Can we please get the hell over ourselves for at least one challenge and vote on the photograph for a change?


This is exactly how I interpretted this challenge and how I am voting on this challenge. I am still very new to photography let alone proper terminology. I would have to believe that others have wildly different opinions as to what meets the challenge since it is showing in my score. (Wait - maybe my pic just flat out sucks. But my mom loved it.)
05/15/2006 08:48:13 AM · #20
Unless they are wearing sandals and natural fabrics they will not get a good score from me ; )
05/15/2006 08:58:38 AM · #21
Originally posted by Artyste:

This entire thread just makes me want to run screaming for the hills.

I can't *BELIEVE* the ignorance of so many of you! ARRRRGGHHH!!

There's no hope.


I'm with you!
05/15/2006 09:01:35 AM · #22
this was a good thread, I for one am going to re-validate my thinking and up some marks on portraits of animals.
05/15/2006 09:43:55 AM · #23
Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by Artyste:

This entire thread just makes me want to run screaming for the hills.

I can't *BELIEVE* the ignorance of so many of you! ARRRRGGHHH!!

There's no hope.


I'm with you!


Artyste and I agree on very little, but this time I definately have his back!

This IS ridiculous.

A portrait: "A likeness of a person"
An Environment: "Surroundings" or "totality of one's surroundings"

When all else fails, SIMPLY use a regular "dictionary", either in hand or online! I just LOVE it when others find 600 different venues for definitions of one word just to make it fit their entry. Just ridiculous.

Now, for this challenge, using an animal or plant "IS" ok, in my book, because of the way the wording is used in the description, specifically the word ("subject"), which now takes away from just the person aspect; however, even the originator of the contest (American_Horse) said that he "meant" it to be for persons, BUT, even he wouldn't be opposed to animal or plant life if it still meets theme as to representation.

On the other hand, I myself went with "likeness of a person". That likeness and environment can be extreme, as in created with a character using a specific venue for the environment; or just a shot of someone on a couch - for two examples. Either one makes it in theme, but to me, the more creative the entry the more kudos from me. Unless some shot is really off the hook otherwise, it is more appealing for me to see that others went above and beyond for a shot.

Message edited by author 2006-05-15 09:45:22.
05/15/2006 10:40:38 AM · #24
Then I will have to dump them more to offset nit-pickers nit-pickers!
Originally posted by vtruan:

So answer this. What do you call a photo of a face of a cat or dog. Or even a cow or bird. I'd say portrait, but maybe my dictionary isn't correct. I think I'll vote all non-human shots up a bit to off-set nit-pickers. Pounce, pounce, :)


Edited:spelling error

Message edited by author 2006-05-15 10:41:05.
05/15/2006 10:42:35 AM · #25
Seems to me that this is the same old argument about how closely to interpret the challenge topic's demands. And, as always, the voters will have the last word.

While I would not rule out an animal, a square or landscape orientation shot, or one that does not use background and/or foreground to show the "environmental" aspect of your entry, I would say that this is perhaps not the best challenge to show off the extremes of your creativity and imagination. To me, the essence of portraiture is to show what the subject looks like to viewers who have not seen it.
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