| Author | Thread |
|
|
11/10/2004 12:52:54 PM · #1 |
| this is my humble opinion and i might be wrong, but i noticed that votes are starting to focus on the subjuct of the photo rather than quality of photography. take the poverty winner for instance with all do respect for the photographer; might have pictured the worst homeless situation but other peer pictures might have been ahead in term of artistic expression and photography skill... whats your intake on this guys... again i do not by all means try to imply that the poverty winner didnt deserve the ribbon, i'm just takin an example for the sake of argument :) |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 12:58:24 PM · #2 |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:01:36 PM · #3 |
I am one of those voters. In my opinion, subjectivity outweighs everything else. Over time, I have learned that the defacto standards in 'image quality' are just as subjective as anything else though. Sharpness, depth of field, composition, noise/grain, etc, are just a few parts of the whole. In many cases, I think the lack of the mentioned elements actually improves the mood or overall aesthetics of the photo.
|
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:09:31 PM · #4 |
i'm not undermining the subject. if we drift away and get fixated on the subject, by time this will not be a photography contest,it will be a documentary of all subject of challenges. the photo needs to be evaluated as a whole with all its aspects...
as a matter of fact i encourage you to take a look at the second top 10 pictures as opposed to the first top 10.. and tell me what you think |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:14:48 PM · #5 |
I believe that the most important aspect of a photograph is the impact that it has on the viewer... what does it communicate. We use technique to help us communicate better, but technique for the sake of technique has no meaning.
In the context of voting, we should vote on how effectively a photograph communicates. Agreement with the content is subjective and there will be various opinions, this is why we are communicating in the first place. Technical excellence is more objective, but it is a supporting element. In some cases a photo may communicate very well even though there a technical deficiencies.
Message edited by author 2004-11-10 13:15:43.
|
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:37:22 PM · #6 |
The major problem is that DPC per se is first a learning site. To lose this fact can create consternation.
The problem is that it has no formal focus and different schools compete with their different ideas.
That is why at times you see worthy images win the ribbons and at times the not so worthy win. Of course, we are back to the objectivity reality which makes any communication useless. Because who is to judge what is worthy and not worthy. Someone will say, wow, I like that image, look at the wonderful tones, the superb composition and another will reply, yeah, but it is cold and does move me at all.
You can say that certain qualities should be present in the winners and the opposing view will be quick to reply that what moves them has nothing to do with technique or quality. This is an impasse and will remain so.
Being a learning place, which it is, one may argue that the object is to learn how to take a better image, but then this gets watered down to its subjective denominator: who but the viewer is qualified to decide that. The way this is solved is by the vote. If more like it than don't it should stand. However, this is quickly refuted by the losing side. They will say that mass appeal has nothing to do with quality. So you see, we are dealing here with many different temperements who have already dug their trenches.
In reality it is a learning place, to learn whatever it is you want to learn, but without specific focus. I find it more a fun place and I do not kid myself that this is the proper outlet for artistic photography. The place is a hodge podge but this is good because it gives all schools of thought their representation and the ability to evaluate each others works and ideas. Looked at in this vein: the place is a blast and I can not think of a better place to be a member of. |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:49:17 PM · #7 |
graphicfunk : you have a point.. a good one....
i guess you're right.. |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:59:08 PM · #8 |
This reminds me a bit of the discussion over which is more important: nature or nurture?
Clearly a great photographic subject captured with great technical skill will appeal to many many people. A great subject captured carelessly or poorly, not so much. An incredibly good technical capture of a dull or boring subject, not so much. And I include post processing in the notion of technical capture.
So the pendulum swings from subject to technical details and back; from nature to nurture and back. I can live with that. And I can learn from that.
But don't ask me to vote a poor capture of a dull subject highly! |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 01:59:43 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by graphicfunk:
The major problem is that DPC per se is first a learning site. To lose this fact can create consternation.
... |
I agree, graphicfunk. It's a place to experiment, -- and to experience reaction to those experiments on a scale not easily found elsewhere, ...something that I assume even seasoned pros who participate here can appreciate.
|
|
|
|
11/10/2004 02:04:50 PM · #10 |
I think graphicfunk describes this site well. His statement, "They will say that mass appeal has nothing to do with quality", is true but the answer to it is that for the most part photos with mass appeal are quality shots in addition to the appeal. You can argue that the technical aspects may be better in one than another but the mass appeal points to the fact that the photo captured the audience. Is that not what public art is all about? When national Geographic sends a photographer out to do a piece they have to take quality shots but they also must have mass appeal. The two go hand in hand. You can have all the technical quality you want but if the shot does not interest the viewer .......
edit: damn! Digital Quixote made the point sooner and more succinctly
Message edited by author 2004-11-10 14:06:47. |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 02:07:26 PM · #11 |
i certainly think you should know the rules of photography to know when it's most effective to break them.
concentrating on just the technical aspects often makes for a very sterile, emotionless image. that's fine for advertising photos but not something i care to hang on my wall.
|
|
|
|
11/10/2004 02:41:10 PM · #12 |
If we just wanted to test technical skills...we would be shooting the "focus/moire" pattern posters every week and voting on them. (C: BORING!
Great explanations prior to here that I agree with. It is a balance. The main thing...take what you like and imporve on it.
|
|
|
|
11/10/2004 02:58:01 PM · #13 |
I pulled this from the site rules.
"While voting, users are asked to keep in highest consideration the topic of the challenge and base their rating accordingly".
Is the topic of the challenge to be considered over the quality of the photography? I think it messes up the way people evaluate the entries.
I think it would be cool if we had just 5 checkboxes to click for each photo. Each worth 1 or 2 points.
Over-all Appeal 1 2
Meets the topic 1 2
Technical 1 2
Artistic 1 2
Whadeva
|
|
|
|
11/10/2004 03:30:05 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Gringo:
I think it would be cool if we had just 5 checkboxes to click for each photo. Each worth 1 or 2 points.
|
There is at least one person who votes like that, I forget their name. They break down their score by catagory to show how they came up to the final score. They just list it in the comments, which sounds time comsuming to me. :) |
|
|
|
11/10/2004 03:46:43 PM · #15 |
This reminds me of Dr. JOnes most recent pic. :) I posted on it before I saw this thread, now I see this and all I can say is "yeah...what he said." (Dr. JOnes)
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 10/17/2025 02:08:30 PM EDT.
