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06/05/2005 10:25:39 PM · #1 |
| I have received numerous comments on my submission for the decisions challenge. Almost all are negative. My submission deals with suicide and everyone wants to comment about how sick I am for endorsing such an act. Does anyone ever stop to think that just because I photograph an idea or concept that I don't always agree with it. Maybe some things need to be brought to attention. I actually received this comment, among many others similiar to it."I think we have enought evil in the world without people taking pictures of it, or even suggesting something so horrible." This was hidden during voting. I would just like to tell this person. Quit compaining about it and try to do something about it then. If you know it's out there and think it is so horrible, HELP THEM! Sorry for making people look at things like this, but at least maybe some people will wake up. Glad to provide the friendly reminder that not all is right in the world. |
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06/05/2005 10:35:06 PM · #2 |
Some people just can't fathom why a photographer would present an image that deals with difficult subject matter. Perhaps they'd all rather be presented with sweetness and light all the time, and never have to think about some of the darker aspects of life, and death.
In submitting this type of photo, you must realize that you'll get this kind of reaction. Hopefully, you'll also get a few comments from those who will stop to consider what you're trying to say. In any case, take ALL the comments at face value, they will tell you things that will help you communicate better with your viewers.
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06/05/2005 10:35:23 PM · #3 |
Well folks have their opinions and you won't change that.
Also their own life experiences will influence their remarks.
I don't see that you have made any comments. If so they will show up after the challenge. However, sometime down the line you'll make a comment and be 180 degrees wrong in your assumption. Comments are often a result of emotion. It happens and it happens often when a shot deals with a sensitive subjects.
Yours wasn't the only shot along those lines. If you enter something like that you have to be prepared to take the heat. :)
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06/05/2005 10:37:05 PM · #4 |
yes, there will always be narrow minded individuals that do need to broaden their minds a little. They should be judging the photo as it is technically, personal issues should not come into it. We all love photography and that's why we are here and photography is LIFE, we photograph life in its many forms, good and bad. The highest accolades in photo journalism are war photos depicting death.....
Don't let it get to you, I had a similar submission where I had a shotgun as the focus and going on my scores people loved it and also hated it because it had negative impact. I was dissapointed too and I felt the technical side was overlooked.
Message edited by author 2005-06-05 22:38:29. |
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06/05/2005 10:39:34 PM · #5 |
| Well I do feel better now. I think I just needed to get that off my chest. I encounter this attitude a lot on other sites also and it finally just got to me. |
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06/05/2005 10:42:00 PM · #6 |
I had a close family member commit suicide....but I didn't give any of the suicide photos a low score.
p.s My photo is very colourful, bright and happy but is only at 5.00. |
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06/05/2005 10:43:25 PM · #7 |
I got the same exact comment on my submission also - which also deals with the concept of suicide. I also got a comment telling me the proper way it would be executed and that I was sick for doing this concept and asking if I did this as a joke. I in no way would depict any form of suicide as a joke - but only as a reality.
I thought the scoring and comments were to reflect the photgraphic skill and creativity - not a score on morals, values, and beliefs.
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06/05/2005 10:47:12 PM · #8 |
I expected to see suicide and self mutilation photos in this challenge, and I prepared myself for it in advance. It was one of the first things that came to my mind when I saw the challenge topic, so I assumed that quite a few others would follow that same train of thought.
On a site like DPChallenge, with the diversity of the demographic represented here, you can't expect a majority of people to see and accept your idea when it deals with a subject generally thought of as 'negative'. Modern art is filled with subjects that evoke strong emotion in the viewer. When a subject is controversial, it's in the best interest of the artist in many cases. When someone protests a museum exhibit because of 'content', that many more people want to go see it... many more than would have otherwise in most cases.
This topic brings to mind someone I stumbled across on DeviantArt. She's immensely popular on that site when you consider views of her home page and her print sale statistics. Her photograhpy doesn't inspire me in any particular way. Her 'hook' is the subject matter she chooses to work with. I think it's probalby best described as Pop Culture... Brittany Spears... The Backstreet Boys... NSync... Their music is/was very popular, but how much of it will we be hearing on the radio in 10 years? Will Brittany Spears sell as many CDs as Eric Clapton does when one of hers is 15 or 20 years old?
Lasting impressions are hard to create. If you want to be immortal, think about what you spend time working on :)
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06/05/2005 11:00:30 PM · #9 |
The suicide pics really don't do anything for me. I did not comment on any of them, but I did not score them highly. To me, the depiction of suicide is worse than the nastiest porn.
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06/05/2005 11:04:13 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
The suicide pics really don't do anything for me. I did not comment on any of them, but I did not score them highly. To me, the depiction of suicide is worse than the nastiest porn. |
Define nasty.... :)
Sorry...just trying to be funny...
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06/05/2005 11:17:35 PM · #11 |
| I think the subject of suicide touches us all deeply and it is a very sensitive subject. But I found that the photos depicting suicide were very mild. I'm just talking about my own experience. My mother committed suicide. She took pills, slit her wrists and ankles and then stabbed herself. The photos I saw on dpc were only a soft representation of how brutal and tragic suicide is and can be. I don't think the photos were offensive. I think they highlighted (in a gentle and meaningful way) that suicide exists and we need to always be on the look out for signs in those people we love and care for. |
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06/05/2005 11:21:40 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by naomik:
I think the subject of suicide touches us all deeply and it is a very sensitive subject. But I found that the photos depicting suicide were very mild. I'm just talking about my own experience. My mother committed suicide. She took pills, slit her wrists and ankles and then stabbed herself. The photos I saw on dpc were only a soft representation of how brutal and tragic suicide is and can be. I don't think the photos were offensive. I think they highlighted (in a gentle and meaningful way) that suicide exists and we need to always be on the look out for signs in those people we love and care for. |
Wow, that pretty much puts things in perspective.
Message edited by author 2005-06-05 23:22:48. |
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06/05/2005 11:22:36 PM · #13 |
| Any reaction means people had to think. Most don't like that. I, personally found them shocking and that is a fair reaction. Only good art, photography, movies, etc etc gives me this. You're touching a nerve with your art.... Nice, it means your communicating. Nothing wrong there. |
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06/05/2005 11:27:41 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by ShutterPug:
I got the same exact comment on my submission also - which also deals with the concept of suicide. I also got a comment telling me the proper way it would be executed and that I was sick for doing this concept and asking if I did this as a joke. I in no way would depict any form of suicide as a joke - but only as a reality.
I thought the scoring and comments were to reflect the photgraphic skill and creativity - not a score on morals, values, and beliefs. |
Suicide is a serious subject matter, and one that shouldn't be handled in a flippant, casual way. One of the issues that should be considered is that if you aim to depict suicide as "a reality," then you should expect people to measure your depiction against "the reality."
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06/05/2005 11:29:35 PM · #15 |
**not tring to offend anyone**
i think that suicide is a very difficult subject to photograph and has to be done really well to appease the voters. i agree that people can be immature about the subject saying that it is 'nasty' or 'wrong'. i have lost two friends to suicide. someone who is even contemplating ending their own life has a mental illness where they can't weigh the consiquences of their actions. if i were to take a picture representing a different sort of mental illness, say OCD, would the picture be deemed nasty or wrong?
maybe i am the one that is nuts |
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06/05/2005 11:32:40 PM · #16 |
Basically, in the DPC.com world... photojournalism doesn't really exist... that's the conclusion i came up with. Candid and journalism shots never get any credits because they are not setup.
Violence is part of our daily lives, and yet, most choose to close their eyes to it.
"if i can't see it, it can't see me..."
[/url] |
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06/06/2005 12:11:27 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by danderson107:
... I encounter this attitude a lot on other sites also ... |
Then why are you acting so indignant when you encounter it here?
I don't see anything to be gained by calling voters/commenters names like "immature" or "narrow minded" just because they don't appreciate your entry the same way you do. The purpose of this site, and the challenges, is to foster learning about photography. It's not here for you to spread your views regarding suicide.
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06/06/2005 12:23:27 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by lemondster:
if i were to take a picture representing a different sort of mental illness, say OCD, would the picture be deemed nasty or wrong?
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If it was done in a context that exploits mental illness, the way that many "suicide" photos do, then yes.
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06/06/2005 12:28:18 AM · #19 |
"Then why are you acting so indignant when you encounter it here?
I don't see anything to be gained by calling voters/commenters names like "immature" or "narrow minded" just because they don't appreciate your entry the same way you do. The purpose of this site, and the challenges, is to foster learning about photography. It's not here for you to spread your views regarding suicide."
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First off I never used narrow minded. Funny you would add that. If this site is to "foster learning" why don't these people tell me why the photo doesn't work and what could have been done better? I chose suicide not only because it was one of my first thoughts as I read the challenge details but because I thought I could do it with emotion and make people realize this stuff happens. I too have lost 2 friends to suicide. My question now is, How does my photo spread my views regarding suicide? Can you really tell that from my photo? Do you even know what photo is mine?text
Message edited by author 2005-06-06 00:33:08. |
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06/06/2005 12:31:47 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by RedOak:
Basically, in the DPC.com world... photojournalism doesn't really exist... that's the conclusion i came up with. Candid and journalism shots never get any credits because they are not setup.
Violence is part of our daily lives, and yet, most choose to close their eyes to it.
"if i can't see it, it can't see me..."
[/url] |
These shots are not journalism in any sense of the word, unless maybe you are Jason Blair.
People don't close their eyes to violence, we are oversaturated with real and fictionalized violence in war coverage, CNN, video games, magazines etc. It's graphic, explicit and everywhere. People are calloused to it and, sadly, it seems to take something truly horrific and grotesque to get any attention.
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06/06/2005 12:33:15 AM · #21 |
| Just a reminder that we are not suposed to discuss individual photos while the voting is going on. Please refrain from doing so until after the results for this challenge are posted. Thanks! |
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06/06/2005 12:36:52 AM · #22 |
| You bet. Even I got the same comment - " think we have enought evil in the world without people taking pictures of it, or even suggesting something so horrible". Seems like someone finds it hard to admit the facts and keeps his/her eyes (and mind) shut to it. The idea is to have pic that fits the theme, and not just click something which is pleasing to certain set of people. To show the not-so-pleasing reality and make it appear not-so-pleasing in itself gives the message on if it need to be done or not! |
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06/06/2005 12:44:33 AM · #23 |
So I guess the question is... what defines a good photo? Should a picture be judged by its technical merits only, or should it be judged by its content as well? There is enough problem as it is with pictures getting judged lower because they don't quite fit the challenge, ... and now you add in the extra difficulty of judging based on your perception of the images message (suicide in this case).
So what is a good photo then? Maybe the photo was good because it was both technically amazing and it stirred your emotions? But it seems that people have marked down for getting their emotions stirred.
Shoot what you want. If people don't like it, but you do... well you can't do much about that. |
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06/06/2005 12:47:46 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by danderson107:
First off I never used narrow minded. Funny you would add that. If this site is to "foster learning" why don't these people tell me why the photo doesn't work and what could have been done better? I chose suicide not only because it was one of my first thoughts as I read the challenge details but because I thought I could do it with emotion and make people realize this stuff happens. I too have lost 2 friends to suicide. My question now is, How does my photo spread my views regarding suicide? Can you really tell that from my photo? Do you even know what photo is mine? |
Another poster used the term narrow minded.
In the future, if you want to avoid the type of comments that upset you regarding your Decisions entry, don't try to "make people realize this stuff happens". What you call "mak(ing) people realize this stuff happens" is what I called spreading your views regarding suicide. Just try to impress us with your photographic skills.
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06/06/2005 12:47:56 AM · #25 |
5% of the entries in the 'decisions' challenge deal with death. Most of those entries are tastefully and realistically presented. Try to judge more on the photographic merit and less on the subject matter if you find them distasteful. IMO, none of those entries are poorly composed though some obviously better than others.
I am surprised that so many entries deal with this subject!
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