Challenging the Mainstream - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/19/2005 10:45:00 AM · #1

I submitted this to the color portrait challenge, and it did score slightly higher than I expected it to, but not much. I think I asked the voter to accept something that was so far from the mainstream idea of a 'portrait' that it was really doomed from the beginning. Some of the comments I received indicated that the concept was 'challenging' the theme of the challenge. The photo is candid rather than being a posed portrait. The viewer may not really know that from the image though. This shot does say something very strong about the subject, but it's something that can't be derived without additional context.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

09/19/2005 10:50:58 AM · #2

I liked this John, ok it is slightly " out of the box " for the challenge but was worthy of a 6 from me, which is above average on my scale.
Look great on a wall too!

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/19/2005 12:24:34 PM · #3

As far as I am concerned, that only requirement to fit into the general 'portrait' category is that the image reveals something of the subject's character, which your image does.

I think may people associate "portrait" with traditional portraiture, but you don't have to look very deep to realize that there are many other flavors to be had.

Thanks for working slightly outside the mainstream and adding some variety to the challenge!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/20/2005 11:29:18 AM · #4

I gave it a 4 John. I think you really tied your hands a bit. The more personality or soul a portrait captures, the better, IMO, it is. While I don't disagree that this captures something, it is likely less than many of the other portraits which utilized a more traditional approach.

It's a great photo though and were it in the sillouette challenge, I think it would have done very well. The gradient in the back is sweet.

Edit: As an example, I'm not sure what she's doing now that I read your comments. I thought she was practicing Tai-chi, but is she working on her drumming?

Message edited by author 2005-09-20 11:31:02.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/20/2005 11:31:27 AM · #5

I liked it. Got a seven from me. The facial details are remarkable, for a silhouette. The eloquence of the hands is startling.

Robt.

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

09/20/2005 11:33:26 AM · #6

i thought it fit the perfectly, gave it an 8 - would have been higher, but her hands look funny which is a little distracting

09/20/2005 11:43:36 AM · #7

I didn't vote in this one, but I did notice this image after the fact. It caught my eye but I was a bit disappointed when I opened the thumbnail because the silhouette was a little 'ambiguous'...maybe that's not the right word...perhaps 'awkward' would be a better word. I couldn't tell what she was doing and her features aren't well defined so I don't really get any insight into who she is physically or emotionally. It's almost as if you didn't catch the right moment, maybe another few seconds or minutes and it would have been 'just right'.

Great colours, though. I think my vote would have been a 6 or maybe a 7.

09/20/2005 11:45:36 AM · #8

Originally posted by Nusbaum:

As far as I am concerned, that only requirement to fit into the general 'portrait' category is that the image reveals something of the subject's character, which your image does.

See, this is what I'm missing...what is revealed of her character?

09/20/2005 11:48:55 AM · #9

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by Nusbaum:
As far as I am concerned, that only requirement to fit into the general 'portrait' category is that the image reveals something of the subject's character, which your image does.

See, this is what I'm missing...what is revealed of her character?

This is the part that you can't know from the photo itself. She's directing a marching band, as noted in my comments on the photo.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/20/2005 11:52:47 AM · #10

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I come at photography from a "story" perspective...with a nice cutline, this image would have scored an 8 from me but dpc does not afford that luxury and you're forced to provide context using only the photo and title as your pallette.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/20/2005 11:57:41 AM · #11

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

My opinion? Look closely at the face. Don't you see a lot of determination and focus, outright seriousness, in that subtle silhouette? Something about the cheekline and the eyelashes seems to hint at qualities-not-quite-seen. The hands underscore this, they are intricate and seem to be "speaking" in a determined and complex manner.

Robt.

09/20/2005 12:01:55 PM · #12

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Nothing wrong with that. This is why 'mainstream' works best on this particular website.

09/20/2005 12:02:02 PM · #13

Originally posted by bear_music:

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by Nusbaum:
As far as I am concerned, that only requirement to fit into the general 'portrait' category is that the image reveals something of the subject's character, which your image does.

See, this is what I'm missing...what is revealed of her character?

My opinion? Look closely at the face. Don't you see a lot of determination and focus, outright seriousness, in that subtle silhouette? Something about the cheekline and the eyelashes seems to hint at qualities-not-quite-seen. The hands underscore this, they are intricate and seem to be "speaking" in a determined and complex manner.

Robt.

I would not have seen this before being provided the context of the photo. What you see as determination (and I see it now, too) I originally thought was more of a "gazing out" at the sunset and I had no idea what the hands were doing. Like I said, I think it's close but not quite the 'decisive moment', if I may rob a term.

09/20/2005 12:03:29 PM · #14

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

I come at photography from a "story" perspective...with a nice cutline, this image would have scored an 8 from me but dpc does not afford that luxury and you're forced to provide context using only the photo and title as your pallette.

Nothing wrong with that. This is why 'mainstream' works best on this particular website.

Exactly...but you can't "challenge the mainstream" by simply not providing the context (or even a clue to the context), in my opinion.

Message edited by author 2005-09-20 12:05:02.

09/20/2005 12:03:58 PM · #15

If I had no knowledge of the context of this particular photo, it still would have fascinated me to some extent. They 'why' and 'what' questions it would create for me would make it an interesting image.

09/20/2005 12:05:16 PM · #16

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Exactly...but you can't call simply "challenge the mainstream" by not providing the context (or even a clue to the context), in my opinion.

I agree with that as well. This is why 'outside the box' thinking in a challenge is not a good idea, even though people keep promoting the idea :)

09/20/2005 12:06:30 PM · #17

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Very true...it is fascinating in an unresolved-jazz-music sort of way. I just think that there might have been a slightly better moment there to capture, or a slightly better angle...

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/20/2005 12:07:30 PM · #18

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
If I had no knowledge of the context of this particular photo, it still would have fascinated me to some extent. They 'why' and 'what' questions it would create for me would make it an interesting image.

Very true...it is fascinating in an unresolved-jazz-music sort of way. I just think that there might have been a slightly better moment there to capture, or a slightly better angle...

There were lots. I made about 15 images of this scenario. I liked this one the best because of the hands :)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/20/2005 12:08:14 PM · #19

For what it's worth, I saw the determination and focus when scoring the image, before reading John's description of it. Maybe it has to do with being deaf?

R.

Message edited by author 2005-09-20 12:08:30.