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02/04/2003 04:42:47 PM · #1 |
I̢۪ve come to a conclusion. Pictures of kids will never score high marks. Even in a challenge where you̢۪re supposed to take pics of your kids, if people have another option like flowers or bees instead, they will vote those higher.
My opinion is that if you submitted to an open challenge, for a picture of a kid to beat a picture of a rose or a daisy, the kid would have to be superman and be juggling 10 balls while riding a bicycle and eating an ice cream cone. The picture would have to be perfectly balanced, exposed, and framed, while the flower could be out of focus and have lousy lighting, and shot on a kitchen table. As long as you can see the pollen. Maybe it̢۪s a sexual thing?
I have a picture in the Clichés challenge that I think is by far one of my best, and I’m scoring a 5.3!!! In my opinion, my kid looks great (no bias), the focus is sharp, the background works well, and so far no one has given me a bad comment. I have gotten better scores for pictures that I thought were pretty lousy. It is painful to put a picture of something so personal up for everyone to see, and have it come back with a mediocre score.
Maybe I have no clue what works or not, but one thing is for sure, I̢۪ll wait for the KIDS challenge before submitting another child photo.
Thanks for listening.
(Whew, I feel better now. Maybe I can return to my work nowâ€Â¦..)
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02/04/2003 04:51:05 PM · #2 |
Pictures of kids have done pretty well in the past, with several winners coming to mind.
The body parts challenge, the people challenge, the candid challenge and many others have featured unusual or distinctive pictures of kids that have done well...
5.3 isn't too bad a score - there are a lot of people that would probably happily trade you! |
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02/04/2003 04:54:58 PM · #3 |
The 2 photos of kids I have done are my top scoring and 2nd top scoring photos ;)
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02/04/2003 04:55:57 PM · #4 |
I feel you frustration. My lowest scoring photo is of my son cleaning his bicycle yet it is my personal favorite of all the challenge photos I have entered. I guess we are just too attached to be objective. Now I treasure my kid photos and post flowers and landscapes.
Roger
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02/04/2003 04:59:02 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by mariomel:
I̢۪ve come to a conclusion. Pictures of kids will never score high marks. Even in a challenge where you̢۪re supposed to take pics of your kids, if people have another option like flowers or bees instead, they will vote those higher.
My opinion is that if you submitted to an open challenge, for a picture of a kid to beat a picture of a rose or a daisy, the kid would have to be superman and be juggling 10 balls while riding a bicycle and eating an ice cream cone. The picture would have to be perfectly balanced, exposed, and framed, while the flower could be out of focus and have lousy lighting, and shot on a kitchen table. As long as you can see the pollen. Maybe it̢۪s a sexual thing?
I have a picture in the Clichés challenge that I think is by far one of my best, and I’m scoring a 5.3!!! In my opinion, my kid looks great (no bias), the focus is sharp, the background works well, and so far no one has given me a bad comment. I have gotten better scores for pictures that I thought were pretty lousy. It is painful to put a picture of something so personal up for everyone to see, and have it come back with a mediocre score.
Maybe I have no clue what works or not, but one thing is for sure, I̢۪ll wait for the KIDS challenge before submitting another child photo.
Thanks for listening.
(Whew, I feel better now. Maybe I can return to my work nowâ€Â¦..) |
Please, what flavour is required for the ice cream cone? ;-) |
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02/04/2003 05:05:02 PM · #6 |
Did your picture of you kid have something special or did it have the feel of a snapshot? In order for ANY picture to do more than 5 it has to have something special: a bright colours, interesting angles, that "why didn't I think of that" impact, emotional impact (kid with Big Brown eyes looking sad), the list goes on.
I always said that a picture of a cat could never win. I felt I had some pretty good shots - see my photojournalism entry (lol) and my black and white portrait ... both did very poorly, though they were techincally pretty good. Then came Mag and his third place finish in the Black and White portrait challenge ... Wow what a shot!
Oh by the way, did I mention I hate figurines. gag! But I actually gave a 9 for a jack in a box in the square challenge because it made me smile.
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02/04/2003 05:09:07 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Pictures of kids have done pretty well in the past, with several winners coming to mind.
The body parts challenge, the people challenge, the candid challenge and many others have featured unusual or distinctive pictures of kids that have done well...
5.3 isn't too bad a score - there are a lot of people that would probably happily trade you! |
I agree, 5.3 is not ALL bad, but it kind of feels like you're being told that your kid is mediocre. I don't mind if people tell me I'm a mediocre photographer, but don't mess with my kids. It's putting yourself out there too much.
You mentioned 3 ribbons for kids, but compared to how many pictures of flowers, bugs, glassware, buildings, computer disks, etc. My feeling overall, is that pictures of things will outdo pictures of people, whenever there is that possibility.
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02/04/2003 05:13:00 PM · #8 |
I feel the same way. I also submited a picture of one of my kids and its doing a 5.1. My lowest score in months. I personally think its great, not a winning picture but great nonetheless. Of course, I'm biased because its one of my own.
And I thought that because it was the clichés challenge, that people would've vote somewhat different. But no. |
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02/04/2003 05:13:42 PM · #9 |
[quote=Jacko]Did your picture of you kid have something special or did it have the feel of a snapshot? In order for ANY picture to do more than 5 it has to have something special: a bright colours, interesting angles, that "why didn't I think of that" impact, emotional impact (kid with Big Brown eyes looking sad), the list goes on.
Without giving too much away about my photo, it was not your average snapshot, shot with junk in the background, bad lighting, etc. I have plenty of those;-). There was a fair amount of thought that went into it, in order for it to stand out from the other kid shots. Or so I thought....
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02/04/2003 05:15:03 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by jenarom:
I feel the same way. I also submited a picture of one of my kids and its doing a 5.1. My lowest score in months. I personally think its great, not a winning picture but great nonetheless. Of course, I'm biased because its one of my own.
And I thought that because it was the clichés challenge, that people would've vote somewhat different. But no. |
My thoughts exactly...Not a winner, but...somewhat better.
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02/04/2003 05:32:35 PM · #11 |
| I haven't finished scoring this week's challenge but I can tell you that I have given one "child" photo a 10. It received a 10 because it was very well done, it wasn't a snapshot, it was technically and artistically exceptional. Show me a beautifully done photo of your child and I'll score it the same as a beautifully done photo of a flower or beach or mountain or building or chess piece, etc. Unfortunately, I think some voters don't look at the skill and artistry that a photo represents - they just don't like photos of kids, and that's unfortunate. |
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02/04/2003 05:47:37 PM · #12 |
| I am not finished voting yet - but many of the kid shots that I have seen so far have looked like snapshots to me. I will score highly a well done photo no mater what the subject. I think with children it is harder for the photographer to look at the pictures objectively. |
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02/04/2003 06:00:29 PM · #13 |
i know for a fact that it's easier to take a perfect pic of a plant than it is of a pet or a human simply because it is stationary and you can do whatever you want to it, put it where you want, put the cam on a tripod and use a slow shutter, etc :)
with adult humans, you can tell them what to do and if they like you they will listen
with children, esp very small ones, you have a lot harder time. same with an animal that just wants to jump around, lick or sniff your lens, or just lie there like a big fat lump of pudding, probably in the least flattering way, in the least flattering location.
people who tried to do a high quality shot of a cat or kid this week, you have my empathy and i wish you all the best of luck :)
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02/04/2003 06:09:06 PM · #14 |
Details: For all those who complain about the kids, flowers, and pets -- let's just see how well you can photograph them. Pick a common photography subject, and take the best photo you can.
What (besides sunsets) is a more common subject of a photograph than a quick, candid snapshot of your kid and/or pet at play? Just try to make it an "artistic" snapshot. We have a whole gallery for snapshots, and I think to equate "snapshot" with "bad photo" is a mistake. Unless, of course, you simply choose to define a snapshot as any photo you don't like, in which case commentary and conversation are useless as there is no common language...
Just out of curiosity, would you (anyone) call Haileigh's Grin a photo or a snapshot? This version is resized but otherwise unedited. I'll tell the story and technique later. It's not my kid if that makes any difference... |
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02/04/2003 06:40:25 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
[b]Haileigh's Grin a photo or a snapshot? This version is resized but otherwise unedited. I'll tell the story and technique later. It's not my kid if that makes any difference... |
Both, it's a snapshot type photo:). Actually, my opinion, and I'm willing to be told that I'm totally off track, is that a snapshot is a photo taken without much thought to technique, composition, lighting, exposure, etc. It's a photograph that is just "snapped". A snapshot could be taken by a 2 year old or a professional, with an $8.00 Fuji disposable or a $4000 digital SLR but the technique is the same, point the camera, release the shutter and hope for the best. Sometimes these photo's turn out really nice but with a little more attention to these photographic techniques, it could have been really wonderful. But, more attention to techniques could result in a missed opportunity and fogotten memory. |
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02/04/2003 07:15:44 PM · #16 |
Your photograph is being judged, not your kid. Your kid could be Haley joel Osmond or that kid in Star Wars but if the photo is'nt that great then.......... well anyway I don't think anyone is messing with your kid.
In fact I saw a couple of good ones this week of children. Usually kid shots have a snapshot feel to it. That's probably why they do bad. But I'm confused did you expect a 6.9 because your kid is in the photo?
Message edited by author 2003-02-04 19:20:07. |
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02/04/2003 07:40:52 PM · #17 |
Without giving too much away about my photo, it was not your average snapshot, shot with junk in the background, bad lighting, etc. I have plenty of those;-). There was a fair amount of thought that went into it, in order for it to stand out from the other kid shots. Or so I thought....[/quote]
This really isn't fair. People tend to vote down on photos that are being discussed. And I have a kid photo too in the challenge. What if they think yours is mine and vote down on it. You should really keep it to yourself or just give away what photo is yours so the voters don't assume which is ours. Tell us or leave it be.
Sonja
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02/04/2003 07:45:44 PM · #18 |
| Sonifo, thank you so much for saying what I wanted to say as well. I too am worried that my pic will now suffer. |
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02/04/2003 08:19:01 PM · #19 |
I'd be interested to know how many people actually read the forums (Drew/Langdon?) It is not that many, I suspect, compared to the number of voters. And far far fewer will be small-minded enough to vote down an image becuase it is being discussed. This leads me to think that concern in this area is over-rated.
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02/04/2003 08:42:28 PM · #20 |
This really isn't fair. People tend to vote down on photos that are being discussed. And I have a kid photo too in the challenge. What if they think yours is mine and vote down on it. You should really keep it to yourself or just give away what photo is yours so the voters don't assume which is ours. Tell us or leave it be.
Sonja[/quote]
Is that true? People vote down photos that are being discussed? I better not start that flower thread then... LOL |
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02/04/2003 08:51:15 PM · #21 |
Well Jak, So far 241 people have read this forum. You can find that info out by clicking on forums at the top and then click on rant and look for the thread Never submit pictures of your kids. I realize that some have revisited it more then a few times. 241 people. Hmmmm....is that not enough to make a difference?
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02/04/2003 09:01:41 PM · #22 |
the explanation of the photo was so vague i dont think anyone in their right mind would start voting down all the children photos because of a post on a forum like this.. i took a pic of a flower! woo.. now everyone go vote down the 65 flower entries...
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02/04/2003 10:59:27 PM · #23 |
The opposite can also be true. I know of one thread in particular where someone started a gripe about a picture. It went on and on and on. After the challenge was over, I looked and low and behold the person who started the thread bashing the picture was the same one had taken the picture. At least one of the comments stated to the effect [disclaimor -- not an exact quote, i am too lazy to go get it], "I read the bad rap in the forums, so I am giving you a higher score." Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Things to ponder.
I have to agree though. I am not finished voting, but now that I have read this thread, whenever I see a kid pic, I am going to be thinking about it.
For what it is worth, like someone else stated, I think kid pictures are among the most difficult to do, period. Not just do them well. Give me something that doesn't move any day. A wiggly 12 month old has his own agenda, and if I can get a fairly good shot out of it, so be it.
And no, I am not entered into the cliche challenge. I've already entered my quota of kid pics!!! :-)
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02/05/2003 12:50:15 AM · #24 |
| There's a quota? Noone told me that!! |
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02/05/2003 12:58:09 AM · #25 |
| I think you can safely say that taking a photo of anything you have an emotional attachment to and submitting it here is a gamble. You risk spending your whole week feeling emotionally crippled by people's low scores and bad comments on your photo. That's happening to me this week, as well as someone else I know. It really sucks. |
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