| Author | Thread |
|
|
04/29/2003 03:01:50 AM · #1 |
I was curious as to what makes a winning photo and wondered what I could learn from studying the past winners. I did a little research and here are my findings:
(These are subjective parameters so this is really just my opinion)
Total challenges to date: 85
All winning photos clearly meet "The Challenge"
Most winning photos are cropped to rule of thirds or the subject is centered and the subject is very apparent with few distractions.
81 out of 85 have tack sharp focus.
68 out of 85 are in Color.
66 are neutrally exposed with 16 being on the Dark side and 3 on the Light side.
29 out of 85 are Macro Shots.
All of the Winning Photos have that extra something that is hard to put your finger on but it keeps you wanting to come back for another look.
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 04:43:00 AM · #2 |
I think the statistical analysis is slightly undermined by that last comment:-)
The point I think is most relevant is the tack sharp focus - and I assume you mean that real 'quality' edge to them, yeah?
Can you point up a photo that's on 'the dark side'. Trad wisdom here has it that dark photos don't do well ...
Ed
Message edited by author 2003-04-29 09:04:46.
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 08:02:55 AM · #3 |
| I think what he meant with 'dark' and 'light' is high key and low key images. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 08:10:22 AM · #4 |
What makes a winning photo you ask?
Simple, I high score....
[grin]
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 08:21:01 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by rcrawford:
All of the Winning Photos have that extra something that is hard to put your finger on but it keeps you wanting to come back for another look. |
Visual and emotional impact that is somewhat universal contributes to winning photos as well. If the photo meets all of the other criteria that you listed and stirs good emotions, it usually does very well.
All of the other items you listed are fairly easy to achieve, but this last item is probably as important as all the others combined. The problem with it is that there is no 'recipe' for finding this element :)
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 08:38:58 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by rcrawford:
All of the Winning Photos have that extra something that is hard to put your finger on but it keeps you wanting to come back for another look. |
The problem with it is that there is no 'recipe' for finding this element :) |
You seem to find quite a number of it!! =D |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 08:39:52 AM · #7 |
I was wondering yesterday how many of the winning shots were made on a tripod ... ?
Looking at my top 5, all were shot that way. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 08:42:07 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
I was wondering yesterday how many of the winning shots were made on a tripod ... ?
Looking at my top 5, all were shot that way. |
My top two are hand held and my next two are tripod... I would agree, however, that using a tripod helps. I would always suggest using one unless there is some specific reason not to :)
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 09:18:12 AM · #9 |
I agree about the WOW and/or emotional factor.
That is what makes a winner, and the technical aspects..for me, contribute to that.
Alternately, if a photo is technically excellent, the WOW and/or emotional factor pushes it over the top. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 10:00:22 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
... I would agree, however, that using a tripod helps. I would always suggest using one unless there is some specific reason not to :) |
It gets in the way of my steering wheel...Diablo Sunrise #29 
Message edited by author 2003-04-29 10:51:17. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 10:07:14 AM · #11 |
I have also found that there are many fine photos that did not win. Often these photos are more complex. When the average voter does not look at an image for very long, complex photos, or photos that require more than a quick look to be effective, these sometimes don't place well.
So my guess is that winning photos are usually quick to understand or quick to make their communication effective.
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 10:23:34 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by Gordon:
I was wondering yesterday how many of the winning shots were made on a tripod ... ?
Looking at my top 5, all were shot that way. |
My top two are hand held and my next two are tripod... I would agree, however, that using a tripod helps. I would always suggest using one unless there is some specific reason not to :) |
With flowers in nature it seems often impossible to use a tripod. Nor is there anyhing to steady the camera on. What do you use then? Does a table tripod help for flower macros?
Message edited by author 2003-04-29 10:24:25. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 11:06:39 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Journey:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by Gordon:
I was wondering yesterday how many of the winning shots were made on a tripod ... ?
Looking at my top 5, all were shot that way. |
My top two are hand held and my next two are tripod... I would agree, however, that using a tripod helps. I would always suggest using one unless there is some specific reason not to :) |
With flowers in nature it seems often impossible to use a tripod. Nor is there anyhing to steady the camera on. What do you use then? Does a table tripod help for flower macros? |
All my flower macros in the wild have been taken using a tripod.
That includes the majority of these.
The trick is to buy a tripod that will go low enough. my current manfrotto tripod will collapse down so that the head is about 2 inches
off the ground, with the legs extended, and I can also invert the center
column or mount it horizontally.
Message edited by author 2003-04-29 11:07:11. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 11:10:35 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
The trick is to buy a tripod that will go low enough. my current manfrotto tripod will collapse down so that the head is about 2 inches
off the ground, with the legs extended, and I can also invert the center
column or mount it horizontally. |
My tripod has a screw on the bottom of the column so I can fasten the camera upside-down and take it right down to ground level. I used that technique for the frame which eventually became my entry "Golden Gate" and I shot "Professor Airhead..." with it, but almost all my other entries are handheld. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 11:21:06 AM · #15 |
I've got a really cheap, light (but full-size) Optex tripod that doesn't have a vertical mount option. I was wondering if there were adapter heads out there that I could fit onto it to convert it...anyone heard of or seen one? I might have to go browse through the tripod gear at a few sites. My newly-acquired powers of zoom, combined with weak, distance-runner arms and a healthy caffeine addiction make the hand-held shots a killer...
James. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 12:25:07 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
I was wondering yesterday how many of the winning shots were made on a tripod ... ?
Looking at my top 5, all were shot that way. |
Looking at my top 4, only one was shot on a tripod. The only reason it was on the tripod was because I didn't want to carry the tripod separate. I had been shooting long exposures in IR, so it was necessary. It could've just as easily been hand held. It might have been better hand held because the shot is a little bit tilted, as the bridge I was shooting was not level but I used the tripod to level the camera.
My 5th best was also on a tripod. 13 second exposure though....
I use my tripod as little as possible. For IR shots and studio stuff mostly because that's generally lower light situations. I don't think it has a lot to do with what it takes to be a challenge winner.
Then again, maybe that's why I haven't won any challenges.....
Bob |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 01:17:59 PM · #17 |
For one of my current challenges, my tripod did not get low enough, so I set the camera on a cloth bag full of rice--a tip that I learned here on DPC!
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 01:19:45 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by e301:
I think the statistical analysis is slightly undermined by that last comment:-)
The point I think is most relevant is the tack sharp focus - and I assume you mean that real 'quality' edge to them, yeah?
Can you point up a photo that's on 'the dark side'. Trad wisdom here has it that dark photos don't do well ...
Ed |
This photo was one that I counted as being on "The Dark side" I didn't mean anything regarding the content just the exposure. I guess what I learned from this exercise is that a photo that has WOW but is lacking technically will probably not take first place but of course a technically perfect photo that is boring won't either, but you already knew that. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 01:51:28 PM · #19 |
| I use a bean bag or plastic baggie filled with beans for a tripod close to the ground. |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 02:30:55 PM · #20 |
10 of mine were shot with a tripod, 7 without (only one of my top 5 without ~ fauna entry)
I use an Ambico tripod my dad said I could have for free (I've heard to them referred to as "Ambi-crap" so I'm guessing there are better ones out there) or (rarely) one of those mini tabletop ones.
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 02:56:45 PM · #21 |
I'm doing a much more in depth statistical analysis. If anyone would like to list things they would want to know, go ahead and I'll add it to the list. (obviously I can't know how many were shot with tripods, but things like "how many are black and white, duotone, or desat vs. full color?")
Mav
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 03:02:36 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by mavrik:
I'm doing a much more in depth statistical analysis. If anyone would like to list things they would want to know, go ahead and I'll add it to the list. (obviously I can't know how many were shot with tripods, but things like "how many are black and white, duotone, or desat vs. full color?")
Mav |
Not sure of the point, but perhaps more interesting would be use of standard compositional techniques or subject type (macro/ journalistic/ studio/ landscape) , high key vs low key, camera quality (could do a high/medium/low camera quality rating), rule of thirds, leading lines, good colour composition/ relationships, complimentary colour usage, use of pattern, texture, shapes, lines. I think the B&W/duotone/ colour thing might be interesting but only if you go beyond the obvious and consider if they were used correctly, to enhance something about the subject. Good colour enhances the composition, bad use of colour can destroy the message.
I still have a feeling the tripod thing would help people a lot more than other considerations :^) |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 03:14:54 PM · #23 |
The point of the analysis? Well, I'd like to know what wins and how. (not why - that's that unanswerable "wow!" question)
Also, I'm interested in doing the research - to see what I learn as I check out each of these winners and study them in a lot more depth - it gives form to my "study the best" project. :)
AND - it'll prove a few things, I think.
|
|
|
|
04/29/2003 03:15:40 PM · #24 |
| Gordon, thanks for the feedback. I recall having seen your table tripod on your website last year but couldn't find it now. Could you give a model number (the manfrotto site listed two possible candidates)? Also, how HIGH does your table tripod go? Don't want to have two tripods and then flowers that are too high for the table and too low for the main tripod? Thanks! |
|
|
|
04/29/2003 04:15:28 PM · #25 |
Conform to the boring rule of 1/3s, rigid rules, the lowest common denominator of the voters, and that's it :)
Be a whore, and thou shall receive.
|
|
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: 08/04/2025 04:13:56 AM EDT.
