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01/21/2008 09:56:13 AM · #1 |
I have a piece in a current challenge that is intentionally softened. Voting started last night and already I've got a comment that it should be sharper. When this work is printed it has all of the intented attributes. I'm sorry but I feel that sometimes folks do not open their minds up to the possiblity that not every single photograph is intended to be a cookie cutter ultra sharp photo. Some work is intended to be an art work. Can someone tell me how to get this message across when creating so that it's not immediate sacked by raters? Furthermore, the commenter has their name hidden (which is their right) so I cannot let them know the the softness was intentional.
Your comments please.
louisp
Message edited by author 2008-01-21 09:59:25. |
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01/21/2008 09:59:40 AM · #2 |
| Countless people have tried to sway the voters to see the "art". Unfortunately the mob makes the decision. It's just something you have to deal with. |
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01/21/2008 10:00:42 AM · #3 |
You could make the title, "This is Supposed to be Soft, so no 'needs sharper focus' comments, please"...although that's a little wordy. And, you'll still get the comment anyway, because someone will not have read your title before commenting.
I guess my point is, you can't. Voting is very, very subjective, and that's all there is to say.
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01/21/2008 10:04:02 AM · #4 |
| Be careful to select the people you want to have judge you. I'm cautious of the challenges I enter on this site for that simple reason. Mob philosophy prevails and bubble gum entiries dominate the challenges. Just the way it is around this place. |
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01/21/2008 10:09:45 AM · #5 |
| It's just a matter of understanding your audience. This is a learning site, and many of the voters are either new to digital cameras themselves or think the photographer could be. As such, they will be looking for the technical basics: good focus, exposure and composition. If you miss one or more of these (even if intentional), the voters will try to "help" you learn how to use your camera. The only times you can get away with technical shortcomings are in challenges that CALL for them (noise or soft focus) or something like a "Master's Free Study" where the voters assume all the photographers know what they're doing (thus any effect must be intentional). |
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01/21/2008 10:09:46 AM · #6 |
Thank goodness someone understands!!!!!! Not that my work is Ansel Adams or anything I am just a smuck sick to death of having pieces judged on straight line conventional wisdom.
louisp
Message edited by author 2008-01-21 10:12:18. |
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01/21/2008 10:29:53 AM · #7 |
| You are getting the usual not sharp enough comment from the dpc voters, dont worry I get it all the time, I was worried that there was something wrong with my eyes but the optometrist says no I don't need glasses! |
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01/21/2008 10:49:38 AM · #8 |
| Hey, I feel for you - same thing just happened to me in a challenge. I had part of the image intentionally soft and the part that was in focus was a very smooth texture (hence hard to tell if it was in focus). I've just learned to ignore the comments, but also if I want the image to score better, not to use more "artsy" effects. |
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01/21/2008 10:52:21 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by benee:
Hey, I feel for you - same thing just happened to me in a challenge. I had part of the image intentionally soft and the part that was in focus was a very smooth texture (hence hard to tell if it was in focus). I've just learned to ignore the comments, but also if I want the image to score better, not to use more "artsy" effects. |
Well, I guess that is one reason that I am not in the business. My work is done for the love of it and that is all that is important to me. |
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01/21/2008 11:33:09 AM · #10 |
| Ditto, i've got a soft shot in, still waiting for the comment telling me as much. It's hovering between 5 and 5.5 at the mo so I think the populous is telling me that way :-p |
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01/21/2008 01:33:10 PM · #11 |
| I too am learning what is acceptable and what is not here. “Needs to be a little sharper” is a comment I’ve gotten a few times. I agree with you on soft focus and blur. They both have their place in photography but you need to be 100% sure it will work for your entry. Also remember that “Art” in one persons eyes is “Crap photography” in another’s. I think soft focus only works in challenges when the challenge itself cries out for it. Other than depth of field stuff, be extra careful with blur and soft focus in the foreground. |
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01/21/2008 01:47:12 PM · #12 |
Welcome to the club. You'd think people could figure it out, but they can't, don't or won't. You must understand the 'artist' is, by far, the minority on this site. 'Crop it like this'. 'Use rule of thirds' and 'Over processed (a record 22 times for one entry) are my most common comments. If you're going to submit those type shots, you're going to suffer from their lack of knowledge. The freestyle is even more so.
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01/21/2008 02:04:30 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by dsray:
Welcome to the club. You'd think people could figure it out, but they can't, don't or won't. You must understand the 'artist' is, by far, the minority on this site. 'Crop it like this'. 'Use rule of thirds' and 'Over processed (a record 22 times for one entry) are my most common comments. If you're going to submit those type shots, you're going to suffer from their lack of knowledge. The freestyle is even more so. |
Why should you assume this shows a "lack of knowledge"? Isn't it perfectly feasible that these people see what you are trying to do and just don't like it?
R.
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01/21/2008 02:26:53 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by dsray:
Welcome to the club. You'd think people could figure it out, but they can't, don't or won't. You must understand the 'artist' is, by far, the minority on this site. 'Crop it like this'. 'Use rule of thirds' and 'Over processed (a record 22 times for one entry) are my most common comments. If you're going to submit those type shots, you're going to suffer from their lack of knowledge. The freestyle is even more so. |
Why should you assume this shows a "lack of knowledge"? Isn't it perfectly feasible that these people see what you are trying to do and just don't like it?
R. |
You bring up a good point. The way people vote will never make us all happy but I believe some of us feel imposed upon by formal rules and requirements. Are those necessary? I begrudgingly suppose so. I'll never achieve photographic or artistic greatest. That doesn't bother me in the least. If a person never ventures, never attempts something new then that is life wasted.
louisp
Message edited by author 2008-01-21 14:28:11. |
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01/21/2008 02:51:27 PM · #15 |
For what it's worth, I have taken the approach of mental gymnastics...
On this website, I try to enter photos that are as technically perfect as I have the ability to make them...on any given day. This underscores the reason why I willingly wade through the abuse of hyper-critical response, like a padded football player tackles the gauntlet in practice. In order to "have-your-game-on" when the clock is running, you want your teammates to do everything that they can to stop you in practice.
I have been a member of DPC for over two years now with only one score just slightly over the 6.0 mark. I have too many scores that still fall below the 5.0 level. Yet, I remain encouraged because of incremental improvement. My second year at DPC has many more scores above 5.0 than my first year. All the photos on my Profile page in the "Best of" section are between 5.6 and 6.01...
I am convinced that when I learn enough to survive the weekly "proctology exams" of my digital photos, and even "miracle of all miracles" actually gain my first "blue ribbon", I will know beyond doubt that I am competitive as a professional photographer.
The criticisms have at times been brutal, but they needed to be so! I have grown stronger because of it! I can speak for no one, but myself...Yet this man is very competitive! If I ever win, I want it to be because I beat my closest competitor's best effort, not his or her worst!
Now, as to photographic art, here's where the mental gymnastics comes in...since I know that ART is graded harshly on DPC, we are in the severe minority, I can make the choice to weigh the merits of entering ART into a challenge. If I feel strongly that my art needs to be displayed on a particular challenge, I actually begin to look for lower scores. The closer my score is to the extreme bottom...the higher score is in ART!  (Okay, so it's no artistic Blue Ribbon...182 out of 198,...I did garner a total of six ones and absolutely no tens on that one! Thank you very much! Besides, it's hilarious to me,...the PC Police notwithstanding!)
I have become my own spin doctor,...Win a Brownie in the eyes of the bulk of DPC membership, and I have actually won a Blue Ribbon among the artists. It's a matter of perspective!
If you want to start a DPL team, called The Artists, I'll join! Misery loves company, you know! :)
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01/21/2008 06:33:19 PM · #16 |
| As someone mentioned earlier, I think most view DPC as a learning site. In that respect, it is! I've learned a lot about composition, exposure, focus, etc. The same is true for the photography club that I'm in 'in real life'. Shots I truly love I won't be entering in any competitions - they probably aren't 'technically' perfect, so I don't want to subject them to that. |
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01/21/2008 06:36:13 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Ivo:
Be careful to select the people you want to have judge you. I'm cautious of the challenges I enter on this site for that simple reason. Mob philosophy prevails and bubble gum entiries dominate the challenges. Just the way it is around this place. |
pretty true! |
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