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12/07/2003 05:52:28 PM · #1 |
This may sound like a very basic question. How do you decide what to do for a given challenge? What process do you go through to come up with a final submission? I've brainstormed, tried alternatives, and I'm still not satisfied with my submissions. I know there is bound to be more than 1 method of doing this, so I'd like to hear what other submitters do. I'm grateful for any feedback.
Glen Kiing's online Photo Space |
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12/07/2003 05:58:07 PM · #2 |
If I can't think of a rough idea of what I want within the first few days, I just go out to see if I can find anything that fits. If it requires a set-up shot I walk around my house to find a nice looking prop.
If I do get an idea, then normally I spend a day shooting it, having a break, going at it again with a fresh mind, tweaking things if I'm not happy, and just taking as many shots as I can. There is bound to be a good one in there somewhere.
If I find a good one, I go back and take some more specifically like that one which I thought was good. This is where I mess around with exposure and aperture and stuff.
Then I go back to my computer, post process, and submit.
Thinking of a title is the hardest thing for me.
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12/07/2003 05:59:44 PM · #3 |
That is always the question of the day around here :) What should I choose for my challenge subject? Hmmm...
There are a couple of things you may wish to keep in mind around here. I try to use a few guidelines when I choose a photo to submit to the challenges.
1 - Try to imagine what will be some of the common subject choices in any given challenge. Once you have a brief list of those, you have a list of what to stay away from :)
2 - If you decide to use a subject that may be common, make sure your photograph is better than anything that may be similar in the challenge.
3 - Choose subject that you enjoy photographing. If the subject you choose is of no particular interest to you, your work may lack impact.
After this, all the normal rules of thumb for good photography take over. Be creative... use interesting angles... use interesting light. Make a photo that you love :)
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12/07/2003 07:08:53 PM · #4 |
Making a photo you love (jmsetzler), is probably the best advice anyone can give and receive.
For a challenge, I never do anything special. I just take pictures of things, scapes, events, objects as I always do. The chance of me taking a good photo, at this point, is about 1:100. With, say, 400 pictures taken in a week, I'd likely end up with 4 - 5 good and ones, usually of diverse subjects. If I can relate one of those 5 to the challenge, I enter. If not, I don't.
It can happen, also, that a particular challenge topic appeals to me, in which case I am far more likely to become involved with its (and my 'natural') subject. Everything I do, ideally, follows my inclinations.
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12/07/2003 09:41:36 PM · #5 |
I find that I mull over the challenge what kinds of subjects might fit the challenge. I ften find that I spend more time thinking about what to shoot and end up shooting right towards the end of the submissions deadline.
I like ZeusZen's process & I wish I could take 400 pictures a week but I don't. So I try to define the challenge topic as best I can, think of the things others may do & disregard those ideas, then try to think of something interesting and creative that may fit the challenge.
Once I do find a good subject, I try to take as many shots as I can & pick from the one I feel is the best. For emphasis, I have others check it out & critique it (mostly my twin sister) while showing her the other shots that I took to see if she would choose the one I did.
Thus far, I have been happy with some entries and not so happy with others.
Good luck finding your process!
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12/07/2003 11:29:26 PM · #6 |
| I take tons of picures, put em on the computer, take more pictutes, tweak, then I ask my husband for his opinion. Then I choose the opposite one. . . :) Everytime I choose his favoirte, it tanks! At least that is what I did for the simplicity challenge. We'll see how it does! |
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12/08/2003 05:42:52 AM · #7 |
I try and ignore my first three ideas.
They are usually too obvious and I risk finding 5 other people have done the same shot, usually better than me.
Occasionaly I have been caught out though and not come up with idea #4 *laugh*
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12/08/2003 06:51:56 AM · #8 |
I try to follow jmsetzler's approach, but often end up with the more obvious subjects anyway. What I try to avoid is an obvious picture of an obvious subject.
I first choose a number of subjects to stay away from , play with two or three alternatives (this creative part is the hardest for me), try to find scenes and/or props which fit that alternative. After a few days, other ideas will pop up and some of the initial one drop off.
I might also come back and still choose one of the obvious ones, often do, but then I try to photographe it in an extra special way.
When I find a subject, whether it is an original one or a common one, I try to play around with angles, with light, with composition etc. to make the picture something special. It should appeal to me first, then it will probably also appeal to others.
Sometimes everything fits together perfectly, like my scents and aroma picture.
I enjoy playing around during the dark evenings in the house, creating my own scene, using primitive/basic materials to create something special on a 50x50cm (2x2 ft) area.
I had been watching the perfume bottle getting empty (it needs either to be full or to be empty), just waiting to be photographed.
And then the scents and aroma challenge came along. I realised there would be many perfume shots so it needed to be something special, I wanted to include a view of the scent itself, not just the bottle. I wanted the light and color to pop and I wanted all the elements in the picture to support the name of the perfume.
I spent a good couple of hours, spread over two evenings, had fun, got a bit frustrated trying to create the scent(still fun, pushing myself) and it all worked out.
If I am stuck for extra special ideas, I just start on one of the basic ones. I find out what works and what does not. Then leave it for a day, developing it further in the back of my head, try again, try something different.
If I try to analyse my other ribbons in this respect :
1) round challenge : a shot I wanted to do for some time, did it by coincidence in the challenge period, and then thought it might fit the theme.
2) grace challenge : went out the find grace in nature, photographing autumn scenes, mushrooms, leaves, deer and landscape and stumbled across this scene.
3) tools : adjustable wrench was too obvious for me (and too damaged in my case), so I chose a different tool. Subject not very creative, but the light made it special.
Wow, what a long post. Just hope it gives some insight that lack of creativity on the subject alone should not stop you.
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12/09/2003 11:30:28 PM · #9 |
| Thanks to all that posted. It's really given me a lot to think about. Although I do wish I had the time to take 400 photos a week. I'll let you know what works best in a few challenges. |
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