Format - Magazine Cover Revisited

03/22/2004 11:27:36 AM · #26

this is an interesting thread. i think the decision as to whether to leave space for title etc should lie with the magazine being "imitated." my photo is from a mag that frames the cover photo with whitespace for title and etc. many magazines like that offered by trinch let the cover photo drift over the mag title.

i am voting on the basis of the photo being appropriately oriented (points off for landscape, in general) and true to the magazine's typical quality and effect. it's requiring some time but i am actually going to the magazines' websites to check their style when i am uncertain.

i think it's important to use the resources available and give fair appraisal of the work that's submitted. we all take pride in our efforts and as such should receive recognition where due.

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

03/22/2004 11:30:16 AM · #27

Originally posted by jonpink:

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
I submitted one in landscape... I would expect an editor to add extra graphic design, titles, etc. around it as the picture is mostly negative space.

That's kind of like saying I submitted a red image to the orange challenge becasue I expect a designer could turn it orange.

Excellent point

muckpond

Nikon D200

03/22/2004 11:30:55 AM · #28

i think the main point is whether or not the photo is decent enough to be a cover of a magazine.

worrying about aspect ratios is pretty silly, if you ask me. if you really want to base your score on something so arbitrary as YOUR interpretation of how the photo should be cropped, that's your perogative.

but i think you're missing the point, which is: is it a good photo or not?

ganders

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/22/2004 11:37:28 AM · #29

Originally posted by muckpond:

but i think you're missing the point, which is: is it a good photo or not?

Experience shows that, for a significant proportion of the voting public, that's not true. The point for them is, does it fit their interpretation of the challenge?

If not, you'll get low votes. And with Magazine Covers, which was argued about extensively last time (and that was before the "does not meet the challenge" people got quite so determined with their 1's) you have to expect non-portrait shots to get panned.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

03/22/2004 11:39:51 AM · #30

I've had at least one image were I've been told that it would have been used for the cover, if it was shot in portrait aspect ratio. Should I have told the editor that they were wrong ?

It certainly taught me a lesson (shoot both portrait and landscape of a good scene)

Message edited by author 2004-03-22 11:41:22.

03/22/2004 12:06:39 PM · #31

I have been told that this is the worse thing you can do, to come back and start justifing your shot. If you had explained your thoughts when you submitted it, it would have been fine. I have been told that Editiors do not want to hear this type of thing and in the future they will not ask for your services.

Originally posted by Gordon:

.... Should I have told the editor that they were wrong ?

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

03/22/2004 12:12:30 PM · #32

Originally posted by Calvus:

Sorry - I was being rhetortical/ sarcastic :) My point was that I need to provide images that the magazine wants - not try and get them to fit. Typically for the cover they want portrait shots, with some space at the top - arguing otherwise isn't going to get very far - unless they've specifically requested something in a different format (e.g., landscape and even there, there are some fairly specific ideas on layout)

Message edited by author 2004-03-22 12:42:55.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/22/2004 12:15:38 PM · #33

I figured that, I thought I would make the point anyhow :)

Originally posted by Gordon:

Sorry - I was being rhetortical/ sarcastic :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/22/2004 12:21:58 PM · #34

So if my submission for a real magazine has to be landscape, people will vote it down because they think the magazine should be redisigned to use only portrait photos, I would get low votes?

If that is the mood of the voters, then, to paraphrase Dickens, the mood of the voters is an ass.

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

03/22/2004 12:36:40 PM · #35

I had to ask because this was not specified in the rules.
I just wanted to get a feeling for how the overall majority was going to vote. I will vote on the photo itself, if it is landscape I will figure it to be a portion of the cover and not a full page photo for I have never seen a full page landscape shot on a cover.

I know this has been said over and over; but I feel we need to take more time in voting and not just automatically vote a shot down. Not enough thought is being put into the voting process. If we do not have the time to vote on all of them, then vote on the ones you like and feel you understand, then try to go back. I think some voters are doing a great injustice for the photographer and work done by voting and not understanding the thought process put into the shots.

Just my 2 cents worth :)

Originally posted by GeneralE:

coolhar

03/22/2004 12:55:54 PM · #36

What if I submitted a portrait orientated photo to a magazine called Landscape Digest?

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

03/22/2004 01:23:09 PM · #37

Originally posted by coolhar:

What if I submitted a portrait orientated photo to a magazine called Landscape Digest?

I think the trade descriptions people should give them a call for false advertising.

daisy77

Nikon D70

03/22/2004 01:24:21 PM · #38

Originally posted by coolhar:

What if I submitted a portrait orientated photo to a magazine called Landscape Digest?

exactly the point i was trying to make. go to the magazine website or to amazon.com, take a minute to see what the cover looks like and then decide whether the photo is fitting. there aren't that many entries and most are magazines we know but the few that aren't shouldn't be docked because we assume that the orientation should be different or some aspect of the photo is inauthentic or unfit.

daisy77

Nikon D70

03/22/2004 01:25:07 PM · #39

Originally posted by gordon:

I think the trade descriptions people should give them a call for false advertising.

touche!

Message edited by author 2004-03-22 13:26:56.

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/22/2004 01:25:16 PM · #40

I think that it depends on the magazine and the photo in question. I checked the cover photos for all back-issues of the magazine that I chose to shoot for, and about 70% were full-page portrait photos, and the remainder were landscape photos. The landscape-oriented photos were usually placed across the full width of the cover, although a few were framed with large borders. The space above and/or below the cover photo is filled with either solid color bars and text, or smaller insert photos. I doubt that a good editor would pass up a great photo just because it was landscape.

03/22/2004 01:27:00 PM · #41

I really like this shot!
I can just imagine walking this during an early sunrise or evening sunset.

Originally posted by Gordon:

I think the trade descriptions people should give them a call for false advertising.

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Canon EOS-20D