Why I just handed out a BUNCH of 5's in 6 words

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

07/12/2011 11:02:19 PM · #1

You don't understand the challenge topic....

Seriously, this is about telling a STORY IN 6 WORDS.. If your words are meaningless outside of the picture's context, or if your words don't tell a story - then... BOOM 5. (and I very seriously considered making them all 3's)..

Really folks, most of these were haiku at best, trash at worst, there was even one that made me want to pay for a remedial English course for someone.

The given example was "Baby shoes for sale, never worn" - an awesome example to be sure - it tells a deep and emotional story that compels one to imagine many details that were not given. Surprisingly, even most of the examples given @ //www.smithmag.net/sixwords/ are pretty much crap. Too many tell the entire shallow story.. Disappointing.

To be fair, I did give out a couple of high scores, one to a rather mediocre image, but they NAILED the topic, hitting just the right blend of emotion, depth and spurring of the imagination.

As a final note: My apologies to those who took excellent photos and yet were still given a crappy score by me, your images deserved much better.

Message edited by author 2011-07-12 23:28:27.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

07/12/2011 11:10:34 PM · #2

Kudos for having the cajones to post that when I didn't. I did lower a few votes myself once I gave it some serious thought. Many entries seemed to be freestudy shots that simply had a 6 word title applied and didn't seem to convey any story or message to me. I lowered some wonderful photos to 5's. It's not often my average cast for a challenge is under a 6. It was 5.8 for this one, but that's still on the generous side, relatively speaking.

jamesgoss

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

07/12/2011 11:16:50 PM · #3

I tried (and failed) at commenting on all of them, but I split my score into 2 votes and averaged them together: photo quality + narrative quality. I enjoyed going through this and voting, even if many of them didn't seem "memoir" ish. Photography as an illustration or entryway into a story is quite interesting, although I do agree that quite a bit felt arbitrarily related, or a free study with a 6 word title.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/12/2011 11:31:07 PM · #4

I felt the topic was confused between "story" and "memoir." I gave credit if it sounded like either.

sjhuls

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/12/2011 11:46:47 PM · #5

I guess I didn't come into this with such a narrow definition of the challenge. I figure if the title tells a story it fits the challenge. It doesn't have to convey any deep meaning just "tell a story" thats it. However, I do agree that there were quite a few images that just had a six word title and did not tell any story.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/12/2011 11:54:25 PM · #6

Originally posted by sjhuls:

Which is why I handed out 5's instead of 3's...

I just found the whole thing a little disappointing, as I was looking forward to some really wonderful stuff from all the great talent around here. Again, several people did really nail it though, and that was a treat!

As for the "narrow" interpretation? I'm usually prone to that, but then again, I don't think your should be substituted for you're and I REALLY hate the term interwebs... Guess I'm not much of an interpretation guy, I do typically see things in life as very much a continuum of right/wrong good/bad etc.. With lots of gray in each zone - but here? Screw the gray, I want to see people NAIL the topic.

ETA: I expect that I'll have a few spasms of angst when I see the results.

Message edited by author 2011-07-12 23:55:31.

sjhuls

Canon EOS-7D

07/13/2011 12:22:51 AM · #7

Turns out our definition of what fits the challenge is more similar that different. Many of my favorites didn't even make top 10 or even near to it. But there were a few that I was glad to see made it in there.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

07/13/2011 12:24:09 AM · #8

Originally posted by sjhuls:

OHHH gawd, the spasms....

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

07/13/2011 12:36:16 AM · #9

Originally posted by Cory:

OHHH gawd, the spasms....

This is why we have anonymous voting. Not that mine was terribly anonymous, but I couldn't do anything about that sign in the background except choose a different shot.

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/13/2011 12:39:28 AM · #10

Well I don't care if some of you didn't like my image...some did...and so did I!

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

07/13/2011 12:43:47 AM · #11

Originally posted by Judi:

Well I don't care if some of you didn't like my image...some did...and so did I!

Do be very clear... I liked a bunch of the images. I just didn't love how they fit into the theme of the challenge.

Actually, the geologist in me LOVED your image - so there. ;)

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

07/13/2011 12:45:54 AM · #12

I did the same, Cory. I also wasn't crazy about titles that came off as sayings, as opposed to telling me something about the author.

glockguy

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

07/13/2011 12:46:45 AM · #13

Cory....

Your inner geologist didnt like my hoodoo?????

skewsme

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens

07/13/2011 12:48:14 AM · #14

Originally posted by Cory:

Actually, the geologist in me LOVED your image - so there. ;)

let him out!

07/13/2011 12:49:11 AM · #15

Originally posted by skewsme:

Originally posted by Cory:
Actually, the geologist in me LOVED your image - so there. ;)

let him out!

I do occasionally, but the guy just blows shit up and beats everything to death with a sledgehammer.... ;)