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10/26/2011 09:50:59 AM · #1 |
I've just finished voting in the candid challenge and thought there were so many really wonderful images.
It seems that candids reveal more about the photographer than the subject. There are so many poignant,
funny and moving images. I wish there were a monthly candid challenge. It's DP at its best,'in my humble ....
Congratulations to the photographers!
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10/26/2011 10:04:14 AM · #2 |
| I have to admit that my anal retentive side comes out harshly during candid challenges. There were some really nice ones, but there were a LOT that I voted down severely because they don't come close to my definition of "candid." I'm not going to go into detail specifics during voting, but I've ranted about this in the forums several times before. |
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10/26/2011 11:04:24 AM · #3 |
| Agree with both, loads of great to look at shots but also loads of DNMC in my mind. Still it really is worth a good long look at all the entries as it is a very rewarding experience. |
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10/26/2011 11:08:03 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
my definition of "candid." |
So if you don't mind... What is your definition of "candid"? |
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10/26/2011 11:19:08 AM · #5 |
I found this post from waaaaayyyy back. :) Here's Alan's Official Guide. Hopefully he doesn't mind me sharing it after all these years.
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Well, I'm glad you asked! Every other candid challenge we've had has featured LOTS of stuff that I would not personally consider to be candid. Therefore, I proudly present:
THE OFFICIAL ALAN FREED GUIDE TO WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT A CANDID SHOT, KEEPING IN MIND THAT I VOTE WITH THESE THINGS IN MIND, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO FLAME ME IF YOU PLEASE
A candid shot, for the purpose of this authoritative instruction manual, is a shot of a person, unaware that they're being photographed, going about their daily routine in such a way that they would not expect that they were being photographed.
Therefore, the following items do NOT qualify as being candid:
1. People who are looking straight at the camera, and are posing for it. Seems obvious enough, but every other Candid challenge has featured several of these.
2. Young children. Yeah, sure they don't know they're being photographed, but they also don't know they shouldn't be eating paste. This is a cop-out. Step out of the comfort zone, dudes!
3. Pets. Similar to photographing young children. Pets have no clue what a camera is. ANY shot of a pet is, by nature "candid," because they don't know any better. Simply put, if the subject is incapable of posing, they can't be the subject of a "candid" shot. And if you're one of these people who believes your pet is capable of posing and knows that it's being photographed, well... I'll give you the names of a few good therapists.
4. Performers. This covers anyone who is on a stage, or playing a sport. They all have some degree of expectation that they could be photographed while doing these things. Again, get out of the comfort zone, dude!
5. This should be obvious, but inanimate objects are NOT possibly the subjects of a candid photo! One previous challenge featured a "candid" shot of a set of pottery for heaven's sake! Oh, and let's not forget a couple "candid" shots of the moon that have crept in there, too.
6. People who are asleep, in a coma, or otherwise incapacitated. 'Nuff said.
Off the top of my head, those are the things that drive me to the point of insanity when voting on these challenges. I purposely didn't read the rest of this thread before posting these, so I apologize if it appears that I'm taking stuff that others have already said.
Flame on! :) |
Message edited by author 2011-10-26 11:20:48. |
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10/26/2011 11:30:31 AM · #6 |
I'm curious as well. I certainly don't see loads of DNMC. I see a few here and there, but the rest I think fit perfectly well.
I think some people think candids need to be street photography. I think street photography is definitely a subset of candid. But I think candid is much wider ranging. |
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10/26/2011 11:32:41 AM · #7 |
Ah... I agree with the young children to a certain extent -- but not completely.
If the child is with an adult, then I think the shot is twice as difficult as just an adult shot, because people are paranoid about their children being photographed. Also, kids from about 4 or 5 up have a tendency to mug for cameras whenever they see them. So sometimes it's even more difficult to get a truly candid shot of a child. |
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10/26/2011 11:49:16 AM · #8 |
I disagree with that list.
I always thought this image quite powerful (see #6 on The List):
Perhaps, we need more pictorial examples and less words?
Message edited by author 2011-10-26 11:49:35. |
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10/26/2011 12:13:34 PM · #9 |
how about this? candid? Yes it is , and IMO one of the best on DPC. Braking rule#1 because someone is looking at the camera?
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10/26/2011 12:21:37 PM · #10 |
I find Alan's definition to be a little on the restrictive side. I've taken photos of people that were well aware they were being photographed, but were not posing. for example, this guy was busy chatting on about the restoration work they were doing on the hotel. Is it not a candid because he was aware of me?
I understand his point about kids, but I think that is a personal preference thing. Kids often ham it up for the camera when they know is is there, so candids of children do have value.
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10/26/2011 12:39:36 PM · #11 |
This guy looked at me at the very last moment, it's still a candid in my eyes, if i had continued taking pictures then those wouldn't be of such a candid nature.
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10/26/2011 12:44:24 PM · #12 |
I have no problem with that shot... you missed the part of #1 that says "and are posing for it."
I wrote that several years back. I still agree with 95% of what I wrote there, and those things are in my mind as I'm voting. I've always felt that the Candid challenges are a chance to step out of the comfort zone and get some genuine shots that really tell a story about someone's everyday life. Some accomplish that, a lot don't.
Of course this is just my opinion... everyone is entitled to their own interpretation.
Originally posted by Basta:
how about this? candid? Yes it is , and IMO one of the best on DPC. Braking rule#1 because someone is looking at the camera?
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10/26/2011 12:46:01 PM · #13 |
Again, I agree. He's looking at the camera, but doesn't appear as though he is posing.
Originally posted by jagar:
This guy looked at me at the very last moment, it's still a candid in my eyes, if i had continued taking pictures then those wouldn't be of such a candid nature.
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10/26/2011 12:55:36 PM · #14 |
| Taken informerly esp. without the subjects knowledge. |
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10/26/2011 01:12:57 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Again, I agree. He's looking at the camera, but doesn't appear as though he is posing. |
I think the "you are busted" look, skirts the outer edge of a candid. A candid by its nature is an image where the subject has no relationship with the camera, they are being honest, natural, candid. The act of focusing a lens on a person creates an energy, a bond between the subject and the photographer, and like Schrödinger's cat, observation changes outcome. Once the subject is aware of having a lens pointed at them, their behavior changes, it is no longer an unguarded moment.
Of course as Alan says, if the subject is incapable of understanding what a camera is, or that their picture is being taken, it isn't much of a candid. Of course it fulfills the goal of a lack of awareness, but the potential of awareness has to exist for the candid to be any good, so a good candid cannot be of an animal, or a potted plant. |
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10/26/2011 02:00:27 PM · #16 |
If I can remember, after the challenge is over, I'm going to comment with my two cents. . ..
Things are not always as they appear. . .:P |
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10/26/2011 02:13:22 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
Of course as Alan says, if the subject is incapable of understanding what a camera is, or that their picture is being taken, it isn't much of a candid. Of course it fulfills the goal of a lack of awareness, but the potential of awareness has to exist for the candid to be any good, so a good candid cannot be of an animal, or a potted plant. |
Just playing devils advocateâ¦
I think you could consider the awareness to be "no awareness of the photographerâs presence" not just âno awareness of the camera" If the subject has the ability to be "aware" of you (i.e. no potted plants) but it isnât aware, then it could be a subject of a candid. Fro example, even Alan says in his description âANY shot of a pet is, by nature candidâ.
I agree with the sentiment though, they are not the most impressive candids but they are candid none-the-less and therefore not DNMC.
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10/26/2011 06:29:28 PM · #18 |
| Put me in the camp that there are not a lot of candid shots in this candid challenge. I finally quit voting. The highest score I gave was a 7. |
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10/26/2011 07:29:39 PM · #19 |
| I hope all those making these candid comments know they are not being read. |
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10/26/2011 07:34:08 PM · #20 |
| Curious to know what you had thought about my image after the end of voting. Surely is candid and not posed but I'd bet someone didn't think the same and this makes me feel a little sad about it. |
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10/26/2011 07:40:16 PM · #21 |
| Interpretation is always going to be subjective, no doubt about it. But for all those trumpeting their expertise in the knowledge of what is or isn't candid, I say you DNMC in your voting responsibilities if you mark down and don't bother using the comment box below to qualify the mark (unless that is stepping outside your comfort zone). |
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10/27/2011 08:18:04 AM · #22 |
I think pets can definitely pose
What was the number of that therapist? |
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10/27/2011 08:32:36 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
2. Young children. Yeah, sure they don't know they're being photographed, but they also don't know they shouldn't be eating paste. This is a cop-out. Step out of the comfort zone, dudes! |
Eating paste? What about smoking cigarettes? |
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10/27/2011 08:49:07 AM · #24 |
Alan's list is viable and the exceptions just confirm it. (It gets harder with the people in a coma, etc where it is truly up to the photographer. Yes, these pictures are not candid but almost always so powerful it's hard to look at. Just like the war shots or pictures of hardy, third world places)
= a true candid since the subject was caught unguarded and just noticed the photographer
= Candid. The man staring at the camera is defying the photographer and in a sea of people unaware of a camera he says: I know what you're up to!
As to children, IMO, they become too easy a subject being at hand for some photographers. But there are far too many pics with kids here and at some point I gave up marking these images unless there is a really candid one. A child at play, unaware of being photographed makes a great subject IF the photographer does not put his/her money only on the cuteness of the subject.
Message edited by author 2011-10-27 08:50:13. |
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10/27/2011 09:17:57 AM · #25 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
4. Performers. This covers anyone who is on a stage, or playing a sport. They all have some degree of expectation that they could be photographed while doing these things. Again, get out of the comfort zone, dude! |
According to this argument, a photo of Roger Federer playing tennis cannot be a candid. However what about a photo of an amateur playing tennis? I don't think there would be a high degree of expectation for getting photographed in this instance.
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