An observation-challenge comparison

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

02/28/2012 11:20:54 AM · #1

although there are some decent foot wear shots, and some lesser Oscar entries, it seems for the most part that the "wider challenge topic" resulted in the inclusion of better shots, easier on the eye and perhaps more difficult to "judge" for good reason.

Just a thought, don't mean to offend those content on staring at broken down shoes and dirty feet... in fact some may like that sort of thing.

Yo_Spiff

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

02/28/2012 11:26:36 AM · #2

Agreed. Topics such as movie titles, song titles and such are pretty much freestudies. There's such a wide range of potential titles that you can fit just about anything in. The narrower challenge topics cna be interesting and will often bring out some creative approaches. I think it was

clive_patric_nolan who mentioned in a discussion on narrow challenge topics and creativity, that he is more creative if he has some bars to bang his head against. I know what he means. A narrow topic can give me some direction. Then sometimes it draws an utter blank.

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/28/2012 11:43:06 AM · #3

Creativity flourishes when faced with limitations.

sempermarine

Apple iPhone 5s

02/28/2012 11:51:21 AM · #4

Originally posted by tanguera:

Creativity flourishes when faced with limitations.

+1

I always try to put my own interpetation into challenges. It's the word "Challenge' that keeps me coming back for more. I certainly don't always execute the shot that's in my head, but I try and will keep trying.

MargaretNet

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

02/28/2012 11:59:31 AM · #5

Originally posted by tanguera:

Creativity flourishes when faced with limitations.

I would replace "creativity" with "reasourcefulness" in the above. To me creativity flourishes when there are no restrictions.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

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

02/28/2012 12:11:38 PM · #6

Originally posted by MargaretN:

To me creativity flourishes when there are no restrictions.

I guess everybody is wired differently in this regard. For example, I like doing humorous entries and I find it easier to create something funny within the context of a challenge topic. If the topic were "humor" I was likely just draw a blank.

mcaldo

Samsung GX-10

Pentax SMC-F 50mm f/1.7

02/28/2012 12:32:34 PM · #7

Originally posted by MargaretN:

Originally posted by tanguera:
Creativity flourishes when faced with limitations.

I would replace "creativity" with "reasourcefulness" in the above. To me creativity flourishes when there are no restrictions.

Well, there is really no rule strictly limiting your ability to interpret and take the challenge as you wish, following your creativity.
How people will vote on that is a completely different matter, but this only discard your interpretation on a personal basis, it won't get you a DQ.
Unless you a referring to post-processing.
In that case, I suspect you and Tanguera are perhaps talking about two different things entirely.

Message edited by author 2012-02-28 12:33:22.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/28/2012 01:13:52 PM · #8

Art does flourish with restrictions, but some restrictions are better than others. Footwear is too restrictive in some ways and not restrictive enough in others. It would actually make a better poetry topic than a photography topic. A better restriction is one that actually makes you pause and wonder how you would pull it off, like, "1 hour exposure" or "blindfolded" or "self portrait without a timer or remote or reflection"

02/28/2012 01:17:46 PM · #9

Originally posted by sempermarine:

Originally posted by tanguera:
Creativity flourishes when faced with limitations.

+1

I always try to put my own interpetation into challenges. It's the word "Challenge' that keeps me coming back for more. I certainly don't always execute the shot that's in my head, but I try and will keep trying.

I do agree with both of you. I agree that when the challenge is on, people's creativity and resourcefulness kick into high gear, In fact, I try to be clever as often as possible, since I can't compete with the studio pro technicality, fantastic portraiteers, and landscape wizards. I agree with the point that anyone is free to enter whatever they want with their own interpretation of the challenge- although it is a challenge right? most people who want to see a decent score shoot for the lowest common denominator voter no, don't take chances and loose liberties with the topic interpretation?

I guess my point is that I think that the challenges that aren't exactly free studies, but require the entrant to add some context to an entry, are the best. Free studies generally have the best shots, but they are all over, all out of context, and very specific challenges, like the footwear for example, yield some good shots at the expense of some that...aren't.

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/28/2012 01:21:39 PM · #10

Originally posted by blindjustice:

most people who want to see a decent score shoot for the lowest common denominator voter no, don't take chances and loose liberties with the topic interpretation

and that's what kills creativity, not restrictive topics

02/28/2012 01:34:47 PM · #11

Originally posted by posthumous:

Originally posted by blindjustice:
most people who want to see a decent score shoot for the lowest common denominator voter no, don't take chances and loose liberties with the topic interpretation

and that's what kills creativity, not restrictive topics

you are correct- and I just want to point out that I am not lobbying for nor proposing that topics be henceforth less restrictive... but you made a good point, at times people complain that the voters are dnmc'ing them and not thinking of the challenge in broad terms, but really the proof is in the entries. the footwear challenge proves it. we can't prove that voters are wildly literal, but evidence suggests the entrants are.

MargaretNet

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

02/28/2012 10:29:15 PM · #12

Originally posted by posthumous:

A better restriction is one that actually makes you pause and wonder how you would pull it off, like, "1 hour exposure" or "blindfolded" or "self portrait without a timer or remote or reflection"

I love the "blindfolded" idea assuming it is the photographer who is blindfolded! ;)