Abstract. Again. Yes. Again. - DPChallenge Forums

06/27/2012 12:44:07 AM · #1

May we PLEASE stop having Abstract challenges?

Please?

How about several weeks of Amphibians?

Or several weeks of Set-up shots?

Or several weeks of ...

Or... dirt... or...

Or... how about we don't have several weeks of ANYTHING? Perhaps switch it up a bit.

Yes. I'm ranting.

I ignored the first Abstract challenge... because it's really not my thing.

I mumbled for the next Abstract challenge... but entered because I'm really ... a "team player". I like to go along with the DPC crowd.

I started groaning (out loud) for the next Abstract challenge... but entered that one, too... *sigh*

And... now ... Here I am ... Ranting.

WHAT has become of me?!

I'm a Life Is Good girl... *sigh*

I cannot imagine that this will go on any longer... so... I might enter again... while I complain.

But... I really MUST complain.

It's enough already.

Thanks.

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

06/27/2012 02:28:31 AM · #2

May I point out that having a "series" of variously-themed abstracts was a member suggestion posted in the appropriate section of the forums ... we have run almost 1600 challenges and are constantly "encouraged" to avoid the sixth iteration of some topic or other ...

KarenNfld

06/27/2012 05:53:43 AM · #3

Yes, enough of the abstract already......sheesh!!!!!!

KarenNfld

06/27/2012 05:55:17 AM · #4

Originally posted by GeneralE:

And how about all the other suggestions that are not V or VI versions - there are plenty of those suggestions by members in the appropriate section of the forums as well!!

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

06/27/2012 05:59:03 AM · #5

Birds, Structures at Night, Diptych, Zen Photography

None of those are abstract.

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

06/27/2012 06:31:12 AM · #6

I'm enjoying these abstract challenges, so different to what I would normally do, a breath of fresh air and a great learning experience.

rooum

06/27/2012 06:39:05 AM · #7

I like the idea of a set series of challenges that run one after another. The abstract series is a good one i think but i hope we get more along the same lines. Portrait series maybe, or street.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

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

06/27/2012 08:34:50 AM · #8

I'm enjoying this regular series of abstract challenges. It will end soon enough, however, and we will be back to abstracts being a hard sell. It's not like we don't have enough challenges on all the usual subjects. The one that was just announced is right up my alley.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

06/27/2012 02:07:40 PM · #9

I like the series, simply because what i learn in one abstract challenge, I can use in the next abstract challenge, without having to wait 2 years. :)

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

06/27/2012 02:23:20 PM · #10

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
May I point out that having a "series" of variously-themed abstracts was a member suggestion posted in the appropriate section of the forums ... we have run almost 1600 challenges and are constantly "encouraged" to avoid the sixth iteration of some topic or other ...

And how about all the other suggestions that are not V or VI versions - there are plenty of those suggestions by members in the appropriate section of the forums as well!!

These are the last 20 completed challenges, most of which originated as member suggestions (at least originally). While there are many "II" challenges, I don't consider repeating a topic twice in ten years to be all that excessive, and there's only one "III" and one Abstract in the list.

Originally posted by Challenge History:

Foreground Bokeh II
Abandoned II
Ray Bradbury
Mundane II
Sand II
Wide Angle II
Dead End II
Flowers For Sherpet
Abstract: Black and White
Free Study -- May
Harsh Environments III
Green Macro
Imagination
Superpowers II
In The Style Of: jmritz
Ansel Adams II
In The Rain
Spring
Autumn
Symmetry In Nature

06/27/2012 03:27:23 PM · #11

Come on, General... I'm not a complainer, you know...

And I'm not picking on anyone.

I'm asking for there not to be any more abstract challenge topic for a while.

We had them on:

7-3-12
5-28-12
4-27-12
3-2-12

Four in the last four months.

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

06/27/2012 03:59:17 PM · #12

Originally posted by LydiaToo:

Come on, General... I'm not a complainer, you know...

Didn't you start this ~~thread~~ rant?

You are objecting to one out of every fifteen or so challenges including some element of abstraction? I'm still not impressed with that being overly unimaginative.

As mentioned before, this was specifically suggested to be run as a series of related challenges -- it's not like they will be run at this pace in perpetuity. I think there were five or six topics in the original suggestion -- we should be about half-way through ... hang in there! ;-)

Message edited by author 2012-06-27 16:00:12.

Elaine

Canon EOS R5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

06/27/2012 04:05:42 PM · #13

I'm enjoying the series. I guess it helps that I like abstracts, but is a few weeks of looking at things differently really so bad?

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/27/2012 04:18:32 PM · #14

Ha! Yeah, I did start the rant... but I waited until the 4th one to say anything. I dislike abstracts. I dislike shooting for them.

It's such a specific style... that I just think it might be nice to have the Abstract and a choice of something else... instead of the Abstract and the choice of another Abstract.

For those dweeb folks like me... who don't appreciate the finer things in art. :D

ETA: I actually really like the idea of a technique being tried on many different subjects. I'm fine not entering a challenge that I'm not interested in... but I'd prefer that challenge not to occur once a month without an alternative topic offered for the ones not interested in working on that particular technique.

Message edited by author 2012-06-27 16:28:23.

Yo_Spiff

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

06/27/2012 04:27:12 PM · #15

Originally posted by LydiaToo:

I dislike abstracts. I dislike shooting for them.

Then just don't shoot for them or vote on them. I tend to stay out of floral challenges for the same reason.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/27/2012 04:31:39 PM · #16

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by LydiaToo:
I dislike abstracts. I dislike shooting for them.

Then just don't shoot for them or vote on them. I tend to stay out of floral challenges for the same reason.

Yes... but we don't have floral challenges once a month for six months.

I didn't mind the first three... but when the fourth came up... and there was an alternative given and the alternative was the same subject then I had to speak my mind. :D

It's not actually a "rant"... but an opinion. I just assumed that this was where I should put it... I've never started a rant before.

I'm kinda proud of my starting it, though! It's so rare that I rock the boat. I usually just plod along with the masses... *grin*

Yo_Spiff

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

06/27/2012 04:41:55 PM · #17

Originally posted by LydiaToo:

I'm kinda proud of my starting it, though! It's so rare that I rock the boat. I usually just plod along with the masses... *grin*

You're just a regular old troublemaker, aren't ya?

06/27/2012 05:13:15 PM · #18

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by LydiaToo:
I'm kinda proud of my starting it, though! It's so rare that I rock the boat. I usually just plod along with the masses... *grin*

You're just a regular old troublemaker, aren't ya?

*nods head up and down with pride*

KarenNfld

06/27/2012 06:22:06 PM · #19

If it had been 4 weeks of Flowers (Outdoor Flowers, Flowers in the Studio, Floral Macros, Wildflowers) or 4 weeks of Landscapes (Landscapes at Night, Landscapes with a Water Feature, Landscapes in Portrait Orientation, Rural Landscapes) I bet everyone else in this thread would be complaining, so let Lydia and me compalin about the abstracts.

Message edited by author 2012-06-27 18:22:16.

bspurgeon

Fujifilm x100

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/27/2012 09:37:36 PM · #20

I didn't really notice, probably because it's a good thing. :)

Yes, I would have been moaning a bit if we had four weeks of flowers.

ETA: More reflective of my intended point.

Message edited by author 2012-06-28 18:45:40.

06/27/2012 09:52:12 PM · #21

I'm bowing out now.

But, a good company's management will know that for every one customer who takes the time to make a complaint, there are at least ten others who feel the same way, but don't complain.

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

06/27/2012 10:53:03 PM · #22

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

... let Lydia and me compalin about the abstracts.

Is that a Freudian slip or a mere typo? ;-)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

06/27/2012 11:47:00 PM · #23

.

Message edited by author 2012-06-27 23:48:39.

tate

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

06/28/2012 02:02:53 PM · #24

I think part of the issue (for me anyway) is the constant question about what makes abstract art and what "good" abstract art is.

It is difficult to browse through hundreds of interpretations of this on DPC and is more cumbersome to vote on than a more "literal" challenge. When we detach ourselves from known subjects, it leaves us in a floating no-man's land and for some it is uncomfortable. It's like seeing someone looking at you but you can't see the expression on their face.

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves "why am I uncomfortable?" â�¦ perhaps making it an exercise in internal analysis. I think artists would want it that way.