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05/19/2004 11:52:48 AM · #1 |
I just scrolled through the habits challenge and have to say that for the most part, it kinda grossed me out a little. Who's idea was that again? :-)
Too bad, cause there are some nice shots in there. But it'll be hard to go through them again knowing how many toilets, nose pickers and other lovely subjects I'll have to look at....
But as they are habits for some, they are fitting to the challenge.
Good luck to all! :-) |
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05/19/2004 12:28:06 PM · #2 |
I totally agree. I looked through many of the shots last night thinking, "Who wants to see that?" I expected a little more creativity.
My original idea for this challenge was to paint a model in colorful clown makeup and have that person reach for one of several red foam balls- literally 'picking his nose.' An alternate thought was to show a section of chain heated and doused with water to give off steam- literally 'chain smoking.' Alas, I was too busy this week to execute the shots.
Sure, there would be some that slap a 1 on such an entry for Not Meeting the ChallengeĂ¢„¢, but that's OK. I got five 1 votes for a colorful, in-focus entry on Something New II (essentially a free-study), so I'm slowly learning to ignore the nitwits. |
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05/19/2004 12:38:00 PM · #3 |
There are many good shots that qualify within the habits challenge. I don't care however how fitting they are if I don't enjoy looking at the photo.
The subject must IMO always be something worthwhile looking at regardless of the challenge.
This is a photo challenge - not an interpretation contest... |
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05/19/2004 12:49:01 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
My original idea for this challenge was to paint a model in colorful clown makeup and have that person reach for one of several red foam balls- literally 'picking his nose.' An alternate thought was to show a section of chain heated and doused with water to give off steam- literally 'chain smoking.' Alas, I was too busy this week to execute the shots. |
Great ideas! But you're probably right about some folks not getting it though. But I really like the creativity. :-) Much more appealing! |
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05/19/2004 12:55:04 PM · #5 |
I had a photography teacher quote Paul Simon at the class once, " No matter how important the words that you say are, if the tune isn't pretty, no one will want to listen to it." How you make certain subjects that are by their nature ugly look pretty in a shot, I have no idea, but Im sure someone has done it.
Message edited by author 2004-05-19 12:56:44.
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05/19/2004 12:55:08 PM · #6 |
I think these are the most lackluster entries for the 'Habits' challenge that I have seen to date (except mine of course!).
So far I have given out a lot of 4's and a few 5's, one 6. Maybe they will look better tomorrow!
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05/19/2004 12:58:08 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Are_62:
There are many good shots that qualify within the habits challenge. I don't care however how fitting they are if I don't enjoy looking at the photo.
The subject must IMO always be something worthwhile looking at regardless of the challenge.
This is a photo challenge - not an interpretation contest... |
You might not think this is an interpretation contest, but it clearly is. In a thread that ran a couple of weeks ago, I was amazed at the number of DPC'ers who expressed that It was the photographers responsibilty to communicate directly to them with photos that were strongly true to the theme. Many said that if they didn't feel a photo expressed the theme, they asigned an automatic one, without considering the image in any other context. |
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05/19/2004 12:59:20 PM · #8 |
| you guys keep marking those toilets and noses down, I'll be happy, I'm hanging on just below 6 at the moment. |
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05/19/2004 01:07:16 PM · #9 |
This is the most "I don't get it" as it gets for me. Most of the habits entries I've seen so far appear unplanned snapshots of very uninteresting, but often disgusting stuff. Maybe I haven't gotten to the good stuff yet. I don't usually "rant and rave", but thisone really does surprise me.
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05/19/2004 01:15:06 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by rananculus:
You might not think this is an interpretation contest, but it clearly is. |
You are right - I should have said that it shouldn't be an interpretation contest :)
And yes, many voters are looking for the theme as the most imortant factor so I can see why so many takes photos that the majoriry of us want to see. |
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05/19/2004 01:44:26 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Are_62:
Originally posted by rananculus:
You might not think this is an interpretation contest, but it clearly is. |
You are right - I should have said that it shouldn't be an interpretation contest :)
And yes, many voters are looking for the theme as the most imortant factor so I can see why so many takes photos that the majoriry of us want to see. |
I have a theory. I'll state it, and then sit back and wait to be blasted for a couple of hours. People in general, have an inherent need to live inside of boundaries. The hardest thing to do in life is to live outside of the box.
It is a whole lot easier to say to oneself, that a particular entry doesn't fit my definition, than it is to crawl out of the box and explore someone else's world. It's the lazy-man's excuse for not having to be creative. |
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05/19/2004 02:17:07 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by rananculus:
I have a theory. I'll state it, and then sit back and wait to be blasted for a couple of hours. People in general, have an inherent need to live inside of boundaries. The hardest thing to do in life is to live outside of the box.
It is a whole lot easier to say to oneself, that a particular entry doesn't fit my definition, than it is to crawl out of the box and explore someone else's world. It's the lazy-man's excuse for not having to be creative. |
I won't blast you at all...in fact, I am inclined to agree with you. I have been guilty of that myself, and from now on, I will try to do better.
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05/19/2004 02:20:57 PM · #13 |
Sorry to cross post this, but two threads have evolved to be one and the same.
Others may not agree with me, but I wish that they would put an additional statement underneath each challenge:
"The point of the challenge isn't just to take a picture that depicts the subject matter or theme: the point of the challenge is to do so in a way that results in an artistic or compelling photo."
This is not just a problem with the current challenge.
Likewise, I wish when people suggest (or approve) topics, they think about how (or whether) it's possible for the general population of this site to meet the above statement for that theme.
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05/19/2004 02:29:47 PM · #14 |
I, too, was surprised by the lack of quality and integrity of these Habit photos.
This challenge made me think, a lot, about how people see and interpret things. I really wanted to do a procrastination shot of me staring out the window of my mid-rise apartment at downtown, watching the cars go by, while I was supposed to be studying for an exam. In reality, I ended up shutting the blinds so I would not be distracted, but I couldn't help look at the blinds a few times. I really didn't want to study. I have a bad habit of daydreaming. But if I had taken a photo of myself daydreaming, hardly anyone without creative thoughts would have understood it. So, I thought to myself... how do I portray a habit while maintaining communication and not grossing anyone out. Even exercise would show sweaty people!
I opted for something very clean, yet not pleasant to look at persay, but the photo was done with care and attention to detail. So, for quality, I hope I get some high remarks... I didn't do a nose-picking or butt-picking photo :) Those are over the top! Wow...eew. Anyhow, it was a truly thought provoking challenge for me. I think my mind is starting to alter when it comes to challenges. I don't think about the subject as much as I think about an interesting capture of any subject, quality being my most important focus.
I don't know... i could have done candid, but didn't want to... it's too boring (at times) when there are such great shots to be taken! Anyhow, enough of my babbling... good luck everyone! |
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05/19/2004 02:37:50 PM · #15 |
| it would seem that most people share the opinon of the comments so far made... on the whole my shot has been getting a bit of a slagging off in the last few hours, plummetting from a reasonably respectable 5.28 to a 4.63 in not very many votes. and i've got three comments so far, all each comprising of a single solitary word. seems apathy is the constant habit this week... |
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05/19/2004 02:52:46 PM · #16 |
so when everybody here is saying the entries for the habit challenge are way below artistic level..then...also the ones saying this turned in a bad photo?
Am I reading posts here from the little group that DID turn in a high quality shot or did you too turn in a bad photo just as the next one, but trying to talk yourself happy by judging all other voters as 'narrow minded'?? :lol: !!!
Personally, when I see a shot that looks good and has technical high quality written all over it, but it doesn't fit the challenge (or: I'm having a hard time with how the *peep* that picture expresses 'habits') I'll still give it a high score..if the picture doesn't look good, it doesn't look good.. (and my picture does look good, but is still getting a low score just because you find it offensive? How's that for narrow minded!! :D )
DISCLAIMER: take my post with a lot of cynism please!! It is not a rant!!
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05/19/2004 03:27:31 PM · #17 |
| I guess I just feel a challenge out by how many "WOW's" I say when I am looking at the images! The Centered Composition had very many "WOW's" and the habits did not have so many. There are always great photos, but overall, not as many I think (in the Habits challenge) as with some of the other challenges I've seen lately. |
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05/19/2004 03:46:06 PM · #18 |
I have to agree that there is a lot of grossness, and I saw quite a few photos that looked very snapshot-ish, but there are still a good number of great shots that will stand out all the more, I think, when voting ends. I thought my "risky" one was going to do fairly well, since it managed to stay over six until this morning, but it's fallen now to barely over five.
Boo! lol
I did give out several tens this challenge, at any rate. I found myself often thinking, "Is that a habit?" but I stayed away from lowering scores as much as I could. Habits are so subjective. |
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05/19/2004 04:45:00 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Fotowereld:
so when everybody here is saying the entries for the habit challenge are way below artistic level..then...also the ones saying this turned in a bad photo?
Am I reading posts here from the little group that DID turn in a high quality shot or did you too turn in a bad photo just as the next one, but trying to talk yourself happy by judging all other voters as 'narrow minded'?? :lol: !!!
Personally, when I see a shot that looks good and has technical high quality written all over it, but it doesn't fit the challenge (or: I'm having a hard time with how the *peep* that picture expresses 'habits') I'll still give it a high score..if the picture doesn't look good, it doesn't look good.. (and my picture does look good, but is still getting a low score just because you find it offensive? How's that for narrow minded!! :D )
DISCLAIMER: take my post with a lot of cynism please!! It is not a rant!! |
I, personally, did not submit to this challenge. But as I always do, even if I don't submit, enjoy browsing all the challenges. I too had a hard time trying to convey a habit artistically, sometimes you have a great idea, such as the procastination one brought up by Mirodonamy, but have a hard time trying to transfer it into a photo and have it be understood. Here lies the "challenge".
I have nothing against "offensive" subject matter. Sometimes it can be quite thought provoking. I just thought there were alot of "gross" shots that I, personally, didn't enjoy looking at. But that's just me just making an observation. :)
As I stated before there were quite a few really good shots, it's just wading through some of the rest of them that turned my stomach. Would you hang a snapshot of someone picking their nose on your wall? This is just one of those challenges, such as the Garbage challenge and Desolation challenge, where it helps to be artful and maybe not so nasty. :-) Scalvert had some great ideas he posted earlier that still had to do with nosepicking (yuck!) but in a totally original way, IMO anyways. Not a rant, just an observation by someone who couldn't come up with anything better. |
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05/19/2004 04:52:20 PM · #20 |
My entry is not doing very well, average just under 5, but I am getting a lot more than the usual number of comments. With 79 votes, 7 comments!
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05/19/2004 05:48:46 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by mirdonamy:
I think my mind is starting to alter when it comes to challenges. I don't think about the subject as much as I think about an interesting capture of any subject, quality being my most important focus.
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That is where I am at I think. Very well stated Mirdonamy. I have a lot of ideas that I am realizing are not literal enough to always be interpreted here, but maybe I could learn by attempting. That is more important, so when push comes to shove, I think I will keep directing my work at improving my abilities than necessarily producing a high-scorer, but that doesn't really rank with me. It would be nice to hit both a few times, but I am a sucker for the more subtle and understated! |
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05/19/2004 05:56:41 PM · #22 |
Good thing I didn't submit my unoriginal idea :)
Message edited by author 2004-05-19 23:19:14. |
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05/19/2004 06:05:41 PM · #23 |
| A couple of challenges ago, it was pictures of poop. Now, it's pictures of toilets, not all of which are even clean. Not terribly creative. |
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05/19/2004 06:18:07 PM · #24 |
I find that any subject can be portrayed in an artistic way, but it is all in the eye and mind of the observer that really calls the shots. When people vote, some vote on "Would I hang this on my wall as art?" others vote "Is this photo technically great, even if I don't like it?" and yet others vote "Do I like it, yes or no?"
Okay, those aren't they only ways people vote... I just wanted to bring up the point that, no matter what the subject is, do it the way YOU want to see it. If you'd put it in your photo album to show your friends and family or in your portfolio to show clients, great! If you never want to see that photo again, after you took it... you probably should have reconsidered NOT entering it, since you had little (or no) pride in your work. For those of DPC that just had fun and enjoyed it, good for them too!
Everyone is here for a different reason. The trick is, figure out why you are here and use that reasoning to guide you and the work you have decided to share with the rest of us. :) |
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05/19/2004 08:13:55 PM · #25 |
Yuck, there's some pretty nasty ones. I usually tend to just skip them in the voting process because I do not want to have to see that (some of them) EVER. And with the amount of time I spend on examining the photos when I vote, it's not worth it.
Message edited by author 2004-05-19 20:15:43.
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