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10/25/2010 12:40:30 PM · #1 |
So I am fairly new to DPC and have now judged several challenges, and one question keeps coming to my mind. How do I judge a blurry or abstract photograph?
I am not familiar with this technique and so I have a hard time knowing if it actually is a good representation of this type of photography or is it just a bad photo. A clear crisp photo is easy for me to judge. I look at the lighting, the focus, the crop, and how well they are portraying their idea, but blurry ones and abstract ones leave me feeling lost.
Three thoughts come to mind when trying to decide what to do, so I thought I would share them and then get everyone else's opinion. Especially from those who specialize in blurry or abstract photographs.
1. My first thought is to just not judge that photo at all. If I am unfamiliar with something maybe I should leave the judging to those who do.
2. Second thought is to judge based more on the emotion that photo gives me. However, I think my emotions are somewhat biased and I may not give a fair score as a result.
3. I can just keep guessing and let my instinct tell me whether it is a good photo or not and score accordingly.
I would love to hear any and all thoughts on this, I can't be the only one who has a hard time with this. |
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10/25/2010 12:45:42 PM · #2 |
Do you find it appealing and does it connect with you in any way? That is what I ask when such an image comes up.
Abstracts tend to have a harder time in challenges which don't have abstract oriented subjects and most that enter such images are well aware that these can be risky shots. There are a few members that have really mastered them, however.  skewsme is one of my own favorites in this genre.
Message edited by author 2010-10-25 12:48:55.
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10/25/2010 12:50:42 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Do you find it appealing and does it connect with you in any way? That is what I ask when such an image comes up.
Abstracts tend to have a harder time in challenges which don't have abstract oriented subjects and most that enter such images are well aware that these can be risky shots. There are a few members that have really mastered them, however. skewsme is one of my own favorites in this genre. |
and how well do you think it meets the challenge criteria. |
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10/25/2010 12:52:47 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Do you find it appealing and does it connect with you in any way? That is what I ask when such an image comes up.
Abstracts tend to have a harder time in challenges which don't have abstract oriented subjects and most that enter such images are well aware that these can be risky shots. There are a few members that have really mastered them, however. skewsme is one of my own favorites in this genre. |
There have been some that I have connected with or related to so I give them a higher score accordingly. But it's still hard to give them as much as they may deserve. |
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10/25/2010 12:57:48 PM · #5 |
This is a wonderful question! I felt the same way when I first started here. I had absolutely no experience with abstract photos, and didn't really care for them. So I didn't know what to do with them.
The more you're on the site, the more you'll see and experience these types of photos, and if you're like me, it will expand your tastes and your horizons quite a bit.
Start browsing through more abstracts to see what appeals to you. Do you like color? flow? lines? feeling of movement?
check out some of Ursula's stuff -- it's incredible. ursula's abstracts
Check out some of the previous abstract challenges. For example: abstract motion
This was the challenge that really opened my eyes to blur, camera motion, etc. Try some shots panning, zooming, rotating your camera, with a slower shutter speed. I find that if you try working with abstracts in your own photography, it helps you appreciate others a little more.
Look through the posthumous ribbons thread. It's an interesting lesson in abstract. Many, many times I look at what's in there an think "you have to be crazy! What in the world is appealing about that photo?!", But sometimes, it makes you sit back and just say "wow. I never thought that I could ever like something like that, but this is awesome!"
Message edited by author 2010-10-25 13:01:01.
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10/25/2010 01:00:37 PM · #6 |
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Message edited by author 2010-10-25 13:00:55.
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10/25/2010 01:01:30 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
But it's still hard to give them as much as they may deserve. |
Why not? If you can't give it a higher vote, then maybe it didn't deserve it.
I tend to like abstract photography and I've sometimes entered them. I don't like all of them however, and it's very much a matter of personal preferences.
Message edited by author 2010-10-25 13:03:26.
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10/25/2010 01:05:40 PM · #8 |
I would suggest doing a personal study on the subject of blurry or abstract photos and familiarize yourself with the techniques, difficulties and outcomes of that genre in order to gain an appreciation for it and become a better judge of the type. I found several tutorials and tips out there and did my own study. I feel that by participating in this myself I became familiar with the basic elements of blurry photography and now feel I have a better appreciation for the genre and can pick out certain techniques when I look at photos. I am not advanced by any means but I am gaining an eye for goodness and thinking outside the box a little more.
In my study I found that an abstract or blurry or out of focus photo still has to contain the elements of good photography regarding composition, color, mood, etc.
I created this blurry abstract photo for a side challenge. I think it is an interesting photo and depending on the challenge entered it could be a good scoring image due to three factors: Color, Composition, use of camera motion to create blur and emotional impact. (OK, that's four factors) The final result depended more on serendipity rather than my technical planning or expertise and I liked that because often the things I plan turn out to flop. So it was very unique to see something unplanned become something effective. |
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10/25/2010 01:05:53 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Do you find it appealing and does it connect with you in any way? That is what I ask when such an image comes up.
Abstracts tend to have a harder time in challenges which don't have abstract oriented subjects and most that enter such images are well aware that these can be risky shots. There are a few members that have really mastered them, however. skewsme is one of my own favorites in this genre. |
There have been some that I have connected with or related to so I give them a higher score accordingly. But it's still hard to give them as much as they may deserve. |
A photograph only ever DESERVES what you give it. Never more, never less.
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10/25/2010 01:08:31 PM · #10 |
I'm a mediocre photographer and also my knowledge about photographic techniques is very poor. But this is my opinion.
Many times it's a question of tastes and it's quite subjective : imagine the photo of a pretty woman (or an handsome man), it's not so easy to only judge the quality of the photo and not the beauty of the woman (or man), the same can happen with fantastic landscapes and other themes. Imagine now a photo with perfect composition, all in focus, nice colors, right amount of sharpness, nothing distracting etc, but for some reason you don't like the subject, how would you score that photo ? Imo there's a mix between technique and feelings.
I use my emotions when I vote, that's why I like  and  from recent challenges.
And you can always leave comments explaining your feelings or telling why you have given a low score or just that you have liked the photo. |
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10/25/2010 01:19:53 PM · #11 |
I started appreciating them more simply because I wanted to. I kept seeing these weird funky shots that held no appeal for me, and afterwhile I got irritated. Why in the heck did someone bother taking that shot? So I started looking deeper. Trying to figure out what appealed to them. It helped a little.
The thing that helped most was entering the abstract challenges when they came around. When there was a "blur" challenge, I went around and purposely took blurry photos. It drove me up the wall, because I kept thinking how wonderful they would have looked if they weren't blurry! However, a couple of them really stood out. Sometimes is was because the blurriness emphasized a shape of a color more than if we saw the details. Sometimes the blurriness gave it a dream-like quality. Maybe I could have realized this looking at someone else's pictures, but it was so much more obvious when dealing with my own. When you experiment yourself, you gain a greater appreciation so much faster than just looking through other people's work. However, the combination of the two is tremendous. Though I still don't understand much of the work in the posthumous thread, I have such a greater appreciation of many shots, and I've actually purposely gone out and shot that way, even when it's not for a challenge.
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10/25/2010 01:20:52 PM · #12 |
"How to judge a blurry photograph?"
By putting your glasses on (for start) LOL |
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10/25/2010 01:21:03 PM · #13 |
| Sharp focus is overrated. |
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10/25/2010 01:50:10 PM · #14 |
From an Octoberfest party this weekend. I think I took this shot as my sobriety was being tested by touching my nose? My memory is a little blurry...
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10/25/2010 02:23:47 PM · #15 |
Thanks all for your comments. I do think I need to go out and try some on my own, and I think looking at past challenges would help as well.  yo_spiff I think I get the drift of what you are saying. Whether or not a blurry photograph is good or not depends upon its ability to reach an audience. So if that photograph doesn't reach me in some way, then, to me at least, it is not a good photograph. Just as a perfectly in focus, well lit, perfectly cropped pineapple probablly wouln't evoke much emotion in me either. |
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10/25/2010 02:37:13 PM · #16 |
I tend to look at the challenges as a job assignment. Often the blurry images don't fit this definition very well. When an image does connect well with the challenge an has an overall appeal to me, I generally give it a 10.
Examples:
Challenge: Negative Image - Strong lines with great motion
Challenge: Children's Toy III - Toys with moving kid's....perfect
Challenge: Hidden Gem - 1000th Challenge - Love the motion balanced by the negative space.
Tim |
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10/25/2010 02:41:21 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
... pineapple probablly wouln't evoke much emotion in me either. |
Are you Anti- pineapple or something!?!? Pineapples have feelings too!
Message edited by author 2010-10-25 14:43:15. |
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10/25/2010 02:44:51 PM · #18 |
| If a "blurry" image presentation is eye-pleasing to me and the technique adds to the challenge assignment, then a "blurry" image can receive a great score. However, if the blur looks like a mistake, or technical flaw and the technique does not do anything for the artistic side of the equation, I'll mark it down. I have to see some evidence of artistic and technical effort put forth, before I'll score a "blurry" image well. If someone is just waving around a camera causing camera shake blur, I am not too impressed. |
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10/25/2010 03:11:39 PM · #19 |
I'm sort of a snob. If something's purposefully abstract - I rate it based upon how well it achieves its purpose, rather than being abstract for abstract's sake.
Basically, the style has to add something "meaningful" that wouldn't have been there had the abstract style not been used.
Unfortunately, this method of analyzing abstract/blurry photos isn't very good for the typical DPC voter that just soars through voting, judging only by initial feel.
And, like mentioned before, if something's blurry and it doesn't look at all intentional, that's a huge point loss in my book. |
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10/25/2010 03:18:57 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
...1. My first thought is to just not judge that photo at all. If I am unfamiliar with something maybe I should leave the judging to those who do.
2. Second thought is to judge based more on the emotion that photo gives me. However, I think my emotions are somewhat biased and I may not give a fair score as a result.
3. I can just keep guessing and let my instinct tell me whether it is a good photo or not and score accordingly.
I would love to hear any and all thoughts on this... |
I think all three considerations are only fair given your predicament.
To help you move on, I'd suggest the following paradigms:
1. Consider every image an object in itself (does it cohere, stand on its own two feet ((without relying overly on externals;))
2. Think of it as an energy construct (do you think/feel it holds any tension; does it do anything; do you feel restless taking it in?)
3. Can you make out any overall compositional features (do these appear deliberate/incidental; do you think they work ((assist the image and its latent context))
3. b) . Is the composition balanced (where are the weights ((often dark or bold elements within the image vs. the mass of opposite values)); how do these relate; do the parts support the whole?)
4. Given the genre and general context of the shot, do you think the image has range (can sustain an interest compared to similar images)?
5. Isolate effectual elements. Do these, in your opinion, charge or diminish the image (do the parts support the whole)?
6. Does the title (including "Untitled" and symbols in lieu of one, as part of the presentation), charge or diminish the image? Do the title and presentation, in your opinion, contribute or dilute?
And to help tell art from sham:
7. How close to or removed from an assumed perfect poise between the familiar and the inexplicable is the work?
Message edited by author 2010-10-25 18:36:13.
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10/25/2010 03:52:44 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by sjhuls:
...1. My first thought is to just not judge that photo at all. If I am unfamiliar with something maybe I should leave the judging to those who do.
2. Second thought is to judge based more on the emotion that photo gives me. However, I think my emotions are somewhat biased and I may not give a fair score as a result.
3. I can just keep guessing and let my instinct tell me whether it is a good photo or not and score accordingly.
I would love to hear any and all thoughts on this... |
I think all three considerations are only fair given your predicament.
To help you move on, I'd suggest the following paradigms:
1. Consider every image an object in itself (does it cohere, stand on its own two feet ((without leaning overly on externals))
2. Think of it as an energy construct (do you think/feel it holds any tension; does it do anything; do you feel restless taking it in?)
3. Can you make out any overall compositional features (do these appear deliberate/incidental; do you think they work ((assist the of the image and its latent context))
3. b) . Is the composition balanced (where are the weights ((often dark or bold elements within the image vs. the mass of opposite values)); how do these relate; do the parts support the whole?)
4. Given the genre and general context of the shot, do you think the image has range (can sustain an interest compared to similar images)?
5. Isolate effectual elements. Do these, in your opinion, charge or diminish the image (do the parts support the whole)?
6. Does the title (including "Untitled" and symbols in lieu of one, as part of the presentation), charge or diminish the image? Do the title and presentation, in your opinion, contribute or dilute?
And to help tell art from sham:
7. How close to or removed from an assumed perfect poise between the familiar and the inexplicable is the work? |
That's some valuable advice.
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10/25/2010 03:56:56 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Originally posted by sjhuls:
... pineapple probablly wouln't evoke much emotion in me either. |
Are you Anti- pineapple or something!?!? Pineapples have feelings too! |
Ha Ha! what are the chances that someone used pineapple as their user name. No as weird as it may sound to some people, pineapples are not my favorite fruit, I do not care for mango's or pomegranates either.:) |
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10/26/2010 12:04:26 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by sjhuls:
A clear crisp photo is easy for me to judge. I look at the lighting, the focus, the crop, and how well they are portraying their idea, but blurry ones and abstract ones leave me feeling lost. |
Why can't you look at the lighting, focus, crop and portrayal of a blurry picture?
Why do you think those 4 things are important?
Maybe if you make crisp photos harder to judge, you will make blurry photos easier to judge. |
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10/26/2010 12:39:39 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by posthumous:
Originally posted by sjhuls:
A clear crisp photo is easy for me to judge. I look at the lighting, the focus, the crop, and how well they are portraying their idea, but blurry ones and abstract ones leave me feeling lost. |
Why can't you look at the lighting, focus, crop and portrayal of a blurry picture?
Why do you think those 4 things are important?
Maybe if you make crisp photos harder to judge, you will make blurry photos easier to judge. |
Clear and crisp is familiar. The unfamiliar makes many people uneasy, and I would imagine it is a tough habit to break, but worthy nonetheless. ZZ's outline is daunting, not something that can be learned quickly. |
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10/26/2010 12:43:07 AM · #25 |
Hmmmmm...I find the lists here rather wondrous to describe the concept of how to judge an abstract photograph in an organized way...1, 2, 3. I tried to think of a list myself but found the process rather frustrating...I don't know how to "catch a cloud and pin it down" into a list.
All I can offer is to open your heart and enjoy the Sound of Abstract. I know when I see one I love...I'll love it forever!
Well, that's my two unhelpful pennies...;-) |
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