Street Photography Wide Open - DPChallenge Forums

09/01/2013 01:59:29 AM · #1

~~Set your camera to the lowest f-stop possible. Take an interesting picture. Include your camera settings and location in the information about your shot.~~

Street Photography Wide Open -- Minimal Rules.

Set your camera to the lowest f-stop possible.
Take an interesting picture in public.
Include your camera settings & location in the information about your shot.

Message edited by author 2013-09-01 12:17:46.

eniko

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/01/2013 02:09:05 AM · #2

I like it - maybe it could be subject specific. I feel that creativity and skill are even more apparent when the topic is the same.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/01/2013 02:23:00 AM · #3

Interesting thought.

You mean, like find your subject in the kitchen?

eniko

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

09/01/2013 07:39:14 AM · #4

Something like that, or in the garage or attic, or in the garden - or it could be really specific, like inside your wardrobe/shoe cupboard, or on your dining room table...it's interesting to see how many different creative things emerge - think back on the car challenge.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/01/2013 09:03:45 AM · #5

"Shoot Wide Open" might be a more accurate title here. "Lower the f/stop" is rather ambiguous.

09/01/2013 09:46:43 AM · #6

Sorry. I like ambiguous titles. Of course you're right, the title Shoot Wide Open would require no description at all. Neat.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/01/2013 10:43:59 AM · #7

I like the idea. Very much.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/01/2013 11:10:38 AM · #8

Originally posted by Cory:

I like the idea. Very much.

With your new weapon, of COURSE you do!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

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

09/01/2013 11:25:10 AM · #9

Not sure the intent of the restriction, since I can think of many different things to do with an open aperture, but the OP should indicate whether shooting at the lowest f-stop possible is to be a "special rule" (making a violation subject to disqualification) or merely a "strong suggestion" (making violators subject only to public criticism/ridicule) -- and, if the former, please suggest a mechanism whereby we can easily know what the lowest-available f-stop is for every camera/lens/focal length combination.

09/01/2013 11:30:27 AM · #10

I like the idea... I think it would have to remain a "strong suggestion" since it is not always possible to identify the largest possible aperture (though it is on many DSLR/lens combinations).

09/01/2013 11:46:06 AM · #11

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Cory:
I like the idea. Very much.

With your new weapon, of COURSE you do!

hehe. Indeeeed - you do have my number on that account.

FWIW - I do have to EARN those shots - it's not like this thing is even remotely easy to use.

09/01/2013 12:10:46 PM · #12

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Well of course there's no easy way to enforce the restriction, or punish those who choose to disregard it.
But that's not the point.
We're supposed to be learning here. That's why I asked you to include your camera settings & location.
The point is to find the lowest f-stop your camera/lens allows, do something interesting that will show it off, & then enter it for scoring.
If your gear won't let you choose the f-stop then you have to take it somewhere that will make it choose the lowest f-stop for you.

I thought people might suggest restricting the ISO.

With Advanced rules, this would be pointless. In Advanced, you can make f1.8 look like f8 so it would have to be another Minimal challenge.

Imagine restricting this to a public venue! Street photography wide open.
You would have to be standing in the street (no tripod), not necessarily taking a traditional Street Photography photo.

Message edited by author 2013-09-01 12:22:34.

09/01/2013 12:18:42 PM · #13

Originally posted by pixelpig:

With Advanced rules, this would be pointless. In Advanced, you can make f1.8 look like f8 so it would have to be another Minimal challenge.

I disagree. It's true, in Advanced you could do focus stacking, but what of it? If the goal of the challenge is narrow DoF, and I enter something with deep DoF, I'd expect it to get voted lower for ignoring the challenge. So IMO, the ruleset makes little difference... other than Expert would seem to be a useless choice.

09/01/2013 12:19:26 PM · #14

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
Not sure the intent of the restriction, since I can think of many different things to do with an open aperture, but the OP should indicate whether shooting at the lowest f-stop possible is to be a "special rule" (making a violation subject to disqualification) or merely a "strong suggestion" (making violators subject only to public criticism/ridicule) -- and, if the former, please suggest a mechanism whereby we can easily know what the lowest-available f-stop is for every camera/lens/focal length combination.

Well of course there's no easy way to enforce the restriction, or punish those who choose to disregard it.
But that's not the point.
We're supposed to be learning here. That's why I asked you to include your camera settings & location.
The point is to find the lowest f-stop your camera/lens allows, do something interesting that will show it off, & then enter it for scoring.
If your gear won't let you choose the f-stop then you have to take it somewhere that will make it choose the lowest f-stop for you.

I thought people might suggest restricting the ISO.

With Advanced rules, this would be pointless. In Advanced, you can make f1.8 look like f8 so it would have to be another Minimal challenge.

Imagine restricting this to a public venue! Street photography wide open.

That's an awesome idea.

Would it be OK if I added a new thread to suggest exactly that?

"Street photography wide open - Minimal Editing"

09/01/2013 12:20:07 PM · #15

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by pixelpig:

With Advanced rules, this would be pointless. In Advanced, you can make f1.8 look like f8 so it would have to be another Minimal challenge.

I disagree. It's true, in Advanced you could do focus stacking, but what of it? If the goal of the challenge is narrow DoF, and I enter something with deep DoF, I'd expect it to get voted lower for ignoring the challenge. So IMO, the ruleset makes little difference... other than Expert would seem to be a useless choice.

Kirbic, I think that was an accidental reversal - it makes fine sense if you reverse the values.

09/01/2013 12:22:47 PM · #16

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by pixelpig:

With Advanced rules, this would be pointless. In Advanced, you can make f1.8 look like f8 so it would have to be another Minimal challenge.

I disagree. It's true, in Advanced you could do focus stacking, but what of it? If the goal of the challenge is narrow DoF, and I enter something with deep DoF, I'd expect it to get voted lower for ignoring the challenge. So IMO, the ruleset makes little difference... other than Expert would seem to be a useless choice.

Kirbic, I think that was an accidental reversal - it makes fine sense if you reverse the values.

That's very true, and I wasn't thinking in that direction... while I would submit that there is no substitute for *real* limited DoF, it's a good point. Still, minimal... ICK!

09/01/2013 12:24:47 PM · #17

Originally posted by Cory:

Would it be OK if I added a new thread to suggest exactly that?

"Street photography wide open - Minimal Editing"

OK by me.

09/01/2013 12:29:02 PM · #18

Originally posted by kirbic:

Still, minimal... ICK!

Haha I feel the same way. Minimal just feels lazy to me.

I have often wondered how we could create a challenge that permits the use of any in-camera feature--pano, HDR, etc.
The choices are rich these days. Esp the apps for the camera phones.
Got any ideas?

09/01/2013 12:40:08 PM · #19

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Still, minimal... ICK!

Haha I feel the same way. Minimal just feels lazy to me.

I have often wondered how we could create a challenge that permits the use of any in-camera feature--pano, HDR, etc.
The choices are rich these days. Esp the apps for the camera phones.
Got any ideas?

It sends one's head spinning. It's very apparent to me that the DPC rule-sets are so far behind technology as to be, well, quaint. That's not entirely a bad thing, but I do agree that we could have a ruleset that is more inclusive of technology, and therefore hopefully would have more mass appeal. We do need more masses, LOL.

Message edited by author 2013-09-01 12:40:28.

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

09/01/2013 12:47:08 PM · #20

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Still, minimal... ICK!

Haha I feel the same way. Minimal just feels lazy to me.

I have often wondered how we could create a challenge that permits the use of any in-camera feature--pano, HDR, etc.
The choices are rich these days. Esp the apps for the camera phones.
Got any ideas?

It sends one's head spinning. It's very apparent to me that the DPC rule-sets are so far behind technology as to be, well, quaint. That's not entirely a bad thing, but I do agree that we could have a ruleset that is more inclusive of technology, and therefore hopefully would have more mass appeal. We do need more masses, LOL.

Yeah. What you said!
We could take out the Basic rule set. Nobody likes it anyway. Replace it with an In-Camera Ruleset.
As long as you can produce the required validation file, it should be fine.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/01/2013 01:47:38 PM · #21

You can already use "any feature" of your camera as long as the parameters are set prior to pressing the shutter button, the shutter only opens and closes once, and a single file is produced.

09/01/2013 02:43:18 PM · #22

Originally posted by GeneralE:

You can already use "any feature" of your camera as long as the parameters are set prior to pressing the shutter button, the shutter only opens and closes once, and a single file is produced.

Those features would be image stabilization, AF, f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO? LOL
Some of the more interesting and useful features/effects require multiple shutter releases.
An In-camera rule set would allow these.
If it results in a single file that's verifiable, then it should be OK.
JMO.

Message edited by author 2013-09-01 14:59:23.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/01/2013 04:17:16 PM · #23

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
You can already use "any feature" of your camera as long as the parameters are set prior to pressing the shutter button, the shutter only opens and closes once, and a single file is produced.

Those features would be image stabilization, AF, f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO? LOL
Some of the more interesting and useful features/effects require multiple shutter releases.
An In-camera rule set would allow these.
If it results in a single file that's verifiable, then it should be OK.
JMO.

I have been mulling this over for a while now.

I do think we need a new ruleset - and I do think basic is screwy.

What I don't like about the 'in camera' idea is that it gives a huge advantage to certain people and not others. Although, some variation of that is a grand idea.

..

What about this:

Split the difference between minimal and basic.

You MAY:
Rotate your image only in increments of 90 degrees, or flip on axis (horizontal/vertical)
Convert from a RAW file using any global adjustments (including vignette correction/addition, but not burning a single edge)
Use any sharpening or denoising tool of your choice
Use topaz / Nik / similar products
Use layers (without layer masks) and layer modes
Spot edit out hot pixels

You MAY NOT:
Crop
Perform Perspective correction
Perform selective editing
Combine multiple photos
Use in-camera special effects
Add a border.

Message edited by author 2013-09-01 16:17:43.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

09/01/2013 05:12:12 PM · #24

Photography is all about the editing these days it seems. So why not get rid of the rule sets as they are. Simply take a photograph, edit it as you choose, then enter under one of two categories per challenge - Photography or Digital Art