A Hard VB Advert...Drink Up!! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/11/2006 12:11:03 AM · #1

Okay....now before anybody jumps to conclusions I am not ranting or raving about the low score or the amount of DNMC comments I got on this image. I accept that different countries have different ideas on subjects. But I wanted to show people what I was aiming at. I know it was a big risk...but that is normal for me to do. LOL!!

So anyway...this challenge came up and I really wanted to do a tribute to the old classic advert for Vic Beer. Now I am not a beer drinker...but this is one of the Aussie classics....Aussies will understand where I am coming from with this. I will include links to show what I mean. The advert itself played on the sweat, dirt and thirst that people experience in everyday life. And at the end of the day that cold beer is like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But to get the point across they had to show the thirst...the work...the desire. And that is what I was showing.

Here are a couple of excerpts I found on the infamous advert.

Here is a 29 second replay of the actual ad.

Vic Beer Advert

And an excerpt from Wikipedia on the advert in question -

"Victoria Bitter, or VB, as it is commonly called, has the highest market share of all beer sold in Australia, both on tap and packaged. Victoria Bitter is brewed by Carlton & United Beverages, a subsidiary of Foster's Group, brewers of the Fosters brand beer. Despite its name, it is technically a fairly standard commercial lager rather than a bitter, although perhaps slightly more bitter than many. It is available in the UK, and to a limited extent, other countries abroad.

It was introduced in the mid 1960s with an innovative television advertising campaign featuring the orchestral score from the film The Magnificent Seven, images of working-class Australians at work and play, and a voice-over by notable Australian actor John Meillon. The campaign was used until quite recently. Paul Hester, late drummer of Crowded House once appeared in a VB advert. Ads now consist of the slogan "For a hard earned thirst, you need a big cold beer, and the best cold beer is Vic, Victoria Bitter". The most recent advertising campaign features David Boon, although a number of other ads are occasionally screened, such as one which promotes Australia's love of barbecuing meat, including its national emblems, the kangaroo and emu.

Currently one third of the packaged beer sales in Australia are of VB. It is available in cans ("tinnies"), bottles ("stubbies", short necked 375ml bottles, "Long Necks" or "King Browns" 800mls and "Twisty's" (250mls in the State of NSW)). As of 2005 VB also comes in 500ml tinnies.

Unlike German and European beers which adhere to strict purity laws, VB can be brewed and chemically matured in 20 hours to meet consumer demand, which can be extremely high during summer months in Australia.

In a testament to its long history and popularity, VB has acquired a number of nicknames, ranging from the abbbreviated "Vic Bitter", polite "Very Best", to the less polite "Vomit Beer (or Bucket)", "Vomit Bomb" or "Virgin Busters" as well as a variety of vulgar terms starting with "Vagina" ( such as "Vaginal Backwash" ). The distinctive green cans may also be referred to as "Boonies". "We best be smashin' down some boonies ASAP." Overall VB has somewhat of a reputation as the drink of choice for yobboes and is not considered a drink of high standing in spite of its popularity.

VB was one of the few Carlton & United (CUB) full-strength beers to escape a lowering of alcohol percentage in 2002 from 4.9% to 4.6%."

So thanks everyone and I hope this helps you understand what I was portraying.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

10/11/2006 12:22:23 AM · #2

Funny how advertising works - I heard the ad in my head once I saw the title :-) It's prob been a decade since I have heard that song.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

10/11/2006 12:45:02 AM · #3

Barbecuing national emblems? Don't tell Sharlene...

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

10/11/2006 02:16:49 AM · #4

Hehehehe..yeah we cook our National Emblems. And I grew up smelling kangaroo boiling on the stove...and hated the stench....I refuse to touch the crap.

I used to have a joey though...so that was a better trade off! He used to follow me around and when I sat on the step he would roll into my skirt as if it was a pouch.

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

10/11/2006 05:08:05 PM · #5

Originally posted by Judi:

I used to have a joey though...so that was a better trade off! He used to follow me around and when I sat on the step he would roll into my skirt as if it was a pouch.

We used to look after orphaned baby animals - possums, wallabies and kangaroos - but my favourites were the baby wombats.

10/11/2006 05:33:18 PM · #6

Originally posted by Pug-H:

Originally posted by Judi:

I used to have a joey though...so that was a better trade off! He used to follow me around and when I sat on the step he would roll into my skirt as if it was a pouch.

We used to look after orphaned baby animals - possums, wallabies and kangaroos - but my favourites were the baby wombats.

Awww how cute. I didn't see any wombats on the farm but had plenty of emus and their chicks at the back fence...kangaroos, rabbits and foxes...mongrel things. The scariest thing though is when you are alone in the bush and you walk away from your horse only to be faced with an injured kangaroo. Staring at you at eye level and growling the way they do. Only a couple of meters between you. You know you have to grab that piece of wood and kill it. Even though you do it...it never gets easy. There is always an eerie silence around you as you walk back to your horse afterwards.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

10/11/2006 07:51:26 PM · #7

It's a great picture. Would have done very well in HCII ...runs for cover... (Seriously. Very nice light, great tones, well done!)

10/11/2006 08:00:01 PM · #8

I'm often amazed how "out of touch" many of the voters are with a challenge subject. The image you presented, Judi, is really quite in line with how many ad agancies promote beer.

From a business stand point, your ad probably would seel better to advertising agancies than most of the images in this challenge, including the ribbon shots, since this image isn't brand specific.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 10:27:04 PM · #9

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

I'm often amazed how "out of touch" many of the voters are with a challenge subject.

That's exactly how I feel regarding some of the submitters regarding being out of touch with the challenge and the entries they submit.

I don't want to influence a current challenge, but there are pics that have absolutely, positively without a doubt nothing to do with a challenge subject, yet the entry is still made.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 10:33:21 PM · #10

It is a fabulous photo. The retro aspect is very nice and at first reminded me of the Marlboro Man from 'back in the day'. From a beer sales perspective, it just doesn't do it for me, but I expressed that in the beer challenge thread.

This is solely one viewers critique about the subject matter:
What would confuse me a bit on this one is, who is the one who is hot & thirsty. It looks like the two have stopped after a hard day. The horse is in the shaded area (shadow) which is where one 'naturally' would go to cool off. The man is squatting which is a form of resting but he is in the bright sun. what enters my mind is Who sits in the sun to cool off? Not making fun of the picture, but the crazy way my mind works is, perhaps the horse is asking for the beer as he is trying to cool off in the shade? and the man is squatting, waiting for his horse to have the energy to carry on.

Message edited by author 2006-10-11 22:36:22.

10/11/2006 10:36:24 PM · #11

Originally posted by dallasdux:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
I'm often amazed how "out of touch" many of the voters are with a challenge subject.

That's exactly how I feel regarding some of the submitters regarding being out of touch with the challenge and the entries they submit.

Where I disagree with you on this challenge (from your post in the other thread) is that a large amount of beer advertising doesn't actually show the product. In no case in the US is the product to be shown being consumed (less the advertiser face federal punishment).

I wrote the challenge description and I intentionally did not include the statement, must include a beer or soft drink. All it said was to sell a beer or softdrink. I suppose I should have written a brief historical synopsis.

hotpasta

Nikon D800

10/11/2006 10:37:17 PM · #12

Hey Judi,

I told you that only the aussies would understand this image...great image, I understand and love it, but it seems everyone else doesn't get it.

I made the same mistake with the UNRELATEDNESS CHALLENGE where I entered this image called CHALK AND CHEESE:

I didn't realise that this was not a common phrase around the world.

Oh well, you live and learn,

Enzo

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 10:41:16 PM · #13

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by dallasdux:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
I'm often amazed how "out of touch" many of the voters are with a challenge subject.

That's exactly how I feel regarding some of the submitters regarding being out of touch with the challenge and the entries they submit.

Where I disagree with you on this challenge (from your post in the other thread) is that a large amount of beer advertising doesn't actually show the product. In no case in the US is the product to be shown being consumed (less the advertiser face federal punishment).

I wrote the challenge description and I intentionally did not include the statement, must include a beer or soft drink. All it said was to sell a beer or softdrink. I suppose I should have written a brief historical synopsis.

Perfectly fine and of course I respect everyones opinion. Mine is that in many ads, you are correct, perhaps the product itself is not first displayed, but a logo or something to stick in the mind of the viewer must be there to communicate their specific product (generally, visually IMO). But, I'm your average consumer and I'm just going on my opinion of what sticks out in my mind and what sells. I mentioned the Absolut print ads which I think are great because their image in the form of their unique bottle conveys the product being sold. I don't get that from many of the pics. How a picture of a liquor bottle is selling soda water for example (just selecting one of the ones I commented on as DNMC). Sure it mentions Soda in the picture title, but no product name so I could buy anyone's soda water and more specifically, that of a competitor to the company who paid for the ad.

In the Vic Beer ad, it mentioned Vic beer, but there was not anything recognizable in the photo (to me) to make the association between the photo and the title and the photo is what is going to stick in my mind as far as "does this make me want to buy a beer" (visual impact).

Edit: Regarding the consumption comment, my previous post about the refreshment was intended to be show people with a look of refreshment with the product in hand (not necessarily consuming the actual beverage in front of the viewer).

Message edited by author 2006-10-11 22:48:17.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 10:43:08 PM · #14

Originally posted by hotpasta:

Yeah, if I had not seen several Chalk and Cheese entries, I would have wondered what in the world they were talking about. The great cultural divide.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 10:46:43 PM · #15

The catch seems to be, how do I reach the Global Consumer regarding the challenge.

10/11/2006 10:59:18 PM · #16

Originally posted by dallasdux:

I was hoping when I suggested the challenge that text would be allowed. It would have made the challenge more realistic IMO. And, most logos aren't hard to copy if you have a keen eye for font faces.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 11:00:53 PM · #17

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by dallasdux:

Perfectly fine and of course I respect everyones opinion. Mine is that in many ads, you are correct, perhaps the product itself is not first displayed, but a logo or something to stick in the mind of the viewer must be there to communicate their specific product (generally, visually IMO).

I was hoping when I suggested the challenge that text would be allowed. It would have made the challenge more realistic IMO. And, most logos aren't hard to copy if you have a keen eye for font faces.

Being pretty new here, I wondered about that (text). Do competitions arise very often (or at all) where text additions are allowed? or is that just considered to much in regards to photo modification?

hotpasta

Nikon D800

10/11/2006 11:01:19 PM · #18

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Now, adding text to some images would have been great...perhaps we can do another ADVERTISING challenge

10/11/2006 11:05:36 PM · #19

Originally posted by dallasdux:

Not often is text allowed, I think it's because of fear that some would abuse it to gather votes... ie putting thier name/screen name on the photo.

Tamron AF 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical XR IF Super Zoom for Pentax

10/11/2006 11:09:50 PM · #20

Originally posted by dallasdux:

The catch seems to be, how do I reach the Global Consumer regarding the challenge.

It was a very fun challenge. Good job on the suggestion. I just had to go with how I interpreted the challenge detail.

Once again, kudos as well (to the photographer---Judi) on the Vic beer photo. It is a great photo and I look forward to learning from all of the great photographers on this site (judging from my scores, I've got LOTS of learning to do, lol).

Edit: added photographer's name above.

Message edited by author 2006-10-11 23:12:44.

hotpasta

Nikon D800

10/11/2006 11:54:39 PM · #21

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by dallasdux:

Being pretty new here, I wondered about that (text). Do competitions arise very often (or at all) where text additions are allowed? or is that just considered to much in regards to photo modification?

Not often is text allowed, I think it's because of fear that some would abuse it to gather votes... ie putting thier name/screen name on the photo.

maybe the rule needs to state text is allowed but no copyright or names, company names etc...I am sure there could be some restrictions