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04/20/2011 11:39:46 PM · #1
Alternative Fine Arts Jury

Who: 2mccs bvy colorcarnival hipychik jutilda kelli skewsme tanguera tnun

What: formed a jury to discuss images in the FA challenge

How: thoughtfully and in accordance with DPC voting rules

Why: because it's fun and enlightening to discuss the impact and the merits of artwork, because it allowed the entries of the authorized jury the chance to be evaluated by a group of peers, and because it helped balance the male:female ratio of jury members.

All picks were completed before the challenge was over, in complete anonymity.
04/20/2011 11:40:23 PM · #2
Awards

=========

Top Honors

Once Upon A Time

- Everything about this is a mystery.

- I loved "once upon a time" although that heavy border didn't seem to match with the old time wistful feel. The image itself - I like.

- I love the scene but it's a little heavy on the abstraction/simplify filter.

- I wonder about the 2 lights in the background. Is it a car? Is the little girl running away from something? I like how her face is hidden.

Top Honors

Fear of Letting Go

- I can see where it might feel too set up, and the repetitions (of tulips) seem arbitrary. It is fun to look at, but for me it lacks a single apercu, something that reaches with one voice to my inner self.

- The conception alone suggests more than one percent inspiration. It's a visual poem, and I have to believe that this will be a proud addition to its creator's portfolio. That said, I feel like it's clever for clever's sake -- and maybe a little too clever for its own good.

- Possibly too set up. But I like clever for its own sake sometimes.

- I like the cleverness of it too. I also love the processing. I think it's perfect for what I look at as fine art but I also think it's great that we all see art differently.

- Would you call Magritte and Dali contrived? Because for me, this image is in that vein - surreal and absurd. And the attention to detail is one of its great achievements.

- It is interesting to look at and really to wonder if I have got the full significance.

- It's a scene I don't totally understand but that's good because it forces me to look at it longer. I can see this hanging in a gallery because it's a linger-around-a-while shot. I appreciate the time and thought that went into creating it (look at the placement of objects and arrangement of the tulips).

- I love all the details in this. The old falling down building, the peeling wallpaper & paint (I love me some peeling paint in a photograph) and the flowers placed throughout the picture. It makes me ask questions and make up stories.

- Visual wit, whimsy, mystery and surrealism. What's not to love?

- Great imagination, terrific technical skill, beautiful processing. It is like a vivid dream - something I can look at and recognize, but as though in an altered state. Every detail in this image reinforces every other detail. The theme of the tulips is carried throughout and carries both the viewer and the subjects on an inspired journey. There isn't an area of this image that I don't enjoy exploring.

- So wonderfully quirky! Love the colors, the processing, the texture, the Freddy Kruger type character peeking out the window, the story, and especially that tulip growing out of the wall! Awesome work!

Second Honors

April in Serendib

- The single tree with the hint of shadow just struck me. It has a sense of style and grace. With my definition of fine art, it certainly has a sense of beauty. I like the composition and perspective. It has a certain classic sense.

- I liked the thumb and love the shadow of the twigs (tree).

- Another that I 'want' to like, but I keep seeing that seedling that shows up on dpc so often, resting on someone's dirty, overprocessed palms. This however, is far less cheesy and more elegant, and I do love that the photographer was so restrained with the contrast.

Second Honors

Walk on By

- One image that I totally missed when voting is Walk on By. I'm liking this more and more... love the shape of the legs! Go-go boots! Colors are subtly wonderful. It makes you work and it rewards you.

- I also missed Walk on By and find the shapes and colors to be gorgeous.

- I like the movement, the 1960-Nancy Sinatra-ish of this. It's so hip and cool!

- A little gem. Succinct.

Third Honors

American Idol

- I see that it's artsy, not too contrived, and yet there are many layers within it. It's one of those photos that has a different story for each person that looks at it. For example, I see a man in agony. And yet there is someone dancing
behind him. I don't know, I just kind of find it really fascinating to look at now.

- I feel like I am missing something. I think there should be something there but I can't find it. I'm hoping someone can help me. I would like to like it but so far nothing happens for me when I am looking at it. I will keep trying.

- There is definitely something there, something very intriguing, and worthy of exploration, but it does not convey "fine art" to me.

- A real hoot, very golden calf. I do not fully understand it.

- This seems to question the substance, the worth, the destiny of those we call idols. A flash of light. A decaying wall. Metaphors abound.

Third Honors

transportaré

- I am very drawn to Transportare - a lovely impressionist-type image. I love that from a distance (or from the thumb) it appears to be something different, and then when you open it, it becomes clearer - so to speak. I like that the angle both distances us from the subjects, and somehow allows us an intimate view of their interconnection, or lack of it. The composition is likewise engaging, although I might have cropped out a tiny bit from the bottom.

- I like transportare but to me, it would have been more effective if cropped tighter. I'm funny about how images are shaped. Sometimes, I don't notice, but often times, the square, or rectangular display really adds or detracts. I like the blur aspect and the touch of red.

- I appreciate what others have seen in this. I do like the pink and the dreaminess. But ultimately, for me, it doesn't transcend its mass transit hub motion blur origin.

- It appears to be a partially remembered dream...the subject in pink (the only real color in the image) is in the beautiful light but headed for the dark. The "things" around are unclear, dark, and maybe dangerous. She is alone in a crowd but for now the subject is still in that beautiful light (perfectly lit with the soft brown striations and smudges). Everything is moving, things are happening, there is hope but much is unknown. I could imagine looking at this hundreds of times and feeling a connection every time. For me this has that magical quality of being what I need it to be every time I look at it-I can project my own feelings on to this. Like in my dreams my own emotions will determine the story line of this one.

Third Honors

feet

- I almost missed this one. It wasn't even in my top 30 after the first pass. What finally caught my attention was the texture in the shadow. The shiny highlights accentuate the wonderful texture. And then there are the scratches. They are so perfect. I can see the foot. I think it is is like those movies that show you a shot of something completely ordinary but you know in that instant something big is going to happen. They aren't showing me this foot for no reason. And while I wait to see what is going to happen I can look at that texture...and those scratches.

- In defense of feet: that scratch, the naked flaw, right out there for all to see. Magnificent.

Fourth Honors

non allegorical image #7

- As portraits go, I dig this. Dude has a freakin' snake on his freakin' head. The apple blur doesn't bother me, although it should be more or less blurry than it is. Great title too.

- Personally, I like non-allegorical better than similar set up shots because it's more captivating and dynamic.

- I really like quirky scenes like this. I wish the apple were in focus too. But those eyes! I look at this as an interesting interpretation of the Adam & Eve story.

- Very detail oriented, superbly lit, and a wonderful, beautifully told story. It does have a flaw, however; I find the out of focus apple to be a severe fault in an otherwise extraordinary image.

Fourth Honors

Measurement of a Woman

- My first reaction was ain't it the truth, let's take the measure of this woman, of any woman and in the process block off her eyes. I mean really: if you asked me what the essence of woman was I would say it is her wisdom, and this face looks up to the task. of course there could and probably is another reference: the eugenics movement in the earlier part of the last century, with people like Agassiz running around being "scientific" blindly classifying/measuring everything. Racist? You betcha.

- It is definitely a concept image.

- It certainly SAID something which I agree with, but as far as art, it just missed the mark for me.

- I still like the artlessness of measurement. (I thought it was hardly trying at all).

- Measurement is a tough one for me. I think the same impact could be delivered by merely describing it. It would only take a couple sentences. Still, there's something about it...

Fourth Honors

bluebonnet hill

- A French 3D movie about Springtime that I watched without the special glasses.

- Very pretty image. It does feel like 3d.

===========================================

The following images received Honorable Mentions:

The Thorn

- Thorn is oddly compelling - not my type of shot, but it takes you somewhere visually when you look at: the elements and their combination(s) go beyond themselves.

- Well titled. Snazzy, if on the cold side. I could imagine a whole exhibition of shots like this.

- The tack sharp focus and the juxtaposition between sky and man-made created an aesthetic for me.

teuquoB

- Nice. Very well done. Doesn't have any particular meaning for me or move me especially but well done and pleasant to look at.

- Enjoyed bouquet, but it didn't hit any hot spots....

- I like it, would love to see it on the wall of a cafe. Nice processing. I wish that the title were a little deeper so that I could pretend I perceive a metaphor.

- A quirky beauty.

- Love the sepia tone and the crisp scene. The title works too.

Perseverance

- Perseverance is really my kind of image, but I want the bokeh to be dreamier and less contrasty. I want to feel for the leaves.

- The delicateness of the leaves on the stem had such a natural element of beauty for me. I thought the sepia conversion worked perfectly with its simplicity. The organic world has its own artistry of line and form.

Mekong

- The great Asian river is the subject of a politically charged battle threatening the livelihoods of many. Will they continue to be pushed to the margins as greedy, or just desperate, governments have their way with the river?

- I do agree that Mekong is really good. I like how the hat was cut in half. The tonal range is spectacular as well. I'm pretty sure I know who did that one. But it's almost more photojournalistic to my eye, despite it being so good technically. Maybe I'm being way too picky.

- What I do love is the odd crop - the hat being partially chopped. It is not on my top group, but I do really like it. I can see it being in a museum telling the history and the current state of affairs in Vietnam.

- Mekong felt like photojournalism to me. It's seems more about telling it like it is than art for arts sake.

- I love the crop and the odd angles - that and the noise/grit bring it just slightly out of the realm of photojournalism for me. The kneejerk I'm fighting in this one is the third world romance. Would someone who lived there think it's art? Still, the angles, the light, the tones, the water, the composition... hard to deny that it's effective.

- Mekong is a fabulous image, but is photojournalism to me.

- In defense of Mekong...I won't say that it can't be [photojournalism], but there are too many artistic touches for it to be that primarily. Not to mention, most photojournalists have better aim.

Creation

- "Creation" intrigues me. I haven't gotten tired of going back and looking at it. The description is wonderful and even helps me justify my liking it. It's funny but I thought it was a strange one to like.

- I found Creation a very rewarding image to view, and very artistic.

- I went back and forth on "Creation." To me, it is the perfect example of what you'd see in a contemporary art expose. It makes a statement and it a total social one. I still can't say if it's fine art to me. Once again, it doesn't have a beauty element, but beauty is certainly one thing to one person and something completely different to another.

- A bit 'clever for clever's sake'. It's got that Warhol/Duchamp common objects/ready-made art rebellion going for it.

- This makes a fairly profound statement on consumerism and disposable culture. The title is perfectly ironic. That it’s presented like a museum piece – some great archaeological find – is even more perfectly ironic.

Splash

- Wonderfully visually compact and dynamic at the same time.

- Terrific energy, great colors, happy light. I might hang it on a wall.

Tsunami

- Tsunami may be on the brink of being a kneejerker. The titles are so much more important in this challenge - we want to know the concept. I wish for a more subtle title - but I recover from the manipulation and still like the image. It's a particularly good melty face portrait and really conveys horror... and water.

- I feel the title was manipulative but I can forgive it. I like it.

- I barely noticed the title. I found the image very interesting and emotional.

- Although I "saw" tsunami, it feels a bit premature.

- So very powerful. Such a moving tribute to a great tragedy. The expression of fear in the eyes, the distortion of the face as her world ends makes this terrifying to see. But we are compelled to look to tragedy, and be thankful it wasn't happening to us.

The Negation

- The image that keeps on coming back to mind, and one I passed over for the more allegorical ones was The Negation. Brilliant b/w, so profound and meaningful, and even if you never saw a tire in your life, the composition and light are breathtaking.

- I must've looked at Negation 5-6 times. I even added onto my original comment and upped the score one point. If I could create a category for the image it would be "artistic presentation of a social statement." It is well done but almost bordering on photojournalism but with a romantic twist.

- The processing is done well here. While I adore ghostly underwater junk, feels like it needs some extra oomph in it -
something to up the tension - it's all vinegar and no oil.

- Perfect amount of oil for me-must like em bitter. I find tension in trying to get out of the picture, away from the debris, and getting led back in by the logs.

- Well it is nice and messy, but I still can't find a way in.

- I placed this at about 20 on my first pass and each subsequent pass it moved up. I am now comfortable with it in my top 3. I see tires and debris under water. The powerful objects demand that I look at them with their strong shapes and high contrast. I can easily follow them back and forth through the image while I try to make sense of it. Once useful objects now discarded debris. I want to ignore the wastefulness of humans. These objects are underwater. They should be more distant and vague. I should be able to push them back down-forget them. But I can't.

======================

Final note: Images known to jury members or where the photographer was recognized were not fully discussed due to unavoidable bias, and so were functionally excluded.

Nonetheless, recognition and consolation go to:


red

- Almost entirely composed of tall thin triangles. something so pointed about that. Then we have the red: the red cardinal's hat, the scarf, the long thin triangle coat AND the fire hydrant instead of the missing leg, and a nice black klunker for the shown foot. what a setup, what a getup, and omygod what a face.


three breaths

- I actually have a hard time articulating why I find this image so fascinating. From an execution standpoint, it has a gorgeous and generous tonal range, marvelous balance and composition, and sublime lighting. I am mystified by the technique of making the cat appear to be printed on a wooden plank surface. I really enjoy the juxtaposition of the delicacy and gracefulness of the cat and the grittiness of the wood, cracks, and nails. One soft and fluffy, the other weathered and coarse. It's as though the spirit of a live thing has inhabited and livened a dead one. This image inspires dreams.

- A technical feat for sure. Is not as emotive for me as similar photos.

- The only one that is dead center "art" to me is three breaths.

04/20/2011 11:51:30 PM · #3
WOW. Thanks everyone involved, I did'nt even know there was going to be an Alternative Fine Arts Jury, but glad there was, hey you made my day, I was thinking of having a break after my "SAD" photo not scoring as well as I thought it would, but now I'll probably keep going on, funny how just a recognition like this can give so much encouragement.

The two bright lights were the reflection on the brick wall, i thought it gave impact to the photo, made it look mysterious. THe heavy frame, LOL that keeps coming up, sorry I luuuuurve frames and realise not everyone else does, but I thought it added to it as well, thats just me.
So once again A BIG THANKYOU, YOU MADE MY DAY, PROBABLY MY WEEK.

I like your other honors as well good choice, just have to mention totally thought this would ribbon, loved it, as well as. THought these 2 would ribbon maybe as well, or at least top 10



And well of course, there was no doubt in my mind who would actually win a ribbon,and a bluey - this was granted.

Message edited by author 2011-04-21 00:06:45.
04/21/2011 12:08:33 AM · #4
Thank you so much! This is totally unexpected, and very much appreciated!
I'd like to mention, my entry is one of the least edited images I've ever entered to a DPC-challenge. The "scratches" are dried grasses dolefully hanging down over a cement ledge outside my window; they're gone now, we did a Spring cleaning :)
04/21/2011 12:19:39 AM · #5
Great to see more opinions and discussion! Interesting to see similar comments on some of the images.

My apologies for the gender biased jury. I should have recognized that. :)
04/21/2011 12:49:11 AM · #6
I'm so glad this was done. Thanks so much for this effort, what a cool idea. We definitely need more of this!
04/21/2011 05:18:36 AM · #7
Forgot to mention this image powerful stuff, love it.
04/21/2011 06:01:01 AM · #8
Thank you for an honorable mention! : ))
04/21/2011 06:17:32 AM · #9
Thank you all ever so much for the Top Honors for my picture "Fear of Letting Go", i am deeply humbled by it and it does mean a lot to me.

Yesterday evening i was forced to practice the true meaning of letting go, as i had to sit with my dog as she died, she gave us pleasure and happiness for 15years and we finally had to let her go, i dedicate this award and my picture to her.

Misty:


04/21/2011 06:22:23 AM · #10
Originally posted by jagar:

Thank you all ever so much for the Top Honors for my picture "Fear of Letting Go", i am deeply humbled by it and it does mean a lot to me.

Yesterday evening i was forced to practice the true meaning of letting go, as i had to sit with my dog as she died, she gave us pleasure and happiness for 15years and we finally had to let her go, i dedicate this award and my picture to her.

Misty:


My condolences. Just remember, not only did she give you those years of pleasure and happiness but you gave them to her as well.
04/21/2011 07:04:00 AM · #11
Originally posted by bspurgeon:

My apologies for the gender biased jury. I should have recognized that. :)

As such, I had to serve as this group's Melethia and ursula all rolled into one. Incredible pressure. Now I know who to blame...
04/21/2011 07:06:15 AM · #12
Originally posted by jagar:

Thank you all ever so much for the Top Honors for my picture "Fear of Letting Go", i am deeply humbled by it and it does mean a lot to me.

Yesterday evening i was forced to practice the true meaning of letting go, as i had to sit with my dog as she died, she gave us pleasure and happiness for 15years and we finally had to let her go, i dedicate this award and my picture to her.

Misty:

I'm so sorry!! Heartbreaking!!!!
04/21/2011 08:17:22 AM · #13
Originally posted by jagar:

Thank you all ever so much for the Top Honors for my picture "Fear of Letting Go", i am deeply humbled by it and it does mean a lot to me.

Yesterday evening i was forced to practice the true meaning of letting go, as i had to sit with my dog as she died, she gave us pleasure and happiness for 15years and we finally had to let her go, i dedicate this award and my picture to her.

Misty:


Oh I am so sorry to hear this! I had to do this with my baby of 14 years last fall and it's so hard. My heart breaks for you.
04/21/2011 09:34:40 AM · #14
Originally posted by skewsme:

Awards
Honorable Mentions:
Mekong

Thank you to the Alternate Jury for also selecting my Mekong picture for recognition and, more significantly, for discussion.

I had hoped that the picture would elicit some controversy as to whether it was Fine Art, or even Art, and I was delighted that both juries embraced that challenge so splendidly and thoughtfully.

As I had said on the other jury's awards thread, if everyone agreed that a thing was Fine Art, or Art at all, then I would not as a photographer be satisfied to have produced it. I'd rather test the boundaries and fail than I would to have offered something unequivocally comforting.

So I chose this picture for the challenge in part because it was overtly both anti-photography and anti-art, at least at the first reaction level of most viewers.

The greatest pleasure for me then was that the picture succeeded in being noticed and appreciated in spite of its categorical contentiousness. I have no interest at all in producing a picture that everybody else (perhaps even anybody else) would immediately say they'd like to have produced.
04/21/2011 09:55:44 AM · #15


The greatest pleasure for me then was that the picture succeeded in being noticed and appreciated in spite of its categorical contentiousness. I have no interest at all in producing a picture that everybody else (perhaps even anybody else) would immediately say they'd like to have produced. [/quote]

hear,hear
04/21/2011 11:36:41 AM · #16
Thank you to the jury for the huge effort and insightful comments.
and thanks for giving me the leg, it's an honor to share it with bvy
04/21/2011 11:45:19 AM · #17
Oh John, how heartbreaking. You are the 11th person I know who has gone through that this month. As others have said, you gave each other years of love.
04/21/2011 04:59:45 PM · #18
I would like to thank the jury for undertaking the task of reviewing the submissions, this is the sort of guerilla DIY undertaking that is the best of the internet, and makes DPC fun. Another set of considered opinion, a varied viewpoint delivered with insight is always a good thing to have.Good work guys.
04/21/2011 05:21:10 PM · #19

Huge thanks to you for the award and your work of reviewing all the submissions. I must admit I was a little disappointed by the score of 4.81 for this image even though the comments gave me the believe it was not all THAT bad. Having “Second Honors” award from the jury was however a great surprise. Well appreciated.. and to be honest: really made my day!
04/21/2011 06:46:56 PM · #20
I'm absolutely delighted to discover that there was an alternative Fine Arts Jury. An essential part of contemporary fine art photography is that it is very diverse; there is little agreement about what constitutes fine art photography even among the practitioners. Having a second jury making awards and presenting their discussion emphasizes the diversity in the area.

I also appreciate receiving Fourth Honors for my image Measurement of a Woman. Thanks.

~~Dan
04/21/2011 07:25:48 PM · #21
Originally posted by gsal:


Huge thanks to you for the award and your work of reviewing all the submissions. I must admit I was a little disappointed by the score of 4.81 for this image even though the comments gave me the believe it was not all THAT bad. Having “Second Honors” award from the jury was however a great surprise. Well appreciated.. and to be honest: really made my day!


I know exactly how you feel.
04/21/2011 11:42:40 PM · #22
What a surprise ~ both the existence of this alternative fine arts jury, and the Honorable Mention my image received. Thank you for the HM and for all the work involved in doing this. Thanks also to Anita Neat for her "shout out" of my image in this thread. I'm delighted and it makes me feel that the extra attention I have been paying to the PP of my images recently is paying off.
04/22/2011 12:01:36 AM · #23
Great work, jury. The discussion only lengthens and deepens with your efforts.

And wow, I only wish I had ever used "apercu" in a complete sentence...
04/22/2011 12:34:24 PM · #24
Originally posted by pointandshoot:

Thank you to the jury for the huge effort and insightful comments.
and thanks for giving me the leg, it's an honor to share it with bvy

The honor is all mine. But thank you!
04/22/2011 02:27:02 PM · #25
Happy to see this. Thanks for the work and recognition.
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