Dark Submissions - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DL Aspherical IF Hyperzoom for Canon

05/07/2003 12:32:08 PM · #1

Is it just me, or are there a large amount of overly dark submissions in the glass challenge?

lumbardh

Canon EOS-10D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/07/2003 12:59:20 PM · #2

I would check you monitor...

eloise

Sony DSC-P7

05/07/2003 02:03:42 PM · #3

I thought so ... but it's not so much that they're dark, as that they're indistinct, that I vote down for. If I can't make out what it's supposed to be, that's a negative. Likewise, too bright (the one with the three footed glasses with each containing a primary color liquid, frex).

greenem2

Canon EOS-10D

05/07/2003 05:34:08 PM · #4

Originally posted by eloise:

If I can't make out what it's supposed to be, that's a negative.

Why is this a negative?

Message edited by author 2003-05-07 17:34:20.

indigo997

Nikon D70

05/07/2003 05:38:27 PM · #5

Abstracts aren't for everyone but do try to be open-minded. There is no rule saying that you must make your subject recognizable. Sometimes, "what it is supposed to be" is just a study in lines, color, and light.

cmrk74

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/07/2003 05:55:11 PM · #6

I agree with Indigo. You have to keep that attitude when voting too. Also keep in mind that some people like me have the "been there done that" syndrome, where we have shot normal shots of a subjects from every angle. Sometimes it's nice to do something abstract/unusual for a change,and venture into a different realm of photography.

christo

Canon EOS-10D

05/07/2003 05:56:17 PM · #7

Originally posted by indigo997:

Absolutely.
And high-key and low-key photos are not "too dark" or "too bright" pictures...
But I agree, sometimes the choice of exposure doesn't fit the subject. In the case of the colored glasses I think it does though.

Message edited by author 2003-05-07 17:56:59.

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/07/2003 05:59:31 PM · #8

Originally posted by rickhd13:

Is it just me, or are there a large amount of overly dark submissions in the glass challenge?

Dark is good! Dark often add mood and mystery. of course, if it is so dark you can't see anything, that's a problem. I guess it depends on what the photographer is trying to do (as stated above). A happy, joyful mood will probably be a bright, light photo, while a brooding, mythic photo will end up in the darker range. the problem is with photos that don't communicate much of any mood at all.

moodville

Nikon D100

05/07/2003 06:03:07 PM · #9

I thought most of the dark pictures were because people were trying to avoid light flares on the glass. I know I had a lot of problem with that, which is one of the reasons why I didnt enter this week :(

eloise

Sony DSC-P7

05/07/2003 06:48:21 PM · #10

Why is 'recognizable' a good thing? Because if I wanted totally abstract art, I'd go look at paintings, honestly.

Which isn't to say I don't enjoy a good fairly-abstract sort of thing, a composition study or just a beautiful play of light, but if I can't figure out what something is, it's a vote against it, for me. Most especially, here, because often that means I'm in the dark over whether it even fits the theme it's been submitted for.

scab-lab

Canon EOS-D60

05/07/2003 07:01:31 PM · #11

Originally posted by indigo997:

I highly agree to this statement. I love abstract photography, for me its a way to experiment with light, color, motion, shape and form. I really dont need to know what a picture is to appreciate it. Abstract photography is about pushing the boundaries of your senses. :)

GinaRothfels

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

05/07/2003 07:14:06 PM · #12

Originally posted by eloise:

... if I can't figure out what something is, it's a vote against it, for me. Most especially, here, because often that means I'm in the dark over whether it even fits the theme it's been submitted for.

It depends on the challenge. For some challenges I'd have to agree that one has to be able to recognise what is in the picture, but for something like primary or secondary colours, or even for glass, I don't think this is really an issue.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/07/2003 07:17:25 PM · #13

Originally posted by eloise:

Which isn't to say I don't enjoy a good fairly-abstract sort of thing, a composition study or just a beautiful play of light, but if I can't figure out what something is, it's a vote against it, for me. Most especially, here, because often that means I'm in the dark over whether it even fits the theme it's been submitted for.

If you can't figure out what something is, why is that a vote against it for you? Maybe the 'fault' lies with you for not detecting the meaning or for what it might represent on a spiritual/artistic level because perhaps you don't take enough time or are not open to it or are too much appraising it for whether it meets the challenge or not? If you see a picture of a glass that is distorted, do you vote it low because it doesn't look like the glass it actually IS?

Unless a picture is submitted to the wrong challenge or is blatantly off topic, i always give the picture the benefit of the doubt about meeting the challenge, particularly when i enjoy what i'm seeing. That frees up a lot more energy for me to look better at the merits of the picture itself.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

05/07/2003 07:18:51 PM · #14

Originally posted by Gina Rothfels:

Originally posted by eloise:
... if I can't figure out what something is, it's a vote against it, for me. Most especially, here, because often that means I'm in the dark over whether it even fits the theme it's been submitted for.

It depends on the challenge. For some challenges I'd have to agree that one has to be able to recognise what is in the picture, but for something like primary or secondary colours, or even for glass, I don't think this is really an issue.

Yes, well said Gina. I'll tag on to this line of thinking.

05/07/2003 07:41:32 PM · #15

Yeah, but dark photos or too brigh photos don't do well here. Not that there is anything wrong with abstract photos or photos that don't appeaer to have the average exposure.

There is also that "soft" photos versus "sharp" pohtos issue as well. Everyone expects a sharp-as-tack-so-that-i-can-see-your-every-zits photo and when something it's soft, the comment is always "Is it out of focus?"

Originally posted by Journey:

Originally posted by eloise:

Which isn't to say I don't enjoy a good fairly-abstract sort of thing, a composition study or just a beautiful play of light, but if I can't figure out what something is, it's a vote against it, for me. Most especially, here, because often that means I'm in the dark over whether it even fits the theme it's been submitted for.

If you can't figure out what something is, why is that a vote against it for you? Maybe the 'fault' lies with you for not detecting the meaning or for what it might represent on a spiritual/artistic level because perhaps you don't take enough time or are not open to it or are too much appraising it for whether it meets the challenge or not? If you see a picture of a glass that is distorted, do you vote it low because it doesn't look like the glass it actually IS?

Unless a picture is submitted to the wrong challenge or is blatantly off topic, i always give the picture the benefit of the doubt about meeting the challenge, particularly when i enjoy what i'm seeing. That frees up a lot more energy for me to look better at the merits of the picture itself.

magnetic9999

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

05/07/2003 08:09:28 PM · #16

i think that this is changing.

as more people on the site become aware of photographic principles, as they learn and grow, understanding of things like SHALLOW DOF and mood become more common.

I see less and less complaints about the shallow dof than i used to.

and THIS is not exactly a BRIGHT picture :) ....

nor is THIS.

Other examples exist ... I think the important thing is have at least something light (a range of tones) and a purpose to the darkness.

Message edited by author 2003-05-07 20:12:20.

05/07/2003 08:10:10 PM · #17

And then the pictures with the eye glasses. I believe that nowadays all eye glasses are really plastic or something like that (they don't break when you drop them). So, those pictures are definitely not meeting the challenge and ought to get 1s! No glass in the picture, just plastic! Cheating!

Edit: I am only joking! Don't accuse anyone of cheating and presume that any picture of eye glasses really involves real GLASS. Sorry, if my post came across as anything but a joke.

Message edited by author 2003-05-07 21:24:00.

rickhd13

Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DL Aspherical IF Hyperzoom for Canon

05/07/2003 08:11:31 PM · #18

I wasn't really complaining about the number of darker photos this challenge, merely making an observation.

I do enjoy the mystique of some of the darker shots, playing the "what is it" game.

I am just glad that more of you noticed this also and it wasn't my monitor telling me it was time to get a new one.

05/07/2003 08:12:52 PM · #19

I think people are referring to other than just simply darker colors. The shot you gave was dark colors, but not "dark". Or photos that reveal part of the object but not others as a property of light used. I took a risk in the glass challenge as I used the light to reveal only part of the oject, while illuminating something else brightly. I think you can guess what comments I get :-) "it's too dark.. it's too dark", when in fact it's the right amount of light as it a single direct backlit light source was used and part of the object will not be illuminated at all.

Originally posted by magnetic9999:

Message edited by author 2003-05-07 20:15:05.

funnylooks

Nikon D100

Lensbaby 2.0

05/07/2003 08:14:42 PM · #20

Originally posted by Journey:

I did not submit one of the eyeglass pictures, but my eyeglasses are real glass - they do still make them out of real glass! I don't think people are cheating here.

05/07/2003 08:16:53 PM · #21

rickhd, we are just joking around a little - please don't take any of us too seriously!
May i suggest, however, that you do ensure your monitor is well calibrated and that you revisit the dark images during daylight hours? (yes, you guessed it, i submitted a dark image and its score is dismal :)

rickhd13

Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DL Aspherical IF Hyperzoom for Canon

05/07/2003 08:24:41 PM · #22

Journey

believe me i am not taking any of the comments as personal, i was just really concerned this morning looking over the entries.

i did view them again at a friends house earlier and they were still dark so it must just be me not the monitor...i'm not sure that the bride would think that dpc is a good enough reason to get a new monitor so soon after buying a new camera...

05/07/2003 08:25:25 PM · #23

Originally posted by paganini:

I took a risk in the glass challenge as I used the light to reveal only part of the oject, while illuminating something else brightly.

Ditto for me! I really went out of my way to only 'hint' at the object for the most part. Thought made it more interesting; in dpcland however ...

05/07/2003 08:26:42 PM · #24

Journey: you have been here long enough to know what people want :)

Originally posted by Journey: