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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> magazine cover CANNOT be in landscape orientation
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06/11/2003 03:13:09 AM · #1
i wonder if you guys/gals have ever submitted anything for a magazine cover for leaving comments like that? just as someone (Jim?) has shown in another thread, magazine cover photos do NOT have to be in potrait (upright) orientation. The graphics editor takes care of that.

EDIT: when I say graphics editor, I'm referring to a person who's job is to make sure the cover of the magazine looks attractive, not a graphics software! LOL

Message edited by author 2003-06-11 03:14:30.
06/11/2003 03:29:29 AM · #2
Probably most of us haven't, so we wouldn't know that. However, it has to make a difference in some cases as all photos can't be forced to look good in the portrait orientation.

However it should be kept in mind by us all that not all magazines are printed in the same orientation anyway.
06/11/2003 03:54:40 AM · #3
it's just sad that some minority of voters would leave comments like that, and vote a 1 just because the "photo is NOT in magazine cover orientation" and thus saying the photo is not following the theme :-(

And yes, it is true that some magazines ARE indeed not in potrait.
06/11/2003 03:54:41 AM · #4
it's just sad that some minority of voters would leave comments like that, and vote a 1 just because the "photo is NOT in magazine cover orientation" and thus saying the photo is not following the theme :-(

And yes, it is true that some magazines ARE indeed not in potrait.
06/11/2003 04:18:02 AM · #5
Originally posted by shadow:

it's just sad that some minority of voters would leave comments like that, and vote a 1 just because the "photo is NOT in magazine cover orientation" and thus saying the photo is not following the theme :-(

And yes, it is true that some magazines ARE indeed not in potrait.


Name one.
06/11/2003 04:21:16 AM · #6
Originally posted by UberFish:

Name one.


I dont think it's very nice to be pointing fingers at the voters.
06/11/2003 04:43:21 AM · #7
Originally posted by shadow:

Originally posted by UberFish:

Name one.


I dont think it's very nice to be pointing fingers at the voters.


Name one, as in name one magazine that comes in landscape format. I can think of a few catalogues and softback glossy guides, but I cant ever recall being in a newsagent and seeing a landscape format magazine.

BTW, Magazines also have banners and straplines, I see quite a few covers with no room for anything much. Its bad enough having staple holes in her belly, but 'Top Totty' emblazoned on her forehead is a mistake.
06/11/2003 04:59:56 AM · #8
I have to agree to an extent with the point about orientation. Yes, of course, landscape shots can be cropped to portrait for use in a magazine. But if taking a shot specifically for use on a cover, wouldn't it be more sensible to take it in portrait or crop to portrait before submitting it? You'd want to help the editor choosing from all the submissions to visualise your image on their cover - they are experts and would see potential in a landscape shot that could be cropped, but better in my mind, to submit the image in the right orientation to start with. That's what I think, anyway.

When I vote I will be taking this into consideration - though it will be just one factor in overall score, so certainly won't lead to a 1 on it's own. I might knock a point or two off though.

More importantly to me is Uberfish's point about leaving space for text. Most magazines (though not all) have the title over the top of the picture and most also have additional text and/or pictures on the cover - for me the most successful pictures will not only take into account the kind of picture that suits the cover of their chosen magazine but also the positioning of text elements on that cover.

Message edited by author 2003-06-11 05:01:44.
06/11/2003 05:10:42 AM · #9
I have now voted on all and I have put down one point for "wrong" orientation. Because I don´t think it should be the voter´s job to have to think about how the picture shall be cropped to fit on the cover.
06/11/2003 05:16:47 AM · #10
Originally posted by carsten:

I have now voted on all and I have put down one point for "wrong" orientation. Because I don´t think it should be the voter´s job to have to think about how the picture shall be cropped to fit on the cover.

Heaven forbid that the voters should have to do any thinking!

LOL. Sorry, I'm in a crabby mood this morning. : )
06/11/2003 05:25:00 AM · #11
When I've been involved in recruiting in the past, I've had to wade through piles of CVs (resumes). It's a case of needing to find a quick way to sort through and narrow down. Cvs with spelling mistakes go straight in the bin, but that's not enough. So any CVs which make it too hard to find the information I need also get rejected - the job I helped recruit for is heavily communication based - so I want to see in their CV that they can get the relevant experience across to me without my having to dig for it.

I imagine if I were in the position of sorting through submissions for magazine covers (though I expect one actually commissions rather than sorts through random submissions) I'd discard those which hadn't taken into account what I was looking for. They'd have to particularly good or particularly relevant (like Gordon's baubles) for me to look past any flaws or other issues.

That's just how I see myself looking at it anyway.

Your mileage may vary, different horses for different courses, etc etc...

Message edited by author 2003-06-11 05:25:57.
06/11/2003 08:08:16 AM · #12
You've gotta admire Gordon's baubles... :-)
06/11/2003 08:18:57 AM · #13
Anyway, I think that's not the job of the magazine to ask for pictures in portrait or landscape format... they have all the tools to resize, zoom in-out, crop, or whatever, a picture so it can be placed on the cover...
06/11/2003 08:20:47 AM · #14
However, if the subject of a landscape photo streches from the left edge to the right edge, it isnt going to be possible to crop it very well is it?
06/11/2003 08:29:37 AM · #15
I didn't submit anything for magazine cover. But every idea I had was always with the camera turned 90 degrees. Shooting something landscape to start with is difficult. I would think that for a cover, I'd be submitting something to Joe Blow publishing company in the correct format to start with. You could even get away with something darn near square, but a landscape oriented shot is just not conducive to this challenge. What if we submitted panorama shots at at 1:5 w to h ratio? I wouldn't and won't give automatic ones for a landscape shot, but there will be a definite cap on how high they will be rated.

Just thinking out loud... Bob
06/11/2003 08:36:46 AM · #16
Originally posted by Konador:

However, if the subject of a landscape photo streches from the left edge to the right edge, it isnt going to be possible to crop it very well is it?


so take your panoramic pictures in portrait format if you like.....
06/11/2003 08:42:25 AM · #17
More examples of non-portrait format usage:
A photo that covers both the front and back of the magazine - not done very often I'll admit, that back page is prime advertising space, but I have seen it done.
A fold out cover, consisting of 2 or 3 pages, which would require a landscape, or even panoramic shot (sorry Bob : ) ). FHM for one have done this several times.

In case you're wondering - my shot is in the 'correct' format, with space for the title and everything, so this isn't me trying to boost my own score (which really, really could do with a boost!).

Message edited by author 2003-06-11 08:45:21.
06/11/2003 09:10:50 AM · #18
Originally posted by ganders:

You've gotta admire Gordon's baubles... :-)


I do, I do...
:o)
06/11/2003 09:17:02 AM · #19
Can we just let my baubles drop, please ?
06/11/2003 09:22:49 AM · #20
Originally posted by shadow:

i wonder if you guys/gals have ever submitted anything for a magazine cover for leaving comments like that? just as someone (Jim?) has shown in another thread, magazine cover photos do NOT have to be in potrait (upright) orientation. The graphics editor takes care of that.

EDIT: when I say graphics editor, I'm referring to a person who's job is to make sure the cover of the magazine looks attractive, not a graphics software! LOL


This is exactly what I said in another thread regarding the magazine challenge. I think expecting a portrait orientation is fairly narrow-minded. I whole heartedly agree with you. BTW: I knew this and yet I have never submitted to a magazine. It just seemed "common sense" to me.
06/11/2003 09:28:54 AM · #21
I believe, that for the purpose of this challenge, the photographers should have assumed that this would be an issue. Therefore, everyone SHOULD have taken portrait orientation photos.

We all whine every week about something that is usually related to a 'different' view of the challenge topic.

If you didn't take a portrait oriented photo and it's not doing well because of that, don't blame someone else.
06/11/2003 09:33:11 AM · #22
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I believe, that for the purpose of this challenge, the photographers should have assumed that this would be an issue. Therefore, everyone SHOULD have taken portrait orientation photos.

We all whine every week about something that is usually related to a 'different' view of the challenge topic.

If you didn't take a portrait oriented photo and it's not doing well because of that, don't blame someone else.


I agree with you John. My Avg. Votes Cast is gone way down this challenge.
06/11/2003 09:36:14 AM · #23
For my money, I'd be following the norm on this one. That's just what I think about it all. If you choose to shoot "out of the box", it better be really exceptional to be a highly rated photo.

I'm one to try to appeal to the masses. To be a successful photographer on a commercial level, it's crucial. To be a successful photographer on a more artistic level, it doesn't matter so much. But I feel that the shot picked for the cover of a magazine better be very appealing to the demographic the magazine is targeting.

But what do I know? - Bob
06/11/2003 09:36:54 AM · #24
Originally posted by UberFish:

Originally posted by shadow:

it's just sad that some minority of voters would leave comments like that, and vote a 1 just because the "photo is NOT in magazine cover orientation" and thus saying the photo is not following the theme :-(

And yes, it is true that some magazines ARE indeed not in potrait.


Name one.


Sport Aviation, a magazine published in the US by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) regularly uses a landscape orientation on their front cover, with the bound edge at the top of the shot. Probably due mostly to the subject matter and the ability to get a little more "up close and personal" with the aircraft they're featuring without having a great deal of dead space at the top and bottom. Granted, there is generally a lot of blue around the aircraft in their shot, but it is shot landscape...

To your point, though, every shot I seriously considered for my submission was shot portrait. It is just so much more common that (with few exceptions) I gave little thought to anything else.


Paul.
06/11/2003 09:39:40 AM · #25
I have seen some magazines where the photo was not in portrait mode, or the photo has been rotated 45 degrees to the left or the right....

I don't think the photos we submitted for the voting should be judged on their orientation....

Just go look at a magazine rack and Im sure not ALL magazines will have their cover photo in perfect portrait orientation.

James
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