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10/28/2003 11:17:45 AM · #1
I am fairly new to thhis site, but was wondering how the title to a picture might affect anyone's voting? Some catagories (Song Titles for example) will be partially judged on how well the picture goes with the title. Most competitions the title probably don't matter at all.

Myself, when a challenge comes up, my mind actually comes up with a title first most of the time and then fits a picture to it. It's not a conscious thing, it just happens. I find it helps me fit the picture to the subject better and may even give me the idea in the first place. (note my entry into the "All Alone" competition, removed)

I am not aware that any of my judging of other's photos has been affected by the title, just wondering if anyone intentionally or unintentionally takes it into account.


Message edited by Konador - Please keep your entry anonymous, thanks.
10/28/2003 11:27:38 AM · #2
Originally posted by drgsoell:

I am fairly new to thhis site, but was wondering how the title to a picture might affect anyone's voting? Some catagories (Song Titles for example) will be partially judged on how well the picture goes with the title. Most competitions the title probably don't matter at all.

Myself, when a challenge comes up, my mind actually comes up with a title first most of the time and then fits a picture to it. It's not a conscious thing, it just happens. I find it helps me fit the picture to the subject better and may even give me the idea in the first place. (note my entry into the "All Alone" competition, "lalala")

I am not aware that any of my judging of other's photos has been affected by the title, just wondering if anyone intentionally or unintentionally takes it into account.



I consider the title part of the photo, even if it is called Untitled. When the title stands out, like a particularly apt one or one apparently chosen with great care (like jritz' irony entry called 'Dolphins'), it likely will effect my score of an image positively. Of course, the opposite is true as well with a poorly chosen or clearly incorrect title or one in poor taste.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 00:47:48.
10/28/2003 11:39:30 AM · #3
Probably shouldn't identify your photo while voting is still going on
10/28/2003 11:45:49 AM · #4
I don't usually take points away for a title, but if it is especially wonderful I have given an extra point for it.
10/28/2003 12:01:48 PM · #5
I definitely take them into consideration, and I have docked shots for having particularly poor ones. As I see it, the title is part of the overall package of submitting a shot.

I am particularly against titles that try to describe the set-up used in the shot. This isn't a real example, but there have been things similar to this: "Squatting Dove (just natural light used here!)"

When coming up with a title, try to imagine your photo hanging in a gallery with that name attached to it.
10/28/2003 12:04:55 PM · #6
I agree...titles are important in getting across the context of the image but (as noted below) not just describe the image. I have had critique of my titles as well as the images...and I have done the same for submitters.
10/28/2003 12:15:57 PM · #7
The title is part of the complete presentation. I do include the title when I decide on a score.
10/28/2003 12:23:34 PM · #8
Originally posted by amsmyth:

Probably shouldn't identify your photo while voting is still going on


AAAaarrrrgggg!

I feel like an idiot. Thanks for catching me on this. Everyone please ignore my gaffe.
10/28/2003 12:37:35 PM · #9
I will often spend a good bit of time coming up with a title. I always make it a point, also, to avoid the name of the challenge in my titles.I as most, will consider the title when scoring as well...I do not take away, I will add...kind of a 6+, 7+ or 8+ ect. grade.

10/28/2003 01:17:00 PM · #10
I definitely take the title into consideration - usually a title will direct my attention to a specific aspect the photographer wants to point out, whether a feeling or an actual part of the image.

I feel the title is there to help set up or support the mood or give information about an image, it skews my perception slightly as I'm expecting to see a connection between it and the photo..

For example (not an actual submission): A title called blue sunset, to me is going to be an image that has ranges of blue, a sunset with an overtone of blue, or something dealing with sadness, etc; not a picture of a shiny green apple on a plate.

I will still critique the image presented, but part of that critique will be a mention on the title and its affect. I generally only mention titles if they really set a mood expectation that came through in the photo, or if it completely and totally lost me. Benign titles generally don't get a mention.
11/04/2003 06:07:52 AM · #11
I feel that there is a give and take between the title and the image.

In some cases a clever title can actually make the image seem better, simply because the photographer thought about the title rather than calling it "house".

In other cases, an image that is absolutely fantastic CAN and probably SHOULD be called "house", if for no other reason than to let the image stand on it's own.

Sometimes a clever title helps, other times it sounds like you're trying too hard.
11/04/2003 10:41:22 AM · #12
I do take the title into consideration - I agree that it's part of the overall package. I have seen photos that, IMO, have nothing to do with the challenge but were given titles to make it fit. Those I will generally score lower if I ask the submitter in a comment how it fits and don't get a response.
11/14/2003 12:44:06 AM · #13
Of course, the title is important. A really good title has the power to enhance my appreciation of the photo. Sometimes if the photo doesn't speak about its obvious association with the theme, it's the title that does it.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 00:45:14.
11/14/2003 12:55:56 AM · #14
A good title could help a picture when voting. Unfortunately not all of us are from the came country and thus sometimes a title could be misleading.

For some of the photographers English is the second language and the title may reflect that. Let their pictures speak for themselves.

Same goes for "song titles". Not everybody listens to the same type of music. For me, anything pre-1980's forget about it. Unless it was remade or covered by another singer.

For some people any alternative rock, or rap/hip hop group might total go over their heads.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 00:59:26.
11/14/2003 01:00:30 AM · #15
Originally posted by faidoi:

A good title could help a picture when voting. Unfortunately not all of us are from the came country and thus sometimes a title could be misleading.

For some of the photographers English is the second language and the title may reflect that. Let their pictures speak for themselves.


A title can be in any language, faidoi, including your own. ;-)
Let those who cannot understand it have a lil poetry.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 01:02:42.
11/14/2003 01:06:09 AM · #16
Originally posted by zeuszen:

Originally posted by faidoi:

A good title could help a picture when voting. Unfortunately not all of us are from the came country and thus sometimes a title could be misleading.

For some of the photographers English is the second language and the title may reflect that. Let their pictures speak for themselves.


A title can be in any language, faidoi, including your own. ;-)
Let those who cannot understand it have a lil poetry.




If you can read Chinese?
11/14/2003 01:12:51 AM · #17
I thought the idea of the Book titles challenge was that the title had to match the book title and the image
We did a vote on it to start with but I dont know the end result of that.
11/14/2003 01:36:37 AM · #18
Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Originally posted by faidoi:

A good title could help a picture when voting. Unfortunately not all of us are from the came country and thus sometimes a title could be misleading.

For some of the photographers English is the second language and the title may reflect that. Let their pictures speak for themselves.


A title can be in any language, faidoi, including your own. ;-)
Let those who cannot understand it have a lil poetry.




If you can read Chinese?


I can't capably, but I try. The characters are ideogrammes though and invite reading. Those not inclined to attempt a literal understanding, can enjoy the tree with the sun behind it. No? (I don't understand why people are so hung up on 'meaning' anyway.)

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 01:38:30.
11/14/2003 06:09:23 AM · #19
Sometimes for me, a title can lower my scoring, kind of...

I mean that sometimes I see the photo, and for me it is only the title that makes it relevent for the challenge, and without the title, it wouldn't make sense - in a lot of cases I try to ignore the title initially, but I will look at it before deciding on the score.

Paul
11/14/2003 06:25:50 AM · #20
Originally posted by zeuszen:


A title can be in any language, faidoi, including your own. ;-)
Let those who cannot understand it have a lil poetry.


If you can read Chinese?.




One of my favorites - translator for many languages and Chinese. You can translate there all site or only a sentence
//www.worldlingo.com/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 06:27:49.
11/14/2003 07:32:07 AM · #21
In pratice this take some relevance. In Books Challenge my score was lowered when the comments about my wrong spelled title comes up. Then I saw so important the title is. A good title may impact your work positively as a bad can leave you with low scores.
Do you saw a Picasso´s frame without title? I try to vote in picture. Obviously using the theme of Challenge as one of most powerfull point to consider in vote. But when some picture had a stunning title whereas I do not take titles in charge, it calls me to give special attention to that work.

Message edited by author 2003-11-14 08:14:48.
11/14/2003 08:02:33 AM · #22
There is one problem for me also - if the picture is cover of book, then most of pictures must be portrait orientation (because most of books are), but here are lot of pictures in landscape and I think, panoramic photo is not a good choice for book cover.

I did not vote thinking of that, but it disturbed me a bit
11/14/2003 08:13:14 AM · #23
But nobody ever said it had to be a book cover Kinks. It was just a picture depicting the TITLE of a book.

If the competition had been to do a book cover then I'd agree.

Mine happened to be portrait, but by chance, it would not have concerned me had it been portrait.
11/14/2003 08:18:02 AM · #24
Originally posted by Natator:

But nobody ever said it had to be a book cover Kinks. It was just a picture depicting the TITLE of a book.

If the competition had been to do a book cover then I'd agree.

Mine happened to be portrait, but by chance, it would not have concerned me had it been portrait.

I agree 100%! The picture it self must show congruence with the title (not the work or story itself).
11/14/2003 08:26:20 PM · #25
To me, the title has almost zero importance, unless I'm wondering where a shot was taken. I view this as a photography site, and I personally don't believe that creative writing has anything to do with photography. 'Clever' titles are invariably distracting, and your effort is better spent on the photo itself.

I found it pretty funny to see people include the ISBN number in their 'Books' challenge submissions. That's not really going to have any impact on how I vote on the photo.

The most important part is that any title other than the purely informative is in fact an insult to the viewer's intelligence - leaving no room for them to conjure an interpretation of their own. I'd love to see a challenge with the express stipulation that no title be used. That would indeed be refreshing.

Ron.
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