Underrated: 'Shapes' - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

12/15/2003 02:59:22 PM · #1

I just felt like hilighting a few shots that I think were somewhat neglected by the vote:

There. :)

dirtkahuna

Sony DSC-F717

12/15/2003 03:16:19 PM · #2

The top photo of the factory was one of my favorites too. It's an interesting photo of something I'd usually prefer not to look at.

12/15/2003 03:23:57 PM · #3

Of those highlighted by Imagineer, I really liked them, too. However, I didn't think the shapes played a major role in the plant and the windmill photo. The challenge read:
Make the shape of your object the most important aspect of your photo.
I felt like the layers of light and the juxtaposition of the bird and the trees were the most important aspect of the first, and that the sunset silhouetting a rare structure was the most important aspect of the third.
I also thought the rocks photo was nice, played into the shape theme well, but was slightly overexposed.

Do I wish I took them with results this good? Yes.
My vote for underrated goes to:

Imagineer

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

12/15/2003 03:41:54 PM · #4

Make the shape of your object the most important aspect of your photo.

I think that if people are judging photos as tightly as you suggest then it could make for some dull winners in the future. The photos below feature very dominant shapes - but not at the expense of interesting subject matter. I'd rather see these shots than those of still life objects (for instance) that meet the challenge, but perform no other aesthetic or emotional function.

12/15/2003 04:00:48 PM · #5

Hey, I just quoted the competition statement is all. Otherwise, nearly all photos have a shape - if it's not the "most important aspect" part of the statement I'm supposed to pay attention to, then what is?

Even so, I agree that I prefer to see interesting subject matter. But having been a member here for only a couple of months, it has been drilled into my little head that the challenge is primary in consideration when it comes to ratings. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has gotten that impression.

That said, I rate photos from 10 to 1 if I feel they meet the challenge, and 6 to 1 if I don't see how they meet it. An exception for me was the money challenge - break the taboo - actual money in the shot - get a 1.

I guess this would be training for how well we can execute an assignment as photographers. While you might get a great picture that is appealing and sells online or at the gallery, if it's not what the customer needs or the boss assigned, it won't be acceptable. In DPC context, it prevents someone from winning the "Shapes" competition with a beautiful landscape, unless it contains a shape that is the "most important aspect" of the photo.

Imagineer

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

12/15/2003 04:15:02 PM · #6

I knew you were simply stating the challenge advice - no attitude intended. :)

I agree that the emphasis in the shot should be on meeting the challenge, just not the only feature - so basically we're in agreement really.

By the way, a good test to see how dominant the shapes are in these pics is to squint at them. All you can see is a very clear shape in each!

Azrifel

Nikon Coolpix P340

12/15/2003 05:29:33 PM · #7

Thanks. :)

GoldBerry

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/15/2003 06:07:13 PM · #8

Wkmen's post is contradictory [which happens to us all]...you begin by saying that the birds take away from the focus of the towers [the actual object of focus] and yet feel the guitar photo is underated when the mask clearly takes from the photo when initially you would think the silhouette of the guitar next to her body is the focal point.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

12/15/2003 08:14:29 PM · #9

I always think this is a good thread. However, the way I like to do it is I go to the back of the pack, and find my first 7 or 8+ rated photo.

In this case, I think it's

I felt it had a few small technical issues, but as far as overall aesthetics, I really liked it. I thought it would be top 10 at least, not 79th or so!

I like to try and pick the ribbon winners out during the challenge. Does anyone else do that. In this case, my first place choice was right, the blue ribbon winner, and my second place choice was:

which actually finished 6th.

Back to underrated photos, another one I thought would be in the top 10 that finished much lower in the pack was:

This finished 56th.

smitty

Sony DSC-F717

12/16/2003 01:28:14 AM · #10

Thanks for the mention of my photo. This being my first challenge entry, I didn't really expect to score high anyway. I did feel that my shot met the challenge a little better than some that scored higher (not trying to have an ego). It was between the stone photo, and this one below, and I really think I should have went with the sculpture, but alas.

As far as the stone being overexposed, I don't believe so. The object was extremely bleached, so that might have some people believing it was OE. Also, if I had adjusted it to compensate for that, some of the detail in the 'nooks and holes' would have been lost as it would have been too dark. Anyway. Fun challenge and can't wait to jump into another one!

12/16/2003 11:44:41 AM · #11

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

No, actually, I wasn't talking about anything taking away from the photos - I was saying the challenge wasn't met in my eyes, because the dominant aspect of the photo was light, layering, color, etc., rather than shape. That is also why I felt the guitar nude met the challenge - because the shape was the Most Important Aspect (to me).

Certainly, nearly all photos include aspects of shape, light, color and/or natural appeal, etc, etc. I was meaning that just because any certain photo has a shape in it, that doesn't mean it met the challenge, which said shape was to be the most important aspect.

cristiano79

Fujifilm FinePix S7000

12/16/2003 12:05:27 PM · #12

I also believe that this image was underrated.

. Probably, most of the voters believed that this contest was about close views and textures. As a matter of fact, I believe that "shape" has to do with a bi-dimensional view that emphasizes the format and neglects the details - what this picture does very well.

Message edited by author 2003-12-16 12:07:56.

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

12/16/2003 12:13:25 PM · #13

Originally posted by cristiano79:

... I believe that "shape" has to do with a bi-dimensional view that emphasizes the format and neglects the details - what this picture does very well.

Interesting take on that challenge statement - and probably correct. I wish I'd included that view in evaluating the photos.

LucidLotus

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

12/16/2003 01:01:01 PM · #14

I am surprised after looking over my votes that I didn't have any higher than an 8 this go around. I may have been more rigid in my voting than most - but I suppose it gets evened out by other voters.

I took the challenge details to heart when trying to create my entry - which didn't do that great itself but I like it's spherical look, and when voting. It was a very fine line to walk as well.

My criteria was simple, the shape - whatever shape that may be - had to be the dominant force in the photo and then I looked not to content so much as general visual appeal, and then finally content.

With this mindset I found (to me) many of the images were basing on the content rather than the shape. As I said it was a fine line and I'm sure folks submitting felt that the shape was dominant in their photos, unfortunately it didn't come across that way for this viewer and I voted accordingly.

Luckily I'm only one vote so in the long run I doubt it really makes a difference how I view things. There were a number of great images, I just didn't get blown away by the shape of them.

- Sia

PS: If I'd had more time to go back and revote I would've upped the 8's on the winning photo of Seaside Arabesque and EddyG's Chocolate Martini to a 9 those two were the pinnacle of standard shape (highly triangular) and abstract shapes in this challenge IMHO. :)

cristiano79

Fujifilm FinePix S7000

12/16/2003 01:03:03 PM · #15

Wkem,

By the way, your picture is one of my "underranted" in this challenge. I really enjoy it!

12/16/2003 02:00:47 PM · #16

Originally posted by cristiano79:

Wkem,

By the way, your picture is one of my "underranted" in this challenge. I really enjoy it!

Thanks!
I was tickled to see the 80th percentile!
(I know from watching the past couple of months of DPC and participating in 9 challenges now that raw score is never where one would expect it to be, until you get used to DPC scorers.)

Artifacts