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08/19/2002 01:44:43 PM · #1
Just a short question... You know we can't have a week without somebody asking nitpicking questions about the topic ;-)

Is the challenge meant that I should photograph subjects/memories/etc. of my childhood or of childhood in general?

I can understand "... your impression ..." as both.

08/19/2002 01:50:15 PM · #2
Then, there's your answer. ;)
I think this could be very interesting. Another idea to portray. Hmmmm.
I am beginning to think of a few, but haven't thought too long about them to formulate a POW shot yet (if at all!).

08/19/2002 01:53:56 PM · #3
My stock answer:

It means whatever the voters think it means. I say that because I'm never much good at guessing.

-Terry
08/19/2002 05:47:57 PM · #4
Isn't 'Go with what you know best'the advice given to new painters and writers?

No children here and mine was a long time ago. hmmmm
08/19/2002 06:12:13 PM · #5
Originally posted by aelith:
Isn't 'Go with what you know best'the advice given to new painters and writers?

Yup, that's what they tell 'em. And for good reason. 'Going with what you know,' will hopefully open you up to letting some of your feelings about the subject come through in the work. Which, ideally, is a good thing. Watch out though, if the subject doesn't have a lot of mass appeal to begin with, it makes things that much tougher.

The best artists, imo, are the ones that let you glimpse the subject (or some aspect of it) so clearly that you can't help but feel something. Doesn't have to be a good something, sometimes a bad feeling can be what your after, but the more deeply moving the better.
08/19/2002 07:37:42 PM · #6
Thanks for your feedback. I have a certain photo in mind but it won't be something of actually my childhood. I'm almost 100% sure I'll get burned but oh well... ;-) Just wanted to check what others think. Thanks.
08/19/2002 07:39:34 PM · #7
Originally posted by stephan:
Thanks for your feedback. I have a certain photo in mind but it won't be something of actually my childhood. I'm almost 100% sure I'll get burned but oh well... ;-) Just wanted to check what others think. Thanks.


Shoot for yourself or a certain target audience instead of the voters at large and you can't get burned.

-Terry
08/19/2002 08:28:25 PM · #8
I think the voters are going to look for something that reminds them of their childhood, which is why I'm skipping this challenge. I don't have a good feel for the typical childhood experience, and photos reminiscent of my childhood would have been great for the "Fear" challenge - not exactly something that will do well next week.
08/19/2002 10:08:26 PM · #9
Amphian, please reconsider, if I can do 200 plus pictures of still life on a pencil and come up with nothing. I still tried anyway at something I do not like to do. While still life is something you are great at, then come along enter something for there has to be something from your youth that you enjoyed. I mean kids are mean and cruel. My stepfather use to beat the crap out of me but there is something from my youth that I enjoyed. The trouble with me is where I grew up, are a couple of states away. I know I would have no trouble finding my youth there, even if it has changed a lot since I was young.
08/19/2002 10:25:49 PM · #10
I'm having a very difficult time with this one...Not sure what that says about my own childhood. Mine certainly wasn't filled with fun and games in the traditional sense. In fact, sometimes, my childhood really bums me out. The way I looked at the world isn't your typical...Oh I guess I'll come up with something but it will probably be offbeat.

My Photograph Galleries
08/19/2002 11:06:51 PM · #11
I was absolutely brain fried after reading the new challenge topic. But, this evening the ideas are starting to flow and I'll maybe be able to get to work tomorrow....

Good luck & happy shooting everyone! ;-D
08/20/2002 12:01:22 AM · #12
Originally posted by Amphian:
I think the voters are going to look for something that reminds them of their childhood, which is why I'm skipping this challenge. I don't have a good feel for the typical childhood experience, and photos reminiscent of my childhood would have been great for the "Fear" challenge - not exactly something that will do well next week.


Hey Amphian, I'm thinking about my post and yours and ya know what? No one says the childhood pics must be typical. More importantly we should go for the impact,technique, originality, composition, etc. Your pic may turn out to have lots of impact, and it may turn out to be cathartic. I am definetly challenged on this one, more than any other challenge so far, but I'm not quite ready to give up yet.
08/20/2002 12:01:58 AM · #13
Originally posted by Gracious:
I'm having a very difficult time with this one...Not sure what that says about my own childhood. Mine certainly wasn't filled with fun and games in the traditional sense. In fact, sometimes, my childhood really bums me out. The way I looked at the world isn't your typical...Oh I guess I'll come up with something but it will probably be offbeat.

My Photograph Galleries


Sorry to hear it doesn't bring back a whole lot of sweet memories for you. Unfortunately you are probably not alone in that, and, just as unfortuantely there are always two sides to a story to portray. Could be theraputic?


08/20/2002 12:17:13 AM · #14
Gracious, You could think of things that you would have liked or wanted in your childhood that you never had. I went that route and came up with alot of good ideas.
Good luck to you.

Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.
08/20/2002 12:45:15 AM · #15

Karen, I definetly think it WILL be therapeutic...LOL...I'm counting on it. Actually I am well adjusted and my life has turned out wonderful in many ways. My parents were both precious people who, unfortunately just got a little sidetracked. My childhood wasn't terrible like many, it just lacked much and was VERY serious. In the long run, it really made me a strong person. So I don't want you to think I resent my past, I just never really had anything BUT my imagination to play with as a kid. Heck...I have lots of fun as an adult to make up for any lack back then...lol...in fact I have lots of "stuff" to compensate for the stuff I didn't have as a child.

Sonifo, I may do something concerning what I would have liked. That could work...maybe. But I'm not sure I want to promote what turns out to be only a myth to many children. Well, this challenge will take a lot of thought....nothing wrong with that! :-)




* This message has been edited by the author on 8/20/2002 12:46:48 AM.
08/20/2002 01:25:37 AM · #16
More nitpicking. Would anyone besides me connect a motel's lighted empty swimming pool at night with childhood vacations? Back in the 40s and 50s when rates were reasonable. Other special places: Soda fountain at the 5 and 10 store. Saturday matinee. Public Library. School yard. Vacation bible school. School patrol uniforms. School trips and concerts. Dark room bathed in the cold blue light of b&w tv.

I've never been to Disnyland.

This may be more difficult that one thinks.
08/20/2002 01:37:59 AM · #17
There IS something I think everyone had in their childhood. "Hopes" and "Dreams." If you can place this concept in a photograph I think you would have a winner....
08/20/2002 01:40:59 AM · #18
Originally posted by aelith:
More nitpicking. Would anyone besides me connect a motel's lighted empty swimming pool at night with childhood vacations?
...

This may be more difficult that one thinks.


I think this is going to be very difficult. When you add in generational, cultural, and other differences, it's going to be tough to find something that universally represents childhood.

For example, vacations for me were trips on the family boat - not stays in motel rooms.
08/20/2002 01:47:25 AM · #19
Originally posted by bobgaither:
The trouble with me is where I grew up, are a couple of states away. I know I would have no trouble finding my youth there, even if it has changed a lot since I was young.

You could find similar kinds of things near where you live. If what you loved as a kid was afternoon movies in the local small-town cinema or playing on the swings in the park, you can find the same kinds of places where you live now.
08/20/2002 02:00:08 AM · #20
Originally posted by Gracious:
Hey Amphian, I'm thinking about my post and yours and ya know what? No one says the childhood pics must be typical. More importantly we should go for the impact,technique, originality, composition, etc. Your pic may turn out to have lots of impact, and it may turn out to be cathartic. I am definetly challenged on this one, more than any other challenge so far, but I'm not quite ready to give up yet.


I'll have to think about how I could put my feelings into a photo. I don't want to spend a week watching the "Does not meet the challenge" comments pile up, and most of what I can think of wouldn't be understood by most people. Even taking Bob's suggestion and looking for stuff I enjoyed, it was all stuff like reading, which wouldn't make sense to most people.

I think I'm even more skewed than normal when it comes to this topic. I'm thinking about skipping the voting too.
08/20/2002 08:01:32 AM · #21
Amphian a large part of my childhood was reading too. I wander how many of my favorite titles I can find at the library?
08/20/2002 08:48:24 AM · #22
Reading was my passion, and escape. I've begun to make a list of things I associate with childhood in general , and mine in particular. I'm sure I'll come up with something. Aelith, one of your outtakes would work!
08/20/2002 09:03:52 AM · #23
Like with all challenges, the results are what and how the artist interprets the subject. Someone might remember playing with rocks as a child (no I'm not that old I had blocks thank you very much), or someone might try and use an analogy to show or express childhood. I think we all sometimes forget that this is suppose to be fun, this is an art form. So, got outside and have fun! damn it! (damn i just sounded like my mother.... ;) ) Tom
08/20/2002 09:09:02 AM · #24
Originally posted by Amphian:
...afternoon movies in the local small-town cinema ...

Be careful at some public places... Movie theatres (at least in the Boston area) confiscate cameras. My friend brought along her camera to take pictures of the birthday party crew infront of the "Spirit" (horse) statue in the lobby of the theatre to express the activity of the party for her scrapbook. Security rushed over and almost took her camera away.... she never was allowed to take the pictures and had to return the camera to her car before entering the movie.
Something about copyright laws and thinking she might post images on-line.

;(

gimme a break!


08/20/2002 10:01:59 AM · #25
I'm trying to think about my childhood - lots and lots of reading, lots of drawing, painting, crafts, etc... a strange horse obsession, living out in the country with droughts and floods and locust plagues (aaah, rural Australia), fireworks nights out in the backyard with cocoa and mosquitos (back when they were legal - fireworks, I mean), ballet classes, piano classes, slumber parties, crushes on boys, being teased, being very self-conscious about my weight (god, I almost had an eating disorder at times, even when I was only 11 or 12), cubby houses, climbing on things, climbing trees, pretending to be super heroes, pretending to be a horse (re: the strange obsession) and cantering around the backyard jumping over things, not really understanding dolls, wishing people would give ME model planes and other cool things for christmas instead of my brother, my father's sciency activities like showing us things through telescopes and teaching us about botany, camping trips, school, puberty... um, let's stop there :).

Sigh, I don't know what I'm going to do.
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