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DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Results >> How did this make Top 5?
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05/20/2015 08:18:45 AM · #1
It's an interesting photo, but IMO doesn't fit the challenge description whatsoever.

Description
Let's keep it classic, let's keep it simple, and let's do it really well: the "head & shoulders" portrait is a staple of the craft of photography.

Keep it classic. Keep it simple. ???

The images I gave top votes to all did well in this challenge, but this one (which I didn't vote as Top 20) baffles me.



It's funny reading some comments, such as ones for the following photo, which to me was more "Classic" than the above ... some kudos given for it, yet it failed to place above the mid-point for this challenge.



... and for those that want to question this thread, please note the following from the Forum thread page.
Forum Thread Type: Challenge Results
Description: Discuss challenge results here. Did the winner deserve to win, or did another photograph?
05/20/2015 08:35:12 AM · #2
To be fair, the first photo does have a head. And shoulders.
I get your point. And in fact, the image quality of the #5 image was realtively poor IMHO. But the lighting, emotion, mystery, drama and the idea itself trumped the other stuff. And as for being a DNMC, I'm guessing there's not many people that want to look at a yearbook on DPC ;)
05/20/2015 08:36:13 AM · #3
It's a human and I see a head and shoulders. How does it not meet the challenge? It's good to see creativity and out-of-the-proverbial-box thinking rewarded here. "Classic" and "simple" -- I agree, maybe not, but those criteria probably got lost in an unnecessarily wordy challenge description.

That said, Mr. Wet Head is no more or less "classic" in my opinion. Even so, he would have gotten high marks from me. I need to get back to voting...
05/20/2015 08:36:33 AM · #4
Since when has fitting strictly within the challenge description been an indicator of scoring success at DPC?
05/20/2015 09:06:49 AM · #5
Well, actually most of the OTHERS don't meet the description, for it says "head & shoulders"... plural... most others have a single shoulder.
05/20/2015 09:17:46 AM · #6
It's always a risk when you step out of the box, more often than not (for me) it doesn't work out but when it does you can score big time.
I didn't see it as simple as far as pulling of the shot but the concept it's self seemed simple and it reminded me of the "man in the chair" shot. (The picture of the guy in front of the speaker with his hair and the lamp blowing back).
That to me made it classic.
I gave it an 8.
05/20/2015 09:19:14 AM · #7
I voted a 7 on that photo, this was good enough that it turned my head and make me stop to really look at it harder. I loved the dramatic feel to it.

I guess this goes to show about "going out of the box" kinda of thinking.. Who would have said this challenge had to be face forward?
I am tending to love shoe horn photos more and more these days and if someone can bring that quality and help me think out of the norm too, why not?
This was not a boring image by any means for me. I tend to get very bored with portraits anyway.. it just doesn't do anything for me. That is also why I did not favorite nor claim my personal ribbons on it.. it takes something really big, to really, REALLY make me like portraits.

Shots like this, Just helped me get my juices going for other things on how I can make something interesting and put more umph behind what I do.

I sense a sore feeling here, or just a need for understanding why it scored why it did. nevertheless, I thought it was brilliant. It had a head and shoulders that is what the challenged asked for, that is what was submitted. There were others that I thought were more DMNC than this one. Then again, I have other better things to do and I need to spend time voting and commenting..

Wish more people would play like this and just have fun. For those that do shoehorn images. thankyou!

Double contracts so back to work for me, breaks over

Message edited by author 2015-05-20 09:23:58.
05/20/2015 09:29:19 AM · #8
From my 'win a ribbon' post way back in 2004: "Each description is a guideline, not a shopping list. Think about what the author might have intended, but don't read between the lines for instructions that don't exist, and don't get hung up on possible definitions for each word." Seems like you got hung up on definitions for "classic" and "simple," both of which were ancillary to the challenge topic of a head and shoulders portrait. For many people, merely shooting in B&W is enough to evoke "classic," and the composition really is quite simple, albeit rotated. I wouldn't expect that one to win, and it didn't, but breaking from the mundane is generally rewarded by voters moving from one similar shot to the next.
05/20/2015 09:47:04 AM · #9
Originally posted by jgirl57:

... I sense a sore feeling here, or just a need for understanding why it scored why it did. ...

No, no sore feelings at all. I didn't have a horse in this race. Thought it would make for good "conversation" and reflection on the challenge entry and voting process. I still think that this entry was not a Human Portrait in the sense that this challenge called for ... I'm in the minority with this stance, but that's "ok" with me.

Thanks for the contributions to this conversation, one and all.
05/20/2015 09:48:40 AM · #10
Originally posted by vlado:

Well, actually most of the OTHERS don't meet the description, for it says "head & shoulders"... plural... most others have a single shoulder.

In the top ten there are some photos without shoulders :)
I know that mine is very distant from the "simple" that was requested but at least head & shoulders are present :)
The conclusion is that we should balance the judgment between the theme of the contest and photo quality
05/20/2015 10:36:52 AM · #11
Originally posted by Sisto:

Originally posted by vlado:

Well, actually most of the OTHERS don't meet the description, for it says "head & shoulders"... plural... most others have a single shoulder.

In the top ten there are some photos without shoulders :)
I know that mine is very distant from the "simple" that was requested but at least head & shoulders are present :)
The conclusion is that we should balance the judgment between the theme of the contest and photo quality


Sorry... I think I should have included a sarcasms mark to my previous post...
05/20/2015 10:46:15 AM · #12
I gave it a 10 and it was my fav of the lot.
The fact that it was a little different made me make that choice.
05/20/2015 11:36:24 AM · #13
Originally posted by glad2badad:

It's an interesting photo, but IMO doesn't fit the challenge description whatsoever.

Description
Let's keep it classic, let's keep it simple, and let's do it really well: the "head & shoulders" portrait is a staple of the craft of photography.

Keep it classic. Keep it simple. ???

The images I gave top votes to all did well in this challenge, but this one (which I didn't vote as Top 20) baffles me.



It's funny reading some comments, such as ones for the following photo, which to me was more "Classic" than the above ... some kudos given for it, yet it failed to place above the mid-point for this challenge.



... and for those that want to question this thread, please note the following from the Forum thread page.
Forum Thread Type: Challenge Results
Description: Discuss challenge results here. Did the winner deserve to win, or did another photograph?


In summary... because *I* didn't take it.

Had I stepped out of the box with such a DNMC photo, I'd have been tagged for it.

But I think the "simple" and "classic" aspects of a standard head and shoulders portrait are being ignored by the rules lawyer proclaiming "human" "head" "shoulder(s)"
05/20/2015 11:40:18 AM · #14
Originally posted by Tiny:

I gave it a 10 and it was my fav of the lot.
The fact that it was a little different made me make that choice.

Right. But that's part of the problem. You frame a challenge as a classic, simple head-and-shoulders portrait, and the scene is set for an outlier to get extra attention.
05/20/2015 11:44:52 AM · #15
Originally posted by vlado:



Sorry... I think I should have included a sarcasms mark to my previous post...


:) don't worry, mine is full of sarcasm as you can see from the smiling emoticons...

In every contest every one of us has a different approach to the theme and to the photos, sometimes judging the quality and sometimes the inherence to the topic...
05/20/2015 11:58:12 AM · #16
Originally posted by bohemka:

Originally posted by Tiny:

I gave it a 10 and it was my fav of the lot.
The fact that it was a little different made me make that choice.

Right. But that's part of the problem. You frame a challenge as a classic, simple head-and-shoulders portrait, and the scene is set for an outlier to get extra attention.


No, there is no problem.
05/20/2015 12:01:32 PM · #17
I know people hate the term but the second shot just feels like a snapshot to me. By that I mean, Johanna obviously took time and effort to conceptualize, set up and execute the shot. The second one feels like some parent sitting in the back yard, watching the kids play and says to themselves "haha Johnny looks funny like that, I'm gonna take a picture of it"

Now, there is nothing wrong with that, but when it comes to a challenge, I'm definitely giving higher marks to the one that put more work in.
05/20/2015 12:12:46 PM · #18
Originally posted by smardaz:

.... when it comes to a challenge, I'm definitely giving higher marks to the one that put more work in.

that's right for me, but always looking to the pertinence to the topic
05/20/2015 12:45:47 PM · #19
Originally posted by Tiny:

Originally posted by bohemka:

Originally posted by Tiny:

I gave it a 10 and it was my fav of the lot.
The fact that it was a little different made me make that choice.

Right. But that's part of the problem. You frame a challenge as a classic, simple head-and-shoulders portrait, and the scene is set for an outlier to get extra attention.


No, there is no problem.

"Problem" was a quickly chosen, generic catch-all. Annoyance would be more appropriate. And my annoyance is with the Portrait Police -- what is and what is not a portrait -- and how that affects entries and voting. I've lost interest in entering and even looking at portrait challenges because -- unless they are worded to invite creativity -- they don't really offer too much creative variation.

I think this photo is great and I'm glad it did well, but I'm annoyed that this genre is so strictly interpreted that any creative variance is either slammed or a surprise.
05/20/2015 01:08:11 PM · #20
Originally posted by klkitchens:

But I think the "simple" and "classic" aspects of a standard head and shoulders portrait are being ignored by the rules lawyer proclaiming "human" "head" "shoulder(s)"

Myself, I prioritized "head" "shoulders" and "classic" -- de-emphasizing only "human" ...
05/20/2015 01:08:14 PM · #21
How did THIS one NOT make top-10? It's brilliant!

05/20/2015 01:12:59 PM · #22
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

How did THIS one NOT make top-10? It's brilliant!



eye of the beholder I guess Robert, but you already knew that.
05/20/2015 02:06:56 PM · #23
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

How did THIS one NOT make top-10? It's brilliant!



I guess even you didn't think it was that "brilliant" you didn't give it a 10. :)

It was one of my top picks, I gave it an 8.
05/20/2015 02:10:48 PM · #24
I was one of the 3 9's... I reserve 10 for "perfect" pretty much :-)
05/20/2015 02:16:01 PM · #25
I think some people might have been scared???



Originally posted by nygold:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

How did THIS one NOT make top-10? It's brilliant!



I guess even you didn't think it was that "brilliant" you didn't give it a 10. :)

It was one of my top picks, I gave it an 8.
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