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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Clouds, clouds, clouds
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 02/12/2014 12:15:40 PM · #1
Hi you all. I'm new here. I really like participating in these challenges and I think they will make me a better photographer. There is one thing though that I don't like and has been bothering me since a started a few weeks ago, and that is photos of clouds. Not that I don't like clouds, but the fact that they always seem to end up in the top places of many challenges (especially open challenges). Not so long ago there were 9 photos of clouds on the front page which shows 15 photos in total. The latest challenge, minimalist landscape, has three cloud photos in the top three places. Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the photos (they are all nice and deserve their prize) nor their photographers. I'm just wondering if this is what I may expect in the future, since I was thinking about staying here for a long time.

What I am mostly afraid of is that photographers will put aside their creative thinking and choose to submit cloud photographs as they are more "safe". What do you think? Please discuss.

All best,
Thorsteinn
 02/12/2014 12:19:03 PM · #2
If you're shooting to score high at DPC, and your photo has sky in it, you are best to include clouds. The more dramatic and stormy looking, the better.

02/12/2014 01:10:55 PM · #3
I was kind of referring to the sky, maybe more than clouds (since they are, well, often there).

Then why are so many photos that include the sky, my question could be. This world has a lot to offer.

Message edited by author 2014-02-12 13:11:57.
 02/12/2014 01:16:17 PM · #4
pretty pictures always score higher.
 02/12/2014 01:18:48 PM · #5
An interesting sky is an essential element of interest in landscape photography.
 02/12/2014 01:25:35 PM · #6
Originally posted by surmelism:
I was kind of referring to the sky, maybe more than clouds (since they are, well, often there).

Then why are so many photos that include the sky, my question could be. This world has a lot to offer.

"Minimalist landscape" is going to summon photos with a lot of sky, no way around it. I looked through the past challenges and you have to go back to "Beginnings" to see an abundance of clouds. Again, it's easy to see how a lot of sky would play into the interpretation of that challenge as well.
 02/12/2014 01:37:13 PM · #7
I agree with you all. A beautiful photo is a beautiful photo, and the sky can certainly be beautiful. On top of that it is before our eyes every day so it should not be a surprise that it inspires people and their photography.

It just seems to me that it doesn't really matter what the topic is (maybe not paper, but who knows), the sky will score high.

Again I emphasize that these are just speculations, I have nothing against the sky. But I really like looking at creative photographs, not just the sky through different lenses.
 02/12/2014 01:40:24 PM · #8


Recent ribbon winner is a good example of cloud with effect

Message edited by author 2014-02-12 13:40:42.
 02/12/2014 01:44:21 PM · #9
I think you'll find that this next batch of challenges, excluding the Free Study, will be mostly free of sky and clouds.

But now that this thread is bouncing to the top, there is the danger that a Cloud challenge might be on its way.
 02/12/2014 01:51:53 PM · #10
Clouds, clouds, clouds
 02/12/2014 01:54:30 PM · #11
It's an excellent photo Aperture_Ready. I'm not pointing at certain photos, I'm speaking in general. I hope you are not getting me wrong here. It's just that I have seen a lot of these kind of photos since I started here (more than on other photography sites that I visit) and I thought I might be because photos of the sky have had the tendency to score higher on this site over the years. I would not know since I am new, but I was hoping for an open conversation on this. I'm not trying to prove a point.

bohemka, I would definitely submit a photo!
 02/12/2014 01:59:52 PM · #12
You are a very interesting photographer and I hope you stay here.

That being said, I will warn you that ribbon winners tend to be derivative photos. Remember, ribbons are about winning the popular vote, which requires comfort and familiarity. My pleasure in the site is seeing what my favorite photographers do in each challenge, as well as in deciding for myself which images I like best.
02/12/2014 02:08:08 PM · #13
Thank you, I will definitely stay.

You comment about comfort and familiarity kind of answers my questions...

Originally posted by posthumous:
You are a very interesting photographer and I hope you stay here.

That being said, I will warn you that ribbon winners tend to be derivative photos. Remember, ribbons are about winning the popular vote, which requires comfort and familiarity. My pleasure in the site is seeing what my favorite photographers do in each challenge, as well as in deciding for myself which images I like best.
02/12/2014 02:15:40 PM · #14
You said it in your initial comment. Creativity takes inspiration and effort. It's much easier to shoot clichées and it's competition that makes us do it. I frequently find myself trying to shoot a better cliché just to get the vote. Other times I get bored with that and try to shoot something creative.

Message edited by author 2014-02-12 14:17:13.
 02/12/2014 02:47:56 PM · #15
Yea, that is probably the main reason; It's difficult when someone tells you to be creative in a certain way (someone=dpc, certain way=themes). But I think that is where the beauty of this site lies; to be creative in different circumstances. One could even argue that that is what photography in general is all about.

Originally posted by tvsometime:
You said it in your initial comment. Creativity takes inspiration and effort. It's much easier to shoot clichées and it's competition that makes us do it. I frequently find myself trying to shoot a better cliché just to get the vote. Other times I get bored with that and try to shoot something creative.
02/12/2014 03:32:04 PM · #16
Bear in mind that creativity often flows freest when boundaries constrain it. Just as without a problem there's no impetus to find a solution. Welcome to DPC!
 02/12/2014 03:45:45 PM · #17
I agree, absolutely! And thank you. I'm going to upgrade my account to participate in more (interesting) challenges.

p.s. In this context it's worth mentioning that the sky is partially shown in my newest submission :)

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Bear in mind that creativity often flows freest when boundaries constrain it. Just as without a problem there's no impetus to find a solution. Welcome to DPC!
02/12/2014 04:08:59 PM · #18
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Bear in mind

Gotcha :-).
 02/12/2014 04:27:02 PM · #19
Remember too that, unless you're a troglodyte or mermaid, we actually live in the atmostphere, "only" on the surface. :-)

Other than the Minimal Landscape photos, a challenge which seems to require a big sky, only one other picture on the front page right now has sky as a significant element, and it has the foreground taking up 2/3 and the sky only 1/3, unlike the vast majority of landscape photos.

Some of my "best" pictures include clouds, but none has ever made the front page ...



Oh yeah, Welcome to DPC!

Message edited by author 2014-02-12 16:28:13.
 02/12/2014 04:44:49 PM · #20
my best pics have no clouds.
 02/12/2014 04:47:41 PM · #21
From Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell:

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds * that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

ETA: sorry, just had to post that. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Message edited by author 2014-02-12 16:48:19.
 02/12/2014 04:56:09 PM · #22
Originally posted by kirbic:
From Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell:


IMO One of Canada's greatest singer songwriters. Great tune!
 02/12/2014 05:32:34 PM · #23
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Remember too that, unless you're a troglodyte or mermaid, we actually live in the atmostphere, "only" on the surface. :-)

Other than the Minimal Landscape photos, a challenge which seems to require a big sky, only one other picture on the front page right now has sky as a significant element, and it has the foreground taking up 2/3 and the sky only 1/3, unlike the vast majority of landscape photos.

Some of my "best" pictures include clouds, but none has ever made the front page ...



Oh yeah, Welcome to DPC!


Nice photos! Clouds are beautiful, there is no doubt about that. But I sometimes get tired of photos of them, just like I get tired of photos of the aurora borealis. I'm from Iceland so photos of that breathtaking phenomenon are a common sight... it just doesn't have any meaning for me, even though I can get close to crying when I see them with my bear eyes (got that, tome?). Most people seem to love aurora photos, and maybe it's the same with the sky; they catch the eye of the voters on dpc and bring them some sort of joy. Maybe I haven't looked at them from both sides, like Joni, and they still just get in my way.

Message edited by author 2014-02-12 18:08:28.
 02/12/2014 07:36:45 PM · #24
Welcome to the world of DPC! Some people here don't like birds, others flowers or water drops and now some who don't like clouds but all of us like DPC and the people here. (but watch out for the Bear and the Grog) That's what is so great about the place. So welcome aboard and have fun!
 02/12/2014 09:07:12 PM · #25
Originally posted by Enlightened:
Welcome to the world of DPC! Some people here don't like birds, others flowers or water drops and now some who don't like clouds but all of us like DPC and the people here. (but watch out for the Bear and the Grog) That's what is so great about the place. So welcome aboard and have fun!


Thanks Enlightened! I feel safe here but I will keep my eyes open.
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