View Full Version : Photographer of the Year - Category Discussion
Matt Charlton
19-03-2007, 13:50
Hi folks,
We spent quite a lot of time on Saturday talking about various things in between Onion Bhajis and Naan bread and one of the things that cropped up was the themes that we had been given so far for the photography competition.
Now we all agreed that we loved "lines" - it was something that we could really think about and come up with something that was unique - there were loads of varied entries and it was great to see how people had interpreted the word that had been given.
People weren't so keen on "Still Life" and "Black and White" - they are more genre's and specific types of photography and it sort of lacks the same spark of inspiration that makes you think "oooooh I know just what to do with that".
I know there were only 5/6 of us around the table that night but it'd be interesting to know what other people think about the categories - obviously we don't have a public list of the other 9 categories for this year but Marcel told me to post this up after chatting to him about it earlier.
Other categories that could be good in my opinion are "love", "serene" - stuff like that, more buzzwords than a certain type of photo, if that makes sense?
Anyway, I've started the discussion, I'll let the rest of you take over from here :)
motocross, haven't had that yet :D
Edit: on a more serious note, I don't think it really matters. Some themes will appeal to some more than others. Some might be technical, some might be more creative, it's up to the individual to make what he/she can from the theme.
Haven't entered any for ages anyway so I'll shut up :p
:agree:
I'm with Dod on this
Any subject title is open to interpritation so I guess half the fun is what "you" read into the subject title. Probabley the more ambiguous the better?
Hmmm I have to agree with matt about this (not just cos he is my husband) but I have personally found these last two topics very unispirational (if thats a word), like others have said I guess the same could be said for other topics.
I liked the last years ones more, dont know why.
Clint_Black
19-03-2007, 15:56
Hmmm I have to agree with matt about this (not just cos he is my husband) but I have personally found these last two topics very unispirational (if thats a word), like others have said I guess the same could be said for other topics.
I liked the last years ones more, dont know why.
What she said. 'Lines' got me thinking but I think 'still life' and 'black and white' are quite generic and I'm sure many people would get pictures out of their 'back catalogue' for these.
I've enjoyed all three so far.
The challenge with some of the more traditional subjects is to try and think of something a little different than the norm. I've actually struggled a bit with the latest one but it's forced me to hunt around a bit for a subject.
pandabighead
19-03-2007, 16:30
i think its all about perception and interpretion. i can barely write, defo can't draw and my singing leaves a lot to be desired so photography helps me express myself. i like to submit pics that i feel reflect me or will make the viewer maybe look at the subject from my slightly warped perception.
can't please everyone so try and please yourself!
pbh
I dislike mono most of the time and the only thing that will win a black and white category is a mono shot. Things with clever black items and white items get nowhere (someone prove me wrong please) so this theme does not suit me at all.
I think for the competition to run smoothly the themes should just be accepted and got on with so I'll not be complaining. Grumbling quietly to myself maybe ;)
Must be enough hassle just running the competition without people questioning the choices of category.
Matt Charlton
19-03-2007, 18:40
Must be enough hassle just running the competition without people questioning the choices of category.
Hence why I talked to Marcel about it privately to begin with - I wasn't going to post a thread about it, I just thought he might be interested to know what a few of us had said when we'd gotten together for a meal. He said to post it up because there may be people who feel the same way and he'd rather that people had the chance to say something about it if they did want to.
So quietly grumbling to yourself isn't what its about, its about talking about what people think to the themes.
Not trying to make more work for anyone, nobody knows apart from the admins what the categories are for the next 9 months anyway so its not a major hassle to change some of them if needs be.
Just doing what I was told ;)
Everyone has different opinions, it's the reason the earth spins
h.r.ford
19-03-2007, 19:09
I have to say that I like the idea of broader categories rather than a genre. It allows for more creativity on the whole. Of course I do realise it isn't me coming up with them. But the bi-weekly has had some interesting ones. Colour, Spring, Tired... just to name a few. Every person has a different take and that creativity is welcomed. I tend to see that as Robert says only those that follow the mainstream in genres get picked...
I think we should do 'Robins' ;)
hypnotic
19-03-2007, 22:10
I think we should do 'Robins' ;)
Why bother? .... We may as well just give you first place instead. :p
Why bother? .... We may as well just give you first place instead. :p
LOL. Can't think what you mean. :lol:
Seriously though Black and White isn't a genre - it's totally down to interpretation of the theme and sometimes thinking out of the box (I hate that expression - but still) In fact the last shot I entered under that theme title was a colour shot.
Similarly, I was amazed by the diversity of entries in the Still Life round.
I can see what Matt is saying here.
He mentioned this to me on MSN earlier, and didn't want to be any trouble so to speak, it was my idea that he posted it in public. Purely on the basis that I would prefer it if 100 people entered a competition and had fun doing so, rather than 10 people entered, and 90 werent inspired enough, if you see what I mean.
I also thought that if this 'view' was made public, it might inspire a few others who may have been thinking the same to put their opinions forward.
To be honest, though I personally don't mind either way. It's not really hard work for us to change the theme before the round has started, all it is, is a bit of text :D
Like I say though, I personally don't mind either way if I'm being honest, I'm happy to go with what the majority want :thumbs:
Compared to how competition in the past ran the imposed without debate themes run so much more smoothly that I prefer it as it is now - even if i don't like the topic some months.
It's funny isn't it because what may be one person's heaven may be another persons hell ... so as much as still life wasn't my most favourite choice it may still be a great topic for someone else.... Reckon we should leave as.
I just enjoy entering the competitions. I promised myself that I would enter all 12 rounds this year. Realistically, out of 12 rounds, there are bound to be some that I will love and others where I'll say "oh no". With Black and White I'm still stuck for an idea and getting quite panicky! For Lines, my daughter came up with the idea for me and we had great fun executing it. So, for me, I'm happy to go with the flow. I don't expect to like every theme but then the idea of the competition is to get me out there taking photos, not just taking photos of things I like :shrug:
digitalfailure
19-03-2007, 23:14
Part of the art of competition is the ability to come up with something to get the required result.
If you can't feel inspired to look/create something that fits the theme.....you've not got the will to win.
Sorry if it sounds blunt, but thats life. :D
Whats someones weakness is someone else's strong point, so this gives everyone a chance at the title for 2007.
If your stuck for ideas use google, I'm sure it will help, especially when the themes we have are quite common in the photo world for competitions.
If you find something add a little of your own style to it.
All you need to do is use a little imagination and you could end up with a fantastic result.
The most important thing that will come out of this is you will learn something new, which at the end of the day can help you on your way to winning a competition. :thumbs:
Well it seems most people are happy and that is all that matters, but I would like to thank matt for fetching this up and posting it here, to see what others think about it all.
Personally still struggling with this months and didnt come up with something in time last month, which is a shame as I was wanting to enter as many months as I could manage.
I think we should do 'Robins' ;)
Come on Dan that's way off topic in a serious thread and not in the best of taste. Have we gotta have a TPF meet to get you laid? :suspect:
Deleted. *slap* ;)
Perhaps you should go and ask her out then Dan ? its not something we really needed to know though ;)
Jimmy_Lemon
20-03-2007, 10:50
Somehow missed this. I must say that "B&W" and "Still Life" felt a bit vague to me...but I guess it does help more people enter. I personally love "lines" it really made me think, where as still life could pretty much have been anything inanimate. I am sure black and white will mean we get some interesting entries, but I think I will find it very hard to vote, because there will be soooo many differences types of photo in there. I found lines fairly easy to vote on because you could see who had thought about it (or had had the chance to think about it) and it produced some very clever takes on the theme.....I dont want to sound nasty, but some of the entries in "still life" could have fitted into a thousand other themes too.
But having said all that I am happy to go with the flow, I have said before that I think this comp is just a good bit of fun and an excuse for people to take photos and get some good feedback and good measure of how good that shot was (in comparison to everyone elses).
Anywho...that's myhttp://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5162/2pml9.jpg
aww, sowwy, was only having a laugh :(
Seriously though I'll probally start entering the comps soon! whatever the subject! keep up the good work chief!
I'll not be complaining either...its hard work for you mods.
But my view is that with LINES....you could use any genre you like to get that picture...whichever is "your thing".
But the others are a genre in themselves and was very restrictive I felt.
I just about managed still life, but got no votes, and I doubt if I will manage to enter the Black & White one at all.
photostar_1
20-03-2007, 18:16
FWIW......I'm willing to have a go at any theme......it's all a learning curve and good experience. If you don't like a theme, don't enter! It's a photography comp, not a life and death decision.
Dont think anyone is complaining as such just sharing feelings and toughts :)
the idea is that the theme makes you think and go out and shoot for it, as has been said already, google the theme if your stuck for ideas.
Matt Charlton
20-03-2007, 22:50
Its not so much being stuck for ideas as much as "oh, right, okay black and white it is then".
I'm quite taken aback at the comments from the admin team - I speak to one of the guys and he tells me its a fair point and I should post it up to see what other people think, the rest of the team post on the thread saying shut up and google it if you're too thick to think up something for the theme.
Surely you guys should keep an eye on the thread, post amongst yourselves in the admin board and see what everyone else thinks first before stamping your opinion on it?
Its not that its not easy to think up something that fits a theme, its more the theme isn't making me think enough.... lines was great, still live and black and white were not.
Its a result of not being able to see all 12 themes at the start of the year, this discussion would never have needed to have taken place because it would have all been sorted out there and then.
/rant
I'm quite taken aback at the comments from the admin team - I speak to one of the guys and he tells me its a fair point and I should post it up to see what other people think, the rest of the team post on the thread saying shut up and google it if you're too thick to think up something for the theme.
I don't think the replies were couched in quite those terms - that's your interpretation.
Surely you guys should keep an eye on the thread, post amongst yourselves in the admin board and see what everyone else thinks first before stamping your opinion on it?
No. What should happen is that if someone approaches a mod /admin then that member of staff should post the suggestion in the mod's room for discussion before we take it any further. That's what I'd have done if you'd approached me, and that's how the team has always worked here. It didn't happen on this occasion and after a pretty savage knock down, drag out ear biting session, we're all still mates.
Its not that its not easy to think up something that fits a theme, its more the theme isn't making me think enough.... lines was great, still live and black and white were not.
It's not making you think enough? :shrug: Write to your favourite mag and tell 'em you don't like the theme of the current competition round - see how you get on. ;) Lots of people here have clearly expressed their satisfaction with the current themes. Most of them are well recognized themes in any photo comp, and give plenty of scope for diversity and expression. It was never easy - or meant to be.
Its a result of not being able to see all 12 themes at the start of the year, this discussion would never have needed to have taken place because it would have all been sorted out there and then.
/rant
Did it really need to take place? I've seen some fantastic work submitted in all the themes so far, and regardless of when you get the rest of the themes everyone competes on an equal footing. I think we bend over backwards here compared to many sites to give people what they want, sometimes we poll for opinions, sometimes we make decisions as a team among the admin staff, but we're always prepared to listen. We can't please all the people all the time - especially the minorities.
No ones stamping on any ideas. I understood what you were getting at so said (I paraphrase), "Post a thread about it, you might find everyone else agrees with you....in which case it'll probably get changed". Thats all.
As it turns out, it seems this isn't the case, and most people are happy with the themes as they are. Sorry, but we can't do anything about that.
Like CT says we do our very best to try and please everyone here....and if I'm honest, me moreso than anyone (as has been told in my ass paddling session in the staff room last night). But we can't please everyone, although like he says, we do listen.
For what it's worth. The themes are chosen to be as broad as possible, to encourage people to enter, while being encouraging enough to make people submit a certain type of shot, rather than a 'free for all'. That was the idea, and for the large part I think it works. I can understand what you're saying about it not being 'thought provoking' enough, but if we go too far, then people just won't enter. We've proved that in previous rounds. Before we changed to the POTY format last year, we had something like 5 entries in the last round, quite a poor show IMO.
If you want to tighten the theme for yourself each round, feel free to add your own interpretation to it.
Maybe instead of "Black and White", why not add something like "Squares" to that, or something....make you think more.
I find if I need inspiration or spurring on, I pull out a dictionary and randomly pinpoint words, and try and think of things along those lines.
For some people, it's too hard, some people it's too broad....We're trying to find a middle ground here.
Also, the staff were posting their opinions as members, not staff.
I can bet your bottom dollar that if everyone else in the thread said "I agree, the themes are too general", then we would be on a course to changing them. :)
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 07:01
They may have been posting as members, but that little red bit of text underneath their name says they are anything but. Now I'm not saying that the staff aren't entitled to an opinion, but by being in a position of power in a community they have to forego some of the things that regular members can do.
Now I've been through and counted the posts up.
People not happy with the current themes 5 people
Me
Sue
Clint Black
H.R.Ford
Jimmy Lemon
Not wanting to complain/not bothered either way 3 people
RobertP
Marcel
Janice
Against 11 people
Dod
Cobra
Richard
Pandabighead
ChewyUK
Grendel
Photostar
Matt
Matty
CT
DF
So, an overwhelming number of people against, in fact more than double those who are for it.....oh wait a minute, four of those people against it are admin staff. Take those out of there and its 5v7. Janice has said she felt the current genre's were too restrictive and that lines was much better but wouldn't be complaining - but that could be taken as a vote for. RobertP has also expressed his dislike of Black and White - again this could be taken as a vote for, but I've seperated it off.
Although the staff might have been wanting to post their opinions as fellow members, the other members might not and do not see those opinions as just from fellow members. The thread wasn't given enough chance to gain momentum and attention. 19 people - 4 of them admin...15 people out of 2000+ members. Yes not all of them are active but if they read the thread and find out that the staff have come along and already rubbished the idea it makes it kind of pointless doesn't it?
Got to leave for work now, but I'm sure I'll find something else to complain about later ;)
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 07:42
Okay, so I've re-read what I just posted. The point I'm trying to make is that site staff opinions carry more weight than normal members - especially in discussions like this where you lot actually run the thing we're talking about.
Thats what I meant by stamping your thoughts on the idea and it was more a rubber stamp than a jump up and down stamping action. It just would have been interesting to see how many more people would have expressed an opinion if you'd given it a day or so before you added your own thoughts, thats all.
neonpollen
21-03-2007, 08:14
I realy don't mind what the themes are for each month the harder I have to think the better, for me that's the whole point of these type of competitions. My only gripe is repetition of themes as we had B&W at the end of last year and I'm really hoping that 'Patterns' & 'Colour' doesn't come up either as they are in every camera magazine you can buy, but if they do then I will have a go at trying to produce something different.
I do agree with Robert though I can't imagine anything other than a B&W photo winning this month, for me the photo should 'say' B&W and not necessarily be in B&W
Jonnyreb
21-03-2007, 10:35
Pleased to see peace and harmony have reigned during my absence.
I prefer to be challenged by a theme - if we all took photo's within our comfort zone we wouldn't develop as photographers.
My view: keep it as it is.
love and lentils
Jon :)
pandabighead
21-03-2007, 13:21
i like the idea of everyone struggling to come up with an idea. the harder the competion the more valuable the win as far as i am concerned.
not saying i am expecting to win any. but whats the point in winning an easy comp?
pbh
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 13:26
Nobody's saying anything about making it "easier" or "harder". Its about making it more interesting. As has been said by Andy - its only been a couple of months since we had Black and White as a category.
We shouldn't see the same themes year in year out, in fact it'd be nice to not have a repeat theme...ever.
The fortnightly challenge themes are spot on in my opinion and are spot on in terms of category.
Personally I prefer themes that make me think a bit more, for still life and black and white I could basically submit any photo I have taken, I have taken some various photos with the view of changing it to B and W and then I have taken some black and white images.
I dont think anyone who has commented in this thread is wanting to upset anyone be that admin or members, everyone is allowed their own opinions and should be free to share them with others without fear of what others will say, that is what is the good thing about this website, and the reason I keep coming back.
Thank you to everyone for making this a friendly and welcoming site, in which I hope to improve my photography.
Its about making it more interesting.
Totally subjective though, using the two suggestions of love and serene in your original post they're just too vague for me and as a result not interesting. Might be something to do with some people being driven more by logic than emotion, and vice versa?
Fair enough point about repetition though, with all the themes available there shouldn't really need to be two competitions with the same theme in successive years.
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 14:27
Sorry Dod, they were the first two words that popped into my head at the time and were no way indicative of what I thought were themes we would use. I liked lines :(
Sorry Dod, they were the first two words that popped into my head at the time and were no way indicative of what I thought were themes we would use. I liked lines :(
No need to apologise to me, I can see both sides here :)
It's just that I don't see how you can possibly please all parties in this type of thing, that's what I was trying to bring out by saying those two particular words wouldn't appeal to me as a theme, although I'm sure plenty of folk would immediately begin to see all sorts of opportunities :)
pandabighead
21-03-2007, 15:16
what is easy/hard for some may not be for others. "the questions are only easy if you know the answers" as i am sure some game show host used to say.
i always feel i am balancing my entries between something orginal and not looking like a fool. as noob to forums and photog its a learning curve for me.
just my take on things and why i enter the comps.
If all the themes were something i was "comfortable" with and not challenging, then i wouldn't learn anything.
So far i have found both "lines" and especially "still life" very challenging, i learned a lot doing both and i'm sure i'll learn an awful lot with the "black and white" theme.
namllihs
21-03-2007, 15:44
I must admit with 'Black and white' I am still struggling for an idea, usualy I read the theme title and have an idea of what I will shoot almost straight away. I am not to bothered what the themes are, as it is the same for everyone, but I would have liked a list of the years themes up front.
Right, I'm off to find a Zebra, crossing a Zebra crossing.:)
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 16:06
Themes that everyone was "comfortable" with were never on the menu, apart from it being impossible to please everyone I agree - theres no point.
Its not whether something is comfortable or challenging - its just "still life" and "black and white" are two genres. Lines was a challenge and was great - more of that please.
"Green" would make a good theme and I know at least one member that would please :p
Right, I'm off to find a Zebra, crossing a Zebra crossing.:)
Bugger, that was my idea! :D Except I was going to do a mono conversion with selective desaturation of the stripes ;)
namllihs
21-03-2007, 16:22
I understand what you are saying Matt.
At last nights AGM for my Camera Club we chose the themes for next years annual competition, everyone got to write one theme on a piece of paper, placed in the pot and then 4 drawn out and they are the themes we go with, we ended up with:
Water, Speed, Wildlife and Three (my selection) half said "Three, whats that all about" and the other half said Mmm got an idea for that.
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 16:29
Bugger, that was my idea! :D Except I was going to do a mono conversion with selective desaturation of the stripes ;)
And I was going to do the same but selectively desaturate the zebra's tongue!
Gah :(
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 16:30
Or should that be selectively desaturate everything but the zebra's tongue. :thinking:
Jonnyreb
21-03-2007, 16:31
I'm beginning to think someone selectively stopped taking their medication......:cuckoo: :cuckoo:
:D :p :lol: ;)
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 16:32
I'm going to selectively bonk you over the head with a stick :p
Jonnyreb
21-03-2007, 16:34
lol - just composed and deleted several smutty 'bonk' replies - but its just not right when there's no janice :lol:
a selectivly desaturated stick I hope :D
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 16:35
I'd rather you didn't get smutty with me Jon, you're a great guy and I love you, just not in that way.
Think of it as a selective love, without the bonks.
Jonnyreb
21-03-2007, 16:41
Think of it as a selective love, without the bonks.
Story of my life :lol: :lol: :lol:
:bonk:
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 16:43
Right,
Enough of that....back on topic.
Public Apology
(clears throat)
I flew off the handle a little last night and this morning with regards to posts that were made on this thread - whilst I'm still not overly happy with the dismissive nature of some of them (I'm talking about you Matty) I had no right to react in the way that I did and I've probably upset more than a few people today with it.
I'm not going to make excuses, suffice to say that I've got a lot on my plate at the moment and it doesn't take much to wind me up and set me going.
I apologise for any difficulties that I've caused any members of the team, Marcel in particular who was only trying to be helpful.
I do however have to bring up one point from your post earlier CT in regards to writing to a magazine and asking them to change their categories - TP never has been (in the short space I've been a member) and never will be (I hope) comparable in that sense to a magazine. Its been said by you lot on more than one occasion that its the members that make this place what it is and its a community. Without input and discussion such as the one this thread was trying to accomplish, it wouldn't be much of a community.
So to sum up - It was something that a few of us had discussed on Saturday and I wanted to know what other people thought about it, most people are happy enough to leave it as it is - which is fine, it was an exercise to weigh up opinion, I never set out to have anything changed.
If theres any possibility of not having repeats of categories already done last year though, that would be good.
So there we go, I'm sorry I ever posted this stupid thread.
/me hits the thread with a big stick.
I've only entered a couple of competitions, but that is due to time not the format of the competition.
When I noticed it was black & white this month, I did think it had come around again quite soon after the previous year, but it is a new year and will only occur once in that year.
I also have no problem on repeating themes over the years as I sometimes have a few ideas but I'm not always able to excute them in time, so I think i'll try that next time. For example I had wanted to take a low key shot of piano keys with a short DOF, I couldn't so I got a shot of a toy cow for a bit of fun which I feel worked really well.
So in summing up the competition works well as it is but some would like a greater variance or scope on the category's which I am sure the Admin team have taken into account as a result of this thread, but know that although they will try to make us all happy they wont.
Please note the above is all in my opinion and is not meant in anyway that would cause offence or create further ill feeling. :)
EDIT, I wrote this before reading matt's last comment, but will leave in as it still has some relevance
sorry if you think my reply was a tad dismissive matt, i will try and make it a bit more blunt next time....;)
you will all like the themes for later in the year, the wet time of year themes are always going to be indoor based, sorry if you think they are a bit repetitive, i guess we could have had B&W later in the year..
pandabighead
21-03-2007, 18:47
time for a group hug i think!
if i knew where the smileys where i would put one in.
time for a group hug i think!
if i knew where the smileys where i would put one in.
Click on go advanced in the quick reply window, or just hit the main reply button, they all appear then :) :wave:
you will all like the themes for later in the year, the wet time of year themes are always going to be indoor based
Does that mean we have a "Wet Tee Shirt" theme coming up Matty :D :lol: :naughty:
Against 11 people
Dod
Cobra
Richard
Pandabighead
ChewyUK
Grendel
Photostar
Matt
Matty
CT
DF
Not quite sure what I voted against here?
"I'm with Dod on this
[I]Any subject title is open to interpritation so I guess half the fun is what "you" read into the subject title. Probabley the more ambiguous the better?"
I was basically agreeing I thought with the mods choice of theme hence the
"open to interpritation" bit in my previous post
There are loads of things that are B&W Cats coal cellers ( my age is slippping :lol: )
even a black dahlia I understand, now I have given away all my ideas I'll shudup ;)
Matt Charlton
21-03-2007, 21:55
It was just a quick tot up of opinions in regards to changing/keeping the themes as they were Chris, but its water under the bridge now, doesn't matter :)
digitalfailure
21-03-2007, 22:24
I resent being added to a list of being against an idea and also having my status as an administrator on this site being a deciding factor on what other people choose to think.
I don't take part in the competitions run on here because of that very reason.
I merely pointed out that the themes require thought in order to come up with something both suitable and worthy of becoming a winner. I see lots of competitions across national press covering a great deal of diverse subjects.....what I don't see is the entrants writing in and asking for their own topics so they can nail the winner.
TP is a fantastic community and it is the members that make people return time and time again, but competition requires rigid rules to both ensure impartiality and smooth running......I think that counts as being "black and white" :lol:
just my 2p :)
minimeeze
22-03-2007, 09:55
Only just spotted this thread....
For me the main problem with the comps is actually getting out and taking the shots to enter :lol: I vowed that I would enter them all this year, and still haven't managed.
As others have said, what suits one, won't suit another. 'Lines' for me was really difficult and I struggled, not coming up with anything, whereas I have about 1001 ideas for 'black and white' <mental note to self - must enter comp this month> I think whatever the title is, it is aimed to get us all out there thinking and snapping away. I'm probably the opposite to most people, as I prefer a generic theme like 'landscape' rather than something more precise as it gives me more freedom to interpret the theme. But then I like to be different ;)
Dark Star
22-03-2007, 12:54
For my part (and I've only just caught up with this) some themes I accept I will like and some I won't. B&W scored null points for me last year so its a challenge to me to do better this time round.
Lines I liked, Still Life I didn't and I guess by 'liked' I mean I didn't have to think too hard!
B&W and Still Life are so wide open the challenge is to get a good image well executed and original enough to get noticed and voted for!
And part of the challenge is the interpretation of theme (for instance I do not think Black and White should mean a mono shot, but thats just me!).
So keep 'em coming and, in balance, there should be enough to please everyone - this is only the 3rd this year! Nine more to go :D
Personally i don't care what the theme is, to me if the theme is a bit vague or a genre like black and white it makes me think harder as to what type of pic may win and therefore makes me diversify my photography more.
Take still life, never done it before but the theme made me and i was actually quite surprised at what i came up with to a point that it is something i will try more of now.
BALDYMAN
01-04-2007, 22:19
I use the comp themes as a way to learn to use my imagination . To me it does not matter what they are . I always shoot specifically for the comp and don't use old stock. If i cant produce a picture , i wont enter. Please keep up the good work you guys, we do appreciate your efforts
I don't mind either way, whatever the theme, it will make you think and although my picture is mono there is another reason for the shot which I tried to say B&W within it, but can't go into more detail as it would give my shot away..........more details in 7 days ;)
woadrage
09-04-2007, 13:44
I always shoot specifically for the comp and don't use old stock. If i cant produce a picture , i wont enter.
That's the ideal, of course.
I suspect that one of the reasons why the same subjects keep coming around in these POTY competitions, at least in the ones run by magazines, is that the same subjects are repeatedly covered in features.
* How to shoot waterfalls
* Raining this weekend? Shoot still life in your kitchen
* Explore colour/texture/shadows/silhouettes
* Festivals and celebrations (invariably in the run-up to Christmas, this one)
* Shoot dereliction and decay in your home town
etc.
Anyone who's used these magazine features for learning techniques, or has simply gone through all the standard photographic topics one by one, over the years ends up with a personal stock library of resulting images, so by including the same subjects in the competitions it becomes easy for entrants to draw on their existing catalogue in months when they don't have chance to shoot to spec and entries are guaranteed.
Almost everyone will have a personal stock library with landscapes, still life, project studies of colour, texture and dereliction (is there a photographer alive today who hasn't "done" "dereliction" at some time?), big cats shot at the local safari park if not in Kenya, or tried a few <s>tit-n-bum</s> glamour shots at the local camera club model night.
Everyone's going to have a month from time to time when shooting to the brief is almost impossible - you're out of the country on business and can't take the camera, or the subject is "trees in the landscape" and the only weekend that month which isn't p*ssing down or fog-bound is the one on which you agreed to photograph your third cousin's step-daughter's wedding etc.
Choosing the same subjects over and over maximises entries and recognises that genuine amateurs and hobbyists have restrictions on their time.
The key, I suggest, is to find a balance between the "obvious" and the not-so-obvious - between making it easy for the relatively inexperienced to participate and providing new twists and angles which inspire the old hands. I'd also suggest that one of the ways in which less experienced photographers can learn is by seeing how the more experienced tackle abstract, intangible and "more difficult" ideas and topics and those unfamiliar to the inexperienced themselves.
OK, I'll shut up now.
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