July Photo Challenge -Discussion

[anivid]

Of course; but an unusual interpretation of the theme enhances the artistic nature of the shot.

Not Necessarily - the two things do not need to be related, the artistic nature of a shot normally relies on the photographical technic (light/shadow etc.) and the artistic eye alone (placement of the motif in the viewfinder)

When voting I tend to make allowances for shots taken with inexpensive equipment. It's a poor craftsman who blames the tools, of course; but a cheap digital camera is never going to produce crisp, quality photos. A photo can be artistic, without being technically excellent.

As Mouse already stated it's normally not the equipment wich makes a chosen pic bad - the biggest error is as usual "the driver behind the wheel"

Agreed, Mouse.

And I think that a quirky theme encourages an interesting array of unusual interpretations.
It's my nature, anyway, to seek out alternative routes around any thorny problem; which is my interpretation of the word "Challenge."

See here we are again, it's a PHOTOGRAPHIC contest, Alex, not a litterary one, and definitely not a contest in finding odd ways in circumventing a problem.

I'm all confused now about the theme of the month, wasn’t it about that particlar text in the form of a Nursery Rhyme ??
- when reading the comment of Alex it seems the presented text should lead to another Nursery Rhyme according to his choice ?? – and then (maybe ??) to a photo ??
Hope, pls. clarify.

 

[alchemist]

I'm all confused now about the theme of the month, wasn’t it about that particlar text in the form of a Nursery Rhyme ??
- when reading the comment of Alex it seems the presented text should lead to another Nursery Rhyme according to his choice ?? – and then (maybe ??) to a photo ??
Hope, pls. clarify.

I think anything that relates to nursery rhymes would fit. For instance, children rolling down a hill (jack and Jill), people on a wall (Humpty Dumpty), black sheep (Baa baa black sheep) etc

 

[anivid]

I think anything that relates to nursery rhymes would fit. For instance, children rolling down a hill (jack and Jill), people on a wall (Humpty Dumpty), black sheep (Baa baa black sheep) etc

Sorry Alchemist,
Don’t know of anything in that particular genre – nor do I observe an irresistibel urge to
I’ll just be off the hook to the littoral trail watching the big armada of seasonal yachts then – have a nice summer
Best from Anivid

 

[StormFeather]

I came to look at this months challenge with eager interest, and have been completely disheartened by what I've found in this thread.

I thought we were supposed to be a supportive community?

I'm sorry for those that may feel that voting in recent challenges shouldn't have gone the way it did, or that the recent themes don't feel appropriate to them. I went back through the last 2 years of challenges to look at the themes, and to try to come up with something different - it's not easy as I'm not that clever, don't read photography mags and therefore don't have the appropriate vocabulary to maybe come up with something more suitable for everyone.

Photography is very subjective, and all the themes are open to varied intepretation, so it's no surprise that the voting doesn't always go the way that seems obvious to each individual. I didn't like the feeling I got last month when I felt that I had to justify my reasons for my vote.

For myself, I enjoy looking at the themes in all of the challenges that are on this forum, and sometimes I feel totally inspired to take part, at others I find that I have no inspiration whatsoever. However, I don't moan about not being inspired, or not particularly liking a theme. I just wait to see if something strikes, or for the next challenge.

Hope, I like this challenge - there is so much scope, and I will certainly be attempting to take an appropriate picture. I hope others will try to do the same.

 

[Mouse]

I thought we were supposed to be a supportive community?

Who is being unsupportive?

I'm not that clever, don't read photography mags and therefore don't have the appropriate vocabulary to maybe come up with something more suitable for everyone.

Same here.

I didn't like the feeling I got last month when I felt that I had to justify my reasons for my vote.

Who made you feel like that? I hope it wasn't me - I don't think I even commented very much during the last challenge. I voted, but didn't enter, and gave no reasons for why I voted for who I did.

However, I don't moan about not being inspired, or not particularly liking a theme. I just wait to see if something strikes, or for the next challenge.

I'm entitled to an opinion, whether I'm moaning about it or not!

 

[Tiffany]

I have a good idea for one photo at least. I just have to set it up.
Can't understand the problem, it isn't a difficult challenge.

 

[Alex The G and T]

I’ll just be off the hook to the littoral trail watching the big armada of seasonal yachts then – have a nice summer

Boats! Perfect! I've got at least three new ideas thinking about boats!

 

[Mouse]

Can't understand the problem, it isn't a difficult challenge.

Don't think anybody said it was difficult, to be fair.

 

[hopewrites]

Well, no, no one said that it was the theme I chose that was the problem. And most have been careful to say that its not my doing, I just happened to drop the straw that broke their camels back.

I did have two other ideas and if this one doesn't suit, well, its still early in the month and so long as no ones posted and we decide soon, I would be willing to change to the more photography appropriate of them.

I don't find voicing frustration at lack of inspiration to be unsupportive, usually the opposite. It show to me a sincere wish to participate. It is hard, however, to hear people one respects and admires storm out of a game in frustration just as one comes in to play.

Anytime voting on a thing is allowed there will be those that utilize the privilege in a way that others disagree with. Even in a unanimous vote, one could argue with the ethics of the voters.

I propose a clarifying of the challenge and its purpose, rather than blaming successive backsliding of themes.


If people feel that artistic integrity can only be displayed with purpose taken shots lets add that one must take the photo in the month of the given challenge. I understand this rule hasn't been added before because it would be difficult to enforce, mostly relying on the integrity of the entrants, and at times detrimental to the players, the spring theme for example didn't take place during everyone's spring.
If we need to stipulate in the voting that one is to vote for the best artistic interpretation then we can do so, but again it would be a hard rule to enforce.
If we need to stipulate that one should vote for the photograph that shows the most photographic skill, then the themes should only be those that address photographic skills.

I would rather people come out and say who they think are committing voter fraud and what kind of fraud they suspect then feel that my (or anyone elses) win is the result of underhanded dealings.

This, nor any other challenge here, is not a popularity contest. I never take the friendships I am forming here into account when voting and would certainly find it shocking to discover others have done so. The only things I take into consideration when voting are 1) artistic wholeness 2) theme adherence 3) casualness of skill 4) emotional evocation. The same criteria for what I enter into the contest.

If I have been mistaken on the intent of these contests I offer my most abject and humble of apologies and beg to be corrected.

I'm sorry some feel my win to have been the result of ignorance if not out right fraud and offer the only remedies I can think of. Clarification as a cure for ignorance, and/or further rules as a detourant to fraud. And I can further vouch for my not winning due to ether by withdrawing from this and all other contest from here on out.


To those who have ever voted for me in the past, I thank you, and apologize that your integrity and intelligence has come into question. Please know that I am flattered and gratified by your expressions of pleasure in my growing abilities.

I am shocked and heart broken that anyone could suspect the members of this community of willful ignorance or malicious favoritism. I wouldn't have thought it of anyone here. And can't bring myself to even suspect it.

 

[Gary Compton]

I hope that no-one is insinuating I voted for Hopewrites as some sort of favour or cos she's a good friend. (she dreams about me - ask her)

I'm as straight as spaghetti junction.

I thought her photo was best. It was Alc who mentioned it in another thread so I popped over, had a look and stuck the tick in the box (Really, Hope told me to do it with mind control)

Anyway its just a bit of fun, I will be taking part this month as I've just got some batteries for my camera, the wife's not happy that I've taken them from one of her favorite devices.

She's a very keen cook I hasten to add (coughs!)

Chill out everybody, I think I'll write a nursery rhyme to go with the photo.

Roll on Xmas!!

 

[Mouse]

S'alright, Gary, you don't need to jump in with the urgent hand waving. Nobody's gonna start a bitch fight.

I'd pm'd hope earlier apologising for derailing her thread. What I should've done is start an entirely new thread to discuss thoughts on the challenge. I feel awful that her parade's been rained on.

I've been a bit rankled about the challenge for a little while. I didn't enter last month*. I have no problems with how people vote, it was more the 'why' that perplexed me. I wouldn't vote for a story that had grammatical errors any more than I'd vote for a photo that wasn't in focus, so I kinda can't understand why others would. (And anyway, we should all be avoiding entering photos which aren't our best.)

hope fully deserved to win last month and I have not said otherwise - none of my comments have been about her photos** and if anybody got that impression then I'm sorry.

If anybody fancies starting a separate thread so we can chat about what we think (and maybe there should be guidelines for the challenge, like there is for the writing ones?) then feel free.

edit: Hoopy, that was quick! Eggselent photo. (See what I did there?)

I hope we get a record number of photos this month, just so you can all go 'in your face, Mouse!'

*and that's not anything to do with SF, the theme, the voting etc.
**or anyone's, really, I'm generalising. I've entered dodgy shots myself.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Ugh, the puns! Argh.

Yeah, was just sitting here having a think and the most obvious idea popped into my head. That's one less egg for me to nom. Think about poor starving Hoops!

So if nothing else, getting involved in this discussion gave me the kick up the bum I needed to get back into the challenge.

 

[anivid]

I just happened to drop the straw that broke their camels back..

Exactly

I don't find voicing frustration at lack of inspiration to be unsupportive, usually the opposite. It show to me a sincere wish to participate. .

Good

It is hard, however, to hear people one respects and admires storm out of a game in frustration just as one comes in to play..

I think frustration has been build up over some months, Hope.
I, e.g. felt an instant relief in the moment I've said I'ld rather do the trails this month.
It aint good going around with frustrations, Hope - it's bad for the health.

I propose a clarifying of the challenge and its purpose,...

Good.

I would rather people come out and say who they think are committing voter fraud and what kind of fraud they suspect then feel that my (or anyone elses) win is the result of underhanded dealings.

I don't think anybody has been talking about fraud.
If it's me, I'm merely baffled (strongly baffled - if that's the word) over how EXTREMELY different criterias (if any the voters are exhibiting.

The only things I take into consideration when voting are 1) artistic wholeness 2) theme adherence 3) casualness of skill 4) emotional evocation. The same criteria for what I enter into the contest.

The three first I can only agree with, but the emotional one -- that ain't me. But I can see that some voters are taking their emotions into account as well as you are.
To me a photographical contest is about the technical skills and the artistic representation/eye - and to pamper Alex a bit the angle one takes both to the interpretation of the theme AND the object being photographed.

If I have been mistaken on the intent of these contests I offer my most abject and humble of apologies and beg to be corrected.

Don't think you have been mistaken anything more than anybody else.
But it seems to be time for setting up some rules for this competition - and to that end this discussion, even it's frustration which gave birth to it - is VERY constructive, because we got to know each others point of views.

I'm sorry some feel my win to have been the result of ignorance if not out right fraud and offer the only remedies I can think of. Clarification as a cure for ignorance, and/or further rules as a detourant to fraud. And I can further vouch for my not winning due to ether by withdrawing from this and all other contest from here on out.

May be I already covered that - but mostly we have two groups of voters, those trying to evaluate the pics according to technic & art - and those voting according to their EMOTIONS. It might not entirely cover it, but as a first shot It's better than worse

I am shocked and heart broken that anyone could suspect the members of this community of willful ignorance or malicious favoritism. I wouldn't have thought it of anyone here. And can't bring myself to even suspect it.

I don't think anybody said or even implied that - sorry, but it might be much more complex.

Nose up, Hope - be proud of being the straw - and first & foremost: don't take other people's frustrations personal - yeah, I know, easier said than done - but nevertheless: it CAN be done

 

[anivid]

If anybody fancies starting a separate thread so we can chat about what we think (and maybe there should be guidelines for the challenge, like there is for the writing ones?) then feel free.

Good idea, Mouse.
What about yourself ??
Personally I don't want to think more about it tonight, am a bit tired now after having been biking around for a couple of hours.
So, if you don't mind, All - I'll sleep on it.
(but when I wake up tomorrow I'ld be pleased to see Mouse having started the thread )
(the quote looks weird, but I'll post it anyway)

 

[Tiffany]

The entries so far are brilliant. I love the egg & 10 in the bed.

 

[anivid]

Before I’m turning in I want to say to Madame HoopyFrood that from a photographical point of view, I like her pic very much.
It’s simple, clear and have a good composition - and good colours too.
I’m talking, because I haven’t the faintest what it’s all about
I don’t know any nursery rhymes in English, French or any other language for that matter.
My father, who was a sensible man, read up loud in the hallway so both the girls in their chamber and the boys in their, could hear it – and the text was Winnie the Pooh.
(- but fellows that’s almost a LIFETIME ago J)
Hence I can only be evaluating the pics from a clearly photographic angle J
Isn’t that great ??

 

[Gary Compton]

S'alright, Gary, you don't need to jump in with the urgent hand waving.

I'd thought I'd moved in like a ballerina with her hands on her hips

**Goes back to finishing school**

 

[anivid]

I'd thought I'd moved in like a ballerina with her hands on her hips

**Goes back to finishing school**

 

[Gary Compton]

Haha.

That's exactly what I looked like at the time of my post.

Brilliant!!

 

[anivid]

There's a comment from Alex regarding our discussion on the June thread, here
http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/536667-june-photo-challenge-discussion-5.html

Have a beautiful day - I'm off to the trails