May Photo Contest. LIGHT AND SHADOW, Stage 1: Intro and links

[ConsAreLiars]

The theme for this month is LIGHT AND SHADOW.

There are a total of 30 images produced by participants in DU's Photography Forum which are divided into 3 groups of 10 because of the 10-entry limit on polls on DU.

The top 2 from each group will go to the Final round, plus the top 4 vote getters among the remaining 24 images.

This Stage 1 will end on Saturday. The final round will go up on Sunday and end Monday evening.

The three groups of photos are at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3296566

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3296583

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3296591


Comments on specific images are encouraged in the thread in which they appear, since part of the purpose of the Photography Forum is to learn from others. General comments about the contest and "kicks" should go in this thread since it provides the links to all three groups.


Enjoy!

[Hugin]

1. Kick!

Better than any silly poll.

Lemme tell ya!

[Mutley]

2. Beautiful pictures everyone!

So, can anyone participate in these contests? I fancy myself a very very very amateur photographer. not even that really. just someone with a crappy digital camera who likes to take pictures.

anyway.

i lurk in the photo group a lot but I'm usually too intimidated to post any of my pictures.

[ConsAreLiars]

4. Anyone can participate.

I don't see the contests as competitions so much as a chance to share images, but others enjoy the competition aspect. Remember, some of the real classic photos of the past were done with equipment that was utterly primitive compared to what is low-end today. Feel free to post your photos there and ask for advice and feedback. Its a pretty slow-paced forum, and people are friendly and helpful.

[keithjx]

5. I just started myself

I'm sure your pics would be very well received. I just started playing around w/ my fiancee's camera a couple of months ago, and, as usual, the DU crowd has been very kind to me.

Please come join in!!!
KJ

[alfredo]

39. kick

Kick!

[Mutley]

3. kick and everything

:kick:

[keithjx]

6. THANKS TO ConsAreLiars

You've done a great job hosting this contest. Thanks for all your hard work!

:yourock:
KJ

[Catchawave]

7. Nice work everyone !

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[RagingInMiami]

8. Nominated for Greatest Page!

[TahitiNut]

9. What I personally try to use as Judging Criteria ...

Preliminary Note: While I finally mustered up the temerity to enter, I don't regard mine as best (or even close) even according to my own criteria. My interest is in developing/tuning my sense of aesthetics to better understand and perhaps to better execute. That's even the reason for me to post this.

I look at roughly three perspectives of the image which obviously overlap in both the image and the execution: Composition, Impact, and Technical.

For Composition, I look at the color, textures, and geometry and depth of the image. I ask myself whether these aspects are composed or arranged in the image in a manner that contributes to my overall impression. I tend to think of this as a "good eye" ... about noticing and framing.

For Impact, I look at the subject matter and the thematic creativity. I essentially ask myself whether the image, within the context of the theme, has an emotional impact. That impact could be humorous, peaceful, glum, frightening, nostalgic, or whatever. I personally like irony and apparent contradiction. I also look to see if there's a "story" or something that triggers my wonder or imagination.

For Technical, I look at the control over focus, shutter speed, depth of field, color balance, and contrast. Again, I try to assess these aspects within the overall context of the image.

I give a little more weight to Impact and a little less weight to Technical ... perhaps about 40% Impact, 35% Composition, and 25% Technical.

As always, YMMV :silly:

I guess it's interesting to me what folks look at ... so I offer what I'd like to hear. :shrug:

[RagingInMiami]

12. I think I do all that

But I'm not sure my brain breaks it down into such precise categories as you do.

I initially look at impact, how a photo capture my attention as soon as I look at it. I immediately know whether I like a photo or not.

Then I look at composition and technical, but these are elements that usually contribute to the initial impact.

I also ask myself how I would have improved the photo (I do that to all my photos as well).

[TahitiNut]

13. Well, that's not how I think. It's how I think I think.

:silly:

Seriously, I'm rarely attaching words and analytics in real time. It's more about understanding how I look at 'em in total. I suppose it's called "philosophy" -- trying to know how I know and think about how I think. Sorta like writing the service manual by watching the car?

[ConsAreLiars]

18. It's interesting to hear how people look at these images.

My slides are unsorted, mostly, because I was never sure which were most toss-worthy. and which were the best, and their importance lay mostly in the experience of taking the picture.

For me it is because it tells a bit of truth about us and our world. Sometimes that truth is just a reminder that we as people have an aesthetic sense and it can be evoked by simple curves or pretty colors or a foggy evening we might discover around us. I believe I read that many other primates seem to be enthralled by a pretty sunset.

So the subject matter is the first thing that draws my attention, but the best photo also tells its truth without a lot of noise or needless distractions, and this is where the technical aspects and issues of composition come in. This is what distinguishes a Salgado or an Ansel Adams from us mere mortals.

In fairness, contest voting shouldn't be based on favorite subject matter, but on the sorts of considerations you've articulated so clearly. It was very helpful to spell it out like you did, because I think it describes what actually makes us react to a photo. Those are not "judging rules" so much as a description of how these things work.

[lakemonster11]

10. kick

[intheflow]

11. Oooooh! The contest has begun!

:popcorn:

[ralps]

14. Kick for the great photos

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[HeeBGBz]

15. Great photos!

Hard to choose in each group. I voted for my gut response in how these photos reflected the overall stated theme of the contest.

I love this group. I need to add it.

[alfredo]

33. Gut feeling is what it is all about. If it doesn't move you

it has failed.

[Longgrain]

16. I'll kick this one up too, hopefully people are kicking up the contest

threads too. :thumbsup:

[RagingInMiami]

17. Kick

C'mon everybody. Vote.

[Princess Turandot]

19. kick

[Ms. Toad]

20. Awww....Page 2?

Have to fix that... kick

[Longgrain]

21. Kick.

:kick:

[ConsAreLiars]

22. kick for the recent arrivals in the Lounge (n/t)

[alfredo]

23. Good job

:kick:

[RagingInMiami]

24. kick

[lakemonster11]

25. kick

[Robeson]

26. Many great ones. Hard to chose.....

...As usual, none of my votes are going to make it to the finals...:-(

[Longgrain]

27. I should probally kick this one up too...

:kick:

[ConsAreLiars]

28. kick for Saturday (n/t)

[Ms. Toad]

29. Probably a few new folks have arrived since the last kick n/t

[alfredo]

30. A good swift kick in the

[RagingInMiami]

31. Rock the vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Longgrain]

32. So when is the winner going to be announced?

And an excuse to kick!:kick:

[ConsAreLiars]

35. Around 6PM Sat (Pacific) I'll ask that the three polls be locked

Once that happens I'll tally up the results and get ready to put up a Final 10 tomorrow, probably around noon and let it run until Mon 6PM (local) also.

[Longgrain]

36. Cool,

and another kick!

:kick:

[ralps]

34. Kickity Kick

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[alfredo]

37. I guess it is time to

Kick this.

[MissHoneychurch]

38. another kick