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09/14/2005 09:21:34 AM · #1 |
In going through the entries from all the challenges (and I am guilty of it too); there are many "similar" photographs. Eg: in perspective there are lots of railroad tracks done in the same way.
I presume this is just because of how we were taught way back in grade school when they were defining all the terms.
So how do you get your brain to "shut off" those preconceived ideas so that you can take a damn fine photo? How do you get past the obvious and find the different, the unusual, the photo-worthy?
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09/14/2005 09:28:54 AM · #2 |
ummm... have you seen the portraits challenge?
i agree. to most, this works for "appeal" and is an effective DPC formula for placing high on the ranks. "splash shots" for instance are notorious as well.
i posted this on a separate thread but i'm in the same boat as you are... "has creativity gone out the window?" |
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09/14/2005 09:37:33 AM · #3 |
This might be difficult for the following reasons:
A; When people think you "fail" to meet the challenge (ie: not an obvious interpretation of the topic), than your score goes down.
B: If you go out thinking: Perspective .... than you end up with some cliche subjects typically.
Personally, I usually shoot very spontaneaously... If you just go about your life moving and shaking (and carry your camera along) ... you tend to run into perspectives that you might not have thought of and portraits and all that stuff.
Just live, the photos that you discover will be even more rewarding than the set-up ones.
Message edited by author 2005-09-14 13:37:49.
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09/14/2005 09:41:01 AM · #4 |
| I completely agree! I just read a thread where they were knocked down for spelling the title of the picture. I tend to misspell on purpose to accentuate a point(not that I am a good speller in the first place). What happened to all the creativity out there? AND what happened to having an open mind when it comes to scoring? I participated in the branch challenge and had a comment that said the tree was too dark when that was not the focus at all. Lets try to see beyond the obvious here. To be truely creative, take some chances right? |
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09/14/2005 09:48:14 AM · #5 |
here's some criteria that "they" want:
umm ... you need to use a black background, or maybe a perfectly white background.
You need to be perfectly in focus or obviously out-of. You need to be sharp .. but not too sharp. Your title needs to be short, but perfectly descriptive. Backgrounds are always "distracting". People are really distracted a great deal by backgrounds!
I have found that this is not a place for extreme creativity if you also want a high score. The masses don't like creativity. Look at street signs, cars, etc .. everything is the same. People want perfection ... or the oldest wrinkliest person you can find!!!! LOL!!!
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09/14/2005 09:51:06 AM · #6 |
Well sometimes if all your interested in is a ribbon, cliche works on DPC.
If its a planned shot:
I write down all the ideas that first pop into my head and DONT DO THOSE.
I force myself try to do something different.
If its a walkabout hoping to capture for a challenge:
I think "How would a tourist shoot this shot" then I do something different.
I think this has worked for me well.
I have learned lots, gotten great feedback, and look at everything around me while photographing differently.
Take a look at my portfolio if you want.. I wouldnt say I have too many cliche challenge shots. |
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09/14/2005 09:54:40 AM · #7 |
| You know, if you do it well, cliche is just fine. And sometimes there aren't nearly as many as you think. Railroad tracks, as mentioned, would be a cliche for perspective, but I went through and counted only a handful of railroad pictures (winding up only around 1-2%). Most tried to either add something or make it "different". |
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09/14/2005 10:11:46 AM · #8 |
There was a wise man somewhere someplace who said "there are no original ideas" I think he heard it from someone else.
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09/14/2005 10:30:49 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by Twyla:
In going through the entries from all the challenges (and I am guilty of it too); there are many "similar" photographs. Eg: in perspective there are lots of railroad tracks done in the same way.
I presume this is just because of how we were taught way back in grade school when they were defining all the terms.
So how do you get your brain to "shut off" those preconceived ideas so that you can take a damn fine photo? How do you get past the obvious and find the different, the unusual, the photo-worthy? |
It's funny you say that as I went out and took shots of my local railraod track and then decided not to submit it. Not only was their a high scoring railroad track in the first perspective challenge but I figured it was definately cliche and my shot would get lost in the bunch.
But then again...I didn't submit anything...Who's to decide which is better. ;) |
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09/14/2005 10:37:33 AM · #10 |
You can get knocked based on what you use as a subject in two ways:
1. It is so subtely tied to the challenge that some miss the tie in and knock you down for not meeting the challenge.
2. It is so clearly tied to the challenge that other entrants use the same idea, and you get knocked for being cliche.
Either way if the shot is good enough it should work; the subtle tie in is an original, and if good enough the cliche is an instant classic. |
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09/14/2005 10:37:34 AM · #11 |
1- It's usually pretty easy to predict the 1-2 most common subjects for any given challenge and avoid them. Beyond that, as long as you take a good photo, it doesn't matter if a couple other people went in the same direction. Just be sure yours is the best on that subject! ;)
2- Do a brainstorming list, spending about five minutes writing down any ideas you have on the topic, no matter how stupid they might be -- just write everything down. This is how I came up with my idea for the "Balance" challenge. I never would've thought to balance flowers on their stems if I hadn't had the random brainstorm on my list!
3- Take you camera out for the day and shoot only with the general topic in mind, but not a specific idea. Don't limit yourself to shooting, for example, railroad tracks because that was your idea when you left the house. Just walk around and shoot anything that catches your eye, and try to add the concept to every shot. Like for perspective, what you might normally just shoot head on, try shooting from several different angles and positions, giving the image a fresh look.
When I took a photography class we'd have a themed assignment a week and 24 on topic frames to fill. I found myself taking SO MANY pictures that I never would've come up with otherwise just because I had to do so many! It was such a great exercise!! I developed a great eye for those subjects. To this day, I feel like I still notice interesting shadows, reflections, and doors/windows because I spent so much time looking for those things in that class!
By then you should have a few good, less cliche ideas. If you need to reshoot to get it perfect, hopefully there's still time, now that you have the groundwork, to just fix lighting or try a different aperature or something.
It's a time investment to get good photos, but the more time you spend, the more you learn. So it's worth it in the end. :) |
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09/14/2005 10:45:53 AM · #12 |
| I take my first 3 ideas and throw them out the window! Then creativity starts. |
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09/14/2005 10:45:59 AM · #13 |
A braid of garlic and a silver cross will hold most clichés at bay :-)
Robt.
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09/14/2005 03:49:02 PM · #14 |
| Easy - Take a shot of a piece of railway track covered in a blue veil splashing into a tank of soapy water, positioned at the top left third of the frame, on a black background. |
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09/21/2005 07:52:39 AM · #15 |
Cliches become cliches because of thier power to so often be effective. I find a fresh take on a common subject always to be appealing. I like the challenges so far for making me plan a particular shot. Normally something I rarely do. That along with my daily photoblog where I get to do whatever I want however I want helps keep me sane and not too concerned about the whole inside/outside the box issues here.
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