I smell something... - DPChallenge Forums

11/20/2003 04:48:46 AM · #1

In the scents challenge, do you think a photo that some people can relate to would do well, or do you think it should be something OBVOIUS in the scent arena... For example, a cool photo of burnt popcorn in the microwave - do you think it would do well even if not every one would get it?

jaimeegrl

Canon PowerShot A70

11/20/2003 04:52:17 AM · #2

This is a GREAT challenge. I have Tons of ideas. Some obvious, some not so obvious. I am not going to divulge any thought process but, I think this one should be at least mildly obvious with a flair of creativity. I for one do not want to see a slue of flower photographs.

Message edited by author 2003-11-20 09:54:12.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

11/20/2003 04:59:46 AM · #3

Flowers would be OK, but I agree with you on the creativity issue. I think the more creative ideas will probably score higher.

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

11/20/2003 05:08:47 AM · #4

Take a look at the top images of the recent Sound challenge, and you'll get a good idea of how to make people sense things!

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/20/2003 05:14:11 AM · #5

A link to the Sound challenge.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

11/20/2003 05:30:29 AM · #6

Thanks David and Eddy - that challenge sure did yield some excellent shots.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

11/20/2003 05:35:39 AM · #7

I would not hesitate to say the generally pleasant scents will do better than those considered offensive...

alanfreed

Nikon D6

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/20/2003 05:37:54 AM · #8

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

I would not hesitate to say the generally pleasant scents will do better than those considered offensive...

Well, that shoots down about 30 of my best ideas :)

amsmyth

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

11/20/2003 05:38:07 AM · #9

you think so?

guobin

Olympus C-750UZ

11/20/2003 05:43:59 AM · #10

scents and aromas
don't they have a postive tint to it?

I don't know... I always thought that the words 'smell' and 'odour' are used for the negative smells but 'scent' and 'aroma' are used for the positive ones...

Can someone enlighten?

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

11/20/2003 06:08:16 AM · #11

Originally posted by guobin:

I agree with you... I don't normally associate scent and armoa with funk and stench :)

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/20/2003 07:29:23 AM · #12

Scent (n.)a smell:odor. a perfume. an odor left by the passing of an animal.

Aroma (n.) a distinctive, usually pleasant odor: fragrance.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/20/2003 08:32:53 AM · #13

Good or bad smelling, I'm going to rate the creative images and the images that really convey a sense of smell higher than those that don't.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/20/2003 10:14:22 AM · #14

Once again, a bit of a conflict between the title and description opens the door for debate....

A smell is the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated. Your challenge is to capture the concept of "smell" by photographing something that is often associated with an aroma or scent.

Aroma definitely seems to imply something pleasant; scent maybe, but less strongly (as in Flash's definition, the odor of a passing animal probably isn't going to be too pleasant). But the description seems to me to leave it more wide open: Your challenge is to capture the concept of "smell".

And then, of course, is the problem of taste, so to speak - some people find cigar or pipe smoke to be a pleasant smell, others can't stand it.

Message edited by author 2003-11-20 15:16:53.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/20/2003 11:21:51 AM · #15

Originally posted by ScottK:

But the description seems to me to leave it more wide open: Your challenge is to capture the concept of "smell".

But you're taking part of a sentence out of context when you do that. It says:

capture the concept of "smell" by photographing something that is often associated with an aroma or scent.

If it just said capture the concept of "smell" period I would agree there might be a conflict, but the description clarifies that the type of smell that should be photographed is one that would be considered an aroma or scent (which I agree, is intended to imply "pleasant").

Message edited by author 2003-11-20 16:23:23.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/20/2003 11:28:47 AM · #16

How can they make it more clear? Anything which stimulates the olfactory nerve and produces a sensation in your brain is what they specified. Whether that's interpreted as a positive/pleasant experience is irrelevant so far as "meeting the challenge" goes -- there are no universal standards. Your pleasant cologne might make me sneeze or have an asthma attack -- not pleasant from that perspective. It's a very individual and cultural (and sometimes genetic) thing.

Since the admins chose to not copy the entire thesaurus entry into the description, I will opine that for the purpose of meeting the challenge, they intended that smell, odor, aroma, scent, reek, stench, stink, fume, effluvium, essence, redolence, fragrance, pungency, perfume, etc. should all be considered synonymous.

And it only has to be something "associated" with smell, not the odorous substance ... gosh, anyone reading these threads would think this was a semantics club; nothing to do with photography.

Message edited by author 2003-11-20 16:29:36.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/20/2003 11:31:22 AM · #17

I think I'll take a bad photo of a lovely rose or gardenia and title it "This Photo Stinks."

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/20/2003 11:34:03 AM · #18

This isn't Dictionary Photography Challenge? Oops. Sorry, I'm on the wrong web site.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/20/2003 11:45:12 AM · #19

Originally posted by EddyG:

This isn't Dictionary Photography Challenge? Oops. Sorry, I'm on the wrong web site.

We could put together one of those kids' alphabet books, with a photo to match each letter. Except I think the photo people would choose for "A is for Apple" might push us into an "R" rating right away.

Published as an eBook it wouldn't cost much, and could double as a portfolio of top DPC/Prints images.

neenee1999

Nikon D70

Canon EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II

11/20/2003 11:53:42 AM · #20

One scent I can relate to is the smelly muscles rubs, with the cold weather, comes the aches and pains from old injuries, (for me anyway), wheww that stuff smells awful! Just and open tube of that stuff makes me cringe lol...just a thought. :)

Natator

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/20/2003 12:01:17 PM · #21

Originally posted by GeneralE:

I think I'll take a bad photo of a lovely rose or gardenia and title it "This Photo Stinks."

*laugh* That has to be the post of the month there :)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/20/2003 12:07:45 PM · #22

Originally posted by Natator:

Originally posted by GeneralE:
I think I'll take a bad photo of a lovely rose or gardenia and title it "This Photo Stinks."

*laugh* That has to be the post of the month there :)

Well, thanks, but I think one in this thread might still be better ... unless you've suffered some bodily injury you've failed to share with us.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T20

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/20/2003 12:15:07 PM · #23

Am I allowed to use the PS Olfactory Levels filter in this challenge? And will there be support if we include a Scent Markup Emmision Level Language (SMELL) support, or at least the lower functionality Sniffascript?

Otherwise, I'm sorry, there's no way we can submit or judge this fairly...