These scores are nothing to write home about

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

04/07/2009 08:00:29 AM · #101

Originally posted by Teafran:

commercial post cards are slap dash affairs and don't have much thought put into them as a general rule

Exactly my point!

WriteHeart

Canon EOS-40D

04/07/2009 08:03:59 AM · #102

Originally posted by Teafran:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by PennyStreet:
all of my commenters are telling me they're not too fond of my text/font. Oh well. At least I tried it.

Getting similar comments here, but my font and color choice was intentional and gave me the look I was after.

And you know what? That's the only thing that counts to be totally honest.

If your're happy with it and it suits you, you simply can't ask for more than that. Georgia O'Keeffe was once asked how she managed to paint in such a different style and still attract attention to her unique way of expressing a scene and she gave a very simple answer - "I please myself first - anything beyond that is pure coincidence."

Lester Hayes, the great abstract photographer said much the same thing once and you see similar comments from all the past and present greats - you have to please yourself first. If the proletariat doesn't agree, there isn't a whole lot you can do about it because if you adjust to suit the masses, then you haven't been true to yourself.

Later,

Tom

Nicely put Tom! Thanks for a reminder to be true to ourselves! You are a great encourager and I really appreciate it. Thank you!

Teafran

Olympus E-520

Vivitar MF Zoom 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Series 1 for Olympus

04/07/2009 08:07:37 AM · #103

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by Teafran:
commercial post cards are slap dash affairs and don't have much thought put into them as a general rule

Exactly my point!

Well then, it might be worth attempting.

Hey - I'll play along - I must have some post cards around here I can scan and post.

Might be fun.

Later,

Tom

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/07/2009 08:16:27 AM · #104

Comments have been interesting on this challenge. On my shot some people say that the colors are over-saturated and it would have been a better shot as a black and white, squared up to use the most possible pixles, which might be true. Some people say that it is an typical postcard, screaming for attention in the 4x6 proportion. So who is right? Those who want the entries to nail the challenge, or those that want the best possible photograph? Are you guys getting similar comments?

Message edited by author 2009-04-07 12:17:34.

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

04/07/2009 08:44:04 AM · #105

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

So who is right? Those who want the entries to nail the challenge, or those that want the best possible photograph? Are you guys getting similar comments?

Mine is of the former variety for sure. The comments and votes on mine are also indicating a division of what people are looking for.

klkitchens

Pentax K-1

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

04/07/2009 08:53:50 AM · #106

Technically, the challenge is to "Shoot a photograph that would make a great postcard." Nowhere does it say that we must make it into a postcard. Most did and that's fine as they allowed us to put text on the image... but if a photo is great enough and they didn't include text, I would give it equal weight in this challenge. However, if they chose to add text and botched it, then it will detract in a small or large way.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

04/07/2009 09:00:05 AM · #107

Originally posted by Teafran:

I admire Georgia O'Keefe and love that saying...

For me this was a learning experience. I learned that there is way more to adding text than simply filling a text box. I learned that the color of the font really matters a lot. Etc .. etc. For the most part, I am glad for the comments I've gotten because I will pay more attention if I ever do this again (I am not a big fan of covering any picture with text, for me to even contemplate posting in this challenge was a stretch!!)

I will also admit that it's nice to hear that other posters are getting similar feedback because it suggests to me that fonts are something of a subjective issue.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

04/07/2009 09:03:41 AM · #108

I think the font issue is more pronounced because most of us have a general agreement about what makes a good photograph, but now we are dealing with something that is a regular issue in the advertising world. It is new to many of us, however.

limerick

Nikon D60

04/07/2009 09:12:03 AM · #109

Votes: 93
Views: 160
Avg Vote: 6.0753
Comments: 6
Favorites: 0

snaffles

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/07/2009 09:56:09 AM · #110

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

True. And as I was in advertising for several years and had graphic designer friends, hard to not learn about how a font can help or hinder.

Votes: 97
Views: 161
Avg Vote: 5.7629
Comments: 6

Score sucking a little. :-(

basssman7

Nikon D500

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/07/2009 11:16:17 AM · #111

Originally posted by Teafran:

A lot of graphic designers will custom design a font to match the image or graphic and stay away from standard, readily available fonts for that reason.

I am guessing you mean custom design the text, as opposed to a font. The two are totally different. As a graphic designer, I often have drawn my own text for a project, or even more often simply taken a decent font and then turned it into an object and then modified it to meet my needs. Creating a whole font is a totally different affair and involves creating an entire alphabet and sometimes number set and turning them into a font which can be used in programs...certainly not something that is done very often by most people. :)

DigiFotoBuddy

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

04/07/2009 12:09:24 PM · #112

Votes: 90
Views: 202
Avg Vote: ~ awesome zone ~
Comments: 12
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Updated: 04/07/09 04:03 pm

Here are the defined score zones:

4.5 to 4.9999 bad but seen worse
5.0 to 5.4999 good
5.5 to 5.9999 nice
6.0 to 6.4999 really nice
6.5 to 6.9999 awesome
above 7.0 great (or super superb)

Message edited by author 2009-04-07 16:09:55.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/07/2009 12:12:09 PM · #113

One of my current favorite font issues is the font for Hewlitt Packard's current "the computer is personal again" campaign. A spidery quirky font that might look unique if you had never seen Tim Burton's the nightmare before christmas. Whenever my new HP acts up I now think it must have been put together by Doctor Finkelstein. Probably not the association they intended.

BrianR

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/07/2009 12:43:51 PM · #114

Originally posted by HawkeyeLonewolf:

I agree with your interpretation of the challenge details, and the challenge is Postcard, I do not believe points should be deducted for text or no text of any kind as this was run under the extra flag rule and the text is not part of the shoot, IMHO all photos should be scored on thier photographic merit.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/07/2009 12:58:39 PM · #115

Originally posted by HawkeyeLonewolf:

if a photo is great enough and they didn't include text, I would give it equal weight in this challenge. However, if they chose to add text and botched it, then it will detract in a small or large way.

Does that mean that no text and well done text are on the same footing, but text you don't care for lowers the score? If that is the case then all of the submissions without text will score better (given equally good shots) as a group.

In my scoring I have been looking at the square shots (the standard 720 pixels on a side that maximizes the image's size and impact) and wondered if I were editing this shot for a postcard, which third of this image would I have to lop off to fit the stock it would be printed on? Or would one use the big black bands that have become popular to square up rectangular images in recent challenges, only in reverse? Would the image be as good if you actually had to make those choices?

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/07/2009 01:01:39 PM · #116

I kinda looked at the whole package when I voted... but I gave less weight to the font/text layout than the actual picture. To me, if the participant chose to include text, then it is part of the layout and its presentation should be considered. just my .02.

Some postcards are cheesy, in real life and in the contest... This isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, cheesy cards are probably the best sellers!

Jutilda

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon

04/07/2009 02:02:31 PM · #117

I too voted as a whole package kind of thing. I made many comments about fonts because most postcards have text. Had I seen maybe some of the images alone, I might not have liked them so much but when you combine them with a snappy border and clever use of words, it makes for a damn good postcard. :~)

Votes: 91
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AndyMac24

Canon EOS-40D

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

04/07/2009 02:15:44 PM · #118

Votes: 97
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Updated: 04/07/09 06:14 pm

honestly I thought this would do a lot worse!

rlewis

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/07/2009 03:49:44 PM · #119

I just voted the post card series. I must say I think these are some of the nicest images I have ever seen in one challenge. A really excellent set.

Teafran

Olympus E-520

Vivitar MF Zoom 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Series 1 for Olympus

04/07/2009 04:37:54 PM · #120

Originally posted by BrianR:

[quote=HawkeyeLonewolf]

I agree with your interpretation of the challenge details, and the challenge is Postcard, I do not believe points should be deducted for text or no text of any kind as this was run under the extra flag rule and the text is not part of the shoot, IMHO all photos should be scored on thier photographic merit.

Ok - just for the sake of discussion, let's accept that the theme is image that makes a good postcard and text is a optional addition.

Using these parameters, how would you rate a fantastic, sharp, precise perfect image of Antartica replete with penguins, leopard seals and orcas with the text "Mexico, the land of Enchantment"?

While an absurdity, there were images that came close to this example and while I agree that the image needed to be the major focus, ignoring the text and placement and how it affected the total impact of the image would be impossible.

Later,

Tom