Lack of creativity in road pics.

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

06/12/2002 12:01:00 PM · #26

I have to admit I actually cringed when I saw this week's challenge, and I still have yet to come up with a really good idea (I have a decent one but I need sunlight, which hasn't happened here this week). Last week, I started out thinking I'd have an easy time of it, since I frequently go on road trips and photograph funny/interesting/erroneous signs. As it turned out, though, getting a challenge-quality subject and photograph, one that could stand on its own without explanation, was more difficult than I imagined.

In the end I did get something I was happy with, and it's doing OK (not great, but ok). The oddest thing is happening with my scoring, though... I had about a 4.3 or 4.4 this time Monday morning (about 25 votes in at that time), but since then the score has climbed steadily and as of now I'm around 5.2. I've never had a score move like that, and I'm not sure what that means.

-Terry

Truazn637

Nikon Coolpix 5000

06/12/2002 12:49:15 PM · #27

i do agree that some of the photos lack the "aww" and "ooo"'s that i saw last week....but the ON THE ROAD theme was a difficult one to shoot for....I had no clue what to do, so yea. = 0

06/12/2002 01:27:01 PM · #28

i had a couple of ideas for on the road but logistics stopped me from implementing them:

1) [tasteful] nude female hitch hiker, in black and white, cropped below breasts, above waist, backpack strap visible, thumb out to side, pickup truck stopped in the near background blurred slightly because it is out of the depth of field.

2) [tasteful] nude form in center of road with stripes going through.

time and cooperative models were the main limiting factors for me last week! : )

ClubJuggle

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

06/12/2002 01:38:50 PM · #29

Originally posted by magnetic9999:
i had a couple of ideas for on the road but logistics stopped me from implementing them:

1) [tasteful] nude female hitch hiker, in black and white, cropped below breasts, above waist, backpack strap visible, thumb out to side, pickup truck stopped in the near background blurred slightly because it is out of the depth of field.

2) [tasteful] nude form in center of road with stripes going through.

time and cooperative models were the main limiting factors for me last week! : )

I think the first would probably have been a winner this week. It sounds like you could have cheated and shot the first one with a bikini, depending on the crop, and of course availability of a willing model.

Of course, everyone would have probably assumed it was Kimbly's entry.

Kimbly

Canon PowerShot G2

06/12/2002 01:52:37 PM · #30

Originally posted by clubjuggle:
Of course, everyone would have probably assumed it was Kimbly's entry.

I should've offered to model. That would've fooled you all! ;-)

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/12/2002 01:57:54 PM · #31

Kimbly's pic was actually the inspiration : ) ..

hokie

Nikon D2X

06/12/2002 02:01:47 PM · #32

Ummm..dont we have one "semi-nude" on the road this week ;-)

Now whether it's tasteful/good depends on your point of view but he be sorta nekkid!!

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/12/2002 02:02:44 PM · #33

Almost sexy enough to make me "turn gay". Almost : P

Zeissman

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

06/12/2002 02:50:23 PM · #34

Originally posted by Kimbly:
Originally posted by clubjuggle:
[i]Of course, everyone would have probably assumed it was Kimbly's entry.

I should've offered to model. That would've fooled you all! ;-)

[/i]

You can model for me!

sanandan

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

06/12/2002 02:55:07 PM · #35

I am new!
I am very happy to a part of such an active group!

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

06/12/2002 03:20:11 PM · #36

Originally posted by sanandan:
I am new!
I am very happy to a part of such an active group!

Welcome!

shortredneck

Olympus C-3000Z

06/12/2002 04:19:24 PM · #37

Originally posted by magnetic9999:
Almost sexy enough to make me "turn gay". Almost : P

Funny, I said the same thing myself.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/12/2002 04:25:43 PM · #38

LOL. Now *that's* entertainment. : )

Originally posted by shortredneck:
Originally posted by magnetic9999:
[i]Almost sexy enough to make me "turn gay". Almost : P

Funny, I said the same thing myself.

[/i]

arnit

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/12/2002 04:33:40 PM · #39

So... you are trying to tell us that your ''Man Shaving'' picture is an interesting shot. Or a creative one! I''m guessing what your submission for the ''On The Road'' challenge is and I''m sorry to tell you. You don''t got the skills!

I agree with John Setzler.

And my final words.

Fat naked men makes for a boring and unoriginal bad picture.

Originally posted by Photo Jim:
I just finished voting on the "On the Road" pics and there sure were a lot of dull pictures with very little creativity. It looks like a lot of people just snapped a picture of the road without even trying to come up with an interesting shot. Also, there were too many blurred and dark shots. Blurred cars speeding by makes for a boring and unoriginal bad picture. I have an ancient camera so the photo-techies complain about the picture quality but at least I come up with an idea and then create it rather than simply snapping a picture of the road. However, there were a few very good creative sharp good-looking pictures that impressed me enough to warrant a 10. However, there were much more 1s, 2s, and 3s than 8s, 9s, or 10s.

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/12/2002 4:33:38 PM.

Dangerous_blues

HP PhotoSmart C618

06/12/2002 04:39:07 PM · #40

Nothing sexest in that remark is there?

There is nothing wrong with the human body. Anyones body!

If that was a naked woman I wonder what the comments would be? Frankly I find his photographs no more and no less valid because of content then I do all the photographs of peoples children and cats.

The photo itself wasn't great. But this being an open competition he has the right to choose his own subject.

Reuben

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

06/12/2002 04:53:45 PM · #41

Originally posted by Dangerous_blues:
Nothing sexest in that remark is there?

Although it would probably have been better received if the subject was a woman, I rather doubt it would have made a very significant difference. Imagine a woman in that picture, maybe shaving her legs to make it fit the same attitude as the original, and it isn't reminiscent of most nude photos I've seen. The so called 'tasteful' nudes don't typically include the crotch, be they male or be they female.

There is nothing wrong with the human body. Anyones body!

There was quite a bit wrong with the photo, though. I think if you're going to make a photo that you think will be controversial--and naked men will be controversial--you should at least put some effort into it, and do *something* right with the photo. You should make the photo interesting, or at least technically well executed.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/12/2002 04:54:53 PM · #42

Originally posted by Dangerous_blues:
Nothing sexest in that remark is there?

There is nothing wrong with the human body. Anyones body!

...I find ... photographs no more and no less valid because of content...

Thanks, well-said (please read complete comment above).

06/12/2002 04:55:14 PM · #43

what she said!

Originally posted by Dangerous_blues:
Nothing sexest in that remark is there?

There is nothing wrong with the human body. Anyones body!

If that was a naked woman I wonder what the comments would be? Frankly I find his photographs no more and no less valid because of content then I do all the photographs of peoples children and cats.

The photo itself wasn't great. But this being an open competition he has the right to choose his own subject.

Dangerous_blues

HP PhotoSmart C618

06/12/2002 05:02:33 PM · #44

Originally posted by Reuben:
Originally posted by Dangerous_blues:
[i]Nothing sexest in that remark is there?

Although it would probably have been better received if the subject was a woman, I rather doubt it would have made a very significant difference. Imagine a woman in that picture, maybe shaving her legs to make it fit the same attitude as the original, and it isn't reminiscent of most nude photos I've seen. The so called 'tasteful' nudes don't typically include the crotch, be they male or be they female.

There is nothing wrong with the human body. Anyones body!

There was quite a bit wrong with the photo, though. I think if you're going to make a photo that you think will be controversial--and naked men will be controversial--you should at least put some effort into it, and do *something* right with the photo. You should make the photo interesting, or at least technically well executed.

[/i]

I disagree, many great works of art include full frontal nudity. Ever hear of a statue called David?

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

06/12/2002 05:03:46 PM · #45

but david was 'hot' ; )

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

06/12/2002 05:04:09 PM · #46

I don't believe that the 'man shaving' photo quite compares with the statue of david... besides, people back in those days ran round nekkid all the time anyway :)

shortredneck

Olympus C-3000Z

06/12/2002 05:11:24 PM · #47

Originally posted by magnetic9999:
but david was 'hot' ; )

You got that right!

Dangerous_blues

HP PhotoSmart C618

06/12/2002 05:15:15 PM · #48

Originally posted by magnetic9999:
but david was 'hot' ; )

Oh now I get it! To be a good idea the subject must be attractive to the users of DP challenge?

Hmmm...

I bet Rueben is turning over in his grave!

Reuben

06/12/2002 05:19:50 PM · #49

Originally posted by Dangerous_blues:
I disagree, many great works of art include full frontal nudity. Ever hear of a statue called David?

That statue is a statue, not a photograph. I don''t claim to know anything about art, but I think sculpture is completely different than photography. Maybe it''s the level of abstraction that''s involved, where the subject isn''t necessarily any real person. In any case, if you take a picture of yourself decapitating someone, it isn''t going to be as well received as if you sculpt it. Conclusion: Just because it''s accepted in sculpture doesn''t mean it will be accepted in photography.

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/12/2002 5:20:34 PM.