Forgot an essence of photography

[Willy wombat]

Hi guys and gals

I went to a meeting of a local photo club in Canberra last night and they had a photographer that works with the national gallery judging member's prints (sorry i dont recall his name!) . I had looked over all of the 60 or so prints up on the boards earlier in the night and i had picked out my top 3 in each category, and a few dead certainties.

To my surprise his judging differed widely to mine with only a few overlaps. Accounting for different artistic tastes, etc, i had expected a number of very technically challenging and well executed shots that to be rewarded with at least a merit (or higher). I found out later that a number of other people also held similar views.

After he had finished giving the awards for the night he said that in the main part he had not judged the photos specifically on their technical attributes, but that he had judged them because of how they made him "feel" and for those that told a decent story. Quite an interesting perspective i thought. He emphasised how important it was not only to to make sure photographers were not always fully focused on just the technical but also to be aware of how other aspects to a photo can make it better that what may be perceived as a "sterile" technically perfect image.

It was an interesting exercise to watch and im glad i went along for the refreshing view point. It is very easy to get caught up in the technical. I know i do it all the time.

Still - i bet a few people got up this morning with a sour taste in their mouths, still feeling a little jilted they missed out on their votes. Luckily i didnt enter anything!

Anyway - just wanted to share.
Steve

[firsty]

I know what you are posting about
I had to choose between 2 shots for a "motion panning to show speed" challenge over at dpchallenge.com
in the end I picked the technically better shot and while it did well I'm not sure if the other would not have scored higher

this is the one I entered... a planed shot taken with some care but very sterile


this was my other option taken on the spur of the moment with all the wrong settings and missed focus but with story/atmosphere

[leek]

Different strokes for different folks...

While your story is great (and thanks for sharing)... I bet you'd probably find some other judges who would concentrate on technical merit, creativity, lighting or a whole host of other factors...

[Antsl]

Different strokes for different folks...

While your story is great (and thanks for sharing)... I bet you'd probably find some other judges who would concentrate on technical merit, creativity, lighting or a whole host of other factors...

The sooner most amateur photographers get over the whole gear and technical thing and begin understanding the emotional aspects of photography the sooner they will become better photographers. That judge was right in what he had to say... it is the feeling that an image conveys to a veiwer that is important. Most cameras that you have are capable of getting the technicals of a photo right.... (face it... how many of you use them in manual mode!?).... it is the ability to respond emotionally to a subject that makes you a good photographer no matter whether you are shooting sport, portraits, landscape images or anything else you might care to mention.

The technical controls of a camera are not different to those of a car ... when you are learning to drive you are busy concentrating on the controls and gears and not on the road ahead. After a few years of driving you forget about the car when you get into it and concentrate 100% on the road... you become a better driver. Photography is no different. Learn how to drive the camera and then move on ... forget about the camera details and start concentrating on the subject in front of you! You'll become better photographers.

[Dargan]

Agreed Antsl

I make no claim for technical expertise or longevity in photography or even artistic merit or excellence in any one area (yet) in photography, but I feel that this is SO important it should be made a sticky and all members should be made to think of it at least once a month. It was what I got from reading Capa's life story andits there in the actions and lives of other great photographers.

Well done Steve for making this post two ears and a

[CraigVTR]

That judge was right in what he had to say... it is the feeling that an image conveys to a veiwer that is important. Most cameras that you have are capable of getting the technicals of a photo right.... (face it... how many of you use them in manual mode!?).... it is the ability to respond emotionally to a subject that makes you a good photographer no matter whether you are shooting sport, portraits, landscape images or anything else you might care to mention.

"Every good photo is a systhsis of technique and art." Andreas Feininger, Principles of Composition in Photography. 1973. I have been reading the above book and i agree that a good photo is one that makes 'you' feel good. A photo is art, painting with light (read that somewhere too).

As leek said driving a car, riding a motorcycle, the techniques are very important and we can all learn them. The next step along comes from the feel, the affinity we develop with our chosen passion. When we develop that sense of feel we can produce the exceptional results we desire.

My input to a worthy subject.

Craig

[sheepie]

...not sure if the other would not have scored highe

I'd have scored the second one higher

Very interesting post Willy - thanks for sharing the views expressed. I've gotta agree with them - although in this environment it's hard sometimes to choose a 'technically less perfect' shot. We should always try to remember it's not other photographers' opinions that make a picture great, it's the picture itself and what it says to the individual

[radar]

We just have to look at the way we voted in Challenge 8. Simon (Manta) put in a winning entry that he said wasn't perfect.

You'll see traces of colur dropping down into the water in the left side glass. I only had about 10 seconds to get the shot once the oil/colour mixture was poured into the glass which is why I couldn't do too much experimentation with lighting on the 'real' subject. Came out all wrong. I was in such a hurry I didn't even notice the droplets on the side of the glass above the surface. Very sloppy!

But most of us gave it a vote because it appealed to us and had a good "feel".

Thanks for posting the comments WW,

André