***Challenge 5: The Decisive Moment***

[MHD]

I didnt see it helping the winners of previous comps...

[johndec]

I didnt see it helping the winners of previous comps...

So do I take that to say you agree with me or do I take it that you disagree with me

Or should I take it that being from Canberra, you are honing your diplomatic skills

[MHD]

hehe...
I am saying, IMHO, that it only makes a small difference what people name thier pics...

I find that people vote for the image suits the comp... and they heavily penalise anything that they dont feel fits the theme...

Examining the winners of the past comp, it has been the simple image that embodies the theme, while past performance is not always an indicator of the future, images that have an overly complex interpretation of the theme that needs description do not do well...

All IMHO...

[Glen]

John, I do think the titles add some interest or sometimes humour to viewing the images. They also allow someone to try a more abstract or complex idea, rather than reducing all images to the simplest common denominator. A case in point would be Stubbsy's image in the 3 comp, I called it the cerebral photographers image, it was foliage in three planes. Not immediately apparent without the title, but a very valid image all the same.

A title allows some indication of the photographers intention, our voting can let them know how successful they were in acheiving their goal or not.

[johndec]

John, I do think the titles add some interest or sometimes humour to viewing the images. They also allow someone to try a more abstract or complex idea, rather than reducing all images to the simplest common denominator. A case in point would be Stubbsy's image in the 3 comp, I called it the cerebral photographers image, it was foliage in three planes. Not immediately apparent without the title, but a very valid image all the same.

A title allows some indication of the photographers intention, our voting can let them know how successful they were in acheiving their goal or not.

Hehe, I was more summarising than editorialising Personally, I don't care much either way. History has shown us that the best entry wins, despite the spin

[Matt. K]

OK. Let's get this straight. It is not only the photographer who fires the shutter who captures the "decisive moment". You need a bloody "decisive moment" to happen in front of your camera. In other words...it is a partnership between the photographer and the subject. No way can it be a landscape unless there is something very special happening at just that precise moment. It needs a co-dependent partner...the subject....to provide the critical elements required. Get into the street...wait...watch....and shoot.

[johndec]

No way can it be a landscape

What if the Martians land in front of me whilst I'm photographing the Hay plains

[rokkstar]

That would be a bloody decisive moment

[birddog114]

No way can it be a landscape

What if the Martians land in front of me whilst I'm photographing the Hay plains

Then you get the first prize

[johndec]

Yeah, forget the challenge, I'd sell it to the New York Times and buy Nikon with the change!!

FYI Rokkstar and other non born and bred New South Welshmen, the Hay Plains is without doubt the most boring part of this country, if not the whole planet

[leek]

OK. Let's get this straight. It is not only the photographer who fires the shutter who captures the "decisive moment". You need a bloody "decisive moment" to happen in front of your camera. In other words...it is a partnership between the photographer and the subject. No way can it be a landscape unless there is something very special happening at just that precise moment. It needs a co-dependent partner...the subject....to provide the critical elements required. Get into the street...wait...watch....and shoot.

Hear Hear!!!

[MHD]

hehehe...
Page 5... Arek certainly picked agood theme

[Flyer]

Great to see this discussion.
Can't wait to see the photos!

[phillipb]

Interpretetion of the theme is not the only problem, what each one of us sees as the decisive moment within a picture will also vary.
For example, this is probably one of the more famous photos from the master himself, H C-B



Who is to say that if he had waited another 1/2 sec, the splash of water may have made a stronger image. On the other hand, the fact that the splash is imminent is what makes this a materpiece.
In the end, we will all submit photos and as a group we will pick the best but at least this time we will have a fair idea of what everyone's thinking after the first round of photos.

[MHD]

Cool image...

We can conjecture about the image that is not and never will be...

I like this image becuase of the potential.... The image implies a splash without showing it...

Masterfull!

[Matt. K]

johndec
Then I'd say your Photoshop skills are improving!

[embi]

I studied that image back inmy PSC days. Still intrigues me everytime i see it

[dooda]

Embi,

Please feel free to impart on what you have learned etc. I'd love to know.

[embi]

I'd be hard pressed to remember what it was we discussed in the Art History class from way back then.

It was 1995. (side thought, for those in melb. I can remember leaving class on a break to watch the fireworks when Crown casino opened. Time goes quick )

I just remember it was one of the famous images that we discussed. PSC is one of, if not the best, Melbourne photography schools.

[genji]

just a question..if i stage a 'moment' would that count.
i read that H C-B would occasional request/paid his subjects to 'pose' for the moment. i will post the article, if i can find it.

also an article in theage.com a few weeks back talked about a french photog who asked/paid young couple to pose a 'kiss' in a busy paris street. in that era of paris ppl didnt 'kiss' in public(?).

[rokkstar]

just a question..if i stage a 'moment' would that count.
i read that H C-B would occasional request/paid his subjects to 'pose' for the moment. i will post the article, if i can find it.

also an article in theage.com a few weeks back talked about a french photog who asked/paid young couple to pose a 'kiss' in a busy paris street. in that era of paris ppl didnt 'kiss' in public(?).

I would think that it is valid. For example, if you ask a friend to crouch down at the starters blocks on a 100m track and ask him to run on your mark, you could get a fantastic decisive moment from a staged moment.

Or is that not what you mean?

[MHD]

Yeah, the decisive moment may not just be a random moment..

A well staged descisive moment would do well... And a poorly stages (ie obviously staged) decisive moment may not do so well...

[genji]

I would think that it is valid. For example, if you ask a friend to crouch down at the starters blocks on a 100m track and ask him to run on your mark, you could get a fantastic decisive moment from a staged moment.

Or is that not what you mean?

yes, u dont have to sit on the streets and wait 4 something to happen, make it up to capture the "zeitgeist".

[birddog114]

Have you ever watch the "Funniest Video"?

[genji]

Have you ever watch the "Funniest Video"?

only when the hostess is wearing skimpy dress!

[birddog114]

Have you ever watch the "Funniest Video"?

only when the hostess is wearing skimpy dress!

You'll find the hostess wearing lingeries on presentation evening at the AA