COMP 6 THEME

[Heath Bennett]

OK THEN. Amongst all the angst of thinking of a theme for the next competition, I thought... Why not come up with some and see what people would like? Vote for your favourite and maybe I can get a hint of a direction...

I realise there are some hard to work with themes here, but as we have seen, it is the way YOU view a topic, IMHO there are no right and wrongs here.

[Frankenstein]

"Winning" (you'd know all about that, wouldn't you Heath?

Frank

[Heath Bennett]

"Winning" (you'd know all about that, wouldn't you Heath?

Frank

Thanks Frank - I appreciate you rubbing it in!

[sirhc55]

I would not confine a comp to using a specific lens size, i.e. 50mm

For those of us not using a prime 50mm and could only rely on a zoom within the range, is restrictive

[embi]

I would not confine a comp to using a specific lens size, i.e. 50mm

For those of us not using a prime 50mm and could only rely on a zoom within the range, is restrictive

Just set the zoom to 50mm.....everyone has that on thier kit lens. I will have to use it

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Heath
Me personally, I'd prefer not to be given a choice. That's what I like so much about these challenges....you don't know what's coming up next....

However, I appreciate the task you now have is not an easy one (I wouldn't like to be in your shoes - except to be the proud owner of that D70s )

I'll refrain from voting.....sorry.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with  PS...congrats on winning Challenge 5......very nicely done !

[sirhc55]

I would not confine a comp to using a specific lens size, i.e. 50mm

For those of us not using a prime 50mm and could only rely on a zoom within the range, is restrictive

Just set the zoom to 50mm.....everyone has that on thier kit lens. I will have to use it

50mm on the kit lens would in no way match a prime if you are looking for quality

[MATT]

Hey Heath,

Congrats on the win.

As an old BMX /Skater from Way back I enjoyed your pic.


Good work

MATT


Good luck picking a topic

[genji]

i choose 'post card from', IMO it has the most interpretation

[Heath Bennett]

Hey Heath,

Congrats on the win.

As an old BMX /Skater from Way back I enjoyed your pic.


Good work

MATT


Good luck picking a topic

thanks matt

[paulvdb1]

Either Portrait or Postcard from...

I like the Postcard from idea as that leaves a very broad range of ideas that can be encapsuated from traditional to daggy

[phillipb]

Hi Heath, firstly congratulations on you win. I chose the 10 second exposure, because if forces everyone to use that particular criteria but the results will invariably be very different, so there's plenty of scope for individuality.

[Geoff]

I would not confine a comp to using a specific lens size, i.e. 50mm

For those of us not using a prime 50mm and could only rely on a zoom within the range, is restrictive

Just set the zoom to 50mm.....everyone has that on thier kit lens. I will have to use it

50mm on the kit lens would in no way match a prime if you are looking for quality

I fully agree with CHris here, setting a defined focal length could be quite restrictive to members who don't have a prime 50mm lens. i.e people who had the 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 would be at a far greater advantage than those using the kit lens @ 50mm at 4.5 for e.g.

I'm still contemplating these topics but thanx heath for getting them together so quickly!

[johndec]

Last night I remember chewing your ear about a portrait theme , but I think "Postcard From xxxx" sounds fantastic. So much scope, yet so little ambiguity....

[sheepie]

only problem with 'postcard from...' is perhaps it may be a bit obvious who took some of the pics depending on the location?

[johndec]

only problem with 'postcard from...' is perhaps it may be a bit obvious who took some of the pics depending on the location?

Perhaps, but I doubt that many entrants would take such a literal interpretation of the theme. Pretty landscapes such as "Postcard from Bondi/Surfers Paradise/insert local pretty spot" wouldn't get too far as after all you can buy the same pic at the local newsagent for a couple of dollars...

I'd imagine we would see more along the lines of "Postcard from Hell" or "Postcard from Beirut", something very PJish

[phillipb]

Last night I remember chewing your ear about a portrait theme , but I think "Postcard From xxxx" sounds fantastic. So much scope, yet so little ambiguity....

and...

Perhaps, but I doubt that many entrants would take such a literal interpretation of the theme. Pretty landscapes such as "Postcard from Bondi/Surfers Paradise/insert local pretty spot" wouldn't get too far as after all you can buy the same pic at the local newsagent for a couple of dollars...

I'd imagine we would see more along the lines of "Postcard from Hell" or "Postcard from Beirut", something very PJish

So much for no ambiguity

[Onyx]

Heath, it's great you're giving us all a choice. You should pick the one least popular just to stir us up.

[rjlhughes]

Is it possible that this time it might be open to all camera users on the forum?

[Greg B]

Portraiture. All effort on the photograph rather than the topic, if you know what I mean.

[embi]

Is it possible that this time it might be open to all camera users on the forum?

As far as I know it's always been open to everyone, they can win but they just dont recieve the prize. Prizes only go to us lucky aussies.

[rjlhughes]

I thought people not using D70s were excluded too.....<sob>

[johndec]

Last night I remember chewing your ear about a portrait theme , but I think "Postcard From xxxx" sounds fantastic. So much scope, yet so little ambiguity....

and...

Perhaps, but I doubt that many entrants would take such a literal interpretation of the theme. Pretty landscapes such as "Postcard from Bondi/Surfers Paradise/insert local pretty spot" wouldn't get too far as after all you can buy the same pic at the local newsagent for a couple of dollars...

I'd imagine we would see more along the lines of "Postcard from Hell" or "Postcard from Beirut", something very PJish

So much for no ambiguity

Umm, yeah, whoops Perhaps I could have chosen my words a little more carefully in the first quote. Ambiguity was the wrong word, but I was alluding to the controversy of what was a "Decisive Moment".

Mea Culpa

[phillipb]

Is it possible that this time it might be open to all camera users on the forum?

If you mean other brands of camera users eg Canon, I think all future comps will be open to any brand. Admins or mods will soon tell us if I'm wrong.

[Heath Bennett]

Heath, it's great you're giving us all a choice. You should pick the one least popular just to stir us up.

very interesting idea. hmm.

[stubbsy]

Well I voted for 50mm because, would you believe, that's the theme I had already thought of as the theme should I win the comp

So far as comments re: 50 prime vs 50 zoom - my view is a great shot is 90% what's behind the lens and 10% what's in front (disclaimer I have a 50mm prime) so I don't see that as an issue. 10 second shot on the other hand - what if you don't have a tripod? (like me up until I get my BH 55 Pro head for my new 1325 body?)

Oh and Heath - great idea having a poll to share the blame for the next theme

[Matt. K]

Peter
I see you got home safely. And then just couldn't help yourself but jump on the forum? Go to bed.

[leek]

I think I'd like a few more options Heath... Knowing this forum's members as I do, I'm sure that they could interpret any of your suggestions in many different ways...

In other words... don't ask... you'll get a million flavours... Just pick wisely

The 50mm theme was one of my suggestions - I don't see the problem with it... Everybody has a lens that will focus at 50mm... not everyone has a studio, a lighting rig, a flash or imagination...

[stubbsy]

Peter
I see you got home safely. And then just couldn't help yourself but jump on the forum? Go to bed.

Well I was going to go to bed about 10:30 which was 15 minutes ago, just finished loading the last of the 5Gb of shots. My rough guess was I took 1,000 shots over the weekend. Now I've uploaded to my PC the good news is I only took 882 - even better news is 2 of these were tulip pics

[sirhc55]

- my view is a great shot is 90% what's behind the lens and 10% what's in front

In other words VR is just hype and those that use VR must have delirium tremors

[stubbsy]

- my view is a great shot is 90% what's behind the lens and 10% what's in front

In other words VR is just hype and those that use VR must have delirium tremors

Chris, since I have shaky hands (and love marketing hype) I'm bound to say that VR is part of the 10%

[Heath Bennett]

The general sentiment here is accepting towards putting it up to a vote. If I choose the one which has the most votes (which I may well do), my biggest concern is that people will feel compelled to do the same for following competitions. This is JUST my way of doing things, not the way of the future, I HOPE .

[Oneputt]

I not that 50mm only is getting quite a few votes, however that would rule a lot of members out. Surely not the intention.

[rokkstar]

I like the idea of Non-fiction.

[gleff]

I love the idea of 10 sec exposure.. That's my kind of photography

Geoff

[MHD]

Yeah me too... 10 second exposure is a great idea!

[MHD]

I not that 50mm only is getting quite a few votes, however that would rule a lot of members out. Surely not the intention.

50mm is in the zoom range of the kit..

It is do-able, I could make it a condition of entry that the FL is embedded in the EXIF...

[stubbsy]

The general sentiment here is accepting towards putting it up to a vote. If I choose the one which has the most votes (which I may well do), my biggest concern is that people will feel compelled to do the same for following competitions. This is JUST my way of doing things, not the way of the future, I HOPE .

Heath

Ultimately the biggest problem with a vote is it won't be a phenomenal help. So far there have been 41 votes in total. That's less than the number of entries submitted in the last comp and a tiny proportion of even the active membership.

[MHD]

At the end of the day it is Heath's descision, I imagine he is just seeking a bit of guidence..

I like most of the themes presented so my vote comes down to a personal preference..

[Mj]

I like the idea of a theme that narrows the choices and really tests the capabilities of the photographer. This would put less emphasis on clever or lucky subject matter (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Not sure that any of the suggested themes here would do that necessarily though

As for the 50mm question, correct me if I'm wrong, to date the comp has not been won by the photag with the best glass. So lens superiority may not be a big issue here.

[ozonejunkie]

If you mean other brands of camera users eg Canon, I think all future comps will be open to any brand. Admins or mods will soon tell us if I'm wrong.

Is it true that from here on in it will not be denomination specific? So all of us with a EOS can get the experience.

Sounds good . . . .

Tristan

[MHD]

Yes... future comps will be open to all DSLR cameras...
Old, new, expensive, cheap... Every body...

[birddog114]

If you mean other brands of camera users eg Canon, I think all future comps will be open to any brand. Admins or mods will soon tell us if I'm wrong.

Is it true that from here on in it will not be denomination specific? So all of us with a EOS can get the experience.

Sounds good . . . .

Tristan

But we also have other as POTW, ES, Images Review & Critiques sections. Apart from these: workshops, indoor/ outdoor meets.

Lot of avenues on this forum for all members want to improve their skills in photography either hobby or professional field.

The only gap hole I've found:

Lot of resources but lack of interests.

[gstark]

Tristan

If you mean other brands of camera users eg Canon, I think all future comps will be open to any brand. Admins or mods will soon tell us if I'm wrong.

Is it true that from here on in it will not be denomination specific? So all of us with a EOS can get the experience.

This is correct.

From here on in, it's DSLRUsers.com (the new logo should be online tonight once I hand Leigh the keys to the FTP server) and and DSLR will be eligible as an entry platform for the challenges.

[JordanP]

I like the challenge behind the 10sec theme. I find 50mm a bit too open and wonder if you are allowed to reverse the lens or crop the photo.

Mind you I like most of the themes listed - Thanks Heath

[Luke Smith]

I like 10 second... it’s achievable and creates some interesting restrictions and sure to be a great learning experience... go team!

[phillipb]

I find 50mm a bit too open and wonder if you are allowed to reverse the lens or crop the photo.

That's a very good point, if you go with the 50mm theme, then cropping would effectively be changing to a different focal length.

[embi]

Yes but then it means getting in closer for your image.... no cropping

[waspo]

I think I'm voting for the 10 sec... With the Melb meet 'NightShots' coming up, this will be a great time to snap up some images!
Maybe I'll shoot some at 50mm.

[birddog114]

HB,
What do you come up with after few days in voting the selection?
When can you announce the next theme?
We need this to be rolled out so the Comp 6 will start by the end of August.
And you are going to O/S in two weeks time.