Fortnightly Challenge - July 13 thru July 27

[JohnMC]

Hi All,
As some may have seen, I suggested bringing back the monthly assignment in this thread. Unfortunately, there weren't many responses. However, I decided to give it a try and see what happens. In the thread I referenced above, spinnerlys suggested the past assignments might be to long, so I have made the decision to try a two week challenge instead.

If anyone has suggestions or comments, I would love to hear them. This will only work if the community gets involved.

I have stolen and edited the rules from the past monthly assignments.

Rules

The rules are open for debate at any time although a consensus will be sought before making changes. The preference is to create a broad but flexible framework to work within.

Submission rules:
1. Members must produce the artwork they submit (limit 3 images).
2. The photo(s) must be created during the challenge period.
3. Submissions should be posted in the challenge thread for that time.

Comments/critique/discussion:
1. Discussion can begin at any point in the thread.
2. You are expected to give comments and critique images in the current thread if you submit images.
3. Comments, critiques and discussion most be constructive, objective and aimed at improving the quality of the artwork.

The topic for this two week challenge is: Silhouettes
The challenge will run from right now until 11:59PM CDT July 27.

Challenge topics:
1. Suggestions for the bi-weekly's challenge are made in a single thread which will be set up two weeks before.
2. The challenge topic will be voted on by all members (although only those intending to submit pictures should vote)

The topic for the next challenge is unknown and I would love the communities' input. I would be more than willing to post a poll to decide, but first we need suggestions for topics.

I think this could be fun if every one gets involved. The difference between this and the Picture of the Day is that the challenge provides the opportunity for us all to shoot with a common topic and compare work.

 

[Chris14]

Not sure if I'm allowed to post this here, but I love the idea. How about calling it the "Fortnightly Challenge"? Sounds a bit better don't you think? Anyway, I am keen and I am sure at least a few others will be too. I will most certainly be making a submission sometime soon!

 

[JohnMC]

Not sure if I'm allowed to post this here, but I love the idea. How about calling it the "Fortnightly Challenge"? Sounds a bit better don't you think? Anyway, I am keen and I am sure at least a few others will be too. I will most certainly be making a submission sometime soon!

Glad you will be joining in. I like the name idea, much better than "Two Week" Challenge. And yes, everyone is allowed to post ideas, suggestions, and stuff. If this thread gets too big, we can create a separate one for images.

 

[Maxxamillian]

A few thoughts:

1. In the United States copyright is automatically granted upon creation of the photograph (Berne Convention). While these rights are inherent, the additional measures offered via registration of the picture with US Copyright Office are not. Allowing someone else to alter your photo can be construed as explicitly giving this copyright away.

Side note: Interestingly enough, the © symbol and other associated markings are completely unnecessary.

You can find this information here:
http://www.photosecrets.com/law.copyright.html


2. Whoever is judging the contest can select the top ten (or five or whatever) and then post those pictures for a general 24 hour poll (vote). That might make things a titch more interesting as well as drive participation.

3. Explaining PP is laborious at best. Nut-shelling a complex process in terms that the uninitiated can understand and follow will be impossible. Shelves of books exist for this. I would expect that a general explanation outlining the approach taken would suffice. Am I off base here?

4. Allowing comments during the contest will most likely introduce an undesired twist to the experience. Personally, I'd much rather the viewer to experience my photo without the additional taint of commentary which could very easily paint the picture in a completely different light.


Hopefully the feedback helps. I too would like to see the exercise stick.

 

[compuwar]

2. The artwork must meet all legal requirements. For example: authorization from models (if any) must be secured.

Meet legal requirements where? In the US, (as I understand it) model releases are only necessary for what's deemed "commercial" work (advertising, not just fine art sales.) For instance, if I use a picture of you to show my friends, or to sell as fine art, I don't need a release, but if I use that picture to advertise my photography business, or on a bag of deep fried pork fat, then I need one. The same is generally true of trademarked buildings such as the Empire State Building, TransAmerica Building and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where they're not simply incidental to the image.

(IANAL)

 

[deep diver]

Way too many rules.
See what we are using at the weekly contest. Simplify the rules and then I'll think about entering.

 

[JohnMC]

deep diver, compuwar, and Maxxamillian,
I completely agree that there are too many rules. As I said in my first post, I took the rules that were used in the past and made a small quick edit. I didn't want to just start cutting without first asking what to cut.

compuwar, that is how I have always understood model releases as well. I have not clue why that rule was in the old rules my only thought is the original founders wanted to keep out porn.

Maxxamillian, Yes copyright (at least in the US) is granted upon taking a photograph. I think the rules about copyright could get pulled since I don't see a need for them. Anyone else agree? I also agree with removing the parts about Photoshop work. Since this is meant to be a photo challenge, I don't see why people would even need to Photoshop someone elses' work. As far as judging, were the past photo assignments contests? If people want this to become a contest it can, but we have the weekly photo contest for that. I always thought of the assignment as a common theme, C&C thread. What does everyone else think?

John

 

[djchristie]

I think this is a great idea and would like to participate. I agree we don't want to get too bogged down in rules. I also don't think commentary should be allowed as there are other threads for c&c, the same pic could be posted there is that is what people are looking for.

 

[Maxxamillian]

I could go either way on this--either make it an assignment (and allow commentary) or structure this as a competition (which is somewhat redundant as we already have a weekly photo contest). One of the other boards I go to has mini-challenges, of which a winner is announced (sometimes by a small panel of judges and other times via poll where folks just go on and vote). The winner and other top photos from the mini challenges are then allowed to participate in a much larger, longer challenge. This is a closed competition--so being in the select group that gets to compete is kind of cool.

If you are looking for a vote I'd say go with the assignment. As many posts as you want with open comments allowing for constructive criticism / compliments. Photo of the day doesn't even do the C&C part well. You could even mandate that C&C must happen in order for an entry to be valid...

Just some thoughts.

 

[deep diver]

Hi all.

I am glad there is consensus regarding the rules.

I like the idea of assignments with C&C. I would also like (but not mandate) that the entrant writes a little bit about the image (inspiration, motivation, PP, etc.) when entering.

After having complained about too many rules, I think that we should be allowed to enter only our own images. I don't get the point of entering someone else's work in a challenge.

Bruce

 

[JohnMC]

Thanks for all the feedback on this. I have edited the rules with regard to the comments above. Does everyone still feel like there are too many rules? If so, what would you cut? Anyone want to suggest more changes?

Edit: Please note the rules were updated after deep driver gave input.
Rules

Submission rules:
1. Members must produce the artwork they submit (limit 3 images).
2. The photo(s) must be created during the challenge period.
3. Submissions should be posted in the challenge thread for that time.

Comments/critique/discussion:
1. Discussion can begin at any point in the thread.
2. You are expected to give comments and critique images in the current thread if you submit images.
3. Comments, critiques and discussion most be constructive, objective and aimed at improving the quality of the artwork.'

Challenge topics:
1. Suggestions for the bi-weekly's challenge are made in a single thread which will be set up the two weeks before.
2. The challenge topic will be voted on by all members (although only those intending to submit pictures should vote)

 

[deep diver]

Hi All

John -- this is much better. I would trim it down even more.

"Submission rules"
#1 -- if it does not meet the rules that will come out in C&C and the group will respond with its votes.
#2 -- I agree, but.... I might own something I did not produce. I still do not think it should be okay to submit someone else's work even if I am the owner.
#4 -- This seems unnecessary because this is exactly what we would be doing anyway.

I like all of the others, especially #2 in "Comments/critique/discussion".

I am looking forward to this. It looks like it will be fun.

 

[tritian]

Ill give it a shot. My first pics posted. Woot!

These are both just straight shots with my Nikon D5000, cropped and exported as a 50% size jpg from Aperture.

 

[Designer Dale]

Ill give it a shot. My first pics posted. Woot!

These are both just straight shots with my Nikon D5000, cropped and exported as a 50% size jpg from Aperture.

Hi.

I like the shark silhouette, but it seems off balance with the dark areas at the top. Top heavy, if you will. I put it into PhotoShop and flipped it. I liked the light flowing down into the dark better. Just my eye.

Nice start to this project.

Dale

 

[JohnMC]

Ill give it a shot. My first pics posted. Woot!

These are both just straight shots with my Nikon D5000, cropped and exported as a 50% size jpg from Aperture.

tritian, welcome to the challenge. I like your image of the person in front of the aquarium. I wonder if the image would feel bigger if the crop was more liberal. I don't know how much you cropped the original, but I think the shot would be cool if it made the person feel tiny compared the aquarium.

John

 

[103734]

Took this yesterday with my D90, It is the tower over the Hollywood sign, It is a raw that I exported as a jpeg, the Hollywood sign was in the picture but it was so under exposed and I thought it took away from the picture so I edited it out. It is cropped to 800x600, nothing was really cut out of the image, I just cropped it for the web.

 

[deep diver]

I took these while shooting for this week's weekly contest. I was not sure whether to leave in the wheel as a point of reference kind of thing (which also leaves a larger silhouette) or to crop it out. Comments please.

 

[Designer Dale]

Hi. It looks like you are going for the abstract of the shadow, so I would not miss the wheel being cropped out. Nice flow of movement.

Dale

Edit: If you have PhotoShop, a little work with Levels would darken the shadows and bring some more of the green up.

 

[..Ryan..]

I was at a motocross track today taking photos for a good friend of mine who is a pro quad racer. (17 y.o)
anyway, that is to help explain the photo. the photo is one of my friends 'pit crew,' walking through a tunnel. this tunnel was simply a large concrete pipe, like what would normally be used for a sewer, it was around a metre and a half tall, and passed underneath one of the track jumps.

 

[Chappers]

I'll Play

took this from hotel doorway on the last night.

 

[Maxxamillian]

 

[Maxxamillian]

I was at a motocross track today taking photos for a good friend of mine who is a pro quad racer. (17 y.o)
anyway, that is to help explain the photo. the photo is one of my friends 'pit crew,' walking through a tunnel. this tunnel was simply a large concrete pipe, like what would normally be used for a sewer, it was around a metre and a half tall, and passed underneath one of the track jumps.

The framing on this shot works well. Wonder if it would have been better to include the head? Is this a crop? The reason I ask is because I had to do a bit of searching to understand the picture...but once it clicked it was all good....

 

[LittleCanonKid]

took this from hotel doorway on the last night.

I love the colors and overall feel to this, but my eye keeps searching for a clear subject and something to rest on. Eventually I settled on the little hill toward the center, but it wasn't the most intriguing subject... I'm not quite sure there's a way to stick something that will clearly establish itself as a subject onto a mountainside, though.

 

[..Ryan..]

The framing on this shot works well. Wonder if it would have been better to include the head? Is this a crop? The reason I ask is because I had to do a bit of searching to understand the picture...but once it clicked it was all good....

thanks
I would have liked to set it up better so i could get the head in too, but this was taken with my 70-300mm, at 70mm, from maybe, 2 metres behind him. and i just clicked the shutter from my hip, so i was quite lucky really
for some reason i left the 18-55mm in the car, oh well

 

[Chappers]

I love the colors and overall feel to this, but my eye keeps searching for a clear subject and something to rest on. Eventually I settled on the little hill toward the center, but it wasn't the most intriguing subject... I'm not quite sure there's a way to stick something that will clearly establish itself as a subject onto a mountainside, though.

I was trying to capture the scale of the whole view - but it does seem a little bland.

Next up :-