Rejected but did go to member screening-no comments
Also rejected and member screening...
with the comment...'nice but needs feet not so much for the person itself we can assume that . I feel the feet are part of the expression and tells us about the man.' Which i can see and agree with.
I wonder how many of the newer contributors posting rejects here are interested in a gut reaction to possibly why they didn't make it.
Please spill mine (guts) if you would like to! I am fortunate enough to have already gotten some critical reviews already. But I wouldn't mind more. (not trying to be a criticism hog, so it is totally your choice:-)
I wonder how many of the newer contributors posting rejects here are interested in a gut reaction to possibly why they didn't make it.
Please spill mine (guts) if you would like to! I am fortunate enough to have already gotten some critical reviews already. But I wouldn't mind more. (not trying to be a criticism hog, so it is totally your choice:-)
I think he's preparing a general observation, not a response to specific images. And I'll be interested in hearing it...
I wonder how many of the newer contributors posting rejects here are interested in a gut reaction to possibly why they didn't make it.
Please spill mine (guts) if you would like to! I am fortunate enough to have already gotten some critical reviews already. But I wouldn't mind more. (not trying to be a criticism hog, so it is totally your choice:-)
I think he's preparing a general observation, not a response to specific images. And I'll be interested in hearing it...
R.
My guess is that it's all about "impact"... As it is, I too am quite interested in Louis's observations and opinions, I wonder if he's going to share...
My guess is that it's all about "impact"... As it is, I too am quite interested in Louis's observations and opinions, I wonder if he's going to share...
I think you're right about impact. I could be wrong but I think that the image has to knock your socks off immediately or it's out. Just my opinion.
Sorry, I was hiking all day. My general observation is one of impact, but also, I think that some of the stories being told (and I'm a believer in strong story for every image put up for any kind of critique) are either cliched (flag), too weak compared to the technicals (the ribboner), or else the motif of a fairly strong technical image otherwise gets lost, as in Clive's latest. That one seems like it should be a good image, but the message is muddled by what in my view is a claustrophobic composition and a weak story.
For the last few days, I've had an old writer's adage in mind: "murder your darlings", or cut the crap out that is really only important to you, and leave the essentials. It applies to motif in photos I think. If you're crazy about your art, ask yourself why, and make it a tough grilling. Are you really offering something relevant? Are you willfully offering your interpretation of a familiar concept? Is there something else you should be saying?
Sorry, I was hiking all day. My general observation is one of impact, but also, I think that some of the stories being told (and I'm a believer in strong story for every image put up for any kind of critique) are either cliched (flag), too weak compared to the technicals (the ribboner), or else the motif of a fairly strong technical image otherwise gets lost, as in Clive's latest. That one seems like it should be a good image, but the message is muddled by what in my view is a claustrophobic composition and a weak story.
For the last few days, I've had an old writer's adage in mind: "murder your darlings", or cut the crap out that is really only important to you, and leave the essentials. It applies to motif in photos I think. If you're crazy about your art, ask yourself why, and make it a tough grilling. Are you really offering something relevant? Are you willfully offering your interpretation of a familiar concept? Is there something else you should be saying?
Could the story told be different depending on the viewer? Or is it only the story from the artist point of view that matters?
I have trouble getting my head around "strong story for every image". Seems to me the exchange between the artist and the viewer is dynamic and, at times, changes depending on the participants. Also, sometimes a story is more subtle than at other times.
Could the story told be different depending on the viewer?
In my view, yes. The particulars of "story" aren't necessarily important, so long as something is being said (and heard). A picture of a national flag is not very compelling, in my opinion, because it is a kind of trope. There is almost never room for the story to change. The dynamism you speak of is very important, but that doesn't negate the need for some communicative effort in my view. There is no effort involved in offering viewers a nationalist symbol. It's an end unto itself.
I concede that "story" is a very nebulous an idea, but I'm of the opinion that photography that aspires to be fine art needs it in the same way that any other visual art does. What about yanko's cat? In my view, the strong technicals coupled with the imagery make this one hell of a story photo. What it says particularly doesn't necessarily matter. That it communicates something to most people is very probably indisputable. (I for one defy anyone to look at that photo and be unmoved.)
You could also consider this one of mine, a blurry photo of a dirt path. This might be more pertinent to this conversation because it's not as good a photo and not as clear as to what it's supposed to mean. I would still bank on it having some relevance to at least a marginal group of viewers mostly because it is an image open to interpretation and tries not to be a cliche (being my "darling" I can't be too sure of course).
I also concede that not everyone is part of every conversation. The success of sites like 1x seem to indicate that that doesn't necessarily matter.
First one is ceiling fan. I like that because very simple black and white.
Second called "Heat". Not my top fav, but I still thought was a nice photo.
Third is "Gotham city". This is New York from NJ side. I entered the same photo here in DPC also. Twin towers were sitting right middle of this view. I've been top of towers a few times, we were doing business with companies in there also... My last entries to towers were Sep 6th and 7th of 2001. I thought this was a very nice shot and post process.
The last one called "I'm sorry" which also was entered here. One of everyone's fav that I showed my photos to.
When you give lots of value to some of your work, and getting rejected with such comments like "Not enough impact", you stop and think. How bad are you... or how stupid they are... Finding the right answer is very difficult :(
...When you give lots of value to some of your work, and getting rejected with such comments like "Not enough impact", you stop and think. How bad are you... or how stupid they are... Finding the right answer is very difficult :(
The best questions, however, do not require an answer.
...When you give lots of value to some of your work, and getting rejected with such comments like "Not enough impact", you stop and think. How bad are you... or how stupid they are... Finding the right answer is very difficult :(
The best questions, however, do not require an answer.
