I quite like it. The arms connect the family together, the girl stands out from the triangle formed by the architecture, she is the most important person in the photo. The composition deliberately breaks all compositional rules. It works because it is annoying, and the same time endearing.
No. That particular photo won and the guy complaining didn't even bother to enter. There's no difference between a photo or a snapshot. They are the same thing. What differentiates them? Only an opinion.
Personally, the photo doesn't elicit a reaction over here. Unfortunately I can't view the other entries from work.
Well, that's interesting. I tried again and got the site. Then I wanted to go back in for another look and got the Forbidden message again. Then I tried again and got through, so if anyone wants to have a look and can't, keep trying.
There are some lovely shots in amongst the other entries, but maybe they are travel brochure cliches? The winner really does tell a story about travel photography from the perspective of many travelers as opposed to that of pro photographers. Maybe that particular perspective is what the judges were after.
[quote=tanguera] So you think that that particular picture was worthy of the grand prize? Interesting.
Um, no. I wouldn't personally have chosen it, but going by the top 5, it seems the judges were not after 'beautiful'. (Of those 5 I prefer the second and the fifth.)
Precisely. I think ANY of the 4 remaining images in the top 5 would have been a better choice. I don't know about the snapshot/art angle, but from a purely visual point, the winner ain't all that.
What I like about the image is the interaction of the child and her parents. A father propping up his daughter, giving her only what she needs to be safe in the moment. A mother, encouraging and engaging. Both are unobtrusive within the composition and the story. They are allowing her to rise above and beyond the shadow of mom and dad. Wrap that up within the context of an imposing modern cityscape under a gloomy sky and you are left with a fascinating tale of a successful family enjoying their life. Pretty good snapshot if you ask me.
I'm not really interested in what the blogger says, but I'm sure that this is a snapshot and not a very well taken one. It doesn't tell a story or not a very interesting one. We should stop searching for meanings where there is clearly no trace of them ;)
Actually, I don't think it's that bad, and certainly by far not as bad as the blogger claims it is.
It uses negative space.
There is a contrast between the foreground (darker) and the skyline (more gray).
There is a rhythm in the back (buildings of different heights) that is sort of repeated by the people in front.
There is static in the background that is contrasted by the wind in the hair of the three persons.
The child's finger repeat some lines in the background (same angles).
All in all I think it's interesting and there are things to explore. (Even silly things - what are these tags on the clothes of the child?).
I also think one has to take into consideration that the taste in the various photo communities is usually really different from what curators or juries consider artistic. And some of what they consider artistic is weird to me, but at least it shows that one can have a different viewpoint.
For instance, there is a book "Train your gaze" about portrait photography. Some of the portraits, if I had made them, I would never even have thought they would get published, and maybe would have deleted them in the first pass through the shooting results. Still - they got published. So maybe I should have more tolerance for different styles.
And: We may not like the shot, but he didn't delete it, thought it worthy to enter the contest, and now he goes to Thailand :-)
it would depend on the challenge entered. for example, on a free study... no way. but if it was a "photograph someone taking a picture" challenge... perhaps... but I still doubt it.
the blogger was right... it lacks that wow factor. its very snapshot-ish. the exposure is off... its flat, dull, bland... the tower IS tilted (which would produce lower votes).
Lucky for that photographer... they won an expedition.
that photographer would never make it here, if that's what they find as "good photography".
it would depend on the challenge entered. for example, on a free study... no way. but if it was a "photograph someone taking a picture" challenge... perhaps... but I still doubt it.
the blogger was right... it lacks that wow factor. its very snapshot-ish. the exposure is off... its flat, dull, bland... the tower IS tilted (which would produce lower votes).
Lucky for that photographer... they won an expedition.
that photographer would never make it here, if that's what they find as "good photography".
