I love bridges and I have photographed one bridge quite a few times already... I love everything about this idea of photographing bridges for a challenge.
However, I think the 'say something' clause in the challenge description was a poor choice of words and probalby should have been left out altogether. If we want to photograph bridges, let's just photograph bridges.
Why create a criteria like that which will do nothing for the quality of the photo? I would really like to know what the though process behind that description is. What is different about the current challenge description and one that says "go photograph a bridge to the best of your ability"?
When I make a photograph, I always try to make it 'say' something. This should be a given in any photo contest.
I kind of like the additional challenge on the bridges. I took some shots this morning and I definitely took a different look and direction at what I shot. In my mind it just makes it a different kind of challenge which is a bit more interesting. Of course, it makes the voting that much more confusing......
>>Of course, it makes the voting that much more confusing......
And the interpreting of the votes you receive :-(
My first thought was of a shot of a bridge connecting say a poor and a rich neighbourhood, or a new and an old building - the way the Millennium bridge here in London connects St Paul's and the Tate Modern gallery (still think this might be good ... must go and have a shot).
I think the first phrasse of the challenge is the important bit though: about bridges having been used as metaphors in art and photography.
There's a very obvious (andd still very beautiful) shot to be had in London, if any of you are ever here, or for those who live here, which is of the sun rising behind Tower Bridge: I've seen a couple, and it can be stunning (and around dawn on most summer mornings you can see four or five photograhers waiting for the right moment); but I think it would be outside this challenge.
I agree with Setzler on this one - A bridge can have tons of attributes (architecture, colour, truss patterns, texture, contrast with background, etc..) worthy of making a great, attractive picture without having to make it say something. This will leave a lot of critiques like "this does not say anything to me", just like there was a lot of "I don't see your Waldo" even though the picture is very attractive otherwise.
Haven't been here long enough to say what I do: though I think I might be in the majority - otherwise it might as well be an open contest, a simple photo of the week thing (is there one of those anywhere?)
From a submission point of view though, if I had a really good shot that didn't quite fit the challenge, I think I'd submit it anyway.
It comes down to 'do you enter to win?' or 'do you enter to show your work?'
I just think the 'does this photo say something' criteria really muddies up the voting since no two people will see it the same way... It's sorta like haveing a 'shades of red' challenge and asking the voters to decide which shade of red is the prettiest... it just doesn't make a lot of sense to me...
I agree with John. I didn't read the details this morning when I first jumped online. I just saw bridges and got excited because I know which bridge I'm going to photo. Now I have to think of something for the bridge picture to say? Hmm, how about "Hi, I am bridge. People use me to cross over water."
I have never submitted to a challenge before so was looking forward to photographing an interesting bridge near where I live. I must agree that I was a little worried about trying to get it say something. Will have a go though (I'm always up for a challenge).
I agree with John, but I also find that many photos submitted don't really say anything, or at least don't invite extra thought. Any photo I've given a 9 or 10 to have all "spoken" to me in some way. Even the winning stock photos "said" things outside of 'Rooster' or 'blue glass.'
But I also agree that mandating some kind of profundity would have led to photographic didactic rantings.
The challenge description has been changed. Check Drew's post in the Administrator Announcements folder.
-Terry
Yea! I'm glad it was changed; I had decided not to do the "Bridges" challenge, since I, too, thought the "say something" part was going to be a lose-lose situation. Not that the change will help me any... Ha-ha!
