I've noticed how much people really scrutinise, explore and consider an image when asked to suggest a title for it, so how's about a Title Competition each month?
A designated photographer could take an untitled shot and then we all submit titles for it, which are then voted on as usual. Winner gets photographic gear worth $1000, a car and a free house. Alright, just a Title Challenge ribbon then.
It really sounds good... But, my question is where is the free house? Personally, I don´t mind if it´s located in cities like Barcelona, New York, London or Sidney, for example...
I've noticed how much people really scrutinise, explore and consider an image when asked to suggest a title for it, so how's about a Title Competition each month?
A designated photographer could take an untitled shot and then we all submit titles for it, which are then voted on as usual. Winner gets photographic gear worth $1000, a car and a free house. Alright, just a Title Challenge ribbon then.
What do you think?
No, i don't like this idea. Fact is already too many people judge images too heavily on aspects other than the artistic/photographic merits on the picture. Challenges such as you suggested here will make this only worse. To me, a title isn't all that important, the picture is. A great title can help an image and i may add a point for that. I also believe the challenge should be met, the more creatively or artistically the better, but not in the anal way in which so many voters seem to do it. What i have seen happening at dpc for a long time now is that great photographs that loosely or creatively meet the challenge do far worse than banal snapshots that meet the challenge head-on (typically in a very cliché sort of way).
What i have seen happening at dpc for a long time now is that great photographs that loosely or creatively meet the challenge do far worse than banal snapshots that meet the challenge head-on (typically in a very cliché sort of way).
I don't know that I would really expect it to be any other way. A good, solid, non-edgy, shot that is clearly on topic, no real technical problems etc, is going to score well with almost everyone.
Something perhaps more creative or interesting to a subset of voters is going to score high with one group and have more detractors. I doubt you'll find anything that is considered 'great art' that doesn't have a load of people going 'its rubbish, I could do it with my eyes shut'
If you aim higher, then with some people you'll have a better impact, while at the same time doing worse with others. The more middle of the road pieces will tend to do equally well with both camps and tend to win on what is after all a popularity contest. It isn't the picture that you think is the best that wins, its the one with the widest appeal.
The upshot is that a lot of very creative, interesting and not so mainstream pictures will never do well in this kind of contest - ever. As soon as everyone starts liking a particular style, there will be a new group of people claiming its unoriginal, boring etc.
This doesn't mean however that if nobody likes your picture, that it is automatically great art. Like genius and madness, its a fine line between great and terrible
Top Greetings posts a daily photo, with a captioning contest (you have to register to post a suggested title) -- it's mostly directed towards a type of humor which is not my own style, but it is good practice for coming up with catchy captions ...
I really like the title contest as well. I think what it would do is help people who don't normally have good titles be creative. I would be more than willing to give photos to be titled by the group.
To me, a title isn't all that important, the picture is.
I think you've missed my point. It's for the reasons you've mentioned that I think this would be good! People use their imagination even more.
Also, if I follow Jon's idea right, it wouldn't necessarily be related to or connected with any of the photo challenges (though I suppose it could be), it would just be more of a side challenge. It's not necessarily to judge or improve photographic abilities, just a fun chance to show off our cleverness (or lack thereof).
1) "Love these new mouse-hair blankets!" or "Is That A Can Opener? (Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?)"
2) Still Missing Mom (I wanted to spell it "meowmmy" but this is the serious title)
3) Moth-Hunter
1) "Love these new mouse-hair blankets!" or "Is That A Can Opener? (Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?)"
2) Still Missing Mom (I wanted to spell it "meowmmy" but this is the serious title)
3) Moth-Hunter
1. Nope, this collar's definitely too big (more of a caption really though!)
2. Watching Always
3. Looking for Tom
Really tough actually - just goes to show how useful a process this is. I spent a lot of time looking at this pic (which is a good shot and looks very wistful). Not really happy with these titles though!
