I'm sometimes helplessly overanalytical, so I've noticed that for each challenge I've entered, there have been some very popular subjects. These I choose to call the 'cliché' shots. For example:
Curves - human body Stopped Motion - water (!) Transistions - the sky / sunset
Of these, I predicted the cliché for 'Stopped Motion' by entitling my photo "Cliché in a Glass", and I wasn't wrong! Mind you, I suppose I should have thought of something better ;o)
Therefore, I hereby predict that (one of) the following will be the cliché for 'From The Ground Up':
Trees / branches Sides of buildings
Now, the big questions are: will I be proved right in by predictions? Or will everyone read this, and purposefully try to find something else?
I might try either of those two but I have a feeling I'm going to get something else in my viewfinder instead. This could be interesting and I'm not about to elaborate.
Heh, I was thinking the exact same thing about this challenge. A lot of extremely well-executed photographs will likely be entered of the exact same thing, followed by a discussion in the forums about the lack of creativity/cruelty of the posters pointing out such a lack/eventual reconciliation, followed by kisses and hugs.
That being said, my opinion on so-called 'cliche' photos is this: Go ahead, take them. They're cliches, in part, because they illustrate and intepret the challenge very well, if a bit literally. But if you're going to reach for the low-hanging fruit, it better be a damn good photo. Low marks on the 'creativity' scale can be offset easily with higher, more heavily-weighted marks on the 'good execution scale, but I admit to a bias in advance.
Why is it that the "Artistic" types get on here and berate folks for their lack of creativity and "cliched" view of life and then the technophobes get on here and berate everybody for not following the rule of thirds or not cropping tight enough.
jeesh.....
Just take the photos for what they are, cliche's, technical faux-pas et al. You might be surprised that a cliche can be beautifully rendered or that a technically goofed picture can really be eye-opening in it's vision.
Originally posted by hokie: Why is it that the "Artistic" types get on here and berate folks for their lack of creativity and "cliched" view of life
FYI, I'm not a artistic type - I'm merely (over)analytical! And I'm not wingeing about a lack of creativity, just vocalising my observations / opinions. I quite agree that photos of the obvious subject for a challenge can be very good, such as the 'impact of a waterdrop' shot from 'Stopped Motion', and as I said originally, I've used the clichés myself, so don't treat this as "CLICHES ARE BAD!" :o)
* This message has been edited by the author on 4/22/2002 12:18:23 PM.
I think the cliche this week seems to be eggs, either poached, frying, scrambled or hatching...
They are all quite good, but if we are talking about the cliche'd subject then I think that was it.
At least this site doesn't suffer like some, where every topic is an excuse for people to send in pictures of their kids, because I think they've consumed their world so much that everything relates back to them.
NB If you did an 'egg themed' picture, I'm not saying yours was bad, or unoriginal or anything at all and certainly didn't vote people up or down because of it. I'm just saying that there were quite a lot of them.
Some of the best pictures I can think of are probably cliched now, what set them appart and still sets them appart was the technical excellence of the shot, or the creative way they approached the subject (e.g, Weston's sea shells or peppers) Dull subjects, well handled can make as great a picture as a fabulous Zion landscape, well handled.
* This message has been edited by the author on 4/22/2002 11:42:26 AM.
Originally posted by cinnamon: Low marks on the 'creativity' scale can be offset easily with higher, more heavily-weighted marks on the 'good execution scale, but I admit to a bias in advance.
Well from the ground up there is only so much you can do. The end result is Up. I think shooting a clear blue sky would be less interesting than a building or a tree. At least you get some perspective.
Another thing to remember was the people ripping on water in stop motion and there were 3 or 4 liquid shots in the top 10. I guess I can live with a cliche :)
Originally posted by eddy: Well from the ground up there is only so much you can do. The end result is Up.
So that means you can include anything on the planet pretty much. It's amazing how small a thing can be and yet still fill the frame when you shoot from a low perspective.
I know there are as many ways of approaching photography as there are snowflakes.
I guess my point is that there are 5 million sites that can show what somebody needs to know about exposure, composition, subject matter, lens selection.
There are not too many sites that just let you shoot a photo and let it ride on how it hits folks, cliched or not, technically proficient or not.
Also, I agree..eggs were a major theme. I took 200 photos of eggs in different states and looked at them and said...BAH!!!
I had a photo that satisfied me enough in composition but was so screwed up exposure wise I don't think anybody would have liked it but me.
see it here...//www.pbase.com/image/1775559
I can't even smell an egg now without getting sick. :-P
I think you were wrong about the curves challenge. There were more musical instrument shots than human body shots (at least after DQ).
Originally posted by manic: I'm sometimes helplessly overanalytical, so I've noticed that for each challenge I've entered, there have been some very popular subjects. These I choose to call the 'cliché' shots. For example:
Curves - human body Stopped Motion - water (!) Transistions - the sky / sunset
Originally posted by Reuben: I think you were wrong about the curves challenge. There were more musical instrument shots than human body shots (at least after DQ).
You found my deliberate mistake! Have a cookie! :o)
It doesnt have to be the sky. It can be inside. You can also use something as a background (upground?) : ) > . . .
Originally posted by eddy: Well from the ground up there is only so much you can do. The end result is Up. I think shooting a clear blue sky would be less interesting than a building or a tree. At least you get some perspective.
Originally posted by GordonMcGregor: Originally posted by eddy: [i]Well from the ground up there is only so much you can do. The end result is Up.
So that means you can include anything on the planet pretty much. It's amazing how small a thing can be and yet still fill the frame when you shoot from a low perspective.
Thank you. Some people need to be lead, kicking and screaming, away from their first thought which will likely always be many other persons first thoughts.
