DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Blurbs #14: A Modest Proposal
⏮️⏪◀️ 1/1 ▶️⏩⏭️
Showing posts 1 - 4 of 4, (reverse)
AuthorThread
Sony Alpha a6400
Sony E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ OSS
 04/09/2004 01:50:56 AM · #1
Greetings...

In a tight-knit community such as this, it's rather easy to get to know people for their styles, intent, and overall ideas. It's not too difficult to learn to expect certain things from certain people.

I always look forward to seeing work and writings from specific people here. They inspire me. They always make me think. There are others who continually post the same ignorant babble. Their posts are never insightful or inspiring. In a lot of cases, they are ignorant and demeaning.

I have always stood behind my generalization that photographers can't see photographs. We tend to look at the image from a 'how it was done' standpoint rather than a 'how this makes me feel' view. We also like to complain about the content of the comments we receive. 99% of them are hollow and meaningless. I have spent a lot of time this evening reading comments left by specific photographers. I was disappointed because I found what I actually expected to find.

I challenge each of you to try this approach for one challenge:

1. Comment on ONLY 25 photos.

2. Write a paragraph about the photo that does NOT include your opinion of how the photograph was made or the technical issues.

3. Tell the photographer how the photograph makes you feel. What emotions are stirred by the image?

4. Ignore photos that you don't like. You will have to find images that inspire you and make you think in order for this to work.

Just some food for thought...


04/09/2004 02:16:10 AM · #2
You just squeaked by with a little irony.
 04/09/2004 06:36:13 AM · #3
Interesting...I got this comment on my pic from a newbie to the site:
"ok... so we have wheels in this shot... but no story behind them... the title does not help either, so all we have left is the sharpness of the picture..."

and then your 'proposal'.

I feel i need to do better.

When you say 'technical issues' - ignore overexposure, focus, etc? Hmmm.

Well, off to bed to let my mind work this through. If i don't sleep can i blame you? LOL
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Lensbaby 1.0 (The Original)
 04/09/2004 11:24:42 AM · #4
Indeed -- that's a very interesting proposal. I understand where you're coming from... I used to work in theater as a master carpenter, and it ruined my theater-going enjoyment for ages afterward because I was always really critical of the technical aspects of the production.

In a different thread (sorry, I don' t know how to make the link) called "Current Challenge" I mention my perspective on the definitition of art: "my definition of art is anything that is done on *on purpose* specifically to ellicit an *emotional response* when the thing is experienced."

So, it seems we're on the same page, and I'm definitely going to give your suggestion a whirl -- I'll still vote on all the pix, but dedicate some serious time to making fewer, better, more emotionally insightful comments.
⏮️⏪◀️ 1/1 ▶️⏩⏭️
Current Server Time: 09/27/2026 02:46:55 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.
Theme: Classic / Light / Dark
Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/27/2026 02:46:55 PM EDT.