I entered this image knowing full well it would score poorly. I entered it because I want to have a creative and constructive discussion about "portraits" - what and what doesn't constitute one.
On DPC, they tend to be narrowly defined to require "faces". There may be other reasons why this particular image received a low score, but I'm pretty certain it was mostly because it does not show her face.
Portraiture is an umbrella term: there are classic portraits, studio portraits, candid portraits, outdoor portraits, environmental portraits, etc., etc. But there is no REQUIREMENT for there to be a face for it to be a portrait.
Would all of these NatGeo shots NOT be considered a portrait?
I like the "feel" of the image and the composition and colors. But... if you're asking for a critique, what I'm disappointed in it about (even more so now that I know that such a talented portrait photographer took the shot) are:
-On my monitor it doesn't appear to be in focus anywhere. I really want her to be in focus.
-I think it would be hard to find a lesser flattering pose of her. Ha! She appears to have a slim waist and body, but her butt is closest to the camera and seems to be largely increased.
-There's something about her legs that I can't figure out. Her right side of her rear leg.
I wouldn't think that the low score was because of DNMC... it's just not up to your usually stellar work with portraits, in my opinion.
I like the "feel" of the image and the composition and colors. But... if you're asking for a critique, what I'm disappointed in it about (even more so now that I know that such a talented portrait photographer took the shot) are:
-On my monitor it doesn't appear to be in focus anywhere. I really want her to be in focus.
-I think it would be hard to find a lesser flattering pose of her. Ha! She appears to have a slim waist and body, but her butt is closest to the camera and seems to be largely increased.
-There's something about her legs that I can't figure out. Her right side of her rear leg.
I wouldn't think that the low score was because of DNMC... it's just not up to your usually stellar work with portraits, in my opinion.
It may have scored low because it looks more like a painting rather than a photograph. It is also underexposed; it probably has nothing or not much to do with the face being absent.
I agree, Johanna! The thing that starts concerning me when I start really focusing on challenges is that I find myself squashing creativity and sometimes even my heart on what I love in photography, in favor of what I think will get a great score. It tends to make me afraid to get outside the box or get too creative because the voting on challenges seems to be so narrow. You are such a true artist! One of my favorites of all the artists I know and have been exposed to. I have seen some of the most amazing art here on the low end of the results because of the voters’ narrow definition of the challenges. Kind’v stifles my free spirit about trying to create art for challenges. :(
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