The Songs Of Life: Rocket Man

Challenge #30 in the The Songs Of Life series. Hosted by The Bacon Wagoneer.

Challenge has finished

READ THE RULES! This challenge is all about interpretation: I named it with the title of a popular song (by Elton John), and it will be up to the entrants to determine what the song means to them - and how they can express that with a photo. **The link to the lyrics is at the top of the rules**

Show full rules

Announced:

Tuesday, 8th November, 2011 (GMT)

Submissions:

Tuesday, 15th November, 2011 – Monday, 21st November, 2011 (GMT)

Voting:

Tuesday, 22nd November, 2011 – Monday, 28th November, 2011 (GMT)

Processing rules:

- Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/rocket-man-lyrics-elton-john.html
- Song: http://grooveshark.com/s/Rocket+Man/jMp4t?src=5
- Photos **MUST** contain a thematic element of rockets, spacecraft, or space exploration history (museum displays, etc - think Smithsonian Air & Space Museum or similar)
- Explain your interpretation in photo description section for extra consideration
- HDR is allowed in this challenge
- No scanned images
- No digital composites
- No children under age 16
- Do not frame photos or watermark them
- Only photos that you, yourself, have taken

Capture date rules:

No restrictions.

Additional rules:

VOTING GUIDE:
Please adhere to the following guide for voting in this challenge.
0.5 star: Does not meet challenge topic/rules
1 star: Poor quality
2 star: Adequate
3 star: Good
4 star: Excellent
5 star: Spectacular/Epic/Awesome
The 0.5 star rule is the most important! If you do not like the photo, please rate it with a single star as it is much better for expressing constructive criticism.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are asked to only submit photos that are honest to the subject matter and are more spur of the moment if you can - pre-planned photographs add an artificial quality.

Maximum number of entries per user:

Maximum number of entries in challenge:

222

submission
phase has

ended

14 entries

voting
phase has

ended

122 votes

Voting results: 14 entries Slideshow of 1 1 Page: 10 Rows:

1^st

(winner)

2^nd

(runner up)

3^rd

(runner up)

4^th

5^th

6^th

(joint)

6^th

(joint)

8^th

9^th

10^th

Rocket man: Al Worden, Apollo 15 astronaut

11^th

12^th

13^th

14^th

1 / 1

Sample entries

These entries were provided by the challenge host(s) as samples and cannot be voted on. Upload sample image.

Challenge comments

Total comments: 9

my votes are not registered.

0 upvotes

This song does not only talk about rockets... but the loneliness of being away from loved ones etc etc.... but the point is... if my interpretation does not give that big of a merit to rockets since i want to emphasize more of the feeling... will i be DQd?

0 upvotes

And yet again, your interpretation of the song is wrong and it makes no sense. For someone who seems to like poetry you seem to have a hard time understanding its meaning and always go with the simple minded interpretation.

If you're going to let people interpret what it means to them then let them do that, otherwise just say "Rocket challenge" and leave it at that.

This "interpret the song" as long as you interpret it my way is just plan stupid and no you're not making it more challenging, you're just taking the fun out of it. If this was an episode of Seinfeld you would be the challenge nazi.

1 upvote

I seem to recall your saying you were going to avoid my challenges, Mike - so please, do.

It's only as simple-minded as the entrants make it - I only ask for a specific element: it could be a monkey holding a toy rocket and looking depressed.

0 upvotes

Good point, leno. We are being asked to interpet the song - but put a rocket in the photo somewhere. In my opinion, it would make for a more interesting challenge if the host had simply asked for a picture to show what the song means - and leave the 'interpretation' up to the entrants. Let the voters decide which is best - instead of just voting for the coolest rocket photo.
. . . . Steve

0 upvotes

...and that would make it easy.

Sorry.

Not going to make it simple - because that would allow people far too much slack and they could submit a photo of a seagull in the process of defecating - then make up some cock n' bull definition.

0 upvotes

Alfredo,
Do you not trust the voters? If they see a picture of a defecating seagull with a 'cock 'n' bull' interpretation, they will certainly give it a low score. You are not the only one who appreciates, and tries to understand music and poetry.

As far as 'simple' goes - it is all but impossible to interpret the meaning of a song with a photograph - so you don't have to worry about your challenges ever being too simple. If anything, you're making them simpler by specifying precisely what subjects are allowed. Remember 'Hard Sun'? How many entries actually had a plausible interpretation - and how many were just pretty sunset pictures with a random line cut and pasted from the lyrics?
Be brave - open it up. Give the members a chance to be creative! What you're doing here is saying to us "interpret this song - but because I'm sure it has something to do with rockets, you must include a rocket in the photo"
. . . Steve

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

3 upvotes

You ask that the entries are true to the song lyrics but then go on to state very clearly and in tight guide lines what you expect to see. It is the excepted interpritation of the lyrics that the one thing it is not about is Rockets or Space. These are only metaphors for the stress and strains of moden life. Many people believe that there is a drug element in the mix which is causing the man problems in maintaining a normal grouned (earth) life. That is not certain, who knows whats in a rock stars mind, but the bettng is it's not Rockets.

0 upvotes

This is a "challenge"... not a "convenience".

Create or use a photo you already have that meets the thematic element requirement, but also expresses your interpretation.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 9

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