Doug Barber
Senior Member
Greetings All;
Challenge #6 is coming soon and I felt it was important to post a note that layouts the rules and context of the challenge.
Incase some of you don’t know, challenge #6 will be “Faces of the World” this title has been chosen because of the wide geographical representation we have at this forum. According to my figures we had 23 different countries represented in Challenge #4 and I think that is very much a testament not just to our common interest but also to the technology that we have all embraced.
Challenge #6 will allow us to focus our attention on “FACES” that we see in our part of the world and with luck we will see some of the best entries yet. Because the focus will be on people and faces, I’m trying my best to keep the playing field as level as possible. I mention this because we all know that this is a very diverse group and the skill level is equally as diverse. This being said, I feel that it is important to place some additional rules on the challenge that will allow a wider segment of our group to partake. I’m hoping that these rules will allow people not feel threatened by the fact that there are people here who have forgotten more than most of us will ever know.
The first additional rule will be that “No Flash” or “Studio Light Set-Ups” will be allowed. It is hoped that this will allow people who might be equipment deprived to still feel that they could partake. It will also force the photographer to think about his or her light before they take the shot. I have received comments that the flash restriction will force people to shoot outdoors… I don’t agree with this assessment, as everyone has access to natural light both indoors and out doors.
Because the intent of the Challenge is to focus of “Faces”, the issue of backgrounds and candid type shot’s come into my thought process. In my mind, the entrants will be judged mostly on the face that they can capture and the lighting that they were able to get. This being said, I feel that we need to allow for the manipulate backgrounds if they feel they need to. I’m sure none of us are interested in seeing “Granny” pasted in front of the Empire State Building... So what I would like to propose is that we will have the ability to Blackout of Blur a given background on a shot. But not paste our subject on to a completely different background. This will allow for more candid type shot’s that sometimes do not have a background that are very pleasing to the overall shot.
I recognize that allowing this type of manipulation takes away from the “purest” form of composing and taking a photograph. But I happen to be of the school that taking a photograph is only one step in getting a really good end product. The second part is editing the image in either a darkroom or computer. I know there are some here who do not like the thought of manipulating a photograph in programs like PhotoShop. But to me manipulation of photos has been iatrical part of the craft for many years… we just do it now in a computer...
So to recap… Challenge #6 will allow entrants to Blackout or Blur backgrounds but will not allow for the pasting in of secondary backdrops or background. All entrants MUST use natural light only and no studio set-ups will be allowed.
In closing, I’m being told that a “New” voting system will come into being on the challenge (1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place) so keep that in mind as we get through the entry stage and go to the voting stage.
--
Cheers
Doug B.
CP5700; PS7; MAC Ti-Book G4
Challenge #6 is coming soon and I felt it was important to post a note that layouts the rules and context of the challenge.
Incase some of you don’t know, challenge #6 will be “Faces of the World” this title has been chosen because of the wide geographical representation we have at this forum. According to my figures we had 23 different countries represented in Challenge #4 and I think that is very much a testament not just to our common interest but also to the technology that we have all embraced.
Challenge #6 will allow us to focus our attention on “FACES” that we see in our part of the world and with luck we will see some of the best entries yet. Because the focus will be on people and faces, I’m trying my best to keep the playing field as level as possible. I mention this because we all know that this is a very diverse group and the skill level is equally as diverse. This being said, I feel that it is important to place some additional rules on the challenge that will allow a wider segment of our group to partake. I’m hoping that these rules will allow people not feel threatened by the fact that there are people here who have forgotten more than most of us will ever know.
The first additional rule will be that “No Flash” or “Studio Light Set-Ups” will be allowed. It is hoped that this will allow people who might be equipment deprived to still feel that they could partake. It will also force the photographer to think about his or her light before they take the shot. I have received comments that the flash restriction will force people to shoot outdoors… I don’t agree with this assessment, as everyone has access to natural light both indoors and out doors.
Because the intent of the Challenge is to focus of “Faces”, the issue of backgrounds and candid type shot’s come into my thought process. In my mind, the entrants will be judged mostly on the face that they can capture and the lighting that they were able to get. This being said, I feel that we need to allow for the manipulate backgrounds if they feel they need to. I’m sure none of us are interested in seeing “Granny” pasted in front of the Empire State Building... So what I would like to propose is that we will have the ability to Blackout of Blur a given background on a shot. But not paste our subject on to a completely different background. This will allow for more candid type shot’s that sometimes do not have a background that are very pleasing to the overall shot.
I recognize that allowing this type of manipulation takes away from the “purest” form of composing and taking a photograph. But I happen to be of the school that taking a photograph is only one step in getting a really good end product. The second part is editing the image in either a darkroom or computer. I know there are some here who do not like the thought of manipulating a photograph in programs like PhotoShop. But to me manipulation of photos has been iatrical part of the craft for many years… we just do it now in a computer...
So to recap… Challenge #6 will allow entrants to Blackout or Blur backgrounds but will not allow for the pasting in of secondary backdrops or background. All entrants MUST use natural light only and no studio set-ups will be allowed.
In closing, I’m being told that a “New” voting system will come into being on the challenge (1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place) so keep that in mind as we get through the entry stage and go to the voting stage.
--
Cheers
Doug B.
CP5700; PS7; MAC Ti-Book G4
