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
