So I guess it must be asked. What should the next contest theme be?

[intheflow]

OK, I'm selfish as hell so don't want next month's contest to be anything I think I shoot well.

I also have mild control freak tendencies, so have chosen some themes for next month.

Luckily I also have a thick skin, so feel free to lambaste me on my theme choices and/or control freak tendencies. :hi:

Or ignore my poll and consider this the official theme discussion thread. :)

[regnaD kciN]

1. Subject versus formal topics...

I hope I don't tread on anyone's feelings here, but I think last month highlighted a key distinction that should be considered when choosing a topic in the future.

Since I've been a member of this group, we've almost always had subject topics. Either a thing ("reflections," "autumn," "light and shadow") or a concept ("strength") around which to create or select an image.

Last month, for the first time I can recall, we had a formal topic. In other words, pictures were to be made or chosen around a certain formal look rather than a subject.

How did it work? Not so well, IMHO.

Not to denigrate the winning images; "Ben on Spin Cycle" was a great animal action shot, and the runners-up were excellent as well. But was their success really due to being examples of "absence of color?" As far as I'm concerned, most of them could have worked every bit as well had they been full-color photos. I can only think of a couple that made the finals for which the very nature of them being black-and-white would have been a deciding factor ("Emerald City" being the most notable), and even fewer for which the deliberate absence of color had a part at all. Ironically, the photos I found the most effective in the "absence of color" sense were not pure black-and-white photos, but images where the color was used so sparingly as if to suggest its absence. (I'm thinking primarily of RadFemFL's "Girls in the Grass," alkaline9's "Follow Me Through The Sky," mutley_r_us's "Snowy Pathway," and superconnected's "Patches.") Only one of the four even made the finals!

What I would want to suggest is that formal themes might be too much for the Lounge Lizards to comprehend, and makes it virtually equivalent to having a "no theme" contest, which is what I think last month's contest, de facto, became. Therefore, I would strongly recommend that subject themes, rather than formal themes, be chosen from now on, if we want the voting to show any relevance to the chosen topic.

[intheflow]

2. I totally agree.

I think that's why I voted for Emerald City. It was the essence of b&w photography for me, whereas my shot, Ben, was just a cool-looking/totally accidental/originaly shot in color photo.

So would you consider my poll choices subject or formal themes?

[Boo_Radley]

6. I really like conceptual themes

or themes in general, but I wouldn't go so far as to make it a rule that it has to be that way. {I really like the idea of themes based on emotions or character qualities, like sadness, strength, joy, honesty, etc.) and trying to convey them in photography.)

But I wouldn't want to go so far as to make it a hard rule. I like the idea that each contest is open to anything the host dreams up.

[TahitiNut]

7. In my view, a 'THEME' should always describe the subject of the photo

... not the specisifcations of eligible photos. While I believe it's reasonable to define categorical eligibility requirements (e.g. monochrome), that's engineering, not art. I regard the 'theme' as an artistic criterion.

If, for example, this were a painting contest, we'd establish themes like (in the broad sense) 'protraits,' 'landscapes,' 'nature,' 'animals,' or 'still life' and categories like 'watercolors,' 'oils,' or 'acrylics' - the latter being competitive groups based on the media, not the message.

I also tend to prefer the somewhat abstract themes such as "Rites of Spring." I don't believe such themes need be in the extreme of abstraction (e.g. 'Rebirth') but (imho) often result in a kind of (cerebral) creativity when they're other than some concrete, tangible definition of the subject matter itself (e.g. cemetaries). For the latter, I would've strongly preferred a more abstract term (e.g. 'remembrance') ... since it affords the photographer an opportunity to reflect their 'Mind's Eye' in ways that broaden our perspective. To me, that's what photography is all about when it rises above the mere 'vacation snapshot': perspective.

But I've said this all before and my inability to do much participation in the contests here probably relegates my opinion to the less influential.
So be it. :shrug:

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I agree, too...

I didn't put much thought into that black and white thing. I just used a color photo I had that was already basically colorless because of the kind of day it was. I like real subjects, even if they're conceptual like "strength."

ed. "macro" was kind of a form thing, too, wasn't it, although maybe a little more subject-y than just black and white.

[alfredo]

4. My image was black and white and probably wouldn't have worked

as well as a color image. Color would not have advanced the story.

I liked the fact that it was broad.

[F.Gordon]

5. In the "Light and Shadow" contest........

There were two entries that made it into the final 10 that were not Light and Shadow shots, they were Silhouette shots. They were voted into the Finals by the Lounge not because they embodied the pure essence of the Theme, they made it because they were just really good photographs.

I voted for Artificial Lighting but I should have voted for either Architecture or (undetermined) Color. These are the safe themes, same as Flowers, Water, Reflections, Fall...

I’d prefer that all contests be very challenging esoteric themes but I think the efforts would be wasted by having the Lounge vote on it. In the end it would almost always just be the perty pixie that wins. IMHO

Best just to keep things simple, avoid confusion, and have fun……Again….IMHO
:hi:

[Touchdown]

8. This is un-Autocratic...I chose other.

I demand that you bow before me and choose porn!:P

[bvar22]

9. You name the tune....

and I'll do the dance. :+

These are some themes I would love to play with:

*After Dark

*Abandonned, forgotten, obsolete

*Extreme Self-Portrait

I love the Photo Contests at DU.
They have motivated me to push my photographic boundaries.
I have learned and gained experience in areas I would not have attempted without the contest motivation and discussions.

I am disappointed that the Preliminaries are held in The Lounge. I feel that we miss a great opportunity for Peer Review and Constructive Criticism. I believe that the Subject Matter and voting would be very different if the Prelims were held in the Photo Forum as they once were.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=280&topic_id=6544

I AM delighted that the creative minds in the Photo Forum have discovered a way to include Peer Review with the "Help me pick my picture threads".

The tradition in the Photo Forum is that you get to call the shots. I DO request at least a 10 Day period between choosing the Theme, and posting an Submission Thread. This will give people time to conceive and develop a project.

Thanks!

[Blue_In_AK]

11. I remember that one...

I think I put the link in the Lounge so that anyone who was interested enough could come over here and vote, because obviously we don't have 123 votes here in the PhotoGroup, but it seemed to work out well.

ed. I like your topics, too, except for the "extreme self-portrait" one. I much prefer being on the back side of the camera, not the front.

[bvar22]

12. I'm OK either way.

Not a huge issue with me, just a preference.
There is awesome talent, competent professionals, and commited amateurs and novices inside the Photo Forum.
Their opinions and criticism are much more valuable to me than those in The Lounge. I am also curious (as a learning tool) about how the pictures rank among photographers.

I acknowlege that there are some good reasons for posting the prelims in The Lounge.
I believe that you need a star to post in the Photo Forum, and the larger population of voters in The Lounge dilutes individual influences.

There are a large number of lurkers who never post, but who will vote in a poll. Several years ago as an experiment, DU posted the number of "VIEWS" that each post received. The number of people who "view" posts was 5 - 10 times the number of people who actually post.
I don't have data on the number of people who vote in polls but never post.

Either way, I'm OK.
:toast:

[Samurai_Writer]

10. Another suggestion

"Rear view mirror" shots. Or it could be taken from the sideview mirror. But I've seen some of those shots in this group, and they are great. Also, it would be a simple theme that would make voting a bit simpler in the Lounge.

[Robb]

15. I like that

Sort of puts us in a box. :thumbsup:

[qanda]

13. I choose other

It's National Women's History Month. I say we have a theme about women.

[Samurai_Writer]

14. Oooh! That's a great idea!

Very appropriate, considering all the things going on with taking away women's rights.

[DS1]

16. Erotica

change things up a bit, or instead we can all post pictures of twigs and cats again :shrug:

[GOPFighter]

17. How about "Absence of Cats"?

:rofl:

[regnaD kciN]

18. Unfair!

After all, there was a complete absence of cats in the finals of last month's contest, which truly went to the dogs.

[CC]

19. I just do what ever is

decided. Though would like the few days after it is announced to get pictures.

[GOPFighter]

20. I've been giving it some thought

I think I would prefer a narrow theme like bridges, trains, churches, clouds, etc.

[Immad2]

21. My two cents - What ever thee decides, Oh Master of the March Contest.

JUST KIDDING! No, I have no formal training in photography so whether it is "formal, subject, concept or whatever," it is all great fun to me. It is of no consequence because it is pure enjoyment and a great experience to try to photograph any of these.
I have learned a great deal through this group and enjoyed every minute of it.

[NV Whino]

22. I voted other, but

I like architecture, bridges and extreme portrait (rather than extreme self portrait).

Actually, I'm good with just about anything to stretch my imagination. Left to my own devices I would shoot nothing but trees and flowers. And maybe a cat.

[Blue_In_AK]

24. "Maybe a cat"

NV, I took over a hundred pictures of dogs today. :)

[smurfygirl]

23. I voted architecture...but

I'm on the same page with everyone. I haven't been entering the contests because I've been to busy, but I wish everyone would stay on topic.
It's hard to not vote for a photo that is visually and creatively appealing even if it's not necessarily on theme.

[alkaline9]

25. What does our time-line look like this month?

I'm thinking something along the lines of:

3/07/06 - topic chosen
3/17/06 - submissions thread open (request for 10 days to "compile" photos)
3/21/06 - submissions thread closed and prelims begin
3/26/06 - prelims end and finals begin
3/31/06 - finals end and winner declared
4/01/06 - the madness begins again, "dubya" is declared April theme (april fools!)

Its looking like (short of a coup) architecture is the winner. Why not declare it soon (maybe today?) and then people will have the most time possible to shoot/print/re-shoot/etc?

Just my 2 cents.

[intheflow]

26. This poll is now closed. Theme has been chosen:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x13747

[Lithos]

27. Locking

Original Poster's request