Courious about how others judge a photograph.

[TWX]

View attachment 185542 This is the perfect photograph

Respectfully I disagree. It's a powerful photograph, it signifies a powerful moment in American history, but it isn't perfect.

 

[malling]

View attachment 185542 This is the perfect photograph

Respectfully I disagree. It's a powerful photograph, it signifies a powerful moment in American history, but it isn't perfect.

It might be powerful, but it’s also one of the most criticised photojournalistic pictures of its time, as the photographer made it happen, instead of reporting what happened by taking a picture in the right moment. I doubt any photojournalist would get away with it today, as it’s blurs the line between fiction and the genres it supposed to represent, making it more propaganda than anything else.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

If I am in an active war zone, all rules are off about what, how and why a photo was shot.

The impact, far our weighs the photographic details.

 

[Christie Photo]

... the photographer made it happen, instead of ... taking a picture

Isn't that what a photographer does? I suppose journalism is the exception, but I've always considered that to be my job... MAKING photographs, not TAKING pictures. Anyone with a camera can take a picture.

Hmm...

-Pete

 

[malling]

... the photographer made it happen, instead of ... taking a picture

Isn't that what a photographer does? I suppose journalism is the exception, but I've always considered that to be my job... MAKING photographs, not TAKING pictures. Anyone with a camera can take a picture.

Hmm...

-Pete

photojournalism in its pure form are meant to witness and report events of common interest to the public, by taking pictures of the event. So it’s very different from many other photographic fields, where the photographer create the event and the photograph.

But obviously any photojournalist have decided beforehand what perspective of the event they want to depict, this is obviously made by traditional photographic techniques and values, like framing.

Why this picture isn’t photojournalism as the event is created by the photographer.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Photographers are humans not machines.

I would think that as a photojournalist, sent on an assignment, you would have plenty of preconceived opinions.
What does your boss want? How you feel about the subject? Is the project worth you effort? Even the freelance photojournalist has to have some opinions about the project they are about to undertake.

Hence, you will pose, photograph, and uncover items that you feel are necessary to obtain your objective, ignoring issues that others might be interested in. Like an artist, a persons paints or photographs what they see, not necessarily what is really there.

One thing that has become obvious from my question is, there are as many ways to judge a photo as there are people judging.

 

[The_Traveler]

For those who are interested.
In the near future, two of my friends and I are starting a web-based pilot test on what qualities in a photo make it important.
The director for this test is a world expert on monitoring the public's taste on various issues.
It will be free and will take about 5 minutes on 3 separate occasions but at your leisure.

If the pilot test gives any meaningful results, we will expand it and go forward.
I will post a notice in this thread.

Lew

 

[zombiesniper]

I always judge with a gavel and robe!

 

[mrca]

A great image has impact. The maker has something to say and all that goes into the image supports it and enhances it. Composition, lighting, posing, editing. Ancil said it is good if you get 10 great images a year. I have won and judged professional competitions in CA before moving to FL where I continue to judge. But I cut others more slack than I cut myself. To create the perfect image takes skill and sometimes
a bit of luck. To make consistently good images, not so hard. If folks don't take the time to learn what helps make a good image, they will be like that blind squirrel occasionally finding an acorn. I have a shoot tomorrow, I HAVE to produce a killer image. And I have every confidence I will.

 

[Sharpshooterr]

I always judge with a gavel and robe!

I always let Judy do my judging my for me!!!
SS

 

[Sharpshooterr]

A great image has impact. The maker has something to say and all that goes into the image supports it and enhances it. Composition, lighting, posing, editing. Ancil said it is good if you get 10 great images a year. I have won and judged professional competitions in CA before moving to FL where I continue to judge. But I cut others more slack than I cut myself. To create the perfect image takes skill and sometimes
a bit of luck. To make consistently good images, not so hard. If folks don't take the time to learn what helps make a good image, they will be like that blind squirrel occasionally finding an acorn. I have a shoot tomorrow, I HAVE to produce a killer image. And I have every confidence I will.

Mr, you know, here's what I want to know? On these forums almost everybody is a pro, at least all those that never post a photograph are. It seems that the qualifications to be a great photographer today, according to some, is to have started in the Pleistocene shooting film manually, like that means anything. Seems it's because it "slowed down the process"! Why don't you just post that great photo you're gonna create and let us be the judge of whether it's great or not?
I mean, the last time I looked this is a photography forum but with few exceptions, everyone just talks but never posts anything.
I remember a particular Pulitzer Prize winning photograph from quite a few years back...., it was a guy that jumped/fell out of a window and the photographer got the shot while the guy was maybe 1/2 way down. Do you think the photographer had something to say? My guess is the photographer had ZERO control over the subject, the composition, the lighting etc, etc, but he won a Pulitzer Prize! Some shots are well planned, others like many sports shots are just happenstance.
Sure, in creating a cover for Vogue Magazine EVERYTHING is controlled. But there great/good photographs like sports, nature or street that can only be planned to a certain degree and the rest is dependent of factors not entirely in ones control.
Everybody wants to put photography into a box but it's not a one box fits all! Yes photography absolutely has rules, and I'm not talking about the 1/3's, I'm talking about all the other rules.
Anyway, just post that pic. I'm sure by now you've got it all PP'd!!!
SS

 

[Original katomi]

I think I know the pic that you are talking about . The man half way down after jumping out of a window
The 9/11 twin towers, image. That was a snap, it’s blured but it is a powerful image, that captured the moment.
Like other images of the time.
That image was no intended to be judged, it’s more of HAY this happened, this person was so .....afraid, desperate whatever, that they jumped.
In the same position I don’t know if I would jump or burn.
You say about people not posting images..
for me it’s simple... reason.
Given how easy an image can be copied#no that I think members would# if I don’t want my images copied
I don’t post on the web, anywhere on the web
I am trying out a new idea and posted images, yep I know they are not good and that I can improve them but if someone posts a comment that will help, that’s good

 

[Braineack]

A great image has impact. The maker has something to say and all that goes into the image supports it and enhances it. Composition, lighting, posing, editing. Ancil said it is good if you get 10 great images a year. I have won and judged professional competitions in CA before moving to FL where I continue to judge. But I cut others more slack than I cut myself. To create the perfect image takes skill and sometimes
a bit of luck. To make consistently good images, not so hard. If folks don't take the time to learn what helps make a good image, they will be like that blind squirrel occasionally finding an acorn. I have a shoot tomorrow, I HAVE to produce a killer image. And I have every confidence I will.

Mr, you know, here's what I want to know? On these forums almost everybody is a pro, at least all those that never post a photograph are. It seems that the qualifications to be a great photographer today, according to some, is to have started in the Pleistocene shooting film manually, like that means anything. Seems it's because it "slowed down the process"! Why don't you just post that great photo you're gonna create and let us be the judge of whether it's great or not?
I mean, the last time I looked this is a photography forum but with few exceptions, everyone just talks but never posts anything.
I remember a particular Pulitzer Prize winning photograph from quite a few years back...., it was a guy that jumped/fell out of a window and the photographer got the shot while the guy was maybe 1/2 way down. Do you think the photographer had something to say? My guess is the photographer had ZERO control over the subject, the composition, the lighting etc, etc, but he won a Pulitzer Prize! Some shots are well planned, others like many sports shots are just happenstance.
Sure, in creating a cover for Vogue Magazine EVERYTHING is controlled. But there great/good photographs like sports, nature or street that can only be planned to a certain degree and the rest is dependent of factors not entirely in ones control.
Everybody wants to put photography into a box but it's not a one box fits all! Yes photography absolutely has rules, and I'm not talking about the 1/3's, I'm talking about all the other rules.
Anyway, just post that pic. I'm sure by now you've got it all PP'd!!!
SS

You know, there are typically various categories for judging...

 

[SquarePeg]

A reminder for those who seem to have forgotten.

*TPF prides itself on encouraging friendly and open discourse regarding photography. Personal attacks on any members as well as TPF Staff will not be tolerated, and these posts will be deleted and the instigators possibly banned.

* Flaming is not tolerated. Any member who routinely taunts, insults, or engages in any inflammatory, fight-inducing behavior will face banning, and such posts will be edited or removed.

 

[Photo Lady]

I think the more interest i have in the photograph subject the more interested i get to be somewhat technical.. although just really learning technicality in the true word of it all.. so overall it is the subject and subject matter and then how well it is presented in the photo..