New Photo Contest?

[Dennis_Vied]

Originally Posted by MikeA

Well, if you wanted to cover both hemispheres, you'd need to run it 6 months.

How about you guys take your spring shots now and run the 'Spring' contest in September when we get ours?

Mike

Now, THERE's an idea!

[Jerry Skrocki]

How about some ideas that are not geographically or culturally dependent?

[DierkHaasis]

How about one or more contests that are specifically bound to geography and culture? Instead of getting the same old contest photos - those we should dread since the late 1960s - we'd get to know each other better. I am much more interested in, say, everyday life in France, Romania, Pakistan or even Germany, the UK and the US than in the tired cliches levelling our cultures to some perceived world standard [usually an Americanised version of Western/Central European notions].

[Jerry Skrocki]

Originally Posted by DierkHaasis

How about one or more contests that are specifically bound to geography and culture? Instead of getting the same old contest photos - those we should dread since the late 1960s - we'd get to know each other better. I am much more interested in, say, everyday life in France, Romania, Pakistan or even Germany, the UK and the US than in the tired cliches levelling our cultures to some perceived world standard [usually an Americanised version of Western/Central European notions].

Dierk,

The idea is to choose a topic or theme that allows for maximum participation without bias.

The characterization of what you perceive to be the American perception of world cultures is not only inaccurate but also exhibits some personal bias. This is exactly what we are trying to avoid when assigning topics for a photo competition.

Jerry

[DougAxford]

As a Canadian that lives an hour from the US (that's almost an American) I can see both sides and I agree - just that I'm not going to say who I agree with

I'd sure like to see photos that reflect the technical expertise but also challenge the artistic and humanity in us. I think the toughest assignment I ever had in photo school was a self portrait. To be accomplished well, it requires all of our senses and easily has the ability to encompass the good ideas that Dierk has suggested. The real problem with his idea is that many of us are not photojounalists and I would have a tough time thinking of how to capture everyday life in Canada - just my lack of imagination that's the problem. Maybe that's why it's a good idea, we need more challenge.

OK, we need a contest to find what to have a contest on.

Doug

[Ross Throndson]

How bout some Travel Photography...

[DierkHaasis]

Originally Posted by Jerry Skrocki

The characterization of what you perceive to be the American perception of world cultures is not only inaccurate but also exhibits some personal bias.

a) You are wrong about my personal bias.
b) Europeans do see the American Way of Life and the perspective this gives different than Americans.
c) Photography - any art form actually - without personal bias is vapid and hollow.
d) My original post was a proposal not an attack.


Since it is Sunday morning, I have slept well and eaten something and it looks as though sun, warmth and spring will finally arrive over here ...


Let's start with a rather basic question: What is out contest for? I thought we want to share perspectives and learn from others, slightly incentivised with a prize. If that is so - and my perception might be wrong - should we really care for the 125,256,875,326,444,129th drop falling into yet another hued liquid?

To be a bit more constructive. What about themes being able to do all around the world but with the possibility of a cultural twist

- graffitti
- sports fans
- seasonal change [spring in the Northern hemisphere, autumn in the Southern ATM]
- [local] street festivals
- architectural details [i.e. doors, letter boxes]
- corner shops [Mom-and-Pop stores to you Americans]
- traffic

There's lots more. All of them have several advantages, chiefly all of them can be interpreted personally, none of them have written 'symbolic' all over them while at the same time being able to be seen as such. They are found all over the world without necessarily looking alike. They are everyday enough to make the photographer find her own way to make it interesting.

This, Jerry, is what the arrogant Old European meant before.


... I try to avoid a fight.