 Michelle Ross |
Where do Still Life Photos go? I take alot of still life type photos and like to enter them here . . .but it seems there just really isn't a "good" category for them. . . I end up putting most of them in Elements of Design it seems, but I'm wondering if they can even get looked at there because they really don't fit the examples that are shown or the description. I looked at Details and Macro and that is basically the same way? Am I just missing something here and am I wasting my time entering these photos if they aren't even going to get looked at?
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Bob Cammarata |
This discussion has come up before and the consensus seems to be that "Elements...." seems to be the most apropos home for still-life.
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Karma Wilson |
I can feel your pain! I've been one of the people asking for a still life category--purty please! But BP does their very best to provide us with a great site and I can see that they don't want too many categories. Here's my advice. Take your still lifes and try to incorporate some aspect of digital darkroom techniques in them. From my browsing it seems that more stills make it all the way in the Digital Darkroom category. A favorite is to make them look like a poloroid transfer. Karma
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Gianna Stadelmyer |
I had begged for a still life category long ago as well. Alas, too many categories - and now people are asking for a sports category too. I shoot a lot of still lifes that overlap with stock photos I shoot. I had a hard time placing them for awhile and elements of design just doesn't work for most of mine. Most elements of design shots I see win or used as examples are abstract type shots with bold colors, strong lines, or use of pattern. Sure, still lifes and many other types of photos all have some elements of design in them, but not always strong enough to be noticed against these other types. I have found most of mine happily fit into details and macro. Tough to compete with some of the macros sometimes, but as a detail, they do ok. A detail of a room, a detail of a cup of tea on a table, etc. Or in the case of my "Pitcher and Petals", I put that still life in the flowers category since it has flowers in it. It can be a tough call. They had talked about making a monthly theme for still lifes back when we asked for a category, but that never came either. So keep plugging away and post them to the closest thing that fits. I have found that if the image os a good one, it will get noticed no matter what category it's in... as long as it's close. Hope that helps:-) Jan
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Melissa L. Zavadil |
I just posted a still life and I had a heck -- heck -- heck of a time placing it!! I ended up putting it in special effects mainly based on a long exposure time. I thought about the elements and design but then I didn't think it had the 'lines' they look for in that catagory. I was stuck -- now I bet it won't even get noticed???? OH WELL!!!???!!! I agree as this site is growing we need more catagories sports and still life would both be nice.
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Kristi A. Howson |
Look at the photo's strongest points and put it in the category it most fits. What I do is eliminate the categories a photo definetely doesn't fit in and then with the ones left, I see which category I think it might do best in. I review the description also the previous winners. If you put a note in your comments that it doesn't seem to fit well in any category, then the judges might give it special consideration if it's very good. A good description about why you took the photo, what techniques you used and any information that will lead the judges to think this photo is special to you will go a long ways at this site. Even if they don't get noticed the first time, be sure and re-enter if you believe in the photo. I personally find this site the easiest of all to find a category for my photo's. I only know of one I had a problem with and it ended up as a finalist so I guess I can't complain. Here is a link to Still Life's...some have won and many have gotten Finalists. I don't know how these got categorized like this though.
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Gianna Stadelmyer |
That's good information Kristi. On the point of putting it in the description though, I know from past experience with a photo of mine that the judges do not read the description field - at least in the initial paring down. So your best bet is to just post your best work and, like you said, decide on the closest category it fits into. Jan :-)
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Kristi A. Howson |
You may be right on the description Jan:) My comment was based on a photo of mine where I was pretty certain the comment made a big difference...but that was from Finalist to 2nd. The photo had some weaknesses in terms of noise and maybe not the perfect comp, but it was a capture of an incredible moment that only lasted for a few seconds. I had to drop everything and take it the best way I could in that time frame. This photo has never done anything at any of the sites where the photoshop "cosmetics" is a big factor. So I was very surprised (shocked actually) that this photo got a 2nd at BP amongst all the thousands of entries here.
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Melissa L. Zavadil |
I was just curious what still life kristi? I don't see any in your gallery? Did you take it down? Just curious-wanted to see it. :o)
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Kristi A. Howson |
I'm sorry Melissa if what I said was misleading. I actually was referring to comments on all photo's entered...not necessarily Still Life's based on the following BP recommendation. http://www.betterphoto.com/contest/captioning.php
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