 Janet Detota |
Still Life Category I am one of many who would love there to be a still life category. It's such a popular style of photography and is rather odd that there isn't a choice for it in the contest. Choosing a category for a photo that is clearly a still life is very difficult and since we may choose the incorrect one, it doesn't get a fair chance in the contest. How about it BP?
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Diane Dupuis |
I agree Janet! There is no real area for a picture of a chair near window, or a bowl of fruit. Still life could definitely cover it! I know BP is always open to suggestions... I'm sure they'll hear you... If they don't want to add another category, maybe they can combine digital darkroom and special effects - which sounds pretty much like the same thing - they just start out from a different medium. Just a thought...
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
How do you know when you choose an incorrect category? As well as knowing something dosen't get a fair chance?
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Janet Detota |
Thanks, Diane! And Gregory, when you have to practically toss a coin to decide which category to put your obvious still life photo into and feel really frustrated because it doesn't really fit, but you have to choose something, you do have a feeling you may have chosen the wrong one. And if it's going up against ones that are actually in the correct category, then your entry isn't getting a fair chance. That's how I see it anyway.
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Wally Orlowsky |
I, too, would like to see a still life category. I have had several entries that did not quite fit any existing category (especially since "general" was eliminated). I think your question answers itself, Gregory. The point is that you DON'T know which of several possibilities might be best in the case of a still life. I know when something is an animal or a person or has interesting design elements. Some photos can certainly fit into multiple categories. But some still-life shots seem to fit into none. My stunning out-of-the camera shot of a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs isn't Nature, animal, people, a design element, a macro, etc. I don't know whether the issue is so much one of a "fair chance" or one of whether the appropriateness of the photo to the category is a factor in judging. The BP site does state "We reserve the right to determine when a photo fits or does not fit into a particular category."
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Obvious that something like a picture without a person in the frame would be incorrect for the people category. Where is so much confusion coming from? Using the chair by the window example. What would be the reasons for taking that picture? If it's just because it's a chair you need a chair category, or is it line, shape, shadow? That's why they put in elements of design. What was the picture of that you had to toss a coin to decide?
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Gloria B. Wood |
The still life catagory has had a long and glorious history in the art world. Some of the most famous and beautiful paintings and drawings have been classified as still life (which often appears in the title)! It is widely recognized as a legitimate and honored catagory. I see no reason to continue ignoring this catagory unless there is an assumption at some level on someone's part that photography is not really art. If there is a substantial reason or explanation for denying this simple request, I would like to hear it!
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Janet Detota |
Thank you, Gloria! Well said and I, too, would like to hear the reason why it's being overlooked!
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lawheadphoto.com - Larry Lawhead  Contact Larry Lawhead Larry Lawhead's Gallery |
It seems to me that "still life" would be a logical catagory. Bloria puts it quite well...
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Was a picture taken of a bowl of spaghetti because you like spaghetti, or something about the spaghetti you were trying to show? Which is a design element, but even if you don't consider it a design element, you were trying to show something about it. So if not design elements, there's no detail you're trying to show? And is it actually major confusion that's the reason, or is it that you say it's stunning, but it's not selected? Still life as a category in art has always been summed up in one huge category for anything that wasn't a mobile living creature(i.e. people and animals, be they reptiles, mammals, birds, wild or domestic), and landscapes(be they urban or country side). A still life of a bowl of fruit was an artisitc still life because of showing what the elements of design consist of. Even basic are classes where the first lesson is to make a drawing of an orange, it was about learning to draw shapes, learning to make smooth lines, learning to draw the texture of the skin. Would it be easier if they just called details and elements a still life?
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Dan Holm |
It seems like there's a great need for a Still Life category on BP. Often, an outstanding still life will be entered in a category life Elements of Design where it struggles to compete with stylized, even abstract images. ...Kind of like mixing apples and oranges! ... It would be a shame to see excellent still life work get overlooked because it doesn't have a well defined home.
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Gloria B. Wood |
Still life is just a catagory...everybody knows what a still life is. What is the problem with calling a still life...a still life?
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Janet Detota |
Exactly, Gloria! That's what we're having a problem understanding. Just trying to keep it simple. :-)
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Marcie A. Fowler |
I agree with the need for a still life category. This is fast becoming one of my favorite areas of photography, espcially with the cold Northern Maine winters coming up just around the corner (LOL)!! I think it's a great idea for a category! Or perhaps at least a monthly theme from time to time!!
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amdahlphotoanddesign.com - Wendy M. Amdahl Contact Wendy M. Amdahl Wendy M. Amdahl's Gallery |
I have to agree with Janet and the others on the need for a Still Life category. It has been my observation that while the general consensus has been to put them in the Elements of Design category...they really don't seem to fit there...at least not by a review of the winners for that category. And if it's an issue of not needing more categories...then why not do as Diane stated and combine the little used Special Effects cat with the Digital Darkroom category. After all...it looks to me like a lot of submissions in the SE cat belong in the DD cat anyway. The ones that lack any obvious signs of special effects other than digital ones. These two could easily combine together, freeing up a category for Still Lifes that seemingly fit no where, and struggle to compete against the other photo styles in Elements of Design. JMHO
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- Diane Addonizio Contact Diane Addonizio Diane Addonizio's Gallery |
I agree that a still life catagory would be nice. Gloria summed it up very well!
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- Evy Johansen Contact Evy Johansen Evy Johansen's Gallery |
I agree, Janet!! We really need a Still Life categori!!! And Gloria You said it so very well!!
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Terry R. Hatfield |
Hi Everone! Im In Agreement That We Need A Still Life Cat,But We Have Enough Categories Where Does That End? I Should Take The Place Of Special Effects Cat. As Of Today The Picture Count Is 269 In Special Effects.And The Ones That Are There Could Fit In The Digital Darkroom Cat Easily. Still Life Cant Compete With A True Elements Of Design Image.
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Debra Booth |
When I have a photo that I think is a still life, it is difficult to know where to put it. A still life category certainly seems appropriate, and it doesn't seem as if the SE category is that well utilized. Certainly an idea worth considering.
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cccphotoart.com - Candice C. Calhoun Contact Candice C. Calhoun Candice C. Calhoun's Gallery |
As one who shoots many still lifes, I also find myself in a quandry regarding the category in which to place them, and, as a result frequently do not post them here at all. Adding this category would certainly enhance my enjoyment of this site (although I DO already enjoy it a great deal).
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Karma Wilson |
I too agree, a still life category would be very nice! Elements of Design always seem to be about repeating lines/vibrant color/abstract images. I, however, am much more partial to traditional stills. I think there are some categories that could be combined...such as Special Effects and Digital Darkroom or Travel and Landscapes. But I always seem to see gorgeous still life pictures that never seem to win. Karma
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Laura Berman |
Janet, that's a great suggestion. I can't count how many times I've been puzzled about which category to choose. Many of my vegetable photos are not macro but don't fit in to the flower category and nature and landscapes seems to be not quite the right fit either. Perhaps combining some categories is a good idea too so that we don't have such a huge number nof them. It must be an impossible task for the judges to deal with so many photos every month. Let's hope that BP is listening and takes the suggestions to heart.
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Mary K. Robison |
As others have noted, combining the Digital Darkroom and Special Effects categories(along the lines of Details and Macro as one category) would then allow for a "Still Life" category to be included. And it should be. A beautifully lit bouquet of dried flowers on a polished surface is NOT a "Flowers" image. Fruits artfully arranged in a bowl are NOT "Elements of Design." Both are, by classic definition, a STILL LIFE. I hope the judges read the entire thread, and make a suitable decision.
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Elisabeth A. Gay |
I think it's an excellent idea. You can have a still life that belongs in the Digital Darkroom, but if the photo is not manipulated in any way, choosing a category can be confusing.
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- Bonnie C. Lackey Contact Bonnie C. Lackey Bonnie C. Lackey's Gallery |
I am so pleased with this suggestion. I think just about everyone has struggled with the lack of this category. Good idea!
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Charlene Bayerle |
I have many times tried to find the correct category for a entry. So, I think a still life category would work well. It seems that there is general confusion on where to put those still lifes....hopefully Jim will have the answer!!!!!!!
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Bouquet of dried flowers can't be put in the flower category? Anybody think that it might fit into three categories?
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Barbara Gordon |
I agree that a still life category would be really helpful. Sometimes, even with the additional categories things don't fit, but I think still lifes (lives?) cause the most confusion. I feel that adding the category would alleviate a lot of the problem. I vote yes! :)
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Cesar J. La Rosa |
I have noticed this discussion started two years ago, but we have not found an answer to our question yet. I think a Still Life Category is needed urgently and although I have been advised to enter some photos in the Details & Macro category, I can never help feeling they might think I have chosen the wrong category when in comes to judging our entries for the contest and may not have considered the photos I submitted.
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Janet Detota |
Yes, almost two years and still no response from Jim. Seems our request is falling on deaf ears. Doesn't it?
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