Lee - I don't think we really disagree at all. Lots of young photographers (regardless of their chronological age) copy the work of others. That's fine - its part of the learning process. And in most cases, they really don't make an improvement over the work done by the masters who have preceded them. In those instances, I feel that judges should complement what they have done well, suggest how they could make it better, and move on. What they clearly should not do is discourage newbies by dismissing their work as "its been done before". There are occasions, however, when someone will rephotograph something that has been done before, and produce an image that is superior to the "classic". In those cases, the maker should be recognized for his contribution. The winter Olympics were a few months ago. We've all seen speed racing - you can change the venue, but in the end it comes down to racing around the track. It's been done before. And the winner of the race always gets the gold medal. That's been done before too. But what sometimes makes it exciting is when the winner sets a new record. Louie J. Powell Saratoga Springs, NY monophoto@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.monophoto.blogspot.com -----Original Message----- From: owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of fotofx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:09 PM To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students Subject: RE: any Judges Out There? Hi Louie, To a certain extent I agree with you. But when the photographer has clearly inserted his tripod into someone else's holes I do discount the image. Creativity to me is critical. Copying somthing I can buy on a royalty free CD is not going to cut it. If they are a beginner than I may cut them some slack, but for experienced photographer to continue to do that means that they are not thinking for themselves. I actually have a real problem with what I call the 'been done list". If it has already been shot a thousand times then why should I consider their image over those that have already been published, or sold etc. IF they can show a commonly photographed subject in a new way THEN they have made an accomplishment worth their (and my) time. Out here in CA we get thousands of images of the coast and Yosemite. BORING. Yawn city. Yes they are beautiful areas, but it has scratch marks from the lenses, lets see something unusual. Les -----Original Message----- >From: Louie Powell <lpowell1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> >Sent: Apr 11, 2006 4:40 AM >To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: RE: any Judges Out There? > >I agree that cliché images are problematical, but in situations where the >judging is expected to be part of an educational process, it's a disservice >for the judge to dismiss an image with the standards "we've seen this >before" comment. Even though it's a cliché, the judge should observe the >strengths and weaknesses of the image. > > > >Louie J. Powell > >Saratoga Springs, NY > > <mailto:lpowell1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> monophoto@xxxxxxxxxxxx > >http://www.monophoto.blogspot.com <http://www.monophoto.blogspot.com/> > > _____ > >From: owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >[mailto:owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of mario_f_pires >Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:00 AM >To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students >Subject: RE: any Judges Out There? > > > >Another thing i might sugest, is the cliché factor. > > > >When one has seen countless landscapes, nudes, portraits, etc, over the >years, some aproaches just dont make your stare at the photo, you just look >at it and say "next". But there are others that stop you and make look >closer and those are the ones that you should consider. > > > >Mário Pires > > > >http://www.retorta.net > >http://www.esteticafotografica.net > > > > _____ > >De: owner-photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx em nome de Bob >Enviada: ter 11-04-2006 01H11m >Para: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students >Assunto: Re: any Judges Out There? > >Marilyn wrote: > >> For those of you who have ever acted as judges for photography shows - >> would you be willing to share with me (so I can share with my class) >> what you look for when judging photographs, please? >> >> What makes a ribbon winning photograph? > >I was in a club a long time ago and we took turns judging. As I >remember, the criteria were, IMPACT, TECHNICAL, and I can't remember >the third. My wife suggested COMPOSITION as the third. > >Of course the personal attitude toward the photo entered into the mix too. > >I was trying a club recently and I never could figure out their criteria. > >Bob > >-- > > ///// > ( O O ) >--------------------oOOO-----O----OOOo-----73 de w8imo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx >Curiosity killed the cat although I was a suspect for a while........ > >