Re: PHOTO-3D digest 1541

[P3D Carrano, Allan <allan.carrano@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. T writes:

>Allan Carrano, your comments on judging need a reply...  I think the
>other way around... Photo contests increase my creativity the same
>way that tests in college made my brain work better and faster.  I
>see it as a challenge and try and improve... I am the ultimate judge
>of my work but I use the same common sense that the judges use,
>apparently...

No disagreement, George.  YOU are the ultimate judge of YOUR work.  And
while you make the analogy of increased creativity and tests in college
making our brains work better and faster, I would say MY creativity is
analogous to expanding on information by learning things BEFORE taking
the test.  Passing the test is simply confirmation of what was learned.

>If you don't exhibit/share your work then why even try
>to do better?  For whom?  For your wife and friends and relatives
>who do not care for 3D as much as you do in the first place?...

What's wrong with trying to satisfy just me?   

>Photo contests is one way of sharing slides.  One way to be motivated
>to do better.  Works for me...  Especially the Detroit assignment
>system that has opened all kinds of new subjects for me, subjects 
>that I would have never approached without the challenge in the first
>place, like:  Neon lights, Music, Religion, Patterns, Humor, People 
>at work, Fantasy... (just to mention a few)

We're on the same beam.  That's fine that it's a positive, learning
experience for you.  I'm just saying, "different strokes for different
folks." I, personally, get trapped into:

>...start thinking in terms of "what will the judges like?", instead of "what
do I >want to accomplish."

At that point, competitions become a negative for me.  

I try never to take photos for a competition.  If I have something in my
files that seem to match the criteria of a competition, I'll sometimes
enter it.  That's analogous to promiscuity.  To take pictures
specifically for the competition, boarders on prostitution.  HOLD ON!
Them's not fighting words!  I'm overstating MY case.

Let me try again.  An artist, who does his work simply to express
himself for the sake of expression alone (not trying to satisfy anyone
but himself),  is engaging in his art in a pure form.  If someone wishes
to hire the artist "to do his thing," that's fine.  If some one want's
to hire the artist, but want's to dictate to him, we're in a gray area.
No ethical problem when there is total agreement between the contracting
parties (like you feeling you are in tune with the judges).  But when
the artist does work he feels is inconsequential - when he does it for
money, praise, something other than the purest of motives - to that
extent he has prostituted his integrity.
  
Allan Carrano


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