No Subject

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

Dr. T writes:

>Judges are people like you and me.  You cannot outguess them or
>shoot the pictures they like because you don't know who they are
>and what pictures they like...

If you're talking "in general" you are correct.  But my remarks were for
"the particular," and particularly about ME.  SOME people do have an
edge by their ability to see what kind of photos win certain
competitions.  SOME can read the judges. Take the fellow who knew what
kind of slide to submit to "Dr.F" (a few digests ago), that he wouldn't
have submitted, had he not realized that "Dr. F" judged in an
unconventional way.  

The truth may be that I am not less competitive than others, but perhaps
more competitive.  If I avoid competition, my fear is more that of being
a success rather than being a failure.  Let me explain:  I've played the
"guess the judges" game with some success in the past.  My 2D
photography has won several thousand dollars over the past 25 years.
But at what expense to ME?  I feel I've learned too much about what
OTHERS want to see in pictures at the expense of the creative meandering
that I should have been engaged in.  This is the down side --- for ME.
If its not a problem for you;  if it is a positive experience;  by all
means go and enjoy!

Now, I will back off a bit and say that I will enter a competition on
occasion, if just to stay in touch with the rest of the community.  But
my motives aren't usually to win anymore.  I enjoy submitting "iffy"
slides - photos that almost make it, but don't quite.  I like to see a
judge's comments, understand why he thinks the picture is flawed (or
not!).

Here's one for you George.  You've often referred to slides that look
good in projection but not in viewers, and vice versa.  If you are
submitting slides to a competition, I'm sure you choose them for how
they will be viewed.  Is it all right if a superior work of "Art" takes
second place, because first place goes to a very projectable slide?
Then what has the competition come down to?   What is it that is being
judged? :-)

Allan Carrano


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