Re: 3D Photo Competition Reminder

[P3D Tom Martin <tlmartin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just spent the day finishing off the patio and putting gutters on the
back of the garage. Would be heading out for some night time photos, but
it looks like my email is piling up again.

George asks a few more questions about the competition:

>If you want to help your members improve their photographic=20
>skills then why do you invite the rest of the world to participate?

Our group is small, but enthusiastic. We thought other 3D photographers
may also want to improve their photographic skills a little more, so we
invited everyone on the 3D-Photo List to participate if they wish. Just
spreading the fun of 3D.

>Is there going to be a "showing" (public exhibition) after the=20
>judging or is the judging and showing one and the same thing?

The showing and judging will take place at the same time unless there is
an overabundance of entries (would be nice), then the judging may occur
before hand (judging does take more time than showing). All entries will
be shown at the meeting.

>In the PSA competitions the objective is to attract the best stereo
>images which are then exhibited to the public.  The objective is to
>get the local public interested in 3d by showing them good stereo
>images.  The competition is just a way to collect these images.

We have our meetings open to the public, and promote them as best we
can. If just showing great 3D photos got people excited enough about 3D
to start taking pictures themselves, or even just attending the
competitions, 3D clubs should be springing up all over. I just don=92t se=
e
that happening. I have not yet attended a PSA competition. Are they
really attracting large numbers of the general public, increasing more
and more with each competition? If so, we will probably adopt their
format. Otherwise we will have to keep trying different activities to
attract newcomers. The stereo club thread has had some good examples.

On the topic of short timelines, I think the thread on photographing
bridges may have an answer. Please correct me if I am misinterpreting it
George. George comments:

>I happen to believe that if you just pick up the loaded camera and
>shoot around aimlessly for a competition with a general assignment=20
>(like "after hours", "tabletops", etc.) in your mind, without thought=20
>or plan, what will develop will be mostly garbage.  Or, most probably,=20
>a terrible mental block will prevent you from shooting anything.

There are many methods to creative process and some of us prefer one
method over the rest. I believe that George approaches creativity like a
painter sitting in front of a blank canvas. With careful thought and
planning a mental image is formed of the entire picture before the first
brush stroke is made. It may take several weeks or months before
something triggers the concept of the desired image, and then the
materials can be gathered to create the image. First the ideal of the
bridge photo is formed, and then the actual bridge is sought to complete
the image

Another method of creating photographic concepts is to grab your camera
and go to the location, in this case a bridge. The structure is analyzed
for composition and form. The camera can be used to check framing.
Camera position can be speculated and tried while you are there.
Different lighting is easier to visualize (maybe some night shots with
the bridge illuminated by street lights and traffic?). Maybe you will
take your photos then, or maybe not. This more kinetic creative process
appeals to many photographers. I guess I mostly use a combination of
these two methods, and lesser with a few others.

Obviously, short deadlines are not conducive to creativity in the first
process.

Now to completely change the topic, I have not seen our annual (at least
for those of us in the US) "How to shoot fireworks" thread. Several of
our more experienced List members have had some really good
recommendations in the past. Should we share them again for our newbies,
or should we let them look them up in the archives?

Oops, time to go to bed again. When will I get those firefly shots?

Respectfully,
Tom Martin


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