P3D Re: Competitions suppressing creativity?

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

Let me see if I get this straight.  Mike Watters had a problem with club
stereo slide competitions because:

- Judging was erratic
- There was a lack of standards in judging
- Judges were just people handed a judging control and asked to give a score
- Pictures that he enjoyed the most did not do well
- Pictures of flowers and scenics "by the rules" or pleasant to the eye,
  postcard shots did the best

So, he dropped out.

Great Mike!  Since they would hand the judging control to just about
anyone, did you ever ask to get this control in your own hands?  Did you
ever consider that by casting yourown vote for the images that you like,
you might change the idea of the "good stereo picture"?

>From personal experience I tend to disagree with you.  I have my own share
of "experimental pictures" that do well in PSA salons.  Most experienced
judges go with their own instincts of what is good and what is not and not
by any unwritten rules.  There is even a PSA salon that gives award for the
best use of soft focus.

If your opinion does not agree with that of other judges, that does not
mean that you are right and they are wrong.  If they like scenics and
flowers, that's life.  No one is forcing them to like what they like.  If
they don't share your ideas of what is good and what is not, this is as
much your problem as it is theirs.  Only by working within the system you
can make any change.  But you decided to drop... So the Seattle club is now
condemned to only award eye-candy like pictures.

-- George Themelis


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