Competition Topics for 2012-2013
Having received an e-mail from the Competitions Committee soliciting competition topics for the next Club season I think it is only fair that those of us who have complained about this year’s installment of competitions (and there are a few of us) should provide some serious suggestions. (That way we can complain even louder next year). According to the e-mail you should send your suggestions along with an explanation of how the photographers are to interpret the topic in case of ambiguity in the title. (Ok
now I feel some sympathy for the competitions committee). You should send your suggestions to Howard Sandler – hsandlerphoto@hotmail.com by April 4th.
Now I have two suggestions: First a Macro or close-up competition – the interpretation is – little stuff but not necessarily bugs or flowers. It could be Table -top. The second suggestion – Fine Art Black and White. OK maybe just Black and White – that should be easy to interpret except for the shades of grey.
Maybe setting competition topics isn’t all that easy. So send in your suggestions.
I proposed to Howard “Street Photography”, candid shots of urban life, street scenes, social commentaries…but must have one or more persons in the frame. Following the footsteps of Henri Cartier-Bresson and, more recently, Vivian Maier?
More Urban blight??
Street Photography à la Cartier-Bresson is certainly interesting so would be other possibilities such as “portrait à la Karsh”, “landscape à la Ansel Adams, etc. This would force participants to research their topics a bit more. The difficulty would be what to accept or not; for example, I do not think Karsh ever used clam lighting in studio so what would we do if someone submitted a B & W portrait using this sort of lighting. Same for Ansel Adams who did not work in color (at least not to my knowledge)
It also could be interesting to pursue a more abstract concept such as: loneliness, melancholy, strength, confusion, sadness, happiness, etc. Interpretation is quite subjective but it could also lead to interesting things
Michel, St Ansel most certainly did shoot colo(u)r:
http://www.amazon.com/Ansel-Adams-Color-Harry-Callahan/dp/0821219804
I really like the suggestions in your last para for comp topics.