Photo Contest - Bad Photo (2/9 - 2/15)

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The discussion centers around a photo contest focused on "bad photos," where participants are encouraged to submit technically flawed images taken unintentionally. Contest rules specify that only one submission per member is allowed, and photos must adhere to size restrictions and minimal editing. The conversation highlights the subjective nature of what constitutes a "bad photo," with some arguing that technical flaws like poor focus or incorrect exposure are clear criteria, while others suggest that a photo can be considered bad if it fails to engage or inspire, regardless of technical quality. Participants are reminded to submit original work and not reuse photos from previous contests. The thread emphasizes the fun and creative exploration of photography through the lens of imperfection.
ZapperZ
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Bad Photo[/color][/size]

This has always been one of our most fun, popular topic. Grab some of the bad photo (technically) that you have and submit it to this contest.

Please note that these bad photos should not be something you did deliberately.

Zz.

Contest Rules:

1. Any digital photo or digitally-scanned photo relevant to the theme will be accepted within the contest period. In case there's a gray area, or you're not sure if the picture is suitable, check with me first.

2. Please resize your digital photo to no more than 800 x 600 or 600 x 800 pixels. You may also crop your picture if you wish. You are also allowed to adjust the brightness and contrast of your picture but these should not dramatically alter the look of the picture. But other than those, any form of picture editing or modification is not allowed. This is a photo contest, not a picture editing/special effect contest. You may add a watermark or your name/nickname to the photo for identification purposes.

3. Upload your photos to any of the photo servers such as imageshack or photobucket. Then post it the relevant contest thread and link your picture using the img command. PM me if you do not know how.

4. Only ONE picture per member per contest. Once a picture is posted, it cannot be changed other than a total withdrawl by that member from that week's photo contest. Exceptions will be made for modification to comply with the rules, such as resizing.

5. At the end of the contest period, I will open a poll and every PF member can vote for the picture they like best.

6. Note that in case we have a large number of entries, I will do the polling in more than one thread. If that's the case, you can vote in each of the polling threads. The photos will be assigned in the polling threads in the order they were submitted.

7. These pictures must be something that you took, not something taken off someone else's photo albums or taken by someone else. I have no way of checking if you did this, so we'll go by the honor system.

8. You can use a picture only once. Once it is used in a contest, it cannot be reused in another contest.

9. Please post only pictures meant for submission in this thread. Photos not meant for submission must not be posted in the contest thread. Posting of more than one photos by a member may result in an automatic disqualification from the week's contest.
 
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marcin_bad_photo.jpg
 
ZQwvJRF.jpg
 
marzena_bad_photo.jpg
 
Marzena said:
marzena_bad_photo.jpg

Hum... what is bad about this photo?

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
Hum... what is bad about this photo?

Zz.


The building is being turned over:smile: Always I have a problem with keeping the level:smile:
 
In Marzena's world every water is sloped and ready for water skiers. We were even looking for a camera with a level bracketing, but nobody offers one.
 
img1319pv.jpg


Zz.
 
Oops- the discussion above inadvertently obscured my intention. May I submit a different photo?
 
  • #10
Final day to show us your bad photos! Don't be shy!

Zz.
 
  • #11
Andy Resnick said:
Oops- the discussion above inadvertently obscured my intention. May I submit a different photo?

Go ahead.

Zz.
 
  • #12
Thanks- I've been looking forward to this theme for a while and had given it some thought :)

http://imageshack.us/a/img534/7712/dsc02822ne.jpg

Why is this a bad photo? Technically it's spot on, and it slavishly adheres to the basic rules of composition- rule of thirds, use of repetition, color, and texture.

And yet- it's a bad photo. It's the opposite of what a photo should be. It's boring, uninspiring, banal, thoughtless, uninteresting, unremarkable, dull... in a word, BAD.
 
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  • #13
Andy Resnick said:
And yet- it's a bad photo. It's the opposite of what a photo should be. It's boring, uninspiring, banal, thoughtless, uninteresting, unremarkable, dull... in a word, BAD.

But... as with art, if your intention is to create a photo the convey the message of boring, uninspiring, banal, thoughtless, uninteresting, unremarkable, and dull, then you've succeeded and this is not a bad photo. So if this is something you consciously took, then it doesn't qualify within the rules of this contest, where the bad photo must have been taken unintentionally.

Zz.
 
  • #14
e9capx.jpg
 
  • #15
ZapperZ said:
But... as with art, if your intention is to create a photo the convey the message of boring, uninspiring, banal, thoughtless, uninteresting, unremarkable, and dull, then you've succeeded and this is not a bad photo. So if this is something you consciously took, then it doesn't qualify within the rules of this contest, where the bad photo must have been taken unintentionally.

Zz.

You set the rules, but the word 'bad' is itself subjective.
 
  • #16
What I understood from ZapperZ is that he meant by "bad photo (technically)" a photo where you mess up the focus, misuse of the flash, misuse of shutter speed resulting in a blurry photo, etc. In which case it's hardly subjective.
 

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