Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/02/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ric Carter offered: >>> http://www.worldpressphoto.nl/index.php? > I'm sorry guys, but did you look at the pictures? To infer that they are > the result of finding a disaster and flailing away with a motor drive is > unfair. No, I don't like every frame, but there are some VERY strong > images here. Did you actually look through all of them?<<< Ric, I think you missed my point. I'm not saying they aren't good & great photographs, they are. But under the circumstances of an earth disaster like those during a Tsunami or famine in Africa the subjects and picture moments are lying about in hundreds of thousands! You can't hardly miss whatever you shoot if you have any talent to be in such a location. A very talented photographer can come away with amazing photography using hardly any effort, other than keeping from puking your guts out or crying while trying to shoot what's before you. Certainly, if one happens to be an emotional jerk like I am. I still stand by my motor drive comment because that's how easy it is in the middle of a disaster beyond our normal western understanding, unless you've been in the middle of something of this nature. > One can perhaps debate that the sports photos are stronger technically > (though I'd question that), but alongside the others they pale to > triviality in their content.<<< Quite frankly sports photography takes ten times the ability and reflexes to capture the quick flashing moments of an athlete during competition. Certainly compared to those of a disaster where you have all the time in the world to take pictures. As far as triviality in content? That's a crock simply because the subjects aren't being compared to decide the ultimate winner. > I'd have been DAMN proud to produce almost any of them.<<< The complete LUG crew would say the same. And there are thousands more photos entered that you never see that would make you believe the winning selection by the "blind judges" is ridiculous. That's how good the losing entries are in many cases. This is one of the toughest competitions in the world to compete in, so the over all level is extremely high, in many cases it's too bad everyone can't win.Quite frankly being a judge at this level of competition is more difficult than being a photographer covering the events themselves. ted