Weekly Competition #307 - Let's Dance Discussion Thread

There are very few entries this week and I've noticed that the number can be quite low. It does seem to be related to subject though. There's nothing wrong as such with any of the subjects shown, it's just that some of them are quite specialised and not everyone is likely to have shots that cover it.

But there must be more dance images out there than we have so far?

Just as an observation, if we are to get a really big response to a competition we do need simple, straightforward subjects. So, for example, we've had Red, but what about all the other colours? We've had The Number Six, but there are a few more numbers to use than that. There is a list on the forum, and if you're stuck have a look at that. But I would urge judges to keep it simple to make it as inclusive as possible.

You can't really criticise the current judge for not making it simple and inclusive! I agree - surely everyone must have one or two dance images to enter? Maybe people haven't paid attention to the competition because they're enjoying the nice weather we're having...

Not a single one!

That's not a complaint at the subject, though, as it's just something I'm not interested in. Other subjects are like that for me too, but that's just me. I don't enter so many comps now as I used to. Maybe I'll come back to them now!

Regret I've never taken any dance photos suitable for entry into a competition and those I do have are very old, not taken on a Pentax but an 8mm Eumig and feature movement! Seemed a better medium for the subject matter at the time.

John K

Sorry - I have never taken one either - nor am I likely to in the future - no interest at all

I have plenty of dance shots, but of traditional dance. Given the judge's statement "I WILL GIVE PREFERENCE BY MODERN DANCE", I decided not to enter.

Several other people have entered traditional dance shots though. I think if you happen to have something that fits the judge's description to a tee, that's great, but there's nothing wrong with chancing your arm a bit, if only to make the numbers up on these competitions.

There was a previous competition on football where disappointment was expressed on the low number of entries, then quite a few of them were disqualified for being off topic. Perfectly good and imaginative interpretations I thought, but it was clear that this judge preferred a very strict interpretation of narrow themes. So I really couldn't be bothered again.

When a theme is set, present your interpretation with confidence. If it stretches the brief, fine. Have a bit of fun, it's not all about winning, it's about showing what you can do within a brief. This is good technical practice.

After all, it's no good a client asking for a picture of a nail and us saying we don't feel nails are within our creative portfolio. Just take a picture of a nail....but make it as good as we can.

That's sad. You would have at least thought that pickiness about the subject would at least be inversely proportional to the number of entries. The couple of times I have judged, I have always made it clear that lateral interpretations of the theme, which may be more exciting than a literal one, are more than welcome. I kind of assume that other judge's can be brought round to the same way of thinking by the right shot; if not never mind try again next week... it's all in fun after all.

I'm not fussed whether or not I win or whether the judge likes my image or not. The reason why I entered that particular competition was to support a competition with few entries. So to have an image simply dismissed means I'm not going to enter a liberal interpretation again to the same judge.

As a judge there are of course advantages to setting a narrow topic. After setting some quite broad topics which attracted rather large fields I was tempted to see if I could do better than Night Nature.

The only shots of dancing I have were taken on my mobile phone after a few too many beers....