72

[quasigeostrophy]

72/100. That's the average of the three 2003 Indiana State Fair Photography judge's scores on Mono Lake Winter Moonrise. Welcome to the world of subjectivism. Went to the critique yesterday afternoon and got to hear comments on all four of my entries. Call me cynical or an elitist, but meh, I say. The one judge who made comments on the Mono Lake print talked about how I lost detail in the moon because the exposure was obviously longer than one second. Um, excuse me but duh? Even at 11x14 the moon is a small dot - if I'd have exposed shorter I'd have never gotten the rich colors in the sky the way I did. He did acknowledge that as he continued to speak, and he also said it was a very nice print and that "the photographer" (I was anonymous in the audience as were all the other entrants) did a good job with the conditions encountered. I may not know what I like, but I know art?? ;-)

So WTF? All I can figure is there wasn't a strong subject of impact for their tastes - especially after they explained that to view 1200 entries, each one got about 15 seconds in front of the judges during the day of scoring before the fair.

It's sold. That means much much more to me than two out of state and one virtually retired unknown judges' opinions. :-)

Comments

[geekchick]

It's sold.

So neener neener neener. ;)

For what it's worth.

[mousefeathers.livejournal.com]

I know what I like and my reaction when I saw that was "shit--that's gorgeous!"

I suspect the judges are basically just people who knew more about the definition of "f-stop" than the people who selected them. Why would anyone comment on the detail in the moon in that shot? It's not about the Man in the Moon.

Not knowing how they scored other entries, I can't really comment on their general understanding or taste, but if all he could say was something like that--he missed it.

At least somebody got it! Congratulations on the sale, and don't let the buzzards circle your wagons.

Ummmmm.... More sleep. I need more sleep. But that's a superb picture. Even half awake.

Re: For what it's worth.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

suspect the judges are basically just people who knew more about the definition of "f-stop" than the people who selected them.

I think that probably sums it up. :-) Thanks for the compliments!

[djinnthespazz.livejournal.com]

Juries never say or see what you want them to.

(coming from a design school background, I've some experience with this)

It doesn't sound like it happened this time, but it does happen that they will occasionally point out something you didn't know or had overlooked.

I'm all for them, and will sit through a dozen to get a good one. (and hey, not having to stand up next to the piece as they rip it apart for you to defend is a big bonus!)

[semperfiona]

It's sold.

And another print of it is standing proudly on my bedroom dresser (because I haven't gotten around to putting the hanging hardware on the back of the frame).

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

*glow*

[firecat]

It's beautiful!