*ENTRY* Thread DSS Mega-Challenge #8 (Emergence)

sherstone

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are eligible to enter this round (see below) you are not eligible to enter round #53

Cue dramatic music (Imagine the jaws shark violins in the background) :tough Welcome to the eighth Dgrin Sharp Shooters Mega-Challenge!

This contest will run from Monday, June 14, 8:00am PST time (GMT -7) on through Monday, June 28, 8:00am PST time (GMT -7)

Your theme ready for wide open interpretation: Emergence

Two links to get you started with what you might want to interpret emergence as.
Emergence
Defined by the big G
It is always your choice how you decide to convert the theme into an image.
There are no editing restrictions for this round.

Your awesome and gracious judges are all previous Mega Challenge winners except for one judge from my local photo club.
Greensquared
cmurph
PaulThomasMcKee
sherstone
Jurgen Schwerdt (schwerdtphoto) 2009 president of HCPC

The contest is open to the following eligible photographers ONLY:

Kidzmom
The Curious Camel
Nikonic1
sh4d0w
dls
DeuceFour
michswiss
tinamarie52
dlplumer
ghinson
JAG
Angela Davis
kdotaylor
nightpixels
learnin
bf2015
whiterice
AaronNelson
liflander
Vandana
KevXman
divamum
Froch
BeachBill
johnloguk
lizzard_nyc
photo-bug

Click here for the DSS Mega-Challenge #8 ENTRY GALLERY

Remember, 1 entry per person, and the photo must be fresh, taken during this contest period.
Please read the DGrin Sharp Shooters Challenge Rules.
All official stuff (entry thread link, etc.) are here.

ghinson

Geez. That's deep.

sherstone

ghinson wrote: »

Geez. That's deep.

Mega deep

Seriously though it can be as complex or as simple as you interpret it to be. There are many ways to attack the theme, since there is more than one definition. :*sip*

divamum

::gulp::

JAG

ahhhh...I love a good challenge to get me thinking hard....and after thinking about it all day I think I have an idea Emerging from this cluttered brain of mine!

sherstone

That's the spirit JAG! :lurk

Angela Davis

Having this little childhood song going through my head for this Challenge. The Wheels on the bus go round & round, round & round :skippy LoL

Many ideas to ponder on this one, Very Cool

kidzmom

I've enjoyed working on this theme. I'm thrilled to be part of the group My first Mega!!!

tinamarie52

I have so many un-doable ideas....let's hope something emerges from the pack that's roaming around in my head!

Chris

kds1

I can't wait to see the entries - all you guys are so talented!

divamum

Well, my first idea is great for theme and almost impossible to execute (although I have another way I might be able to clean it up... maybe....).

Sean, I have to give you credit - this is DEFINITELY a worthy theme for a mega, because it is bl**dy hard!!!! My brain oscillates between complex Dali-esque stuff that's beyond my composite skills, or total blank. I think it's fair to say it's stretching me to think way outside my usual box. You're a genius!

sherstone

I am pleased that my diabolical plan has at least worked on you

For me when I envision the theme it becomes a barrage of "impossible" images as well. What I found in the past was to take those images stuck in your head and use them as fuel for more realistically possible and within budget creations.

kidzmom

Sean, it worked on me too! I'm happy you chose this theme for sure. I had a zillion ideas floating around in my head--- from impractical to impossible. What I love about these challenges is that it forces you to think of/create images that you would NEVER have shot otherwise. It also forces you to try new things to get those shots..and think of creative ways to make them work (within your skillset/ and equipment set)! Hats off to you for your continuously fun and challenging themes!

sherstone wrote: »

I am pleased that my diabolical plan has at least worked on you

For me when I envision the theme it becomes a barrage of "impossible" images as well. What I found in the past was to take those images stuck in your head and use them as fuel for more realistically possible and within budget creations.

ghinson

Hardest part about this theme is deciding which definition to go with. Looks like many of the initial entries are going with the "gradual coming out" definition. However, the theory of emergence in science and art really is more about the complex phenomena that arises out of repeated simple patterns. I found a flickr group that deals with this notion...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/emergence/

...though not many of the pics are great photos.

I have taken a few photos that fits the scientific definition, but I am afraid the judges might be more swayed by a flower beginning to blossom, or some other more common use of the term.

I found a fun NOVA video on the scientific principle:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3410/03.html

divamum

I'm working on the scientific definition, but just don't have a lens up to the task. I'm still trying though... we'll see if I get anywhere!

kidzmom

Ghinson and Diva...I agree that deciding on your "interpretation" is the hardest. I personally tried to go with something that could have both the scientific and obvious definitions...but like Diva, lens limitations are an issue too. For me... emergent patterns in water, water as initiating the emergence of life and the actual water droplet itself emerging from a splash. Just trying to cover my bases, ! My thinking was that the more it could relate on different levels the better

lizzard_nyc

kidzmom wrote: »

Ghinson and Diva...I agree that deciding on your "interpretation" is the hardest. I personally tried to go with something that could have both the scientific and obvious definitions...but like Diva, lens limitations are an issue too. For me... emergent patterns in water, water as initiating the emergence of life and the actual water droplet itself emerging from a splash. Just trying to cover my bases, ! My thinking was that the more it could relate on different levels the better

I'm about to take a photo of myself drooling because nothing is emerging from my brain. This way I cover getting a SP for my mini challenge which I said I would do, and I have something to put in the Mega and .

divamum

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

I'm about to take a photo of myself drooling because nothing is emerging from my brain. This way I cover getting a SP for my mini challenge which I said I would do, and I have something to put in the Mega and .

:lol4

kidzmom

Love it Liz!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha ha... DO IT!

divamum

Sean -

I've uploaded my Mega entry into the gallery. It was taken with a macro lens add-on which leaves a marked vignette. Question was raised whether or not that would count as a "border". It wasn't added in post, but is actually part of the shot itself. What's the official position on this? Thanks!!

sherstone

divamum wrote: »

Sean -
Question was raised whether or not that would count as a "border". It wasn't added in post, but is actually part of the shot itself. What's the official position on this? Thanks!!

My main take on borders is if it is something that was added in post then a big no. In situations like this where your only real option to avoid the in camera vignette is to crop it, I tend to feel that it should be allowed. Cropping would detract from the image IMO.

So I am going to leave this one open ended by saying that in situations like this I would evaluate it on a per case.
In this case, yes it is allowed, especially since you pre-qualified it by asking.

thanks

divamum

Thanks Sean!

sherstone

Mega ends...

Lots of judges in these rounds, I expect the results to take several days.
Start those manicures

bf2015

:lurk

DsrtVW

Soooo glad I did not have to do this one. Tough theme. Good luck to all the participants.

Angela Davis

:whew

sherstone

Winners List
See here for the results

Greensquared

I have added my comments to the gallery. Please excuse me if I've been a bit brutal. I figure it helps you more to know the true thoughts that crossed my mind when judging as opposed to sugar coating them all with "Nice shot!".

Very well done, all of you. It was a toughie!

dlplumer

Greensquared wrote: »

I have added my comments to the gallery. Please excuse me if I've been a bit brutal. I figure it helps you more to know the true thoughts that crossed my mind when judging as opposed to sugar coating them all with "Nice shot!".

Very well done, all of you. It was a toughie!

Great critiques Emily

travelways

Greensquared wrote: »

I have added my comments to the gallery. Please excuse me if I've been a bit brutal. I figure it helps you more to know the true thoughts that crossed my mind when judging as opposed to sugar coating them all with "Nice shot!".

Very well done, all of you. It was a toughie!

Wow Emily, thank you so much for the critique and clarification on what I've done - very, very helpful!
I really appreciate this

*I read all your comments, and understood a lot of things - I didn't find anything "brutal", just clear
professional help - Thank you again.

nightpixels

Greensquared wrote: »

I have added my comments to the gallery. Please excuse me if I've been a bit brutal. I figure it helps you more to know the true thoughts that crossed my mind when judging as opposed to sugar coating them all with "Nice shot!".

Very well done, all of you. It was a toughie!

Thanks for taking the time to comment on every entry. I would like to see the other judges do the same. I think mega challenges should be no different than other rounds where the judges comment on their top 10 picks. Since the point if these challenges is more about learning than anything else, I would like to see how each individual judge ranked the entries along with their reasonings behind their rankings by commenting under each entry. I would like this to be a "requirement" in mega challenges. Show us your ranking and tell us why instead of showing us a total score. Doing it this way will benefit the community a great deal.