Big Chill Forum 'Keep It Simple' Challenge

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About Big Chill Forum 'Keep It Simple' Challenge

The challenge is to go to a designated place during a designated time period, and take 10 black and white JPG pictures using a full-frame 50mm focal length (or equivalent). If you're up to it, there is an optional further rule that you can't delete or reshoot any of the pictures you have taken. The current challenge will be stated in one of the group topics.

The aim of this challenge/group is to force yourself to be creative and to think carefully about the composition of each shot that you take (by imposing a series of awkward constraints).

To object is then to share constructive criticism on everyone's pictures, so we can all (pros and amateurs alike) hopefully find ways to improve our photography. So let's have no bum licking for the sake of it - keep it honest! Joining this group will be construed as a statement that you have thick enough skin to take the bad news as well as the good. :)

In future, there will hopefully be some gatherings where everyone happens to be in the same place at the same time while carrying out this exercise, which should lead to some interesting comparisons between everyone's shots. But one step at a time...

So, get out there, enjoy yourself - and be creative!

PS yes, compact digital cameras (and camera phones!) are welcome...

SUMMARY OF THE RULES (because you asked for it)

- aim to submit 10 pics (max) by the current deadline. It would be nice if you could add your photos all at once.
- shots should be B&W jpgs straight out of the camera (no messing around with RAW). If your camera doesn't do this, you can convert them later. We want pure B&W please - no duotone/sepia tinting. Your camera may have 'picture styles' or similar - if so, a bit of extra contrast is ok but try and avoid extreme effects.
- (optional but recommended) no deleting or reshooting any pictures. But use common sense, e.g. fine to reshoot if your compact camera or cameraphone makes an arse of the exposure, etc.
- shots should be taken with a 50mm full frame focal length (or the equivalent for crop sensors, compacts and camera phones - basically use a focal length that's not wide angle and not telephoto, and use the same focal length for all shots)
- No polarisers or other filters. Yeah, the sky might look lovely through a red filter, but let's keep the playing field even. (UV and skylight filters are ok.)
- no cropping, retouching or post-processing of any kind. This includes curves and levels adjustment and the like. But resizing is fine. Let's say no borders either, for ease of comparison.
- no other pictures should be submitted to the pool please (they will be deleted by the admin nazi)
- keep it clean (or this group will be shut down by flickr)
- please aim to comment constructively on at least 10 other pictures (ideally pictures without a comment so far)
- if you like (or don't like) a shot, explain why, don't just say 'nice shot' or similar arselicky stuff
- the admin's word is arbitrary, I mean final

TO SUM UP: All you are controlling is the composition (where you stand and where you're pointing), and (optionally) the focussing and the exposure (aperture / shutter speed / ISO setting).

BEST OF...
Challenge 1 (churchyard/graveyard)
Challenge 2 (pub/bar)
Challenge 3 (park/garden)
Challenge 4 (road)
Challenge 5 (home)

(This group is not officially endorsed by the Big Chill Festival, any companies associated with the Big Chill, or anyone, ever)

http://forum.bigchill.net/index.php?showtopic=678129