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03/16/2005 06:41:08 AM · #26 |
| Turns out, after looking more at my pic, I submitted the wrong one. Right picture, just wrong copy. Oh well... Live and learn. I was not feeling well yesterday afternoon when I submitted and I guess I was a few fries short of a happy meal. So my fault for doing so horribly... :( |
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03/16/2005 06:44:41 AM · #27 |
Originally posted by sbeaumont:
After receiving some miserable scores recently I decided to spend more time on the "best friends" challenge and try to be a little more creative. I feel that (once again) thinking outside of the box is being punished in the voting. Is it me, or are a lot of these entries rather snapshot-ish in style? Lots of photos of children and animals that would grace many famly photo albums but not tons of creativity overall. Many are very cute however.
Stephen |
I understand your feeling, Stephen. I am considering abandoning DPC because of the crassness of the average membership NO THINKING ALLOWED!
But what to replace DPC with is a question that remains unanswered.
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03/16/2005 06:48:42 AM · #28 |
Seems to be the candid shot would have done better. Too bad this wasn't done in the timeframe. I think this would have done pretty well. But then again, I thought mine that I have posted would have done well too.
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03/16/2005 06:50:27 AM · #29 |
Every so often do you get a shot that fits the challenge, but you know won't do well but enter it anyway? That is what I did this time. I caught a photo that just made me laugh. It's only worth a 4-5 MAX, but what the heck...everybody needs a good laugh once in a while. So far, this one is living up (down?) to my expectations. 7 comments, all laughing, and a dismal 4.5ish score.
I have succeeded, and will pay the price...well worth it so far!
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03/16/2005 06:50:45 AM · #30 |
Originally posted by ElGordo:
I understand your feeling, Stephen. I am considering abandoning DPC because of the crassness of the average membership NO THINKING ALLOWED!
But what to replace DPC with is a question that remains unanswered. |
I'm in a similar position. I've found that the over-prepared and over-processed techniques of "fine art" photography doesn't interest me at all, and that the images of which I am most proud are the candid, short-lived, or fortuitous captures of much less contrived subjects.
When I first started to get interested in digital photography, I found that this site was a great way to get ideas for subjects and techniques. Over time, I've become somewhat disillusioned with the types of images that consistently win here... and the lack of good critique. In early challenges, I'd receive many comments... now, I receive almost none.
It only takes beating your head against the wall so many times before you stop subjecting yourself to it. :D
/Andrew
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03/16/2005 07:02:57 AM · #31 |
I think you're all being a bit hard on yourselves... I agree that the standard for this challenge is lower than normal, but I think it's a tough challenge to enter.
As for giving up on DPC, I've not entered a photo for ages now but still check the site for every challenge. I've only ever entered 3 pics, but got discouraged early on as I got a lot of comments (or read a lot of forum posts) where people were moaning about people using shots that had no chance of doing well. I keeping coming back though in the hope that one week I'll see a challenge and come up with a good idea for a photo.
Maybe there should be a system whereby people who get a certain number of ribbons can no longer enter open challenges? Then us crappy photographers would get more of a chance... what do you think? |
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03/16/2005 07:25:17 AM · #32 |
Originally posted by Scales:
Maybe there should be a system whereby people who get a certain number of ribbons can no longer enter open challenges? Then us crappy photographers would get more of a chance... what do you think?
Personally, I wouldn't want to do that. I would prefer to keep out of the ribbon placement rather than narrow the field down by barring former winners. I feel it would make a won ribbon less meaningful. But that's just my opinion.
Message edited by author 2005-03-16 12:32:16. |
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03/16/2005 07:55:02 AM · #33 |
I also would not want to do that. Having these high standards are what pushes us to keep doing better. If you want to win then you have to beat those that keep winning. I think it'll make winning a ribbon more meaningful.
I do wish that we receive more comments though. Out of 88 votes only 6 people left comments. It is disappointing that many of the photos submitted looked like snapshots that were taken without any thought of composition or lighting. I even came across some that were out of focus or the quality looks like it came from a camera phone. This is my first competition and I am a little disappointed by it. |
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03/16/2005 07:55:36 AM · #34 |
I just joined dpchallenge a few weeks ago and my entry this week is about a 6. I am however disappointed is the way some people vote. I think fitting the challenge is important, but quality is more important. If the picture looks like it was taken with no though at all (not paying attention to background crop and so on) then it doesn't rank high. I want to see that people put time into their work, and if it does not fit the challenge exactly, but it is a really awsome shot then I tell them one and I certainly will not give out a 1,2, or 3 for that. I was surprised how many snapshots were entered and disappointed because I thought it was a really good challenge.
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03/16/2005 08:24:12 AM · #35 |
| I'm new here and have only voted twice. For this challenge I ran through all of the photo's with this in mind: "Would this photo invoke a 'Best friends' emotion?" Photo's were scored based on this first. Then quality of subject, cropping, lighting, etc. Photo's which didn't give me the best friends "emotion" scored no better than a 5. Lots of these photos were very good as far as layout, lighting, and quality, I just felt they didn't really fit the challenge. Tonight I will go back through my top picks and add comments and choose my own personal winner. I saw several comments about people who "think outside the box". The thing to realize is that most of the people who are doing the voting are "thinking inside the box". Hence, they just don't get it. We all take hundreds/thousands of photos, not all of them are good, let alone great, but occasionally that one photo comes along that just blows you away. That is why I am here! |
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03/16/2005 08:36:53 AM · #36 |
Originally posted by ElGordo:
I understand your feeling, Stephen. I am considering abandoning DPC because of the crassness of the average membership NO THINKING ALLOWED!
But what to replace DPC with is a question that remains unanswered. |
I have taken the liberty of viewing your portfolio sir, and find the quality of images contained therein quite quite good.
However, I find it rather sad that you would make such a generalization ... suggesting that the average member does not think. Perhaps you should consider that they might not think as you do, and you have may difficulty in comprehending that on occasion your tastes might differ significantly from theirs. This factor does not equate with their not being able to think.
I for one happen to think that the "Outside the Box" thinkers often submit photos that are so out of sync with the basic rules of a given challenge, that even a thinking person wonders aloud about the interpretation of what is being proferred.
On occasion, it could also be argued that some of the submissions made are so poor that even the "Outside the Box" argument is no longer tenable.
A skunk in a garden is indeed a beautiful sight to behold... but I for one would not care to rush out and pet it.... Think about that.
Just a thought...
Ray |
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03/16/2005 09:09:04 AM · #37 |
If you think about it, the "Surrealism" winner was outside the box. I think the "light on white" and "separation" winners were also outside the box. Outside the box is a good thing, when done well. When done badly it's just another picture.
Also, at least in my case, candid shots are not doing better. It is the image, not the box it's in, that guides the voters.
I accept that my entries aren't going to be winners. But I am working outside my box to produce them. I photographed landscapes and macros until now, not people or food. But even if my entries are lousy, at least I tried something new. Its out of my box. And each challenge I try something new so I'll have a better understanding next time. In a year or two or six, maybe I'll actually get a ribbon. Probably see a brown before a blue but at least I'm learning on the way.
ka-ching.
dahkota
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03/16/2005 09:20:05 AM · #38 |
Originally posted by jmoore:
I think fitting the challenge is important, but quality is more important. |
The challenge is what this site is all about. There are often very good photos entered which disregard the challenge altogether. This site is called 'DPC Challenge'. Its why where here and why most people enter a photo that fits a particular challenge. To quote from the challenge rules
''While voting, users are asked to keep in highest consideration the topic of the challenge and base their rating accordingly.''
So if you are basing your scoring on the quality of a photograph rather than the photo meeting the challenge then mabye you need to rethink the way you vote?
Anyway - welcome to dpc I hope you will enjoy this site as much as I do.
Mike
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03/16/2005 11:09:47 AM · #39 |
I've gone through all of the entries and have entered some comments. As I have in the past I will go through them several more times before voting closes, make scoring adjustments and add comments.
The first thing I ask myself when votig is, does this photo meet the challange? I usually do this without looking at the title. I look at the picture and ask, "does this convey what the challange is about?" If it doesn't or only partially meets the challenge then I lower the score appropriately. I don't have a problem with people thinking outside the box, but don't get so outside of it that the photo, doesn't meet the challenge. I know alot of people put a lot of thought into their title, but this isn't a creative writing challenge. I want the photo to convey the idea first, the title is secondary. If I have to rely on the title to tell me "oh this is how this picture meets the challenge" then it simply isn't going to score as well as others.
After determining if the challenge was met, then I look at the quality of the photo.
Just my opinion for whatever it is worth.
Doug |
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03/16/2005 11:38:24 AM · #40 |
I am concerned with the concept of “Thinking out of the Box” and I have to be upfront and say that there is a poster in my office titled just that.
For me it is not purely about thinking radically and different, it is more about a prompt or aid memoir, to ensure that I do not simply accept everything at face value, before taken taking a little time to explore and expand my horizons.
I tend to try things a little different, but I do this because my pure photography skills need a lot more development. When I improve these skills, I will be confident with with a more mainstream image, where the quality of the photography does the talking for me.
There are images that Ribbed that are simple and straight down the middle of interpretation with a strong composition and a well taken shot, others have achieved their ribbons through extreme creativity.
To use an well trod path, it’s horses for courses.
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03/16/2005 11:47:04 AM · #41 |
| friends.............is a human emotion..........with the exception of some animals..........but it is a thinking emotion........thinking is key here, has to be able to................havent met a rock yet that could think......Without rules there would be no challenge titles..without challenge titles there would be no site...I look for two things does it meet the callenge.....and how does the picture make me feel....to clear sometimes is to cold so dont tell me i am out of focus unless you know what i was trying to do...I to get frustrated but still i learn in here and there are some very fine pics in here and very talented people........but i think one deviding line is the people who like to get out and the one who sit inside setting up shots. |
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03/16/2005 11:47:14 AM · #42 |
| I did not enter this challenge, and will probably not get a chance to vote on every image, but if any of you would like, PM me your photo number (from the URL of your photo page), and I'll be happy to leave an honest, objective comment. |
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03/16/2005 11:59:00 AM · #43 |
It seems like this challenge was a little low in "striking images"...the ones you can scroll down a page, see it and know it's a winner. My photo is no prize, the score reflects that, but this endless complaining about photos not being interpreted they way you wanted or scored the way you wanted is tired and old. The biggest problem with this site is that people get really creative with photos and take some awesome shots but then enter them in challenges where the photo really doesn't meet the challenge. They then make some title try to fit the challenge to justify their photo...if this were a writing contest site, lots of people would be winning ribbons for title creativity.
I also agree that comments are few and far between, but it is early, this challenge has only been up for like 15 hours...give it some time.
As for the scores, deal with it...you may not be as good as you think you are...I know I certainly am not. |
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03/16/2005 12:09:41 PM · #44 |
just a thought,
all the people who think the rules apply what is your age.........
all the people who think only there rules count what is your age..
this is only a test
I have not met a man or woman alive over the age of 30 that would walk out in front of a car without looking and expect that car to stop because they have the right..
Message edited by author 2005-03-16 17:10:10. |
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03/16/2005 12:41:05 PM · #45 |
I'm rather happy with my entry that was taken on the last day at the last possible moment. It's doing OK with a 5.7 avg.
But I was shocked with the quality of other entries. I really struggled to give out good marks in this challenge.
I agree with a large deal of what SirBiggsALot said. |
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03/16/2005 12:51:17 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by sbeaumont:
After receiving some miserable scores recently I decided to spend more time on the "best friends" challenge and try to be a little more creative. I feel that (once again) thinking outside of the box is being punished in the voting. Is it me, or are a lot of these entries rather snapshot-ish in style? Lots of photos of children and animals that would grace many famly photo albums but not tons of creativity overall. Many are very cute however.
Stephen |
Don't feel soo bad seriocomic my best friends pic got disqualified after working on it for 5 day's .. and was only a part of the challenge for 3 hours .. very upset :( |
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03/16/2005 12:51:49 PM · #47 |
I just finished my second pass at voting and I have to say that I was not impressed by the vast majority of the images. I've not given out this many 4s EVER. I don't think I'm a harsh judge, really.
Mostly I wonder if people allowed their emotions to cloud them - that taking a photo of something that you have strong feelings about (probably subjects you know well) blinds you to things like focus, composition, backgrounds, color/contrast. Some of the faces and candids captured here are fabulous and things I'd be delighted to have in my photo album. But probably not framed on my wall, if you understand my distinction.
But even so, there are some wonderful gems in this challenge and I'm glad I went through all of the entries so that I got to see them. I'm going to make my pass at commenting on my top 25 in the next day or two. Then I'll start commenting on as many others as I can.
That said, my photo is not doing well and I think that's okay because it's not my usual 5+ photo. I took it because it spoke to me about friendship. But the technical merits of mine are also lacking.
Votes: 117
Views: 147
Avg Vote: 4.7009
Seriocomic - I think that a 5.7 is going to do very well in this challenge.
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03/16/2005 05:19:35 PM · #48 |
Originally posted by MikeOwens:
Originally posted by jmoore:
I think fitting the challenge is important, but quality is more important. |
The challenge is what this site is all about. There are often very good photos entered which disregard the challenge altogether. This site is called 'DPC Challenge'. Its why where here and why most people enter a photo that fits a particular challenge. To quote from the challenge rules
''While voting, users are asked to keep in highest consideration the topic of the challenge and base their rating accordingly.''
Mike |
I agree totally! I seen some amazing shots. Great composition, colour, clarity, ect. But it screamed nothing of the challenge theme! O.o Insn't that what it's all about? Trying to take a picture that evokes current theme as much as possible?
For instance, there were fab shots of ONE person. And the title would go along the lines of "My best friend X" or "Peter/Paul/Mary". But is the picture not supposed to potray BEST FRIENDS? Looking at a model shot of one person does not evoke a best friend feeling IMO.
~Heidi~
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03/16/2005 05:20:53 PM · #49 |
Originally posted by dahkota:
If you think about it, the "Surrealism" winner was outside the box. I think the "light on white" and "separation" winners were also outside the box. Outside the box is a good thing, when done well. When done badly it's just another picture.
Also, at least in my case, candid shots are not doing better. It is the image, not the box it's in, that guides the voters.
I accept that my entries aren't going to be winners. But I am working outside my box to produce them. I photographed landscapes and macros until now, not people or food. But even if my entries are lousy, at least I tried something new. Its out of my box. And each challenge I try something new so I'll have a better understanding next time. In a year or two or six, maybe I'll actually get a ribbon. Probably see a brown before a blue but at least I'm learning on the way.
ka-ching.
dahkota |
Well said!
~Heidi~
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