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04/29/2003 01:10:18 PM · #1 |
I know you just have to take better photos.
Just venting a bit.
Nothing to look at here people go on with your day. :] |
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04/29/2003 01:23:34 PM · #2 |
I wish I was so lucky to get 5's! I seem to be stuck in the 4's for the last few challenges. My own fault, I know, but it seems the better the other submissions are, the worse my score does. :(
One day I will get a 6, oh yes, one day!
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04/29/2003 01:29:36 PM · #3 |
Boy I wish I had the magic words to tell you. The greatest thing I can tell you is what a good friend of mine (Mike Malloy - ViperMike to those around the net - //www.mindandmachine.com/z_gallery2.htm ) told me. Never enter an image that you aren't sure is the best. Be so critical it kills ya. If you don't enter an image for a month, so be it. Just make sure you are proud of it. If anyone is harsh on your images, seek them out for more input, do not look for the ones that say "great image".
Personally I think the way to get above 6's here is this... (1 and 2 are interchangeable)
1) Is the image original for the topic and within it's bounds
2) Does it have WOW factor
3) Is it technically good (focus, contrast, composition)
4) Do you like it. I mean really, really like it...
If any of those are no, do not enter it. Put it on another site and look for critiques or put it here in the forum for others to critique. Find a few people who you know won't blow smoke up your buttt and tell you the way it is. Most photographers with expertise above ours are more than willing to help out and give their opinions if they have time.
The most important thing is to be BRUTALLY honest about your images. Do you want a good image or one that sticks out in the crowd...
Just my 2c...
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04/29/2003 01:39:14 PM · #4 |
I like what Dave said. Don't enter for the sake of entering (which I did last week, and almost did this week until I read his comment). Make it a picture that you're proud of, or think you can learn from. I'm not saying don't take a chance, but put some some thought into it. I took a chance on my Fauna pic, and it's being battered by the judges - darn you people :) - so I'm still learning from the experience. Previously I just put one in so I had a submission, and it was kind of a waste of everybody's time...mine included.
thanks to all of you for being here.
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04/29/2003 01:47:44 PM · #5 |
| Thats some really good advice. I am happy with the critiques I get here from the challenges. They seem to make you look at the world thru your veiwfinder. Always looking for a GREAT photo. |
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04/29/2003 02:19:05 PM · #6 |
The best advice I've been given since I started here is: don't comprimise. If you think, "It's a good photo, but...." the but will kill ya. If you think it could be a little better if you reshoot it, then do that. I've found small mistakes that I think won't matter too much, DO matter. Having said that, it's a bummer when you have a photo you think is close to perfect, and you've worked really hard on it, and it doesn't do as well as you'd hoped, like my multi-image submission. Sigh.
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04/29/2003 02:35:53 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by pedromarlinez:
I like what Dave said. Don't enter for the sake of entering ... |
I'll disagree with this part -- I try and enter every challenge, because that is part of the challenge to me. It's important to me how creatively I can envision the topic, even if I'm not able to communicate that idea as clearly or beautifully as I might have, given more time/equipment.
But then, I have realistic expectations of how well those photos will score, and don't consider a ribbon to be the main reason I'm here, which is to expand both my creative and technical skills. It's kind of like the exercise mantra, "no pain, no gain," and I'm willing to take the 4s (and even an occasionl 3) in exchange for slowly starting to accumulate some fives and sixes. |
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04/29/2003 02:52:26 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by pedromarlinez:
I like what Dave said. Don't enter for the sake of entering ... |
I'll disagree with this part -- I try and enter every challenge, because that is part of the challenge to me. It's important to me how creatively I can envision the topic, even if I'm not able to communicate that idea as clearly or beautifully as I might have, given more time/equipment.
But then, I have realistic expectations of how well those photos will score, and don't consider a ribbon to be the main reason I'm here, which is to expand both my creative and technical skills. It's kind of like the exercise mantra, "no pain, no gain," and I'm willing to take the 4s (and even an occasionl 3) in exchange for slowly starting to accumulate some fives and sixes. |
I'm with you on that.
I treat each challenge as an assignment, something that is going to get me to try new things and something that is going to help me learn. If you only enter shots that win ribbons you're never going to learn anything from here.
Think how bad it would be if musicians only ever released tracks that they thought would get to number 1. Blech. And how about all those tracks that they never imagined would get to number 1, but did?
At the end of the day scores don't really mean diddly squat. It's the having fun, taking part and learning that I'm here for. |
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04/29/2003 03:02:26 PM · #9 |
I'm with bod and GeneralE. At least for us with little or no experiance. If there is some thought put into the submitted image, the critique can only be a good lesson. And thank all of you people for the comments on my pics, this site is great (I'm checking it out several times per day now....)
Tyrkinn
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04/29/2003 03:11:41 PM · #10 |
don't get me wrong - I understand that this is an art not a science. I'm not saying don't enter if it's not going to win (since 300 or so of us will fail to win each week), I'm more referring to those entries that I was grasping on...if I don't have time to do it and I'm just throwing something together for the sake of having an entry. I guess you could get lucky and something good could happen, but I just find it kind of defeating for me personally. I would never want to discourage someone from trying. Some of my best shots are pure luck.
I'll always try to enter if I can, I just would prefer it if I had time to do some of the things that I want to.
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04/29/2003 03:54:45 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by pedromarlinez:
don't get me wrong - I understand that this is an art not a science. I'm not saying don't enter if it's not going to win (since 300 or so of us will fail to win each week), I'm more referring to those entries that I was grasping on...if I don't have time to do it and I'm just throwing something together for the sake of having an entry. I guess you could get lucky and something good could happen, but I just find it kind of defeating for me personally. I would never want to discourage someone from trying. Some of my best shots are pure luck.
I'll always try to enter if I can, I just would prefer it if I had time to do some of the things that I want to. |
My highest rated shot was thrown together in under 30 minutes last thing on the Sunday night :P
I do agree with you about 'grasping' though. I have skipped challenges when I knew my shot would just get hammered. I have also entered shots that I knew would get hammered but I wanted to experiment, or just put a smile on the voters faces.
As for how to get out of the 5s?
Always get the technical bits right and think as much as you can about the challenge to come up with the best idea. Your shot must have an immediate impact, and be able to stand up to a longer viewing. |
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04/29/2003 04:12:37 PM · #12 |
| I have finally had one photo that finished a 6 what an accomplishment around here that really is! But I'm not getting excited yet, not till I get another one that finishes with a 6 or higher. |
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04/29/2003 05:01:19 PM · #13 |
| I entered my first challenge with the multi-image. The scores, well it's in the 5's, but whether it's holding at a 3 or 8 wouldn't matter to me too much. What I am happy with is I've gotten almost 20 comments of people's thoughts and reactions. That is what I'm more interested in. |
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04/29/2003 06:22:28 PM · #14 |
Here are some trends I've noticed with most high scoring photos:
1. The focus is appropriate. Hey if your shot is in focus, it has a good chance right there of getting in the 5s.
2. The lighting is interesting and adds mood--in fact, for most of the winners I would say that they were photographing LIGHT and not the objects themselves.
3. There is attention to other details such as composition, cropping, and point of view.
4. High scoring photos make an impact quite quickly. I have found many very good photos on this site that did not score all that well--not because they weren't as good as the winning photos, but because they required thought and intellect for more than a few seconds. Jackson Pollock's art would not do well here, while Rembrandt's would. If you want to take good photos, you can do that and ignore the scores. If you want to win, make it simple.
My best guess anyway....
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04/29/2003 06:53:11 PM · #15 |
Mostly what everyone else has been saying... and you have to sell your soul.
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04/29/2003 07:18:38 PM · #16 |
1) take no risks
2) oversaturate
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04/29/2003 07:29:28 PM · #17 |
Well...I'll be HALF right all time. I either take risks OR oversaturate...or both. Hmmm.
My real question: How do you become a Flutist, then? :)
I think I like all you people. I'm glad to be here. I mean that.
Pedro
ps. What if you've already sold your soul to get the camera?
Originally posted by irae:
1) take no risks
2) oversaturate |
Message edited by author 2003-04-29 23:30:46.
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04/29/2003 07:33:55 PM · #18 |
| I went through all my possible entry’s for transportation. I couldn’t find one I really liked...I though this would be an easy challenge ‘but, I procrastinated too long and wasn’t happy with my work. I didn't want to enter a photo I didn’t' like. |
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04/29/2003 07:44:38 PM · #19 |
I think the opposite of some. Make it a goal to enter as many challenges as possible, but don't stop at the first 50 picture you shoot for the challenge. Keep shooting everything that has anything to do with the challenge. Take 200-300 photos a week. Be your own critiquer. Be tough and don't give up when you think it looks good enough. Go back and reshoot and reshoot until you feel it is perfect. Look at the background, lighting and most important the rules of thirds. It is also great to get good color and perspective in your shot. Don't give up. Once you get it you won't lose it! ;-)
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04/29/2003 07:51:08 PM · #20 |
I must admit, up front, that I stay up till midnight to see where my submission places, so the score matters somewhat. BUT far more important is the comments I receive. I check for comments and forget to look at the score most of the time...until midnight of dday that is.
FInding time to comment is not easy for any of us, and geeeeee with over 300 entries it's not always possible to vote on all, nevermind comment on all.
Thank you to all who take the time to comment on some.
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04/29/2003 07:52:01 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by irae:
1) take no risks
2) oversaturate |
Eric, talk about an insult to those that get over 6's!!! Take a look at my images and tell me there are no risks and they are over saturated. Look at my portfolio on pbase. Risks? Tons of em.
Look at Johns, Tims and Jacko's images. No risks? Your comment is out of line and false. According to you high scores = lack of artistic expression, and absolute conformity.... BS!!! Just because you think one of your images is worth a 6 doesn't mean it is. Don't belittle other images because yours don't get the scores you feel they deserve...
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04/29/2003 07:57:18 PM · #22 |
I would say that bold colours and designs do well, simple and strong. Too much photoshopping and big borders don't do so well. Oh yes, and keep it culturally unbiased, by that I mean something which everyone can relate to. For some reason, metal and strong lines seem to have impact on this site.
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04/29/2003 08:11:23 PM · #23 |
Davenit-
Didn't mean to be insulting, and I've had my share of 6+ images here, some of which were even a little edgy. My highest rated image, though, is from the Fauna challenge. Kind of wondered if posting a nearly 100% crop of a cutesy duckling and cranking up the saturation well beyond any reasonable reality would result in a high score, and, lo and behold, 14th place and a 6.887. I've seen far too many examples of really good, creative photography here go unrewarded in favor of crowd-pleasers without much technical or artistic merit. Do you disagree? I don't mean to imply that all the top images here belong in that category, but I do maintain that one way to score well here is not to upset the herd and to distract them with shiny, colorful objects.
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04/29/2003 11:03:49 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by irae:
...I do maintain that one way to score well here is not to upset the herd and to distract them with shiny, colorful objects. |
LOL! Now that cracks me up!
While I have accumulated a few ribbons here, I feel VERY lucky to have done so. With only a few exceptions I have never really felt my photos were worthy of winning a ribbon. Indeed, how a couple of them managed to score as well as they did is beyond me.
And without a doubt, I have learned more from my lower scoring images than the ribbon winners.
Still, it's nice to score well. 'Cause even though I'm still trying to figure this site out, scoring anywhere around 6 lets me know I must be doing something right! |
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04/29/2003 11:15:16 PM · #25 |
Note to Mcmurma: if we even remotely see that glass next week....*sound of breaking bones in background*
;)
Good luck hehe
Mav
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