Please READ CHALLENGE DESCRIPTIONS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/02/2006 03:25:00 PM · #1

I feel I have been wasting a couple of hours of my time voting/commenting on the Paint with Light Challenge.

The challenge description is "Use a non-stationary light source (for example, a moving flashlight in your hand) as the primary method of illuminating your subject"

I have just waded through all of these entries with a stationary, single light source. Is it fair that we have to do this when reading past the Challenge heading takes no time at all.

Painting with light is of course not the only example of this, but it's really obvious this week (where the standard of all three challenges is very low) and I'm beginning to resent having to be positive in my comments when the photog just hasn't taken due care and attention. I feel used.

Brett

ArpeggioAngel

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

03/02/2006 03:29:28 PM · #2

I would have to agree. I have a very hard time voting on challenges lately. There are so many good pics, but half of them don't meet the challenge and I am always torn between voting on the quality of the photo and the fact that it doesn't meet the challenge.

Edit to add - I know this topic comes up frequently so I don't know if anything will ever change....but at least my 2cents is out there.

Message edited by author 2006-03-02 20:30:18.

RKT

Canon EOS-60D

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for Canon

03/02/2006 03:35:12 PM · #3

Perhaps you need to take a much needed break from DPC? Voting really shouldn't be such torture...losen those restraints and you might have a bit more fun.

: }

03/02/2006 03:38:56 PM · #4

Originally posted by ArpeggioAngel:

I am always torn between voting on the quality of the photo and the fact that it doesn't meet the challenge

Me too. Now for my sanity and speed of voting (because I comment on every vote) I had to set a boundary for DNMC.

I have decided that since this is a Challenge site, not just an amazing pic site, that I can only score the most amazing photo ever, but which in no way meets the challenge, a 5 at the very best.

Brett

kari1

Panasonic DMC-FZ30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/02/2006 03:45:56 PM · #5

So I went into the other room and told Kiwipix to stop voting and take a chill pill ... oh thats right I put the restraints on him earlier!

But really, I, like others, enter challenges taking not only the title but also the description into account and try and achieve a picture that works. In doing this I also take the time to vote on other challenges so that people will respect this and take time to vote on mine, good or not.

This is a challenge site, insomuchas we enter challenges - which often have a description as well as a title.

What I did find strange is that for the comfort challenge several people don't like my comments. Reason - they find comfort in odd things - thats cool .. I did not mark people down for this - I marked based on the picture - but if a picture cannot convey what you are thinking ... does it meet this challenge - probably or not?

oh well my turn to take a pill.

Kari

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

03/02/2006 03:47:57 PM · #6

I took a voting break on the Painting with Light because there were so many that were many that did not meet the challenge description.

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

03/02/2006 03:55:38 PM · #7

Well, we always have our votes to show we dont approve of pics that dont meet the challenge. I dont think its anything to get too upset about.

Painting with light is difficult, hard to vote on and some entries....you really dont know.

I will say in comfort. I messed up, entered and its not really meeting the challenge. But, trust me I will take my lumps.

Its all for fun, so i would not worry too much.

Gooday mate !

hotpasta

Nikon D800

03/02/2006 03:56:10 PM · #8

here, here!

Imagine if this site grows to the point when we have 1000 photograhs to judge PER CHALLENGE. The challenge descriptions will need to be so clear to cut out all of the rubbish that appears in the DNMC catergory. I found this current round of challenges frustrating to say the least...

seebrown

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/02/2006 04:02:07 PM · #9

ahh I seem to have submitted one of those shots where I've received many a "This doesn't fit the challenge". BUT As it turns out I did use a flashlight to light my subject and as it turns out it was the ONLY way to do so to make the shot come out the way I wanted it too.

One thing to clarify with this challenge is "Painting with light" doesn't translate into "Must have streaks of light that can be easily noted as being from a hand held light" ... as it turns out the more closely I looked at some of the submissions I began to realize that they did indeed use a hand held light to illuminate their subject as there would be no practical way to illuminate the subject in that manner with a stationary light.

When voting remember that the challenge states â��Use a non-stationary light source (for example, a moving flashlight in your hand) as the primary method of illuminating your subject in a creative mannerâ�� and no where does it say that it must be apparent to the viewer that a non-stationary light source was used.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

03/02/2006 04:07:57 PM · #10

Originally posted by seebrown:

BUT As it turns out I did use a flashlight to light my subject and as it turns out it was the ONLY way to do so to make the shot come out the way I wanted it too.

You're 100% correct. In Painting with light, I have always given the photog the benefit of the doubt. It's difficult as you have to look at the shadows and the way the light falls on the subject. A round object that's illuminated can either be lit with two lights or a moving one. The shadows will tell the difference so that's just one of the clues.

Brett

Keith Maniac

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/02/2006 04:18:01 PM · #11

Originally posted by KiwiPix:

I have just waded through all of these entries with a stationary, single light source.

How can you be sure whether any particular entry was done with a stationary, single light source? The photo shown below was done using the painting with light technique. I used a small (moving) flashlight to "paint" the light onto the pears. If you saw this photo in this week's challenge, would you think that it did not meet the challenge description? Cuz it does :)

iamkmaniam

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

03/02/2006 04:18:01 PM · #12

Originally posted by RKT:

Perhaps you need to take a much needed break from DPC? Voting really shouldn't be such torture...losen those restraints and you might have a bit more fun.

: }

I couldn't agree more. If it is that much of a distraction simply make a choice not to vote. Some times it what you don't say that matters most.

graphicfunk

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/02/2006 04:23:44 PM · #13

Painting with light is just that. The image you get is lit by light sources which in themselves lack enough brightness to bring the subject to life with one click of the switch. These efforts then follow the age old formula to either paint some object, bring it to visibility, or use the light source itself to paint or a combination. The challenge description is merely to hint but it is not meant to restrict.

When you look at these images you should determine how the light source was used: i.e. to paint a subject or the light's rays being the subject. Either style has merit in meeting the challenge.

So an image that paints an egg into visible fruition is valid. If the egg is partially lit and then the light source itself is used to make a circle of the oval around the egg: this is also painting with light because the light pattern then becomes the subject.

My entire image was painted with light 100% so I mention this not for me but in defense of those that have presented some nice images and remained within the rules and challenge spirit of "Painting with Light"

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

03/02/2006 04:27:27 PM · #14

The Square Crop challenge shouldn't be too difficult... but I bet...

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

03/02/2006 04:49:12 PM · #15

Well I will say that I got one of those 'stationary light' comments. And I hope that when the challenge is over that person will read my about where it 'stipulates' that only a small MOVING handheld torch was used. Very frustrating when you know that you abided by the rules. I know that some people used a secondary stationary light source but when I have not even used that it becomes annoying to be accused of using a stationary light.

GRRRRRR!!

glad2badad

DJI Mavic Air 2

Sears 55mm f/1.4 M42

03/02/2006 05:01:12 PM · #16

Originally posted by KiwiPix:

...The shadows will tell the difference so that's just one of the clues. ...

I don't know if I would be so quick to make that a defining clue. A handheld light can be held in one general area that partially lights the subject (leaving some shadows) - or with a long enough exposure, moved around the subject to light it nice and evenly (not much shadow at all). Once in a while I'll use a small handheld flashlight to illuminate an area that can't be reached with a softbox, etc...

talmy

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

03/02/2006 06:12:04 PM · #17

For the Single Light Source challenge, this was done with a single, moving light source -- a flashlight in my hand. The one in the pan is off. Alas, seemingly a large number of people thought it DNMC because it appears to be using multple light sources, including the one in the pan. So really, unless the picture is very obviously lit from a stationary source it's hard to DNMC a picture in the Painting with Light Challenge.

skewsme

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens

03/02/2006 06:24:31 PM · #18

Originally posted by KiwiPix:

======================

Wow, it must have really wasted your time to set up each and every dubious Painting With Light entry and shoot it for yourself. But I guess you had to. How else could you be so confident that you know how they were done?

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

03/02/2006 06:28:54 PM · #19

Hi everyone!
I can understand your frustration voting on pictures that to you seems or does not meet the challenge. Believe me we all make mistakes and I was one of them. And my shot took 654 sec. to shoot so I wasted a lot of my time too.

But I posted this in another thread the other day, not all of us wish to waste your time.

Originally posted by southern_exposure:

Well I really screwed this challenge up and it's my fault. I read the challenge description but didn't read the challenge details. So I have ended up with IMO a great shot but DNMC.

When I seen the challenge topic I looked it up on the net and found what I thought it meant and viewed samples. But by not reading the details I deserve whatever score I end up with.

Thanks for the ones that has commented and I totally agree with you. I'm just sorry I had a great photo entered into a wrong challenge. I don't want anyone thinking I was trying to put "eye candy" up and hope for a good score. I know DPC votes better than that and I believe my score as it is now LOW :) is fair.

Sorry to everyone for not reading the directions before entering.

From this thread.

Message edited by author 2006-03-02 23:30:08.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

03/02/2006 06:34:17 PM · #20

Originally posted by Keith Maniac:

Originally posted by KiwiPix:
I have just waded through all of these entries with a stationary, single light source.

How can you be sure whether any particular entry was done with a stationary, single light source? The photo shown below was done using the painting with light technique. I used a small (moving) flashlight to "paint" the light onto the pears. If you saw this photo in this week's challenge, would you think that it did not meet the challenge description? Cuz it does :)

Yeah, the voter wouldn't be able to tell by just looking at the photo and since DNMC is not a DQ offense the voters shouldn't really care. For me the challenge is more about how good the lighting is. If it looks really artistic/painterly it'll get high marks from me.

Message edited by author 2006-03-02 23:35:36.

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

03/02/2006 06:39:26 PM · #21

OK, time-out huh.

My post is not just about the painting with light challenge, it is about all of them - and I said that.

I also said that shadows were one of the clues, not a defining one.

I also said that where it wasn't obvious, the benefit of the doubt goes to the photog. In that case it is voted as on challenge and according to it's photographic values.

So "meanwile", your response is personal and out of line as are a couple of others that became a bit personal.

The issue of people not properly reading challenge descriptions is an ongoing one. It seems worse at the moment and I'm not the first or only person to say that in the forums this week. For example Comfort is full of comforting scenes that do not relate to "... something that is of comfort to you." The affect of all of this is that we are trying to vote on a great number of images that have obviously been shot according to the challenge title but not to the details. That takes time and requires a huge input by voters that is really an imposition on them.

Brett

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

03/02/2006 06:41:21 PM · #22

I made my shot in the bathroom, which is the only room without light coming in from outside. I took the photo with the lights out; my only source of light was a small LED torch. Obviously, I should have included the torch (which I moved around during the exposure)in the photo . Sorry for wasting everyone's time.

Message edited by author 2006-03-02 23:43:23.

jaxsond

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

03/02/2006 06:41:51 PM · #23

I posted basically the same sentiment to another thread today...

Originally posted by jaxsond:

I think the challenge descrition should be more prevalent on the voting page. Maybe put it in bold type just below the challenge name. I think sometimes people are voting who perhaps didn't enter a challenge are voting entirely on the name of the challenge.

For example, the comfort challenge. From reading the post in the "Comfort scores" thread and by going on comments made on my entry I think people overlook the fact that the challenge description was "This doesn't have to be fluffy. Shoot something that comforts you." It is an entirely different challenge than "shoot something that would be percieved universally as comfort."

Oh ... and... nice pears!

Message edited by author 2006-03-02 23:44:58.