Apple iPod
by hsteg

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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graphically speaking, you ABSOLUTELY NAILED this one! now, in terms of the billboard challenge, you should really get smacked for failing to meet the RECOMMENDED size. it's obvious you know your way around here--how could you let such an anal-inducsive detail to slip by...surely you know better than to leave something that critical up to the whims of the masses! i really hope they will look past their urge to check your image properties and only vote on what they see...good luck!

Got Milk?
by scalvert

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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nice shot! not sure if the orange juice adds or distracts, but i guess it rounds out the image. only nit that i have is the light part of the reflection at the top of the spoon. all the same, you probably know a lot more about billboard layout than i do, but, that's the beauty of these challenges, isn't it, not knowing whose image you're commenting on ;-)
i'll be SHOCKED not to see this on the front page, good luck!

Stressed? Need to be heard? We'll listen. CRISIS HELP CENTERS
by Ivo

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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great visual imagery here! simple, understandable, and to the point. this would be hard to miss, even at 75 mph! i might complain about the split horizon, but, as is, you could probably go either way, putting the text in white at the bottom, or black at the top. all in all, a solid effort! good luck!

Got Milk ?
by soup

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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as a billboard, this is a GREAT idea. my only nit is the string--it's not heavy enough. this challenge is one of the few where you have to look at the thumbnails as well as the image (that's the closest i can come to simulating 'ride-by' conditions, short of putting my pc in the middle of my yard and running by it.). when you look at the thumb here, you see the glass and cookie, and the text gives you connection, but the string barely comes through. all the same, that's a nit, and not enough for me to vote it down. this is one of my top picks for the challenge, and i really hope it does well! good luck!

Come Ski With Us On Fox Mountain
by TDCollins

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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ok, you have a picture with a fox in the distance...interesting idea for a billboard, but i think the composition isn't quite working for a billboard. there's not much room in the image to tie the image to the idea, and at 60 mph, i don't think that fox would be too noticeable...
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here's a couple more things to consider:

this image is also a great place to start figuring out what dpc is really all about. there are two things going on: improving your photography, and, if you want, learning how to compete in these challenges. these are not necessary the same thing, as evidenced by the number of great photographs and photographers that do not win ribbons.

as for competing in challenges... challenges are what makes this sight unique in that everybody has to start from scratch, as opposed to raking their archives for a 'best of' type picture. as you peruse the archives, you can see the differences between the top 20% and the bottom 20% very easily. one of the biggest differences between the two is that the bottom ones nearly always come across as images snapped quickly in hopes of 'meeting the challenge'. it is very rare that images that are not thought out and worked out in advance do that well. yes, some people have the equipment to do things that the rest of us can't, but that doesn't mean we can't compensate by excercising our imaginations and pushing our skills.

well, you've paid for a membership. i hope you use it to your full advantage. dpc has helped my photography tremendously, but it hasn't been without its bumps and bruises. i hope that it will help you get where you want to be, as well. good luck!

Visit the California Coast
by fulgent

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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i'm not quite sure what i would get out of this if i passed it out on the interstate. the image is rather harsh, and i don't think the detail would not really come through. from an advertising standpoint, i'm not sure i would really consider this image an invitation to come see the coast. maybe if shot at a different time of day, it might work better.

Tiger Oats
by docpjv

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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this is a nice image, but, as is, i don't know how close this would come to making it on a billboard. you could have blurred and lightened the background so that it wouldn't be a distraction. this would have also made room for the message that would accompany the billboard. also, from a layout standpoint (and this is true with regular photography, as well), you want your subject looking into the frame, not out of it. on the plus side, the colors and capture are very strong, making it something that you can instantly latch onto while whizzing by at 65 mph. good luck!

Beauty of Recycling
by spydr

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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this is a great idea for a billboard (and not a bad photograph, either). however, as far as laying this out to be a billboard, you would need to make room for the message.

Iceland Spring™, water so fresh it will leave you aching for more
by LalliSig

Comment:
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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nice idea, but i'm not sure how effective it would be cropped to this size on an actual billboard. in reality, the thumbnail view is a pretty good idea of how much you would get whizzing by at 65 mph. as is, you get the idea of a bottle of water, but you lose the fine print. maybe trim off from the left. as an aside, not that it matters for the challenge, but another 'billboard rule' is to place the graphic on the left, text on the right.

Absolut White
by milo655321

Comment:
oouuu, i'm telling! you put TEXT on your entry. i'm deducting one point for each letter! you're just luck that your dimensions are the RECOMMENDED 640x320; otherwise i would deduct a point for each pixel off. so, let's see what you get: 10 - 12 = -2!

--- ok, following is two more comments, a general one, then a specific one ------
ok, i am voting this challenge in 2 passes. in this pass, you will get a partial comment and a score. then i will come back to comment again. if you have any problem whatsoever with this comment, pm me and let me know. otherwise, take it with a grain of salt...i'm not trying to be a know-it-all, i'm just explaining where i'm coming from in voting this challenge. and, if this comment is NOT helpful (of if you think i'm full of $#!+), don't mark it helpful.

billboards are a science unto themselves. a lot of research has gone into determining just how much information a person can digest and retain in specific time spans. they use this information to develop formulas for determining the number of words and letters to use on billboards, as well as their sizes. they also determine the size and number of visual elements to include.

the graphics/photograph on a billboard are designed to get the point across in a moment. on the road, a driver will have less time with a billboard than a voter will give your image. this is a key element in the challenge: composing a shot that will get its point across quickly and succintly. along those lines, a strong composition will probably have few details and make strong use of negative space.
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great billboard! not to keen about your choice of fonts, but that's nit-picking. i also think you know you could have saved yourself a lot of anguish by leaving out the text...the image by itself works perfectly. [as an aside, along the lines of 'billboard rules', they are typically laid out graphic on the left, text on the right.] hope you aren't getting beaten up too badly!