Silence
by jmsetzler

Comment by TooCool:
Gorgeous. But doesn't say silence to me. White noise is more like it... Or the sound of a heavy rain, but not silence. One of my favorite of the challenge but my score for it won't show it unfortunately...
TC

The Crossing
by jmsetzler

Comment by kellian:
This photo is beautiful. I don't see design or engineering, but it's gorgeous! I especially love how crisp and bright the subjects are. Great shot! I wonder if this is the same photographer who entered the Gathering in the last challenge... I didn't score it a 10 because it seemed off topic to me.

Silence
by jmsetzler

Comment by hgpayne:
I've never known a waterfall to be quiet. Nice photo though.

Silence
by jmsetzler

Comment by Kainnon:
Beautiful. Simply Beautiful.

The Crossing
by jmsetzler

Comment by drydoc:
Nice rich back and white image. Did you give any consideration to cropping this right at the top edge of the falls and labeling it,"Walking on water."?! Sorry. I need a hobby. BOL

The Gathering
by jmsetzler

Comment by ScottK:

Originally posted by jmsetzler: Originally posted by ScottK: I suspect John is engaging in a bit of protest and/or rebellion. Time will tell... :) There is no protest or rebellion. I had decided to not post at all but I changed my mind and decided to post whatever I have been working on. I don't go out and shoot for challenges anymore, so I just submit something I have when challenge time comes around. I thought I might be able to get some amount of feedback that was useful, even though the photo doesn't meet the challenge. There are a handful of people that seem to be irritated because I have done this but there are only two or three so I may continue to do it. There is nothing in it for me other than some possible feedback. The scores I get on these are definitely below my challenge average. Scores are just numbers though :) Cheers :)

That's cool. I stand corrected. :)

I just thought there might be some hidden "statement" about thinking outside the bonds of a challenge or something along those lines. Memories of some previous threads you've started to spur discussion...

I will say I don't really understand the point of purposefully entering the challenges with no intent to meet them. It seems a bit of an aggressive display (passively, at any rate) against the site, or maybe the community. I'm not saying your intent is or isn't, just an observation. On the other hand, I do understand moving beyond the "bondage" of challenges in choosing what to shoot week to week.

BTW, I do like this shot, and the concept you're going for with the series. I've been trying to come up with creative depictions of biblical and spiritual topics as well, but haven't gotten too far yet. If you're going for each shot representing a day, then I would suggest that the twig stay - in fact, a shaft of light on the twig would have been very cool, indicating a blessing on the creation - it was good. Just a thought. I hope to see the final series when you're done.

Silence
by jmsetzler

Comment by steventhewriter:
This is a beautiful landscape shot but it really doesn't convey silence to me, probably because waterfalls normally aren't silent ; P

Silence
by jmsetzler

Comment by GoldBerry:
Very nice photo, fits challenge well, but really has been done a thousand times over.5.

The Gathering
by jmsetzler

Comment by jmsetzler:
Jessica,

Thanks for the wonderful insight into my existance here. I must say that this feedback from you is the best feedback I have ever received on this site. It's the first time I think I have ever really taken a deep look into what I'm doing here.

The truth of the matter is that I'm looking for something but I don't know exactly what it is yet. Feedback of sorts is always nice, whether it be good or bad.

Boredom is an interesting topic. As much as I hate to admit it, I think this could be true. I'm not bored with photography. Maybe there are just certain aspects of it that don't inspire me anymore.

DPChallenge is a wonderful site. The opportunities to learn something worthwhile here are incredible. I do enjoy playing the mentor role as much as I enjoy making my own photos. Teaching someone else the things that I know are my only means of longevity in the world of photography. I don't believe that my photographs are going to be eternal. I have shared a lot of myself with others via DPC and one on one.

Your perception of me is mostly true. I do want to continue growing as a photographer. I also want to continue contributing to the growth of others. I'm just in a bit of a rut at the moment. I see things that I don't know how to explain. I think I'm in a stage where my perception of what I see is changing. As I already stated, I'm looking for something. When I figure out what that is, I may be able to get myself back on track.

Cheers and thank you for your input :)

The Gathering
by jmsetzler

Comment by JBevins:
I always scroll down to see who was dead last in the challenge. I know, it's sad, but I do. Then I saw this lovely photograph and wondered if this was like the conflict challenge. It was too good to be some lamer's photo, but it was an average water shot that I think many could achieve with some time. Then I reminded myself how much I wondered about your words in the challenge "conflict" on how you were trying to fool the members into thinking there was some amount of conflict going on.

I thought about how much respect you get around here, how much people tend to look up to you. I thought about the first photo I saw of you and how I pulled an issue of pop photo scanned the flag/water drop photo and began to compare it for a rip. I didn't know you; you didn't and still may not know me. Then your last submission suggested to me that you were done with the people here. You got your press and now you're done. I tried to put myself in your shoes. Could you be pissed off these days because people are winning challenges the same way you did? I mean, you saw the photo in pop photo and you repeated it. People saw your photo here and they repeated it. All the while, your name tossed around the comments, but they also would surround a colored ribbon. Could you be upset that your ideas are being repeated? Hell, I've repeated your ideas and I've done it without qualm.
I don't know what you are trying to say other than what you've already said. In a literal form, you want to fool the members, get some feedback, and there is nothing here for you except some off the cuff feedback that does not come but once or twice in each photo. So then, I'd have to equate all of this to the fact that you just may very well be bored. Back to my original words, that you've got your press and now you'd like to move on. You'll come here for feedback because we all need a certain sort of validation and self-validation isn't always a possibility. Otherwise, you're just screwing around and your point is taken. 62 comments on a photo that doesn't meet the challenge. Not 100% unfounded, but still quite the turn out for someone who gives the impression to me that he's just f'ing with the very people who played a role in your advancement. And yes, you bought the camera, you bought the film (when and if you used it) you thought of some of the ideas, made other people's ideas better, and you did all of the footwork. We sat back and waited for John's next big thing and then provided you feedback and or praise. It was the validation of your peers here that allowed you to see that your work is accepted and appreciated. To some extent you've given back to the community and as someone who is looking for people like you, people willing to share their trade secrets for another project (at DA) I would have thought that you'd embrace it with open arms. However, if I misread then so be it. If I did not then all I have to say is "that's gratitude for you." The sad thing is I can still put myself in another set of shoes and think that the community may very well owe you a bit more than "dude you rock your photos are awesome" in the comments put forth to you. Perhaps you do feel and it is warranted when you think the community has given you empty feedback and you want more. There are so many ways to spin this really and I've pretty much only just begun. However, I digress and for that I will leave you be. I think all in all when you see an idol (an idol too many) start to fall, one attempts to make rhyme or reason out of it.

I hope you do not find this offensive, but I do hope you see it as rational.
Jessica