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07/06/2005 10:28:12 AM · #1 |
| Well i don't wanna say i'm so damn good... but i wish i can get more than 4.5 on my avg. vote... How come i can't get further than 4.8 anyone can help me... |
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07/06/2005 10:32:56 AM · #2 |
| I would first try and stay "inside the box" on the challenges. And work on composition, lighting, focus and all of the basic issues to photography. Once you have eliminated all of thoose you can go onto more elborate ideas and play with different photography ideas. |
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07/06/2005 10:43:28 AM · #3 |
Bright colours and rich tones! That's what dpc wants from you...
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07/06/2005 10:44:29 AM · #4 |
| read this thread, young grasshopper, and you will learn the truth... |
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07/06/2005 10:54:22 AM · #5 |
I feel your pain, Apee. When I first started, I felt so stuck in not being able to get past a certain score and go to the next level. I took a look at your pictures, and I think a couple of things. I think the voters are looking for not only something that meets the challenge (but Dustdevil is right: there is usally a very narrow box, and even a perfect picture will get 4's if it's not right in there meeting everyone's opinion of the challenge), but also, a picture has to stand on it's own and be something that someone would like to look at framed on their wall or desk. That means no blown out skies, no grain, no blur, . . and they seem to hate centered compositions. They don't normally like tilted things unless it's a very cool angle on something, and let me see what else. . .they like pictures that touch them in some way, either with some kind of cool eye appeal, or something emotive that makes them feel something.
I think your pictures are nice and sharp, and the colors are rich and vibrant, so you have lots of potential to break into those high scores, but maybe pay attention to a few technical things, like the sky being too white, but maybe most of all, pick subjects that in some way will say something -- either by just being really cool to look at, or touches the heart in some way.
I don't know if that helps, it's just stuff I've had to beat my own self over the head with in trying to get to the next level.
I really do think you have what it takes to score consistently in the high 5's and 6's with just a few adjustments in your style.
Good luck!
SandyP |
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07/06/2005 10:59:42 AM · #6 |
Hmmm - I have some thoughts & suggestions - feel free to ignore as you wish!
I think that your photographs capture the challenge in each case, but fail to make interesting images.
Technically, your decisions picture was too small (you appear to have figured this out for later challenges). You have got sharp images, so you have figured out sharpening. However, you are missing out on drama in contrast and colour saturation. Try playing with levels, curved, brightness and contrast, and saturation before submitting an image. Going for a "natural" look is sometimes good, but we are used to bright and vivid colours and contrast in photos - they stand out more.
The composition of that and your construction photos is very static (the rule of thirds is a good place to start with ideas on composition - Google it!). Your decisions and construction entries are largely centred, which is rarely a flattering composition. Your metal photo works, asthere is an interesting split of the image into quadrants, though this is not a "traditional" style of composition.
In terms of subject matter and spotting photographic opportunities, you appear ot have been relatively unadventurous. Often it is not a case of going far out of your way, but trying to find a new take on a challenge that works. Something a little different (your construction and decisions photos suffer from this).
IMO, you are also making the mistake of spotting subject matter, and not thinking enough about lighting (not studio lighting necessarily, but just how the image is lit). In photography, lighting is critical to gaining an exposure. Light and shade are critical in most compositions. You appear to focus very much on the subject matter and the shape of objects, and perhaps their colour (construction, decisions, metal), but not on how they are lit. That can mean trying to force some contrast out of an image (in PS) or preferably, catching the subject matter at the right time of day (early morning and evening are often good), or by adjusting the light available if at home (positioning relative to a window, or using a desktop lamp or two to experiment with light and shade).
One tip for focussing on lighting is to try black & white for a bit - get used to searching out contrast (look for deep blacks and interesting shapes, seek out natural contrast & highlights).
A good sense of the aesthetic would work well for you as well - keep looking at images, photographs, art, architecture, and get a sense of styles and movements that you like and try and capture some of that in your photography.
On each of your photos, I would say:
Obsolete - lighting all wrong, subject matter has interesting shapes, but youhave missed their simplicity, as the object is covered in distracting dust (which is not an aesthetic feature) and the angle does leaves lots of elements showing. The lighting is flat and falls off to the left.
Metal - composition better, but subject matter lacks real interest.
Darkness - experimental/non traditional photography has to be very good to work well here. It is not aesthitically pleasing (third lines are missed), it looks like an accidental exposure, and it does not really stand by itself.
Construction - extremely flat lighting, sign is not aesthetically pleasing (scratched), colour might have been better used in contrast to something else, say a wide angle shot emphasising the contrast with the green woods.
Deicisions - good subject matter, but subject centred (should be on the RHS, as the eye naturally moves in the direction pointed by the signs, meaning you need more space on the LHS. Picture too small.
Granular - I think your best photo here - but subject matter controlversial (shouldn't matter, but does), all angles point oput of the image (for me). large black area at bottom is wasted space - need to use it better somehow, I think.
Most of all, practice!
Hope this helps! Best of luck for your upcoming entries.
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07/06/2005 11:03:22 AM · #7 |
legalbeagle,
Great advice for anyone.
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07/06/2005 11:20:49 AM · #8 |
From just a glance at your profile, I have one piece of advice. Concentrate more on taking a great photo and less on meeting the challenge. Obvioulsy you still need to meet the challenge, but the images I saw were pretty much just taken to meet the challenge (i.e. both shots of the signs are pretty much just dead on photos of a sign).
Note this probably means entering less challenges, but honestly that was a good thing for me. I was spending all my time trying to meet challenges I wasn't shooting what I like to shoot.
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07/06/2005 12:26:28 PM · #9 |
Thank you guys... this really help me... Specially legalbeagle and Sandy P...
thks...
cya |
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