why a place 155 out of 325 - DPChallenge Forums

10/05/2005 09:35:37 AM · #28

What is with all this whining about the DPC look. The photos that finish near the top are there because they are very good photos, or at the very least the best of the lot. They place high because they have most of the elements that make for good photos; composition, exposure, creativity, et. Most of all they have a good deal of thought put into them. Instead of whining about your score, your placement or "the DPC look"(whatever that is?), learn from your photo and seek to improve the next time around.

Give the voters a little credit for reconizing a good photo and voting it appropriately. We are not just all sitting around looking for this fictional "DPC look" to vote tens to.

I just left a couple of pretty big turds in the last couple of challenges, but I'm certaintly not going blame the voters. I'm just going to blame the big papa turd that took the picture, and try to improve. You know, what this site is about...getting better!

10/05/2005 10:15:02 AM · #29

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by azoychka:
To say 'plenty lot of originals out there' is a slight exaggeration. DPCer's sure like the magazine look. Unfortunately, this 'look' most often lacks originality.

No exaggeration - Just depends on what you choose to see and open your mind to. Everything is original in it's own way.

I've seen your post's before - how you want to twist this is up to you. My observation has been stated...back to work now. ;^) Have fun!

I'm sorry I haven't seen your posts. Anything of interest? What does 'everything is original in it's own way' mean?

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/05/2005 10:18:49 AM · #30

Originally posted by pekesty:

Instead of whining about your score, your placement or "the DPC look"(whatever that is?), learn from your photo and seek to improve the next time around.

Give the voters a little credit for reconizing a good photo and voting it appropriately. We are not just all sitting around looking for this fictional "DPC look" to vote tens to.

I just left a couple of pretty big turds in the last couple of challenges, but I'm certaintly not going blame the voters. I'm just going to blame the big papa turd that took the picture, and try to improve. You know, what this site is about...getting better!

Sorry about your scores, but I have never whined about my scores! Ha ha, sorry not a big priority for me. I am glad you want to improve, that is a commendable thing. I guess most modern photography is about 'magazine' shots etc.....

conglett

Nikon D70

10/05/2005 10:20:50 AM · #31

I don't think the point of view hurt you as much as the subject matter. It's more abstract than the average voter is going to appreciate. In looking for an explanation for a sandy barrel on the left and driftwood on the right, one has to think.

Voters tend to respond well to photos that don't challenge them, but have a high degree of gloss and instant appeal. Here is where you decide whether it is more important to shoot for yourself or this particular voting audience.

Welcome to the Decision: Artistic, or Commercial? :-)

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/05/2005 10:28:05 AM · #32

Yeah! All you darn DPC voters need to get your head screwed on straight. Quit voting the photos you like to look at high and start thinking! DPCer's wouldn't know Art if he hit them in the hear with an L lens!

:)

bcoble

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

10/05/2005 10:33:11 AM · #33

I find the subject matter a little dull. However as you see my photo's I shoot for myself, and I take whatever the DPCers have to offer. Oh well! It appears to me that there are many standard photo's that do well here as well as some of the really odd balls do well. I think the problem is it is in the air at any given time. Its a plot from the DPC god! Maybe Slippy can figure this out.

UNTITLED

Canon EOS-20D

10/05/2005 10:35:19 AM · #34

What does "magazine look" mean? I've never seen a bad photo put on a magazine, or even a kind of OK photo. "Magazine look" sounds like another word for "DPC look." Are these the photos that are better than ours, hence we title them this way?

10/05/2005 10:39:21 AM · #35

Originally posted by pekesty:

UNTITLED

Canon EOS-20D

10/05/2005 11:33:03 AM · #36

They are technically very good. They are most often aimed at 'hooking' you to buy something. They are prettyish etc but I guess I desire something else too! Something with more substance than 'fast food' photography..... [/quote]

I don't really think we're really diagreeing with each other here so much as maybe just making two different points. I'm saying that when peoples scores tank, they just go for their crutch, and say "my photo just wasn't in the DPC mold." I think that your saying, winning photos tend to be similar, trendy. Something new comes along that wows us and we try to emulate it(i.e eyes & scarves). But we just have bare with that until the next genious comes along and creates the new mold. Happens in every artistic venue; music, movies, etc. Right now glossy(prettyish) is king. Correct me if I've misread you.

Question to ponder: Would you consider Heida's photos to be "magazine look," she's won a whole bunch of ribbons?

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

10/05/2005 11:48:04 AM · #37

Originally posted by pekesty:

I don't really think we're really diagreeing with each other here so much as maybe just making two different points. I'm saying that when peoples scores tank, they just go for their crutch, and say "my photo just wasn't in the DPC mold." I think that your saying, winning photos tend to be similar, trendy. Something new comes along that wows us and we try to emulate it(i.e eyes & scarves). But we just have bare with that until the next genious comes along and creates the new mold. Happens in every artistic venue; music, movies, etc. Right now glossy(prettyish) is king. Correct me if I've misread you.

Question to ponder: Would you consider Heida's photos to be "magazine look," she's won a whole bunch of ribbons? [/quote]

I think you are right we are agreeing. Heida is a very good example for my frustration at times. Of course this is my own personal frustration and is not a judgement of anything Heida produces, but she has demonstrated such skill that I guess I want more from her and many other highly polished photographers on this site. Unfair? absolutely. She should do what she wants and feels. That is not for me to determine. However.....I hunger for much much more...............

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

10/05/2005 11:49:25 AM · #38

Decent photo but lacks interest for many. It placed about right.

Brent_Ward

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

10/05/2005 12:42:04 PM · #39

For me it doesn't illustrate "from the ground up" it illustrates "from the ground sidewards".

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/05/2005 12:51:39 PM · #40

It's a better image, in a sense, than its score reflects, but as a challenge response it's not really on-topic in any effective way. It's a shot that has beach, water, and sky in a very normal proportion/relationship to each other, where the topic was essentially begging for a more unique, startling POV.

Robt.

fixedintime

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/05/2005 05:00:19 PM · #41

I think Robt. hit it square on. One thing I have learned in my 2-3 months here is that unless you have a great image it need to be clear to everyone when they look at it that the image is on-topic. Any doubt in the voters minds will lower your score.

The other thing he said " the topic was essentially begging for a more unique, startling POV" holds in most challenges. With that in mind let me mention that a few liked this image of yours and thought it would do better.

I would not be so sure. With the exception of the second place image and one other the multitude of images looking up a tree did not fare very well. I tried one of those and failed miserably to excite the votes and paid the price.

riot

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Helios 40-1 85mm f/1.5

10/05/2005 06:16:05 PM · #42

Originally posted by Ennil:

Because this is DPC and you were supposed to take pictures of a sharp clean sunset.

Nothing creative or orijinal is allowed here. Sorry.

You must be joking. This is the kind of thread posted by, and the kind of comment thrown in by, pathetically embittered individuals who can't find any way of expressing their vision so it appeals to other people, and so take out their frustration by blaming the voters. Here's the news - it's not the voters that can't "see" the secret special magic uberness of your photo... it's just crap and boring. If it's creative, it got voted down for rubbish execution. If it's well executed, it got voted down for banal choice of subject matter and thoughtless perspective.

I never tire of this kind of self-obsessed woundlicking rant. Every time it manifests itself on DPC, it's always someone trying to come to terms with the fact they entered into a contest and got caned, when they thought they should dominate the competition. If you're only here to express your artistic originality and know that nobody else will ever be great enough to understand your unique vision, then why the hell are you submitting your photos for judgment by a mass audience?

ttreit

Canon EOS-50D

10/05/2005 06:38:23 PM · #43

Left a comment on your shot

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

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

10/05/2005 06:52:50 PM · #44

Originally posted by kpriest:

As far as being among your best shots - sort your Challenge entry list by the finish percentile and you will find it is #6 in your list, so you are correct. The numbered score is pointless except as it applies to that specific challenge since it is usually a different set of voters and many voters tend to score things relative to other images within the challenge. I always go by where in the pack the photo finished as a guage to it's success.

I quite agree with this - scores mean nothing except as an indication as to where you are during the challenge ( and I loved getting a 6 recently and hope I'll get more!) but the % really tells you where you are compared with the whole challenge finally and also where it stands amongst your portfolio of entries. My highest previous score was my best but a favourite pic of mine got a higher percentage and I always thought this was the best result and the most pleasing regardless of the lower score. I would like to see the highest challenge places on our profile screens be in this % order too.
P

GinaRothfels

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

10/05/2005 07:52:19 PM · #45

I do think that there are certain types of photos that do better here than other equally good ones. When I go to see photography exhibitions, I often find myself looking at a highly-priced photo and thinking "that would do really badly at dpc".

hblake

Nikon Coolpix 5700

10/05/2005 07:59:19 PM · #46

For me, I have a problem with the ugly crap on the barrel. It negates whatever merit the rest of the picture might have.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

10/05/2005 08:08:59 PM · #47

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Interesting observation. It is so important to be open to many different images and means of expression. Sheesh, not every ribbon photo is great but neither are most poor. The voting and resulting scorehere is not a valid appraisal of a photograph. I hope that voters challenge themselves to see and understand more than the obvious. Risk taking is a wonderful learning experience.

jpeters

Nikon D200

10/05/2005 08:14:47 PM · #48

Originally posted by azoychka:

To say 'plenty lot of originals out there' is a slight exaggeration. DPCer's sure like the magazine look. Unfortunately, this 'look' most often lacks originality.

I wouldn't pin the blame on just DPCer's, this is pretty much how most people anywhere feel. The first thing most people really notice about a photograph is how well it is executed, then the subject. If a photograph doesn't have the best of both, most people's preference will lean in the direction of the technical aspects. I don't think the originality of the photograph in question is why most people scored it as average, I think it was because they thought technical aspects such as contrast could have been improved. And low contrast is hardly that original, I've been taking those shots since I first picked up a camera ;-)

But of course then, who are you taking photos for? Yourself or for DPCers? If a photographer is pleased with his/her shot, then it is a ribbon winner for him/her. But if the photographer isn't pleased, then he/she can get the criticism and advice needed to hone their skills.

Okay, my soapbox will be in the closet for the rest of the evening.