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10/26/2005 02:38:34 PM · #1 |
I've seen a lot of discussions here (and elsewhere) about how to get out of a photography slump. Well, I'm in one, so this is what I'm going to do:
There's 2 months left in this year, and I need one more ribbon to equal my 2004 ribbon output(3). So I'm swinging for the fence on every pitch :) I'm going to (try to) enter every challenge from now until the end of the year (unless I ribbon, then I'll stop). 10 challenges.
Of course, the potential of killing my average score is very high ... but so what - I've decided to shoot my way out of my slump. I hate it that I've taken so few pictures over the past couple months (my photo a day project looks like swiss cheese with all the holes in it).
I openly admit that I've completely lost my way in terms of what it takes to ribbon here ... and sometime the results confuse and annoy me ... but you can't win if you don't play.
Who's with me? |
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10/26/2005 03:32:05 PM · #2 |
ok ... so ... no one's with me
sweet :) |
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10/26/2005 03:36:09 PM · #3 |
I was in a slump for what seemed like a lifetime. The past couple weeks, I've shot more than I have in the last 6 months or more. Kind of a renewed interest I guess. Now I have to enter some challenges again and see what happens.
I guess everyone gets slumpified eventually ( yes I know it's not a word) and you can either wait for your inspiration to return or try to shoot your way out if it like Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. |
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10/26/2005 03:36:27 PM · #4 |
I try to enter challenges where I think I might score okay, then I get the usual low scores. So, what the hell!! I'll go for every challenge with you, if I remember :)
Steve |
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10/26/2005 03:42:08 PM · #5 |
I would love to ribbon but I am a realist. I am still learning how to control several factors in my pictures like exposure, positioning, lighting, and yes, even composition. I have entered every challenge this year just so I can keep practicing, improving and getting some feedback (comments) that will point me in the right direction.
Hopper, you've got some wonderful pictures and if you are in a slump, its not obvious to this novice.
I will ribbon next year (still a realist!) hee hee! |
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10/26/2005 03:46:49 PM · #6 |
I want to enter as many challenges as possible, but always seem to be short on ideas. Entering anyway hasn't been working that well for me - my scores lately have been dreadful. But I'll keep trying.
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10/26/2005 03:55:14 PM · #7 |
I'm in a slump too (with the exception of "What!?"). I've decided I just can't interpret the challenge anymore, 'cuz I am so far in left field it is not funny, but it is obvious to me . . .
I like your idea of entering as many as I can (two a week) and am trying to do that currently. However, all these mid-4's are hurting me. I did discover one thing about myself though. I enter at dpc for the score. I have other places I can go for artistic expression. Yea, that's it. hahahhaha
I'm blaming my camera. I think it is wearing out. (Is that possible?)
Message edited by author 2005-10-26 15:55:42.
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10/26/2005 03:58:07 PM · #8 |
I'm in major ruts-ville. I ribboned on my fourth challenge and have been back in the top 10 twice (not recently) and have been stuck in the 5's ever since.
Due to time and life constraints, there's no way I'm ever gonna be able to enter all the challenges remaining this year, but I am trying to take tasteful, artful pics to enter (meeting the challenge head on is nice, but I'm never going to nail it), and hoping for an appreciative response from the voters.
Good luck hopper. I'll be pulling for you. Maybe I'll meet you in the top ten sometime soon! |
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10/26/2005 04:02:59 PM · #9 |
strangeghost, don't go the artful, tasteful route, just done that with Delicate and it is gonna be brownsville!
Your astro stuff is great, keep trying that in challenges.
Steve |
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10/26/2005 04:09:35 PM · #10 |
Hopper, I will join you with a couple of buts (not my butt - don't go there :))
Your priority seems to be to ribbon. As you can see from my challenge entries, I don't care about a ribbon. ;) So, if I don't have to worry about ribbon winning shots, I'm there!
The second but I don't remember but it was really important. I'm having a sugar rush right now so I'll have to get back to you later. :)
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10/26/2005 04:17:10 PM · #11 |
I don't care. I think I'm a great photographer (So does the magazin that's going to feature me next month) and no score will change that, for more than a week at least.
You shouldn't make an internet site your major priority, especially if you're serious about photography. DPC contests aren't that important actually, I mean you don't win anything and the only acknowledgment you get is from other photographers whom don't really care about this that profesionally. You don't really get that much, expect that big feeling of satisfaction. Anyway just relax, don't think it over, make art no matter what (And if it happens to fit the challenge enter it!) and have fun ranting in the forums!
Originally posted by dahkota:
The second but I don't remember but it was really important. I'm having a sugar rush right now so I'll have to get back to you later. :) |
Me too, how weird is that? I have been rambling about the same thing for an hour! I have no idea what I'm talking about but I haven't even eaten sugar today!
Maybe it's late. Maybe it's cause my soccer team just won. Maybe... No you shoot up.
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10/26/2005 04:19:32 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Formerlee:
strangeghost, don't go the artful, tasteful route, just done that with Delicate and it is gonna be brownsville!
Your astro stuff is great, keep trying that in challenges.
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I know it's doomed to keep me in the scoring rut, but I'm much happier taking a photo I LOVE and having it stuck in the middle, than taking a photo I think should ribbon and having it stuck in the middle. Like hopper says, I have no idea anymore what will ribbon. I think all my shots are pretty good (with a couple of exceptions that I'd rather have erased from my record), I just have no idea how they'll actually do.
The astro stuff is something I'll always do, but probably not enter into too many challenges, unless there's a major artistic element to it, like my entry to "hope" last year:
I loved this image, and it didn't do badly, but what I should have done is take the approach taken by more recent photographers:
 
One a ribbon winner and the other surely would have been if it had been a challenge entry. |
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10/26/2005 04:23:53 PM · #13 |
I think 'first star..'is a great photo.
I just liek looking at your shots, so post them in challenges, I know who's they are :)
Steve |
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10/26/2005 04:37:18 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by karmat:
I'm in a slump too (with the exception of "What!?"). I've decided I just can't interpret the challenge anymore, 'cuz I am so far in left field it is not funny, but it is obvious to me . . .
I like your idea of entering as many as I can (two a week) and am trying to do that currently. However, all these mid-4's are hurting me. I did discover one thing about myself though. I enter at dpc for the score. I have other places I can go for artistic expression. Yea, that's it. hahahhaha
I'm blaming my camera. I think it is wearing out. (Is that possible?) |
Hey Karmat, I got an idea for you (and for the rest of you who consider "out of the box" a badge of honor). The next challenge that comes along, thing of the most cliche picture to fit the challenge. Now use your creative energy to give a new spin to that idea. I know you have enough talent that I will almost guarantee success. |
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10/26/2005 04:49:36 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by karmat:
I'm in a slump too (with the exception of "What!?"). I've decided I just can't interpret the challenge anymore, 'cuz I am so far in left field it is not funny, but it is obvious to me . . .
I like your idea of entering as many as I can (two a week) and am trying to do that currently. However, all these mid-4's are hurting me. I did discover one thing about myself though. I enter at dpc for the score. I have other places I can go for artistic expression. Yea, that's it. hahahhaha
I'm blaming my camera. I think it is wearing out. (Is that possible?) |
Hey Karmat, I got an idea for you (and for the rest of you who consider "out of the box" a badge of honor). The next challenge that comes along, thing of the most cliche picture to fit the challenge. Now use your creative energy to give a new spin to that idea. I know you have enough talent that I will almost guarantee success. |
Right! so we get a clicky photo, like a switch? or something and then we add that to the spin dryer and get all here to work together, cos that's just about the total talent at the moment, well mine anyway and get a great photo. Sounds easy to me, thanks DrAchoo :)
Steve |
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10/26/2005 05:13:30 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Originally posted by karmat:
I'm in a slump too (with the exception of "What!?"). I've decided I just can't interpret the challenge anymore, 'cuz I am so far in left field it is not funny, but it is obvious to me . . .
I like your idea of entering as many as I can (two a week) and am trying to do that currently. However, all these mid-4's are hurting me. I did discover one thing about myself though. I enter at dpc for the score. I have other places I can go for artistic expression. Yea, that's it. hahahhaha
I'm blaming my camera. I think it is wearing out. (Is that possible?) |
Hey Karmat, I got an idea for you (and for the rest of you who consider "out of the box" a badge of honor). The next challenge that comes along, thing of the most cliche picture to fit the challenge. Now use your creative energy to give a new spin to that idea. I know you have enough talent that I will almost guarantee success. |
Maybe that's the problem. I'm "out of the box" and didn't mean to be, or know that I was. Is that possible? It's not like I was trying. Honestly, I have really felt that my past several entries were obvious at meeting the challenge.
I am having some technical issues (noise, exposure, focus) that really do seem to be the camera to some degree. Getting a new one is out of the question right now (unless we agree to go without food, house payment, diapers, etc)so hopefully, I can find a workaround--soon. :)
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10/26/2005 05:32:39 PM · #17 |
HOw do arrive at 10 challenges left? We do 2 a week, and I count (maybe) 8 weeks left. There might even be a speed challenge or something thrown in, so figure 17 challenges to go.
I also think the worst way to break a slump is to grind out 17 entries in 8 weeks. It almost has to stifle creativity and kill the fun. |
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10/26/2005 05:56:46 PM · #18 |
you tryin' to make me cry?
:)
and yeah, seems i miscounted ... great
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
HOw do arrive at 10 challenges left? We do 2 a week, and I count (maybe) 8 weeks left. There might even be a speed challenge or something thrown in, so figure 17 challenges to go.
I also think the worst way to break a slump is to grind out 17 entries in 8 weeks. It almost has to stifle creativity and kill the fun. |
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10/26/2005 06:06:58 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
HOw do arrive at 10 challenges left? We do 2 a week, and I count (maybe) 8 weeks left. There might even be a speed challenge or something thrown in, so figure 17 challenges to go.
I also think the worst way to break a slump is to grind out 17 entries in 8 weeks. It almost has to stifle creativity and kill the fun. |
Where I rather disagree with this. Forcing yourself to be creative and think to meet the challenges is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. When I need ideas I ask the whole family over dinner and we brainstorm out different ideas.
Go For It Hopper, I'm with you, unless I get to busy with my new business over the holidays! :)
Deannda |
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10/26/2005 06:10:44 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by hopper:
I've seen a lot of discussions here (and elsewhere) about how to get out of a photography slump. Well, I'm in one, so this is what I'm going to do:
There's 2 months left in this year, and I need one more ribbon to equal my 2004 ribbon output(3). So I'm swinging for the fence on every pitch :).... |
hopper you know the first rule of baseball. When in a slump don't swing for the fence, just get a base hit and the homerun will come. In other words - back to the basics.
But then again who am I to say, I have never ribboned :)
Message edited by author 2005-10-26 18:14:45. |
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10/26/2005 06:54:30 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by Ennil:
I don't care. I think I'm a great photographer (So does the magazin that's going to feature me next month) and no score will change that, for more than a week at least. |
You're featuring in a magazine? Nice!
What's the article about?
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10/27/2005 02:38:13 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
Originally posted by Ennil:
I don't care. I think I'm a great photographer (So does the magazin that's going to feature me next month) and no score will change that, for more than a week at least. |
You're featuring in a magazine? Nice!
What's the article about? |
Me :P I won this kind of contest and was featured in the gallery so the magazin saw my picture and is going to feature my portfolio next month. See it pays to be out of the box.
Originally posted by karmat:
Maybe that's the problem. I'm "out of the box" and didn't mean to be, or know that I was. Is that possible? It's not like I was trying. Honestly, I have really felt that my past several entries were obvious at meeting the challenge. |
I do agree that they meet the challenge, I actually like most of the ideas you got. Which just means that DPC doesn't like them.
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10/27/2005 02:41:14 AM · #23 |
| I'd love to do that, but I just don't have the time. I'd love to say I'm in a rut, but I'm just not up to par with what I consider a good score. I'd be in a rut if I really ever got good score in the first place. I'd love to submit every challenge, and perhaps, just get better, but with work and school, I'm lucky to submit to a challenge a month. |
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10/27/2005 02:48:37 AM · #24 |
| Let me just say screw ribbons. Just because you aren't winning contests doesn't mean you are in a rut. Sure, if you aren't shooting at all, which sounds like the case, you may just be in a rut, but a rut has nothing to do with DPC. DPC may even be the cause of your rut. Catering to the mass dpc market may just not be your thing and constantly looking here for validation of your vision may become frustrating. If you are truly in a photography rut my suggestion would be to start a short themed project that you can do outside of dpc with no pressure of ribbon winning. Winning ribbons is fun but it should have nothing to do with what you like best. Trust me, I know, I find most of my ribbon winning photos rather uninteresting personally. They're nice but far from my favorites of my own work. Now go out there and take some photos! |
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10/27/2005 02:50:01 AM · #25 |
Originally posted by Ennil:
Originally posted by jhonan:
Originally posted by Ennil:
I don't care. I think I'm a great photographer (So does the magazin that's going to feature me next month) and no score will change that, for more than a week at least. |
You're featuring in a magazine? Nice!
What's the article about? |
Me :P I won this kind of contest and was featured in the gallery so the magazin saw my picture and is going to feature my portfolio next month. See it pays to be out of the box.
Originally posted by karmat:
Maybe that's the problem. I'm "out of the box" and didn't mean to be, or know that I was. Is that possible? It's not like I was trying. Honestly, I have really felt that my past several entries were obvious at meeting the challenge. |
I do agree that they meet the challenge, I actually like most of the ideas you got. Which just means that DPC doesn't like them. |
Woohoo......how awesome!!! Congrats Ennil!!
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