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12/01/2005 03:47:12 PM · #1 |
Well, I have been trolling this site for about 2 years now. I have entered 60 challenges now and I have never won a ribbon. I have, however learned a lot from this community.
I have learned all kinds of photoshop tricks that have made me grow as a photographer. When I first joined I was shooting with a Sony f717. I quickly knew that I wanted an SLR, but knew nothing about it really. So, my trolling the forums and asking lots of questions helped me learn all about lenses and different camera bodies and all other kinds of hardware issues. For all of this I am thankful.
I think that this site is wonderful in raising a photographer's awareness of what makes a good shot. I know when I started, I didn't think much about what was in my backgrounds or colors that might be there that would be distracting. This site has made me think of things in a very different way. I am very greatful for the creators of this site for making such a great place for a person to learn from.
I have learned over time though to take votes with a grain of salt. I have submitted some aweful photos, I know. But I have also submitted some that I am very proud of. None of which have ever ribboned. When I take photos, I imagine how they will look framed and mounted and hangin in a gallery. That is my goal and has been from the first time I picked up a camera. I don't think that this site lends well to this kind of art. It is gearing more and more toward commercial art instead of fine art with a few exceptions.
I bring this up because one of my dreams has become a reality. On tuesday, I entered my first juried art competition. Guess what? I GOT 1st place!!!! I am very excited and proud. What is funny is that I used a shot that I had entered here on DPChallenge. From this site I got a 6.273. Not a bad score at all, but not a winner by far. It was this photo.
I loved this photo and I especially loved the solar flare. Most of my comments said that the solar flare was an imperfection. I though that the solar flares made the shot a more organic photo instead of another tree on a mountain.
So now I have won a great deal of money from this picture that couldn't place on a virtual contest and I feel like I have been right all along. Sometimes emotive forces are more powerful than "technical" prowess, and a mixture of the two can be powerful. My low votes don't mean that I am a bad photographer, just not what voters here want to see, and that is okay.
I will continue to participate on the site, but I was worried that I really did suck and I just justified it by saying "oh, those voters just don't get it" but now I know I'm right. lol. Just wanted to share my joy and express my feelings to you. Thanks for reading this long post.
drake
P.S. I also got honerable mention in this contest for the photo I entered in my free study here. It is currently pulling in a whopping 4.8! At least I made some money from the winnings, and the photos will be hung in a gallery for the next two weeks. |
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12/01/2005 03:50:37 PM · #2 |
Awsome job drake! It just goes to show that what the people in dpc like doesnt necissarily tranfer to the outside world. Not that is a bad thing. We all have preferences that may differ from others. Congrats to you!
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12/01/2005 03:51:28 PM · #3 |
Congratulations.
BTW, I like the lens flare. I have one I took on vacation where the flare is much more prominent than in yours and love that one as well. As you stated, it adds dimension to the image.
Good luck with future competitions.
Message edited by author 2005-12-01 15:51:43.
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12/01/2005 03:55:17 PM · #4 |
| Wow Drake, that is awesome news...congrats! :) |
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12/01/2005 03:55:57 PM · #5 |
congrats, drake! i know how you feel...the same thing happened to me with this photo. 16th place with a score of 6.4 here at DPC...First place in a juried competition at the Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney, TX.
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12/01/2005 03:57:07 PM · #6 |
thank you laurie, that means a lot to me. It really does.
drake |
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12/01/2005 03:58:29 PM · #7 |
Happens ALL the time.
There are many photographers on this site who make their living from photography who never have and probly never will ribbon. What we shoot here...it's a different thing. :)
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12/01/2005 04:13:04 PM · #8 |
Congratulation on winning the contest. While most of what you say has very good basis, it seems as though you dumping way to hard on the contests and scoring at this site.
You're comparing the two, but are all things equal?
What's the caliber of the contest?
What's the caliber of other entrants?
What quantity of entries are there?
What about judging? Are they your piers? Are they looking
for something specific? Do the have an agenda to meet?
How many are judging? The fewer, the less of an audience you
have to appeal to.
While scores are nice indication of your skills, they are definately not absolute. In reality they are only an indication of where your photo compares to your piers' in one specific challenge, in some cases being judged by hundreds of different standards.
Look for indications other than scoring and ribbons, for judging your talent.
sp
Message edited by author 2005-12-01 16:33:24. |
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12/01/2005 04:21:57 PM · #9 |
Drake-
WAY TO GO! You should hold your head up high and be VERY proud of yourself. I do agree with you, this site is VERY awesome but sometimes can get to you as an artist. I know I've had my ups and downs here and I've only been around for a short time. Keep up the good work!
Best regards,
Steve
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12/01/2005 04:30:07 PM · #10 |
Ya know Drake, it's good that you have finally realized that this site is only good for those photogs that want to learn more.
OR
For those photogs that want quick gratifacation.
OR
For those photogs that just want interaction with their fellow man.
DPC is a good site, but, because of the looseness of its format, there can never be anymore than subjective responces to anyones work.
IF my submissions are a 5.0 or better, then I know I have something to work with in my real world. IF it goes the other way, it's a dog.
Good job on winning your contest. Never give up, never give in.
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12/01/2005 04:31:47 PM · #11 |
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12/01/2005 04:38:42 PM · #12 |
That's great, Drake! There's a lot of validity in what you've said, but there's one thing that's worth remembering:
In DPC you are being judged very much on how your image relates to a specific challenge topic. Many, many images that have objective merit (if there is such a thing in aesthetic judgments) don't score as well as they might because they are not, perhaps, as "good" a response to the challenge topic as the winning images. This isn't a "bad" thing, it's just the rules of the game.
For example, this recent shot of mine is one of the very best images I have shot in the last year, IMO, but it was not considered to be a good fit in "cheater". I'd argue that point (the image is flipped vertically, so it is "not playing by the rules") but that's neither here nor there. The image scored below 5, but it pulled 9 favorites and I'm sure it woudl do well in a real-world, juried exhibition.
I've learned not to pay too much heed to DPC scores; it's nice when my vision and the voters' perceptions align to produce a high score, but it's not the primary goal for me.
Again, congrats on your win. I love the flare in that shot, and I gave it a high score myself :-)
Robt. |
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12/01/2005 04:46:49 PM · #13 |
Congrats Drake! That's super! (I'm entering my first juried competition this month... eek!) I'm happy with the shots I'm entering regardless, but I'm hoping to have a similar result to yours!
WTG again congrats! |
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12/01/2005 04:57:10 PM · #14 |
Congratulations and what a beautiful photo. You express my sentiments exactly. I learned tons on this site and I've gradually learned to develop a thick skin and either take criticism for what it is worth or with a grain of salt.
I guess one thing I find somewhat sad is for the people who register and enter their first competition only to be totally shot down by voters. There's something not right about that. I realize we don't know if it is a person's first time or not, but positive criticism is soooo much less hurtful than comments like "what in the world were you thinking!" I've come across some of those first timers' photos and guess what? They never enter another photo and think we're a bunch of dickheads (to put it bluntly). Anyway that is just my opinion, but I feel badly for them. (Example: there was one young lady from Brazil I think, with difficulty using English, and you could tell she was hurt by the comments. She actually apologized).
But not to take away from your glory. Way to go, you have to be on cloud nine!!!!
Message edited by author 2005-12-01 16:59:08. |
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12/01/2005 09:46:57 PM · #15 |
thanks for the feedback. All very true. I think I mostly wanted to post that in case there were others in my situation. It gets depressing to enter time after time and get very little reckognition. I just want others to know that there are other places that appreciate different kinds of work.
drake |
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