DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Why did this photo rank so low?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 20 of 20, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 01/21/2003 12:44:27 PM · #1
I decided to rate the Landscape challenge last week, because I'd submitted to it and I hadn't had a chance to vote on any challenges for 2 or 3 weeks while I was traveling. I only got to rate about 85 photos though. Even still, I decided to go through the results and find the lowest ranked photo that I'd given a 10, just as an exercise. It was this one, 'river view' by kblm:



This is the comment I gave it:

"This is a different, refreshing photo. It seems to glow in black and white, and there is a lovely marriage of bark textures and the twigs against the snow and the darker background of trees. 10 from me!"

I found it very appealing. It gave a strong feeling of actually being in a forest, looking through the trees, and the tonal qualities of the image are beautiful. It has a soft focus feel to it, but I think that works perfectly. I can never quite understand why it is that a photo I love ranks really low in the results. Just out of interest, I'd like to know what other people think of it. It ranked 200th out of 219 photos, and only received 7 comments.

I hope kblm doesn't mind me doing this!
 01/21/2003 12:49:32 PM · #2
That tree is in the way. I feel like chopping it down.

01/21/2003 12:51:25 PM · #3
I think that there are simply too many foreground objects for this to work. Looking at it, I'm not really able to absorb either the foreground or the background with much success. The foreground is often used landscapes as a tool for perspective and balance, and is often most effective as a simple object. The trees here probably don't hold a lot of interest for the casual viewer, and could be construed as simply blocking the view of the lake. It's not overly sharp, either, which subtracts from the overall effectiveness.
 01/21/2003 12:51:39 PM · #4
I didn't particularly like it because of the lack of sharpness and detail. The contrast in the detailed areas is rather weak to suit my taste.
01/21/2003 12:53:12 PM · #5
Too much stuff in the foreground, not sure what the subjectis. Kind of lacked sharpness.
 01/21/2003 12:55:06 PM · #6
Originally posted by Sonifo:
That tree is in the way. I feel like chopping it down.


Doesn't that tell you something? Maybe the photographer wants you to look at the tree! It has beautiful, silky smooth bark with horizontal grooves and little protrusions that catch the light, throwing interesting little shadows.

I actually have a book called "Pen and Pencil Techniques" or something like that. It takes you through some drawings step by step to teach you different rendering techniques. One drawing is a lot like this photo, and the amount of work that goes into creating the effect of different textures of bark, caught by dapples sunlight is intense. Things like a tree trunk can be beatiful photo subjects.
 01/21/2003 12:55:10 PM · #7
I think for the most part, a black and white shot like this needs to be crystal clear and sharp. This was too soft for my tastes.
 01/21/2003 12:58:04 PM · #8
It is cluttered to a certain extent. If you look at the major components of the scene, there are several strong vertical lines (the trees) and several strong horizontal lines (the background trees, the water, the snow, the sky)

The strong vertical light coloured tree and the strong horizontal dark coloured strip of trees might work well, but the dark thinner tree on the right anchor the picture strangely and lead straight out of the frame.

I think maybe the problem was it is hard to tell what to look at, as the foreground and background are both graphically strong elements but compete for attention.

There is nothing wrong as such with this image, but the compositional elements make it hard to take in the real intent of the photographer.

The 'non-standard' approach to landscapes and some slight technical issues might also give people who vote on these things in that way, something to latch on to and vote the picture down, but I think the slightly confused design elements probably hurt it the most. I hope the photographer doesn't mind this intense scrutinty in the forums!

Message edited by author 2003-01-21 13:05:20.
 01/21/2003 01:04:29 PM · #9
I like this one. Not every picture has to be completely sharp to be good. A lot of really great photos are soft. I like the glow of this picture and find it to be much more interesting than the photo that got 1st place which I found to be VERY VERY VERY boring. No offense to the photographer, I appear to be the vast minority on this opinion.

I am still kicking myself for the picture that I selected this week. Maybe all of you would find the one that I think I should have posted to be too soft, but I like the effect. If anyone wants to look at it here is a link.

You will have to copy the link and paste it into your browser because I can’t figure out how to make it work but here it is anyway.

[Link removed]

I guess it takes all types to make the world interesting,

Greg

Message edited by ClubJuggle - Removed link to poster's challenge submission.
 01/21/2003 01:07:19 PM · #10
greg, you might want to reconsider posting this link ... you show your actual submission, too, and many people frown upon revealing your image before the challenge is over.

i love your out-take btw.

Message edited by author 2003-01-21 13:08:45.
 01/21/2003 01:40:52 PM · #11
Originally posted by franziska lang:
greg, you might want to reconsider posting this link ... you show your actual submission, too, and many people frown upon revealing your image before the challenge is over.

i love your out-take btw.


I agree with Franziska. Some people actually go out of their way to mark down a photo if it has been discussed during the voting. I did not go to the link cause I prefer not to know.
It may be safer for your image to not reveal it during voting.
~Heather~
 01/21/2003 01:51:59 PM · #12
I liked it too, but gave it a six. This was my comment, "Nice composition. Too soft IMO, but does have an interesting feel to it. Lots of good tones." I have started to go back and choose as favorites any photos that ranked low but that I had scored high. That way the photographer knows that I enjoyed it enough to choose it as a favorite. There weren't any that fell into this category this time around and I am working on past contests.
01/21/2003 02:29:30 PM · #13
Why should this image have done better?
 01/21/2003 02:35:18 PM · #14
Lisea, What are my eyes looking at? The cut up trees. Do I like it? No, because I don't see a clear landscape. I thought that was the challenge. That is just my opinion. Would I like it if it wasn't for the challenge. hmmm...I would give it a 6, because the person did capture the texture in the trees very well. I do like the b/w. I wouldn't give it a 10, because the trees are cut off, which lead my eyes out of the photo. Sorry I didn't exsplain myself better. :-)

Oops! The trees are a little out of focus, maybe due to jpg artifacs.

Originally posted by lisae:
Originally posted by Sonifo:
That tree is in the way. I feel like chopping it down.


Doesn't that tell you something? Maybe the photographer wants you to look at the tree! It has beautiful, silky smooth bark with horizontal grooves and little protrusions that catch the light, throwing interesting little shadows.

I actually have a book called "Pen and Pencil Techniques" or something like that. It takes you through some drawings step by step to teach you different rendering techniques. One drawing is a lot like this photo, and the amount of work that goes into creating the effect of different textures of bark, caught by dapples sunlight is intense. Things like a tree trunk can be beatiful photo subjects.


Message edited by author 2003-01-21 14:36:57.
 01/21/2003 05:11:01 PM · #15
if the trees are meant to be the focus, the background is too distracting, and vice versa.

but it's a good photo. composed very well. i would have given it at least 7 (maybe as high as a 9) if i had time to vote anymore.
 01/21/2003 05:48:10 PM · #16
I am not fond of the composition, personally. Seems to be split down the center horizontally too... but the countless twigs disrupt the checkered pattern. Too many things competing for attention. The soft focus doesn't appear to add to the shot. For some reason it doesn't communicate to me. I gave it a 6... a half point better than the median.
01/21/2003 05:53:39 PM · #17
I don`t want to beat about the bush. There`s a bloody tree in the way.
 01/21/2003 07:31:31 PM · #18
This has been an interesting discussion :). Thanks. And thanks to kblm for the interesting photo too!
 01/31/2003 09:44:55 PM · #19
Lisae,

Hmmmmm... Image quality and goodness are in the eye of the beholder. Your eye is definitely different from mine.
 02/01/2003 06:56:08 AM · #20
"Too much stuff in the foreground, not sure what the subjectis. Kind of lacked sharpness."

I agree with this, I didn´t wote on it due to lack of time, but I think I would have given it a 3-4, it just isn´t that interesting.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 07/23/2025 05:10:42 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 07/23/2025 05:10:42 PM EDT.