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12/28/2005 09:11:52 AM · #26 |
Out of the 3 challenges I have entered so far, none of them have been shot for the purpose of DPC, they have all just been pictures I have taken and then noticed they would suit a challenge afterwards. I think about the only way this site could improve a photographers abilities is to help people to learn how to shoot a style they know others would find pleasing that they may not have taken themselves previously. I have heard countless times that these challenges are harsh voting wise, and that the people here have a certain style of photography that they like (majority wise anyways) and that those styles of pictures tend to win. This site could possibly help people to break away from their mold if this DPC style of photography isn't their norm, but besides that I can't see it offering a whole lot of improvement as the critiques are generally very simple with not a whole lot of insight on ways to improve. There are many other forums that offer better insight into improvement, I tend to look at DPC as entertainment.
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12/28/2005 09:11:53 AM · #27 |
definitely improved ..
it has helped me expand my horizons and make images of things i would not have thought about ...
i could probably do without the forums .. they kill tomuch time and are addictive ;) |
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12/28/2005 09:38:33 AM · #28 |
As with anything, the degree of improvement depends upon your level of dedication and interest. Merely joining the site won't have much of an effect, but active participation in the challenges, comments and forum discussions can make a world of difference. I joined last year and knew very little about the equipment, techniques or principles. The Rule of Thirds, shallow depth of field, custom white balance and bouncing the flash were all new to me.
Fast forward to today: I can now get any shot I want using ALL the settings on my camera. I recognize the shortcomings in my legacy photos. I can score over 6 almost at will, and can at least be competitive in the topics that interest me. I've had challenge entries swiped and posted on web sites in other countries. I've had cold calls from people asking to use my shots in print, and I've eliminated the need for an outside photographer at my office. I'd call that improvement! ;-) |
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12/28/2005 09:56:05 AM · #29 |
I have only been a member for about a month. Just recently got my camera (wanted one for years, but finally broke down) I have entered 2 challenges, but I have read every comment and looked at almost every picture on the site (ok pretty close) Compare my 2 entries
First Entry
Second Entry
I have been trying to pay attention and learn from what others say. I even got comments on how to fix the first one and played with it some, and put a different version in my portfolio.
DPC gets you taking more photos and experimenting more, learning more. So IMO, yes, you do get better. (Not that I have gotten remarkably better, but just an example on the subject)
Message edited by author 2005-12-28 09:57:51. |
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12/28/2005 09:56:59 AM · #30 |
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12/28/2005 10:12:47 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by BradP:
Better to the voters or better to yourself is the main question. |
Brad's right on, and in many ways, I thank him because he was the one to really instill that focus on me. I was having a tough time with results in 2004. A few shots I took were way out of the box but got trashed in scoring. I was disheartened. Meanwhile, 2005, has not been my greatest year. I am not as happy with some of my entries. But those entries were one's where I am not happy because I couldn't really quite get the technical levels to deliver the shot as I intended. But I usually wasn't too disappointed with the scores.
On the flip side, I've received quite a few comments regarding my photography skills and even how they've improved over the past year or so. (And that from someone who used to do a lot of studio photography.) So yes, I've improved. Has my score avg improved greatly? not really, but my knowledge and my photography in general is much improved.
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12/28/2005 10:17:29 AM · #32 |
I think I have improved technically. Now I understand most of the photography terms and have used the techniques to help me portray what I wanted to.
I have also improved with the dpc-voters with my average challenge score getting higher. I am not a very creative person and I rely on getting the photo done technically right to get a better score.
personally, I am not sure, I think I have improved in composing the shots better. I wish I could get more creative and artistic, but well there should always be things you can only hope for ;)
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12/28/2005 10:25:29 AM · #33 |
I think you get out of something what you put energy into.
Sort of like school, the teachers or classes that bore you to tears probably won't teach you as much as the interesting ones. Get involved here at whatever level you like and you will learn more than just participating for something that doesn't interest you.
Scoring well here is of interest to most (including me..it's human nature) but I will admit that it doesn't matter to me as much as it used to. I will enter shots that years ago I would not have...mainly just to see the reaction to a technique or a subject...sometimes just for the h*ll of it :-)
I still learn...but more of it is me teaching me than someone else teaching me....a lot like school :-D
Message edited by author 2005-12-28 10:26:48. |
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12/28/2005 10:55:40 AM · #34 |
It's a question I have been thinking about. I have only entered 4 challenges in the 6 months I have been here and the last one was the only one shot specifically for the challenge, the other three I took anyway because I liked the image and IMO matched the challenge description after the fact.
While I certainly appreciate the comments I have on all the entries (my real motive for entering anything), I am not sure what to make of the score been so much higher on the last one for what was a contrived/setup shot - percentiles for my 4 entries are 16 -> 27 -> 31 -> 72, so it's a decent jump.
Maybe the last one is just a better shot regardless of the intent of the capture but to me it's not as good as there is nothing behind the image. The images I really love are the ones that make me aware of the things outside the frame.
I don't think I am going to start seting up each entry (it's not the way I like to shoot) but the benefit of the challenges to me is thinking about the topic - most I don't enter but I still think about the topic and how I would capture it and I learn a lot from how others capture that topic.
To cut a long story short (too late really), I think there are 2 parts to participating here - I certainly learn things that no doubt go into making better photos (both technically, composition, light e.t.c.) but if the aim is to get a better score then you need to cater to the local taste (sharp, bright, no-grain e.t.c.). Nothing new, just know your audience. |
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12/28/2005 11:01:12 AM · #35 |
Originally posted by robs:
...to get a better score then you need to cater to the local taste (sharp, bright, no-grain e.t.c.). |
Um... not sharp, deep and contrasty, grainy and wonderful-
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12/28/2005 11:11:18 AM · #36 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
Originally posted by robs:
...to get a better score then you need to cater to the local taste (sharp, bright, no-grain e.t.c.). |
Um... not sharp, deep and contrasty, grainy and wonderful-
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I agree, that is a great image. There will always be images that score well that don't fit the normal theme; my point is that IF the aim is to score well, there seems to be a general direction that will be easier than high contrast, grain images (I know grunge has been popular as well recently). |
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12/28/2005 11:12:41 AM · #37 |
There are two photographers here on DP Challenge that are two of my favorites and I am going to single them out here to make a point about DP Challenge and voting.
The first is Manny Librodo Jr. or librodo. I think he may be one of the most talented photographers to ever shoot a photo here. I have taken his photos to people in my industry and I have been told by people that have been published in Newsweek, Time and National Geographic he is great.
Samples of his work (although most know his work)
  
Manny also does very well in challenges and his work is very traditional and perfectly executed.
Another photographer here that is equally talented and has a beautiful style with a different subject matter is Beatrice Di Febo or Dax-
Samples of her work..
  
My point...Two different approaches yet...without question....incredible work so there is lots of room here at DP Challenge for a wide range of style and approaches to beauty.
Message edited by author 2005-12-28 11:13:35. |
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12/29/2005 06:21:52 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by hokie:
Another photographer here that is equally talented and has a beautiful style with a different subject matter is Beatrice Di Febo or Dax-
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Thanks of heart for the wonderful words Scott! :) |
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01/02/2006 07:24:57 PM · #39 |
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01/04/2006 08:51:07 AM · #40 |
Just got my score in from pattern. In my case, dpcers do not get better. I will never get better, no matter what I do. I thought my shot was wonderful, I have even looked at others that did better, and I can't believe it came in so low. I need help. If anybody is willing to take me on, to be my mentor, please help me. I want to do better, but for some reason I can't. What is it? What am I doing wrong? I am crying here. Please, I beg anyone, help me do better. I propose to take pictures, send them to my mentor, and then they can discern for me what I need to do. Does anybody have the time for this?
Message edited by author 2006-01-04 08:53:41. |
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