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02/19/2003 01:16:32 AM · #1 |
What have you learned since joining DPChallenge?
Bob
Message edited by author 2003-02-19 01:16:48.
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02/19/2003 01:29:32 AM · #2 |
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02/19/2003 01:30:31 AM · #3 |
| Definitely getting more in touch with the way other photographers think. Before I studied in isolation, now I have interaction with other minds. |
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02/19/2003 01:43:43 AM · #4 |
| Slowly but shurely I'm getting there.Nice place for Photographers education! |
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02/19/2003 02:34:10 AM · #5 |
Well before DPC I had my camera for 9 months and had never taken a picture with anything but the automatic setting... since joining DPC, I don't even remember the last time I used the automatic setting... so learning to use my camera's functions is a definate... I have also learned to look at the world around me in a different way... I have learned to see beauty and interest that I didn't really notice before.. and I have a greater appreciation for the things that I did notice... I have also begun learning to use corel photo paint... a program I never even thought to use 6 months ago... I still have a long way to go, but I am getting better with each challenge... I have also rekindled my love of artistic expression, a side of my personality I had not exercised in years... and last but not least, I have in my own humble opinion, learned to take better pictures... thanks DPC!!! And thank you all for making this such a kick a** place to hang out! You guys rock!
~Jeff
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02/19/2003 02:51:03 AM · #6 |
| I would say that I haven't really learned any single technical skill that I didn't know before... but what I have learned is how to communicate an idea more clearly to a wide range of people. This means using all those technical skills in a different way than I did before, back when I only cared about pleasing myself. |
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02/19/2003 03:04:26 AM · #7 |
I had just started getting seious about photograhy at the same time i joined this sit. OVERAL AND EVEN THOUGH my challenge scores dont reflect this, I beileve that i have become a much more knowledgable and experienced photographer.
I love to take photos. of everything. Ya id say im getting fanatical.
Before joing i didnt know what depth of field was or composition or exposure or hardly anything. This is the greatest hobbie{ and i am only calling it a hobie until im good enough to call it my prophesion} i have ever done
Thank you so much dpchallenge. again thank you so much dpc. you are the man.
Ps I would like 1 XXlarge 1 large and one small dpc t-shirts and i dont care if they cost $20 bucks each. I want them. Thanks, Kevin
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02/19/2003 03:08:10 AM · #8 |
I have learned everything I know here.
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02/19/2003 06:46:10 AM · #9 |
I had bought a HP 315 camera to take snapshots. I stubmled upon this site and found people like me, amateurs, taking great pictures. So I bought a Canon Powershot G2 in July 2002 and started submitting to this site. I had absolutely no idea what aperture priority and shutter priority were. I had never had an interest in photography before buying my cameras. I learned alot from the forum posts and a lot from feedback on my pictures. I still have a lot to learn, however I'm pleased with the support I've had from other members and with the improvements I've made so far.
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02/19/2003 08:06:35 AM · #10 |
The biggest thing I've learned is how nice and informative the others on this site can be!! I learned a ton about lighting and post production. Even though I took photo classes years ago, it is amazing how much I had forgotten. I find that I had slipped back to near "snapshot" quality shots of family and such. My most recent shot of my much-loved kids was a 6 point entry in Cliche. HERE
I find that the most important thing I've learned is a new appreciation for looking at thing around me. Photos seem to jump out from places that they never would have before. A perfect example is my entry into Rhythm this week. I never would have taken the shot that I entered or probably never even seen it. The challenges and friendly competition is great but the benefits are much more. |
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02/19/2003 08:22:15 AM · #11 |
I'm with Ben -- I've learned everything here. A couple of highlights:
I finally figured out what the heck "DOF" is.
I've learned the TREMENDOUS difference between a snapshot and a photograph.
I've learned to not depend on Photoshop (so much) and how to manipulate advanced camera settings such as aperture and exposure.
And, most importantly, I've learned that my score means absolutely nothing and should NEVER EVER affect how excited I felt when I first uploaded a photo to this site.
Rob |
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02/19/2003 09:34:29 AM · #12 |
I like this thread... It's nice to see what people really think that DPChallenge has done for them and how it has improved their work...
I have owned a film camera for about 4 years. I never used it for anything but album snapshots. I never really considered photography as an expressive medium. I really had no idea what could be done with a camera.
I talked myself into buying a digital camera in May of 2001. I bought this camera so I could take as many snapshots as I wanted and only print the ones I liked. I could also share them with friends and family a lot easier.
I discovered DPChallenge in March of 2002. When I saw this site, I had just purchased my current digital camera. I decided to give 'artistic' photography a try. When I arrived here, the 'Architecture' challenge was being voted on and the "Curves" challenge was in the waiting. I had never used my film or digital camera in any mode other than point and shoot at this point.
I think that DPChallenge has taught me how to get the most out of my camera by making me explore the features it has. I have also learned about photographic composition on this site. I never knew how much impact can be created by applying simple 'rules' of composition when necessary.
Another great thing I have learned from DPC is how to 'view' photography. When I look at a photograph now, I look for certain aspects that I would have never noticed before. I look for the photographer's intent... I look for light... I look for shapes... I look for interesting patterns... textures... I look for elements of the image that make it 'speak'. I look for emotion... In the past, I never looked at a photograph for any more than first glance impressions.
Through the process of learning how to get the most out of my camera, I have also developed technical skills that I would have never dreamed possible. I feel that DPC has taught me how to make technically good photos.
Has the learning ended? Not quite....
I'm currently in the process of learning how to take photos that inspire emotion in the viewer. "Emotive" photos seem to be a challenge for me. Most of my work in the past has been cold... They could be technically OK, but they don't seem to inspire comments about how they made a viewer 'feel'.
The process will continue. If you watch certain photographers here over a period of time, you will see the learning in progress. You will see an evolution in their work.
If I had not found DPC, I would still be taking my snapshots... It's funny how someting like this can change a personal philosophy in less than a year :)
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02/19/2003 10:32:31 AM · #13 |
I've been pretty much attached to a camera since birth, but this site has been a real eye-opener -- literally!
The site has helped me to open my eyes to stuff that is around me every day, but I don't necessarily "see" it all the time. Who knew there were so many different yellow things around me... so many interesting squares, windows, signs and so forth.
That's one of the most interesting aspects of the site. Every week is a new opportunity to "see" something that is near me all the time, but I get a chance to see it in an artistic way.
I've learned an awful lot about how to use the camera better as a tool, too. Probably the most significant thing I've learned from a compositional aspect is to remove clutter from shots. Keep only the necessary elements of a shot, and do whatever is possible to get rid of distractive elements. |
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02/19/2003 11:07:38 AM · #14 |
DPChallenge has encouraged me to explore both techniques and subjects that I wouldn't have even thought of otherwise.
I only had my camera for a short while when I entered the curves-challenge. It ended somewhere at the bottom of the list, but it was a real eyeopener to me: It made me realize that I should not be satisfied with a photo to soon and that I should look at subjects from different angles. It also learned me to deal with negative critiques and that I can't expect that others look at my pictures the same way I do.
So that's what I've been doing since. Sometimes it pays of, sometimes it doesn't :)
Most important though, is that thanks to DPChallenge I'm having fun!
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02/19/2003 11:07:48 AM · #15 |
| The importance of post processing. |
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02/19/2003 12:28:28 PM · #16 |
Ive learned to keep my mouth shut...or at least be careful of what I say.
I've also learned quite a bit of tips and techniques from this site, there are many excellant photographers here whom I hope to learn much from in the future. |
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02/19/2003 12:39:24 PM · #17 |
| Patience, endurance, fortitude, persistence, humility, humbleness, modesty, objectivity, tolerance, creativity, balance, composition, contrast, colour, and a true and real sense of community and camaraderie, all with folks from all over the globe sharing a common goal of how to have fun with cameras. Sounds like a good deal to me. |
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02/19/2003 12:49:23 PM · #18 |
I've learned about eveerything I know about photography from this site. I got my first camera in August and took a trip to Bryce Canyon NP for the weekend with it. I took some photo's down there and thought they were the best thing. I searched the net for photography contests to enter in some of my shots. I ran across this site and have been addicted ever since. Since, I've learned all the technical side of photography, and that my photo's of Bryce weren't as good as I thought they were. Since, August and thanks to this site, I've gone out and bought a D100, and this weekend I may even be shooting a Wedding!
Thanks DPChallenge!! |
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02/19/2003 12:52:25 PM · #19 |
I owned a point-n-clicky digicam for 3 months then discovered this site when I got serious about photography and upgraded to my 602. Actually, I knew about dpc a lot sooner but figured it was out of my league (which it is, but I since realised you don't have to be the greatest to have fun here).
I doubt I would be anywhere near as competent with my cam if it wasn't for this place. I knew nothing about the manual settings, and very little about composition, but I reckon the biggest thing dpc has taught me is to practice, practice, practice! |
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02/19/2003 01:45:05 PM · #20 |
Photography is about light. If the light is bad, the shot will be bad. All you have to do now is work out what 'bad' means.
Seems that is often the thing that differentiates the good shots that do well here - seeing light is the one thing I've tried to pay the most attention to - most people hardly notice it.
Message edited by author 2003-02-19 13:45:53. |
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02/19/2003 01:52:53 PM · #21 |
I learned so much here I could never list it all... Probably the most important thing I've learned is to look closely at "everything" that will be in the picture. Not just what will be the main focus.
I've also learned everything I know (admittedly not much) about digital darkroom processing. I had never bothered with it before. Now I've learned all the DPC legal stuff :)
And how to do set up shots (well, still learning)... Never attempted one before this site.
Most importantly, how to convince my wife I needed to upgrade my camera :)
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02/19/2003 02:10:33 PM · #22 |
I have learnt a lot for sure. Like John all I did before I found this site was just taking snapshots for years.
Since I joined DPC I've learnt to see everything around me with completely different eyes. My wife seems to have caught on as well cos she is always telling me "Wow, that would be a great shot!" So these days I'm having to stop the car all the time to take photos of some sheep on the side of the road or something.
Anyway I now know too take the lens cap off before shooting, point the camera away from me and to ask people to take their photo instead of getting bonked on the head. |
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02/19/2003 03:04:02 PM · #23 |
I have learned that taking pictures is more then aiming and clicking. It is studying your subject, using proper lighting, getting the right angle, and using the camera settings to create a work of art. And understanding what others enjoy seeing. Learning to please others is a tough one and takes lots of creativety and thought.
One week I think I have learned all there is to learn and then we get a new challenge which challenges my skills and makes me think.
I still take snapshots and always will, but I am pretty proud that I know how to take better.
Message edited by author 2003-02-19 15:04:57.
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02/19/2003 03:34:42 PM · #24 |
I've learned many things since joining this site but I think the biggest thing is patience. Having lots of it will allow me to be thorough and remember what I need to do and having none of it will easily cause me to overlook something important. The other important thing I've learned, but still screw up at, is to be aware of what's around me, photographically. All too often I have been too focussed on a particular theme or element that I have overlooked a great photograph right behind me.
T
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02/19/2003 03:35:42 PM · #25 |
Wow, I am not sure I could even begin to start. I happened upon dpc one night while surfing the web, and have been here ever since (literally, my husband thinks). I guess it will suffice it to say I knew NOTHING about photography before, and now I can hold a conversation with a photographer and know what they are talking about!
I guess the one most important thing I've learned about photography, is get closer to your shot, frame it, and then get a little closer!
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