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03/14/2006 12:47:24 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by ursula:
Then again, I may just grow out of the need for adrenaline :) |
Hopefully you'll never be chased by a bear. ;^) |
Little bears follow big bears :)
Edit: Sorry, too cryptic. "ursula" means bear, or sometimes I like to think "little bear". And I chased a big bear down a road in my car last year, for about 50 metres, but I couldn't follow her into the ditch.
Message edited by author 2006-03-14 12:48:52. |
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03/14/2006 02:09:22 PM · #27 |
Originally posted by ElGordo:
DPC is rather a popularity contest instead of a skill contest. Whatever subject and style appeals to the voters most is what wins, regardless of the photographer's skills. |
I think ElGordo has hit the nail on the head here... DPC is a bit like all the recent TV programmes like Pop Idol ('American Idol' for those across the water). The winning photos aren't necessarily what some people would choose, in the same way that untalented people can get a long way in Pop Idol, simply because they are popular with the voters.
If you want to learn to be a good singer, entering for Pop Idol (and even winning it) won't neccesarily be a good way to go about it, but it's probably good fun.
Challenges on DPC are great fun (why else would there be so many entries?) but not really a great way of learning a lot of the time. |
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03/14/2006 02:21:03 PM · #28 |
I think it also can depend on how someone goes about things. If I read tutorials, keep my eyes open for people using a technique I'm not familiar with, and such, I'll learn more than otherwise.
There are probably a good number of ways to learn that are more efficient than DPC. But the "fun" aspect that people mentioned is a huge draw for me. I'm a beginner, and DPC is the first real step I've taken to improve the quality of my photos. It didn't start out that way though - it just started out as fun.
And having fun (as well as encountering so many people who are willing to share techniques and encouragement) makes me want to spend time working on learning things. Because photography is a hobby for me, and a hobby I don't spend a huge amount of time on, I might not go to a site that, for example, could help me learn things in a shorter amount of time but that wasn't fun for me.
I hope this makes sense - basically what I'm trying to say is that, while there might be more efficent ways for DPC to help people learn, if that comes at the expense of fun it might not be worth it.
Edited to add:
I do think that Gordon has good stuff to say about the importance of sometimes thinking deeper than just a one-week challenge, and I realize there wasn't an original argument to change anything about DPC.
Message edited by author 2006-03-14 15:36:00. |
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03/14/2006 03:19:55 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by scales:
Challenges on DPC are great fun (why else would there be so many entries?) but not really a great way of learning a lot of the time. |
John (scales) - I'm not picking on you personally. Your statement seems to sum up where this thread appears to be headed.
Not sure why, but I feel like I need to defend DPChallenge here.
I've read many times in threads on this site how people have learned so much. You see it frequently, "Thanks DPC, I would have never done this without you...", etc...
Over the past 16 months I've entered roughly 130 challenges. Can I claim to be a photography expert - heck no. Can I say I've grown and learned in my hobby? YES! You know the main thing that participating here has given me? Confidence, with a capital C!!!
I've tried so many things and attempted such a wide range of subjects with a camera that I feel like I could go out and do anything with my camera now. No, I'm not going to sell a million prints or set the photography world on fire with some amazing new vision - but I can capture a decent image of just about any subject you ask me to.
I'm not really sure what the point of this thread is. Should we turn our backs on weekly challenges? Should we pooh-pooh the ribbon winners and say "Glad to see you got lucky this week?". Sorry, not me. I'm not quite that high and mighty yet to look down at what hundreds of people enjoy doing here at DPChallenge every week. If I ever get to that point I hope I have the fortitude to walk away, wish everyone well, and venture off on my year(s) long photography sabatical.
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03/15/2006 10:58:18 AM · #30 |
Digital Quixote was wondering Where do Transcendent Photographers Go?
Gordan, I think, has explained why the best outgrow the challenge system and go of to do their own thing. |
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03/15/2006 11:07:06 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Can I claim to be a photography expert - heck no. Can I say I've grown and learned in my hobby? YES! You know the main thing that participating here has given me? Confidence, with a capital C!!! |
Exactly. It is up to each one of us the decide if we want to participate in any or all challenges, we are free to do as we please.
The idea of challenges that go on for a 2 to 4 weeks is not a bad one. The Icelandic site has always a challenge that runs for a month, hoping to make a calendar for next year with the 12 winners.
Weekly challenges surely do not mean that there is no place for challenges that are for 2, 3 or 4 weeks. |
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