Edit Yourself!! - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

02/24/2003 08:26:54 PM · #1

I have been away from DPChallenge.com for quite some time now. I returned this weekend and decided to participate in the current Despair Challenge. I had an idea, worked to make it, and submitted it.
Now seing the large amount of photos (202) and current content in the challenge, I can only remember so well why I didn't come back for so long.
I mean, come on! People, EDIT thyself!
Shouldn't it be the first thing a photographer learns?

It's been discussed over and over again on these forums, I know. But let me ask you this: what are the two main reasons for this web site's existence? Isn't it to:
1) stimulate your creativity by meeting a challenge in photography with the goal of being at the top three? It is, after all, DPChallenge.com ...
and
2) learn with each experience from your final position and the comments/forum dicussions in order to surpass yourself everytime?

If so, then why submit a photo just for the act of submiting a photo? - last minute photos that more often than not fall under the category of shots taken at the last minute because you forgot about the challenge and you're thinking hey I should probably shoot the first thing that I see around me, something real fast, something, anything, and whatever it is let's include it in the challenge because I told myself I will submit to every single challenge and too bad if I don't really invest myself in the process of shotting this picture it doesn't really matter.

Well I think it does matter. By doing that, it's clugging the challenge with so much useless images, it makes the voting and commenting process a real pain.

Who am I to be the judge of what should be submitted or not? No one. It's true. I'm in no position to judge.

But it sure should be your job as a photographer to question yourself before submitting your photos.

That's what I think anyway.

DrJOnes666

Message edited by author 2003-02-24 20:31:39.

Anachronite

Sony DSC-S85

02/24/2003 08:32:04 PM · #2

ditto..

heh, although I am guilty too, shame on me!

Message edited by author 2003-02-24 20:32:40.

David Ey

Nikon D80

02/24/2003 08:35:33 PM · #3

are you saying the quality is lacking in this group?
I sure don't think it is.

hardwaybets

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

02/24/2003 08:40:54 PM · #4

I personally have not submitted anything for the last two (member and registered user's) challenges...not a creative bone in my body on these last two challenges. Sometimes I think folks here submit for the sake of submitting. That, IMHO, is counter-productive.

tcherring

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

02/24/2003 08:45:38 PM · #5

I think you're right to an extent, but I also think there's only so much you can do with this topic. This challenge was filled with alot of "sad" people and desperate situations, but isn't that what despair is? I think this was an easy challenge to submit to because candids worked here too. I personally thought there were alot of great submissions - in fact - thing looked pretty bleak after looking through them all! LOL! I agree that "just any" photo isn't the way to go, but with a topic like this, any style was acceptable in expressing the mood.

The part I do agree with is the huge pain in voting! That is a TON of submissions to vote on! I guess sometimes we'll run into this and sometimes we won't, but I do think it's important to vote if you submitted a photo, afterall, you want people to vote on yours too.

Sorry you're frustrated - I see your point, but this one topic is a hard one to complain about.

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

02/24/2003 08:49:30 PM · #6

I wholeheartedly agree. People who submit just to submit are not doing themselves any favors and are often wasting time of others in the group.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/24/2003 08:49:44 PM · #7

Originally posted by DrJOnes:

But let me ask you this: what are the two main reasons for this web site's existence? Isn't it to:
1) stimulate your creativity by meeting a challenge in photography with the goal of being at the top three? It is, after all, DPChallenge.com ...
and
2) learn with each experience from your final position and the comments/forum dicussions in order to surpass yourself everytime?

Perhaps that's your sole reason for being here, but don't inflict it on all of us.

I'm here to learn, sure, but I'm here mostly for fun. And if I don't submit, I'm not having fun.

I have submitted to every challenge since I joined the site at the beginning of August, and I have voted on every single image during that time. What's the big deal? If you don't want to participate to that degree, that's your choice.

Some of my submissions are admittedly "last minute," and that's fine as far as I'm concerned. I still maintain a 5.7 average overall, so I don't think it's hurting too badly...

jimmythefish

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/24/2003 08:53:07 PM · #8

I must admit to being a little disappointed with the quality of the images this week...lots of very contrived images implying suicide, and people huddled in corners with their faces in their hands. It may show despair, but what comes across in a lot of cases is people desperate for a shot and falling short..

timj351

Sony DSC-F707

02/24/2003 08:56:39 PM · #9

So you are saying, Dr JOnes, that you know the skills of every single photographer and so you know exactly what they should be capable of and what their intentions are? You say, "Who am I to judge?" Right after you have judged the skills and capabilities of everyone in the challenge. I assume the majority of photographers here are entering photos because it is fun and they are learning from the experiences. We are not all pros and our skills will vary as well as our opinions. I think for most of us that is part of the fun. Please lighten up on everyone and just enjoy learning more about photography.

T

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/24/2003 09:00:59 PM · #10

Originally posted by DrJOnes:

you should just worry about yourself...become a member and you won't have this "problem"

justine

Canon EOS-50D

02/24/2003 09:06:13 PM · #11

Dr Jones if you could poll each person that entered a shot this week, most would tell you they like _their_ shot.
It is after all a learning process.
p.s. Welcome back to the group
p.s.s. I didn't enter the despair challenge.

Message edited by author 2003-02-24 21:13:12.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

02/24/2003 09:14:18 PM · #12

Originally posted by alansfreed:

[I have submitted to every challenge since I joined the site at the beginning of August, and I have voted on every single image during that time. What's the big deal? If you don't want to participate to that degree, that's your choice.

Some of my submissions are admittedly "last minute," and that's fine as far as I'm concerned. I still maintain a 5.7 average overall, so I don't think it's hurting too badly...

I didn't mean to put emphasis on the last minute thing. Last minute doesn't mean bad photo. It was more a figure of speach to show that some thinking must go in selecting the photos we submit to the challenge and obviously, a lot of the photos didn't get much of that.

You're right though. Maybe I'm not at the right place.

DrJOnes666

Message edited by author 2003-02-24 21:22:44.

myqyl

Nikon D3100

02/24/2003 09:19:46 PM · #13

Several folks have commented that my shot doesn't show despair. I respect their opinion (although I disagree). However, I don't see where you get off deciding that no one without your interpretation has the right to participate here. You should worry about what you submit and let me submit what I feel is appropriate.

02/24/2003 09:21:55 PM · #14

Originally posted by timj351:

I'm not saying I know the skills of everyone. It is only my hope that everyone can aquire the ability to judge their own skill in the context of a challenge. The rating process starts by rating your own photo before you submit it.

DrJOnes666

02/24/2003 09:23:54 PM · #15

i agree that the quality of a lot of the submissions aren't that hot, but how does that affect your image? it can only help your score, since after all this is dpchallenge and you are no doubt trying to win as you stated above. the cream of the crop will rise to the top of the standings and these "bad" photos can only help your cause. my only guess is your picture isn't doing that well this week and you are just spouting off. i find that even though my photography still isn't that great, pressuring myself to submit to every challenge has raised my own bar, and i would assume that is how it goes with most here. people start at different places in photography though, just give them a chance. you don't have to vote on all photos either.

02/24/2003 09:23:58 PM · #16

Originally posted by myqyl:

There's a lot more to a photo than just meeting up with the challenge's theme.

DrJOnes666

02/24/2003 09:28:40 PM · #17

Originally posted by achiral:

Actually, my photo is doing quite well this challenge. I'm not just spouting off.

I'm glad to hear submitting to every challenge helped you. Good for you.

DrJOnes666

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

02/24/2003 09:30:40 PM · #18

so what's your point then, you're just intolerant? not really because i've seen your photos. so what is it then?

Digipixer

Canon Power Shot SX10 IS

02/24/2003 09:32:28 PM · #19

So ---where have you been? Tied up,in a cage??
:-)

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/24/2003 09:43:29 PM · #20

Stripped of all the people taking offense though, the basic principle is sound and something that is really hard to learn.

Most people don't edit enough, they certainly don't edit harshly enough - take a wander through pbase and you'll find plenty of galleries where people have put every single shot they took of a particular thing, rather than doing any editing.

I'm not saying you shouldn't enter challenges if you don't think you are going to win, but perhaps if you don't think the shot is any good and you don't think you're going to learn from it, do you think you'll have fun watching everyone tell you that and getting a low score ? Editing is a hard skill to learn.

David Ey

Nikon D80

02/24/2003 09:45:10 PM · #21

some only like 'the dark side'

Gren

Fujifilm FinePix 3800

02/24/2003 09:53:54 PM · #22

Starting to submitt to this site has increased my awareness of the importance of post processing. The first thing I submitted (for the yellow challenge) was something I had taken a while before, and was just like "Oh, that sort of fits". so I cropped, compressed and uploaded. And it did really, really bad. Since that I've been trying to become more professional about my submissions.

Corey

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

02/24/2003 09:54:00 PM · #23

I agree Gordon, your harshest critic should be yourself. If you can't judge for yourself find someone you can trust that isn't affraid of hurting your feelings and ask them what they think before just submitting something. If we don't keep trying to get better we are just wasting your time.

Annida

Olympus C-4000Z

02/24/2003 09:56:57 PM · #24

Well, I know a lot of my pictures are not up to par with a lot of the others here, but I'm learning; and still blaming my camera for the inability to focus on anything; but I'm learning about composition, and other things that are important in photography, and even though mine look like last minute submissions, they're not! I spend hours working on these photos that I submit. It's kinda devastating to get low scores, but at least I tried.