| Author | Thread |
|
|
05/22/2006 10:18:45 PM · #1 |
what are the things you have observed about DPC voters?
what makes them tick? what do they dig in a photo? what ticks them off? |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:20:13 PM · #2 |
| Small pictures tick everyone off. |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:21:20 PM · #3 |
in my experience, everything tiks them off
(not kidding)(serious face)
-Dan
Message edited by author 2006-05-22 22:21:41. |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:21:51 PM · #4 |
sharp images... mass appeal... uniqueness... that's the secret ;)
|
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:23:02 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Rikki:
sharp images... mass appeal... uniqueness... that's the secret ;) |
wow, from the guru himself :p
Yes, I do agree about the sharp images and uniqueness, but mass appeal, care to elaborate? |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:25:11 PM · #6 |
| I've given this question a lot of thought, and here's what I think;) |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:26:49 PM · #7 |
| so what is the preferred WB of DPC voters? |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:27:12 PM · #8 |
DPC voters reward images with high scores having these three qualities:
1-Immediate image impact.
2-High technical quality in legal photographic submissions regardless how they are achieved.
3-Unabiquously meet the challenge.
|
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:28:39 PM · #9 |
That is a lot of thought. You don't have the cliff notes available do you? :P
Actually, I'm just illustrating the short attention span of the typical voter. I on the other hand take great care in voting! :P |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:34:11 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by crayon:
Originally posted by Rikki:
sharp images... mass appeal... uniqueness... that's the secret ;) |
wow, from the guru himself :p
Yes, I do agree about the sharp images and uniqueness, but mass appeal, care to elaborate? |
guru? heh! ya right ;)
here's the guru ;)
Originally posted by scalvert:
Are you stuck in the 4-5 scoring range? Not getting the comments you need to improve? People speak in hushed tones about a 'recipe' for winning ribbons on DPC. Well, I've managed to smuggle the faded blueprints out of Iceland to share with you all.
DPC offers excellent tutorials on camera technique, but nothing to help you decide WHAT to shoot. This IS a photography site, but concept is king. It says so right in the voting guidelines. Of course, a poor shot of a good idea isn't going to ribbon. You do have to understand your equipment and good photography principles, but the focused challenge is what makes this site special! That National Geographic photo of a green-eyed Afghan girl wouldn't top 4 in an Architecture challenge.
Your challenge:
Shoot an Endangered Species Capture a photo of something for the benefit of later generations who may never see one.
It seems like every challenge spawns one or more forum posts where people pick apart the wording of the challenge description and argue over what does or doesn't fit (electronic vs. electric... puh-lease). As soon as the topic ventures into unfamiliar territory, people get confused. What to do?
First, read the description carefully and try to understand the general direction of the topic. Each description is a guideline, not a shopping list. Think about what the author might have intended, but don't read between the lines for instructions that don't exist, and don't get hung up on possible definitions for each word. What can you think of to fit this challenge?
Obviously, you could go to the zoo and shoot any number of rare animals. This being a photo site, some people will setup a film camera as their endangered subject. Others will look at old tech... cassette tapes, floppy discs, etc. Clean water could be endangered. Maybe your shot isn't a physical thing, but a concept like manners or compassion. So how do we pick a ribbon winner?
Clearly, a recognizably rare animal would work. A Bolivian mushroom might be endangered, but more people will recognize a tiger. If you have access to a condor or rhino, it would be foolish to ignore it (NEVER ignore a rhino). Remember that this is the most obvious choice, so a common shot isn't going to cut it. You must find something extraordinary in such a commodity to stand out from the crowd. Perhaps your shot emphasizes the tiger's small cage or isolation, maybe it's a close-up of the tiger's eye with a teardrop, or you might even seek out a zookeeper for a chance to catch them caring for a cub. NOW you're making a visual distinction between tiger and endangered animal! Can't you just feel your score rising?
Don't have a Whooping Crane handy? Can you substitute a stuffed animal? Well, no. Unless you can fool everyone into thinking it's real, don't even try it. Toys usually fail because they scream "amateur." Look at past entries that scored in the 3.5-4.5 range and you'll find them filled with whatever objects the photographer found handy around the house. Voters recognize a lack of effort and the punishment is severe. Any of the above ideas can work IF you can clearly show the endangered aspect. Don't assume that your audience will understand the concept- it's your job to communicate it! Show that old film camera being used as a wheel chock, shoot a broken phone booth with trash cans under it. Convince your audience that these things won't be around much longer. Make sure your subject is universally understood as endangered, and stands out from others who might choose the same subject. Whatever you select, don't just set it on a table and take a picture of it- boring shots get low votes and few comments. Winning shots aren't just photos, they tell a story.
What if I dress up my pet Chihuahua and enter that? The conventional wisdom is that voters don't like kids and pets. Not true. Both are well represented among the favorite photos on this site. The trick is to do something special with common subjects. If you just plop Snowball on a couch and snap a pic that looks like your aunt Mabel could have taken it, you might as well tie a boat anchor to your score. Seek out uncommon poses, unique lighting and original situations. Check your camera settings carefully and shoot in burst mode- you won't get a second chance with high-energy subjects. Look at the work of Heida, Librodo or Sonifo. Note how they capture the emotion with technical perfection. You must do no less.
I've seen lots of folks complain that thinking outside the box doesn't work. Nonsense. Take a photo of a forest that's been clear cut down to stumps with any wild animal in the distance. Capture an old native artisan practicing a dying craft. Those are ribbons. A little imagination will open up a world of possibilities for any challenge, and voters often appreciate a refreshing break from the obvious. As long as the challenge connection is clear (without explaining it in the title), you're in good shape.
So what about the titles? Avoid repeating the challenge description. Use similar terms that will add to your image. "Last of the X," "Farewell X," or "Where have all the X gone?" You get the idea. The title is another opportunity to connect with your audience and inspire some feeling or insight. Don't waste it by restating the challenge or simply identifying the obvious. Your title is the icing on your digital cake.
Final tips: Simplicity is your friend. The fewer things a viewer has to look at, the easier it is to guide their attention. Eliminate anything that doesn't enhance your photo (including distracting elements, borders and special effects). Flaws like poor focus, crooked horizons and odd color balance are favorite targets for point deductions. Make sure your shot isn't wearing one of these "kick me" signs, and you'll be scored on the photo rather than the mistakes. Good luck! |
|
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:42:17 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by stdavidson:
DPC voters reward images with high scores having these three qualities:
1-Immediate image impact.
2-High technical quality in legal photographic submissions regardless how they are achieved.
3-Unabiquously meet the challenge. |
I would add, unambiguously meet the challenge while avoiding clichés and interpreting the challenge description uniquely. No small task. |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:51:09 PM · #12 |
"NEVER ignore a rhino"- Scalvert
best piece of advise you'll ever need :p |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 10:54:56 PM · #13 |
| Voters like Yo-Yo's in their faces! |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 11:09:41 PM · #14 |
Voters favor the 5. You have to give them a reason to vote on either side of it.
|
|
|
|
05/22/2006 11:12:45 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Voters favor the 5. You have to give them a reason to vote on either side of it. |
Wow, well said. |
|
|
|
05/22/2006 11:19:29 PM · #16 |
| make it look like an ad in a magazine and they will like it. most of them aren't even ashamed to admit that. |
|
|
|
05/23/2006 12:28:24 AM · #17 |
Never stretch a title to fit a photo to a challenge. In fact, never use a challenge-title-word or a challenge-description-word in your title. If you are tempted, use a staple gun and attach your big toe to the floor so you can't reach the keyboard. n.b. the pain will also distract you from your temptation!
Message edited by author 2006-05-23 00:29:25. |
|
|
|
05/23/2006 01:46:31 AM · #18 |
| I heard they like cheese. |
|
|
|
05/23/2006 01:49:05 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by meanwile:
I heard they like cheese. |
oh noooo... they absolutely HATE cheese!
|
|
|
|
05/23/2006 01:50:54 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by meanwile:
I heard they like cheese. |
oh noooo... they absolutely HATE cheese! |
 |
|
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: 09/24/2025 12:43:12 PM EDT.
