5.664 and dropping! - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/10/2002 03:13:09 PM · #1

My photo was a low 6 at first.. then the reality check came in and my score is dropping steadily. I really cannot complain... I'd give me a 6 too. But why do the scores get lower as the week moves on? You think some of the voters are waiting to see how their scores do before voting on others? Just to se if they could improve their ranking by lowering other people's scores?

Conspiracy theory, I know. Just a thought. :D

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

09/10/2002 03:15:47 PM · #2

I have had scores go both ways through the week... sometimes they rise and sometimes they fall... :)

mci

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/10/2002 03:17:47 PM · #3

My score generally slowly but steadily drops during the week, only to end up about where it started or a little lower. However, the last couple of challenges my score has been going slowly but steadily up, so I'm not complaining. It's just a give and take sometimes.

CreativeFlyPhoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/10/2002 03:21:39 PM · #4

welp kids - heheh ... i had started at a 3.8 or something ... and i'm up to a whopping 4.914 - so i cant complain ... i'd love to break 5 i guess ... or give me more comments!!!!! :)

Zeissman

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/10/2002 03:23:46 PM · #5

Mine usually increase the first few days, and then drop a little.

I really started off poorly this week (4.4), but I am recovering slightly (4.9).

Is anyone getting many comments this week?

I am getting bipolar responses (too much/not enough) - I tried something new.

Too bad, I really like the photo, but I think the challenge element was not strong enough. It is still one of my favorite shots though.

Good luck.

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/10/2002 3:25:05 PM.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/10/2002 03:29:53 PM · #6

My score normally rises when it starts low and drops when it starts high.

Lol, I dunno why I added that useful info to the thread.

/me wanders off, humming.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/10/2002 03:35:16 PM · #7

I thought my pic was more on the creative side, althuogh it was definitely lacking in technical execution. I just don't have good lighting, or one of those little canvas/stages doohickeys. My comments are lopsided, some really like it (I know one gave me a 10, thanks Mom!) and some mention the technical shortcomings. hehe I knew that was coming though.

CreativeFlyPhoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/10/2002 03:45:05 PM · #8

Originally posted by Zeissman:
Mine usually increase the first few days, and then drop a little.

I really started off poorly this week (4.4), but I am recovering slightly (4.9).

Is anyone getting many comments this week?

I am getting bipolar responses (too much/not enough) - I tried something new.

Too bad, I really like the photo, but I think the challenge element was not strong enough. It is still one of my favorite shots though.

Good luck.

Zeiss - i knwo what you mean ... i'm up to a 4.951 i think or soemthing ... i'm getting there - go 5 go 5!! hehehe
i have 4 comments ... those tend to like it .. i'm hoping for more comments by the end of the week - this one is one my my favorites that i've shot ... so we shall see :)

chakkobbo

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/10/2002 03:50:48 PM · #9

I find the score movement fascinating. Every week, it seems I start relatively low, then by the time I get a 130 votes or so, I have a score that is about 0.5 higher (for better pics). Then, miraculously, around Wednesday, the terrible drop begins....then in the end, I will pop up about .1 or .2...

This is pretty darn consistent every week, so now I am coming up with all kinds of theories about this. For example, just after midnight, all the frustrated photographers throw out some real low votes, so the next morning, the start is dismal. By Tuesday, people have gotten over their weekend hangovers so they start voting nicely. Then by Wed, they are really fed up with work and tired, so they start dropping those good scores.

This would be a great sociological analysis...wouldn't it? Useful too....

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

09/10/2002 04:04:18 PM · #10

Originally posted by bamaster:
I thought my pic was more on the creative side, althuogh it was definitely lacking in technical execution. I just don't have good lighting, or one of those little canvas/stages doohickeys.

Okay bamaster...ghetto studio 101!!

For a "stage" get a big cardboard box that tv's come in and people throw away at circuit city. Get 2 or 3 different sizes. Cost..they are free!!

Go to an art store and buys some nice sheets of art paper..they come in 2 foot x 3 foot sheets at about $3 each..buy a variety and go to town!! These sheets will sit on top of your ghetto boxes and you will curve them up at the back to get that "infinity" look.. Total cost about $10

Now the lights..( I stole this idea from John Setzler).
Go to Lowes or some other hardware store and get 2/500 watt halogen worklamps. The small portable ones are ..get this $10 each!!! Woohoo!!! I bought a small $10 one and a $30 one on a stand cause I wanted to be more "pro" :-) Total cost is $40.

So..for about $50 I have a killer ghetto setup!!

I have a graphics class I teach at the high school a couple times a week during the school year and the first thing I get the students to do is build their ghetto studio!!

RedRuthann

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

09/10/2002 04:12:31 PM · #11

I've been reading through some of these threads and seems that people want comments, but I've also noticed that people are getting offended by some comments. Not everyone will like every pic. Can we handle the negative comments along with the positive? It takes a lot more for me to write a comment on a score of 5 or below than to comment on an 8 or above score. Do you really want to know? I know I do - and consider what people say - good or bad. Obviously comments help both parties.

I guess it just seems that we scream out...more comments...then we get offended by them.

what good would it do with all positive comments?

ugh - sorry to even add to this thread.....

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

09/10/2002 04:16:22 PM · #12

Hokie,
Could you show us pictures so we can see what the box ends up looking like? I am the type that needs pictures. :) And those lights. You would think that a 500 watt bulb would be to bright. But, I guess if they work. I think I am going to spend $50.00 today. :)

boyte1

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM

09/10/2002 04:27:40 PM · #13

My score is adverage for me, even though I was REALLY excited about it this week. Ive only had 6 comments so far and my favorite is. Should have changed the background, and the lighting , and the ............;)

mci

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/10/2002 04:38:27 PM · #14

Hokie is right. I bought two 500 watt halogen work lamps from Home Depot for $10 a piece. Unfortunately, though, one exploded on me Sunday night while I was taking my shot. I think I had too much heat being generated while having the lamps aimed at each other on a kitchen table. The glass in front of the lamp shattered, but luckily didn't explode outward, as I was sitting right between the lamps.

I had to finish out my shoot using just one of the lights, which proved to be okay since I was also using my Speedlight 420 flash bounced off the back wall.

shortredneck

Olympus C-3000Z

09/10/2002 04:38:57 PM · #15

5.664 isn't bad at all. Try 4.12, up to 4.8 and now down to 4.3. The story of my life. : ( I had a couple of really nice outtakes that look similar to many in this challenge. I just thought I would go with a different look and a subtle reference to a different type of photo. Now I'm wondering if I should have gone the cookie cutter same as everybody else route instead. I even have just 3 comments to go with it.

Jak

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

09/10/2002 04:48:12 PM · #16

I am glad to see that my experience is mirrored by others -- the low start, the rise to midweek, then the sad decline (although last week I picked up 0.25 points in the last two hours!)

I started at 4.4 this week and have, like others, risen to 4.95 after 130 votes and 5 -- all very favourable -- comments. A final score of 5.+ will be satisfactory this week, I guess.

CreativeFlyPhoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/10/2002 05:02:11 PM · #17

Originally posted by shortredneck:
5.664 isn't bad at all. Try 4.12, up to 4.8 and now down to 4.3. The story of my life. : ( I had a couple of really nice outtakes that look similar to many in this challenge. I just thought I would go with a different look and a subtle reference to a different type of photo. Now I'm wondering if I should have gone the cookie cutter same as everybody else route instead. I even have just 3 comments to go with it.

Hey Now ... dont feel that way ... it's fun to be original and work outta the box ... and you just gotta expect that some people arent gonna agree - but oh well what are ya to do ... just look forward to comments and remember ....

HAVE FUN!!!

mcmurma

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Nikon MF 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS

09/10/2002 05:11:53 PM · #18

Seems to me that there is some sort of "magic number" around 6.4 (this varies from challenge to challenge and is just an average). But if you can get through the first 50 or so votes riding on or above this number, then you stand a good chance of keeping your score and perhaps even watching it go up a little throughout the week.

If, however, you wind up below this number after 50 votes, then strap on you parachute cause you're going skydiving! This is what I refer to as the freefall zone. The closer you get to, without quite making the "magic" number, the farther you will seem to fall. (This is a perception though, I dont think I have ever fallen more that a full point and any time during the challenge. And then it always seems to creep back up some towards the end--the bounceback.)

Also, very low starters... say 3 and above. Seem to rise steadily through the week. But again, only by about a point.

Why does it work like this? Why would some votes go down, and others go up? Well, I have thought about it (lots of time to think about these things when you're freefallin') and I believe it has more to do with human nature than anything else. The better scores (ones on or above the "magic number") indicate a good percentage of the voters think your photo (for whatever reason) is quite good. Therefore, its only logical to presume the rest of the voters will feel likewise... so your vote stays roughly the same, or goes up, as the challenge wears on.

If, on the other hand, your score doesn't make the number, it would seem to idicate that your photo, though not bad, does not have the mass appeal of the photo's that did make the number. Here is where the really tricky part comes in. Accounting for exactly why your score is dropping...

I think a lot of it has to do with the voters voting habits. Many ppl (myself included) vote very roughly in the beginning. Scoring virtually everything a 4, 5 or 6. (Bear in mind that this process goes on with every voter throughout the week. So you are actually getting "rough votes" all week long figured into your score!) Only the VERY RARE photo will get an 8, 9, or 10 on the first review. ("an old woman in the train" was one of these, I gave it a 10 right away. I think many others did too:) Then, once the rough votes are done, I go back and sort through these, comment, and get second and third looks... raising scores as I see fit. This process also goes on throughout the week. Other voters, though, make one run through. Voting and commenting all in one crack, but it may take them all week to finish! Either way, with all those "rough votes" getting averaged in all the time, it makes it easier for me to see how my score can go down as the voting progresses. In addition, the sorting process could account for the rises in scores as votes are being adjusted.

Also, for the sake of example, lets say your photo of XYZ (a lovely black and white image) for the XYZ challenge sits at 6.3 after 50 votes are cast. But the magic number is 6.4. By the time 50 more votes have come in your score is down to 6.1. What could be happening is that the first 50 voters liked your XYZ, and the next 50 just didn't like it quite as well. The first 50 may have had more black and white fans, the second 50 may hate black and white. Who knows? It is a largely undefinable process. I just try not to take it personal, cause it's not. Thats just the way it goes.

Gosh this is long. Please forgive me...

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/10/2002 5:29:21 PM.

09/10/2002 05:18:42 PM · #19

Originally posted by Sonifo:
Hokie,
Could you show us pictures so we can see what the box ends up looking like? I am the type that needs pictures. :) And those lights. You would think that a 500 watt bulb would be to bright. But, I guess if they work. I think I am going to spend $50.00 today. :)

Howdee Sonifo...

This is my Ghetto Photo Studio >:-D

The description under the photo tells of the various gear.

09/10/2002 05:36:49 PM · #20

Hokie,
This is my Ghetto Photo Studio >:-D

The description under the photo tells of the various gear.

Very cool! So do you have anything like them barndoor whatchamakalits or how about some diffuse thingamabobs for the light?

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/10/2002 05:44:27 PM · #21

Originally posted by bamaster:

Very cool! So do you have anything like them barndoor whatchamakalits or how about some diffuse thingamabobs for the light?

Barndoors...Diffusers? This is GHETTO photography...fo da po folks wit no monies!!!!

Heheh..actually..I have some other shear materials to block light if needed and if I shoot small items smaller than a baseball I will use this paper called vellum. Its translucent..You can buy 1foot x 1foot squares for about .50 cents.

I can get creative with junk around the house like metal pie tins and aluminum foil to block light and produce pinhole light effects.

You gotta use metal around the halogens..you can set fire to anything else (trust me on that one..."Dear umm..HONEY..what did you do with the small FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!! IeeEeeeEeeee!!)

Adopt the Beavis/Butthead laff "Fire, heh..heheh..heh, Fire..cool" >:-D

chakkobbo

Canon EOS-20D

09/10/2002 05:46:22 PM · #22

HOKIE. THAT ROCKS!!!!!
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEW STUDIO (AND THE SAVINGS). YOU'D LAUGH IF YOU KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING TO DATE.....NOT MUCH OF A STUDIO PERSON, SO I'M LEARNING!...
Jakob

chakkobbo

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/10/2002 05:47:04 PM · #23

Hokie, BTW, your candid shot was great!

09/10/2002 05:53:40 PM · #24

Lesse here... for my last pic, I used an ironing board to hang my product off of. There was tape everywhere. I did buy one of those worklights with a 120 watt bulb... you know the ones with the metal clamp! hehe... Like my momma always told me... you can take the mexican outta the hood, but you can't take the hood outta the mexican! :D