I am a mediocre photographer - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

12/06/2006 06:54:45 PM · #1

After entering a few challenges here I have come to the conclusion that I am not a good photographer. With scores averaging in the low 5's, out of 10, that tells me I am very mediocre.

It is my vision, or is it my execution of that vision? Either way I think I may need to sell all of my camera gear and go back to a point and shoot. Maybe a Kodak disposable is more my speed.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

12/06/2006 06:59:22 PM · #2

Low 5's is not bad for a start. Somewhere between 5 and 5.5 is average, and average here is not bad at all! Hang in there, keep working at it, and you will see a significant improvement. Most especially listen, really listen to what commentors have to say. Most often comments will give you the keys to why your shot did not fare as well as you expected.

SquishyB

Fujifilm FinePix S5200Z

12/06/2006 06:59:40 PM · #3

Hey, don't give up. You're doing really well if you're already scoring in the 5's. It took me several challenges just to get to a 5.0. And a 5 really is very good! No one on here EVER scores a perfect 10. I think the highest I've ever seen is maybe a 7.5. So have no fear! You're doing just fine!!!

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

12/06/2006 07:02:50 PM · #4

Thank you for the comments. I appreciate the feedback. I agree listening to comments would help to get better, but I don't seem to be receiving those.

Candi20

Canon PowerShot A630

12/06/2006 07:03:28 PM · #5

I am right there with you. A friend of mine on this site said after my complaints of mediocraty(sp?) to take a look at some of the best photographers on here, and check out what they entered when they first got on here. Not pretty :P But needless to say, everyone gets better with time.

No worries, just practice!

alfresco

Nikon D700

12/06/2006 07:08:17 PM · #6

What Kirbster, Squish, and Candi said - keep at it man! mid fives is not bad, especially for the first set o' challenges.

:)

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

12/06/2006 07:13:10 PM · #7

Plus your third challenge entered is a 5.9. That's excellent.

Shmee

Nikon D70s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

12/06/2006 07:16:04 PM · #8

I think you need to understand that you're not a mediocre photographer...You're just in the middle among all of the photographers here...

The difference is, this site has some amazing talent. I've never been among a group with so much talent. Take a look at some other sites...say some photo blog sites, and you will see just how much better the photographers here are.

I took a look at your shots, and really like your beach at night photo. I would have personally scored it much higher than what you got. That's another difference here. If you want to score high, you have to "play to the band" if you will. A "mediocre" score or low score doesn't mean it's a mediocre photo, it means this group of people thinks it's a mediocre photo.

This group of voters has a certain taste, which seems to be always changing and impossible to figure out...Idono. just my 2 cents.

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/06/2006 07:17:42 PM · #9

Have you tried doing things a different way? You can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.

I just tried to view your portfolio, but my stupid Direcway satellite connection SUCKS LIKE A 40LB LEECH!!!

Anyway, try experimenting with different subjects and different ways of shooting them. Get in real close. Then get in REAL close. Shoot a super-wide angle lens when you would normally shoot a longer lens, and vice-versa. Stand on the roof to shoot a portrait. If you're doing a portrait of a very tall man, lay on the ground or stand in a hole and shoot up at him to make him look even taller. IOW, try something different. You may surprise yourself.

12/06/2006 07:24:06 PM · #10

I know what you mean about Direcway, my parents have the same and it drives me nutts!

I appreciate the ideas on ways to make it better. You make some very valid points. Thank you.

Originally posted by Mick:

Mick

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/06/2006 07:44:33 PM · #11

Originally posted by BHuseman:

I know what you mean about Direcway, my parents have the same and it drives me nutts!

I appreciate the ideas on ways to make it better. You make some very valid points. Thank you.

Originally posted by Mick:
Have you tried doing things a different way? You can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.

I just tried to view your portfolio, but my stupid Direcway satellite connection SUCKS LIKE A 40LB LEECH!!!

Anyway, try experimenting with different subjects and different ways of shooting them. Get in real close. Then get in REAL close. Shoot a super-wide angle lens when you would normally shoot a longer lens, and vice-versa. Stand on the roof to shoot a portrait. If you're doing a portrait of a very tall man, lay on the ground or stand in a hole and shoot up at him to make him look even taller. IOW, try something different. You may surprise yourself.

I'll try to leave you some comments when (if) this thing starts working right again.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/06/2006 08:08:42 PM · #12

Originally posted by BHuseman:

Don't worry about it - See my challenge results, you are way up there :-) Buy me a disposable while you are there :-)

escapetooz

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

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

12/06/2006 08:27:25 PM · #13

Originally posted by Candi20:

Haha! I was just about to tell him that too! It always makes me feel better to look at the top ribboners and see their lowest scores. And not in a mean way! LOL. It just lets you know that most people don't start off amazing, in fact a lot of people get off to a pretty bad start, so 5s are actually pretty good.

Besides. You've only entered 5 challenges. Stick with it.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/06/2006 08:32:57 PM · #14

And of the 5 you entered 3 had more than 300 other people in them! Freestudies are notoriously hard to compete in because folks automatically have the judgement, "This is the best image you took ALL MONTH?"

xXxscarletxXx

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

12/06/2006 08:33:23 PM · #15

Hey my scores jump allllll over the place and have developed a pattern 6 two low scores 6 again its weird, what kind of a photographer am I lol maybe I shouldnt ask

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

12/06/2006 08:46:05 PM · #16

......

is only the beginng.

slide12345678

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/06/2006 08:52:04 PM · #17

dont worry!
my first challenge submission only got a 5.5

Elliottjms

12/06/2006 09:12:05 PM · #18

You have to think of this site like the A**hole teacher that was so tough the school forced him to grade on a curve.

On a curve based on the average of the last three challenge high scores it would convert as such:

7.2 = 10
6.5 = 9
5.8 = 8
5.1 = 7

So your 5.9 really equates to a 81% score. Thats a solid B where I come from and thats a pretty good score for a beginner to the site. Go and browse through some of the top shooters and sort thier photos by date. You will then see some of the 4s and 5s and see how they learned and gradually increase to a point where they were winning ribbons. That then entire purpose of the sight is to learn not to metal strait out the shoot (no pun intended).

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/06/2006 09:16:18 PM · #19

When I'm getting discouraged I remember what some wise person pointed out in a thread several months ago. Being average here means you're average among some of the best photographers in the world.

Things look a little different from that angle, don't they? :)

renefunk

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/06/2006 09:16:30 PM · #20

man, you should know how i fell, im supouse to be a pro, and i will live from this job, and if i can get a ribbon.. i will problally colapse of desesperation....

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

12/06/2006 09:20:05 PM · #21

Thank you for all of the kind comments and encouragement. I guess I just get a little discouraged when I see votes on my photos but not a lot of comments on how to make them better. That tells me I don't have a lot to work with....

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/06/2006 09:22:19 PM · #22

In addition to what others have said, keep in mind that voters place a lot of emphasis on the challenge theme and how well you meet that theme. You could enter a great photo and it might not do well because it didn't nail the challenge theme head on in the voters' eyes. I've had photos that I didn't think much of do much better than photos I were more proud of because of this.

Looking at your top scoring photo I see it was entered in the Landscape in Portrait Orientation. It certainly met the challenge but only in a bare minimum sort of way, IMO. You did shoot it in portrait mode but the lines in your photo suggest it would be better if it were in landscape mode. If you notice the top scoring photos in that challenge all have one thing in common and that is lines (often curvy) that start from the bottom and and lead your eye upward, which is what works best or is most commonly use in landscapes shot in portrait mode. And what you'll learn here after entering more is what works best or is the most common established technique will go over best with the voters. You can try doing things differently and think outside the box but it's usually got to be a killer image otherwise voters will not be forgiving. Anyway, just something to think about. The quality of your photos are good and I see no reason why you can't get better.

Also, frequent the forums as there are always tips to be learned especially when it comes to post processing.

Message edited by author 2006-12-06 21:24:40.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

12/06/2006 09:24:23 PM · #23

Take the red pill and follow the Alice into the rabbit hole........