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 01/23/2007 11:25:40 PM · #26
Originally posted by crayon:

magen, do you mean to say that those who adhere to challenge topics are non-creative, and narrow minded? :p


I think what might have been meant, and I don't mean to speak for magenmarie, so my .02 is that it allows a person to grow as a photographer by doing challenges they would not normally do and getting out of the comfort zone.

I too enter as many challenges that I can, even if I really have to "stretch" the entry a bit to make it work. I don't really shot for challenges. I just shoot, then try to shoe horn them in. :)

Message edited by author 2007-01-23 23:45:21.
 01/23/2007 11:29:41 PM · #27
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by boysetsfire:

somebody has left a comment on my "match" entry simply saying "brown Ribbon?".

It almost made me smile as much as the entry itself.

Sounds like my "Wildlife" entry : )


darn - I thought I was getting a brown ribbon in Match!

Well I enter challenges as a motivation to keep TAKING pictures each week. Makes me find time to focus on my hobby. And you don't really know if voters are going to like it or not till you enter the challenge. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't - and it's the comments that really make it all kind of fun. And then there's that frickin UPDATE button.... lol pure addiction...
 01/23/2007 11:43:06 PM · #28
Challenges could be fun or they can be frustrating. If you look for validation for your creativity, you may disappointed as that expectation is far too subjective. If you look to challenges as means to measure your technical abilities, they will be truthful. If you look to challenges as a way to see things differently, they can be insightful. If you look to challenges as a measure of conformity, it can be a bitter pill that stifles expression.

I look at challenges as validation that I can be all those things and smile when I know I can be none of the above. I applaud the challenges for the "feel good" and curse them for the "Pop Cultured" embrace that we all so feverishly desire.

Yes, I am a junkie.
 01/23/2007 11:50:43 PM · #29
I just started takeing pictures again after about 15 years and my stuff is not all that great but I like it. I try to enter any challenge I can if I can think up what to enter. I like to think of it as a learning process that might force me to think about something I would not have tried on my own. And if something I enter comes in at at least 50% I am happy with that. At least half the voters liked it :) I think I can take an avrage picture but my big problem is thinking up what kind of picture to take that will fit with the challenge.

So yes I would enter a pic I am sure will not do well just to see what other people think.
 01/24/2007 12:09:09 AM · #30
Originally posted by boysetsfire:
Originally posted by posthumous:
I just entered a shot in Entrance that will contend for the brown ribbon. Why? Because I think it's lovely. Maybe someone will like it. I am willing to disgust fifty rules-oriented people in hopes of pleasing one person with stars in his eyes.


somebody has left a comment on my "match" entry simply saying "brown Ribbon?".

It almost made me smile as much as the entry itself.


damn, it came 214th !!

note to self: must try harder
 01/24/2007 01:07:19 AM · #31
yup. I just entered one of those. I hope it doesn't bomb, but I know it has no "wow" factor.... actually, I don't think I've ever thought that of any of my entries

but I've been waiting for too long for a challenge to come along and "inspire" me to shoot something that I have the resources/time to shoot, and if I kept waiting for the perfect challenge, I'd never enter anything, so here goes it
 01/24/2007 01:29:57 AM · #32
My last three challenge entries were absolutely last minute rush jobs that I poured zero amount of heart and soul into - or even much thought for that matter. The first one placed in the 93%/6.63 (a personal best), the second: 23%/4.8, the third: 82%/5.8 - so lately it seems I am only playing just to have a horse in the race in case I get lucky and all the other horses keel over. :) The one's I have poured a lot of thought and effort into have done about the same - sometimes they tank, sometimes they pay off. I may have only entered two or three that I had any kind of emotional attachment to and I really didn't care how they did, but am always happy when they do well.

I never have any emotional attachment to the score or the finish - if people like it, great! if not, oh well. But I do know that I do learn from the experience and I usually know what shots NOT to enter. :)

Here's a tip if you are depressed about how your entry finished - view the challenge results (all entries on one page), scroll down to your entry, then slowly scroll down and look at the entries and the usernames below it and see who you beat and you will always see some highly noteworthy names there and many shots you think are better than yours. Keep scrolling while saying to yourself "I did better than scalvert, better than DrAchoo, better than Larus (ok, maybe not Larus), better than so and so, etc. :)

-Art "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it people like me!" Roflmao
 01/24/2007 01:38:52 AM · #33
I sure do...and the reason why is just to see how it would do!!! Just like my free study this month....pretty sure it won't get anything over a 5 but I like it alot!
 01/24/2007 01:56:46 AM · #34
I used to enter challenges with only one thing in mind: To Win
Times changed.

I started entering images that moved me for one reason or another. Sometimes it was to test new things, new styles, try doing candids, which have always been a weakness. Ribbons are a thing of the past in my ventures now, and frankly am so bored with them on my profile page.

I started looking at how would I like to be remembered if I poofed off the face of the earth (which I nearly have 3 times now).
I feel the need to find emotion in my shots now whenever possible. I want life depicted in my images. I want to share my eyes with the world and leave behind a permanent portfolio that reflects my vision, and not be just another boring snapshot artist.
 01/24/2007 02:10:34 AM · #35
Originally posted by BradP:
I used to enter challenges with only one thing in mind: To Win
Times changed.

HAHAAAA, I did better than you, a 12 time ribbon winner, in the Woody challenge!! Wooohoo!

...See how good that feels? ;-)

LOL - I had to dig hard to find that. :P
 01/24/2007 02:13:25 AM · #36
...and Brad, I hear ya, buddy. Glad you haven't poofed yet, but when you eventually do, you will have already left an impressive legacy in your family, friends, and the people you've influenced and inspired, as well as your photos.
 01/24/2007 08:17:42 AM · #37
Thanks for all your responses, everyone. I'm glad to know i'm not alone. Seems that I am doing ok in the Exit challenge that I thought would bomb...getting a 5.44!! YAHOO! Maybe people like my creativity today?! haha.

:)
 01/24/2007 08:48:27 AM · #38
I do both. sometimes I enter to win, and other times like with my black and white portrait shot I enter something that I worry may be too artsy or weird and just hope for the best. But on the other hand like with my exit shot. It's not doing very well, will bring down my average most likely. but I'm HOPING to get some good advice on the technique I was going for. so I enter all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. depends on my mood on any particular day. :P
 01/24/2007 08:54:20 AM · #39
I enter because it's here. I like the idea of going out to shoot something specific in response to a challenge. I certainly don't enter to win. :-)
 01/24/2007 09:25:00 AM · #40
One thing that I don't want to do is conform to the 'standard'. where is the creativity in that? I WANT to see things differently. Capture the angle no one thought of before. (if thats possible) It may not be appreciated in my lifetime but with any home someday someone will say 'wow' thats really cool!

I actually chose to enter a DNMC shot on purpose to a recent challenge to make a statement. The statement will be lost on everyone till after and I can't say anymore about it till the challenge is over.

But my average is not as important to me as staying true to myself.
Yes I have much to learn... but thats not the same as conforming!
01/24/2007 09:32:52 AM · #41
My current challenge entry is doing horribly... I knew it would... but I entered just cuz... I guess I'm not much for showing off my flashy stuff to others, even when I have it... I guess that feedback, even on shots that you know are bad is worth hearing, it may trigger something in your head as to what others like, if that's what you're in to.
 01/24/2007 09:34:39 AM · #42
I used to only enter challenges where I had a good idea. So far, I've gotten 6s and 5s (a few 4s too). Now that I bought a membership, I'm trying to get into every challenge.

My average will go down, but it's a learning experience. I have to also push my creative side. I do believe you have to play to your audience too. It's just sometimes, I miss the audience.
01/24/2007 09:49:18 AM · #43
In the beginning, I was totally depressed about my low scores, but I kept at it, swearing all the way that the voters are idiots and don't know good pics when they see them. Now that I have been at it for awhile, I have improved only because I entered many challenges, got depressed, swore at everybody and declared I would never enter another challenge. Now I scrutinize them a bit better, but I still get low scores. Do I care? Not anymore. I don't enter every challenge available because of time constraints, but I do enter many images that even I see the problems before the challenge starts. Don't know why I don't delete them, but I guess I am hooked and just can't say no.
Even so, I get a lot of surprises. So it really is a crap shoot. I have entered really great shots with no technical difficulties and what I think is pleasing subjects, and they get low scores. I enter others that I just don't like but they suit the challenge for the week, and they get really high scores. The point is, it gets me out and about, I have consistantly kept using my cameras, now I have started a camera club locally, I have an outdoor gallery in the summer, and I get jobs with the camera and with the editing.
 01/24/2007 09:57:39 AM · #44
Originally posted by bucket:
I like shots that are too dark, shadows everywhere, and make people think...not that they necessarily do...

[Patiently waiting for your '10' vote on my 'Exit' shot]
01/24/2007 10:10:16 AM · #45
I enter every challenge thinking that my photo will win, and then get suitably depressed when it scores another 4.x.

01/24/2007 06:51:28 PM · #46
I entered 5 so far, i found that i have to be more creative and i can do more with photoshop, but i am not creative and i am so expert in photoshop to edit my photos in right way, does that mean i will never win?
 01/24/2007 06:56:50 PM · #47
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
...and Brad, I hear ya, buddy. Glad you haven't poofed yet, but when you eventually do, you will have already left an impressive legacy in your family, friends, and the people you've influenced and inspired, as well as your photos.

Thanks for the kind words Ken.
It's all any of us can hope for really - to be remembered.
 01/24/2007 07:43:47 PM · #48
Originally posted by boysetsfire:
Originally posted by boysetsfire:
Originally posted by posthumous:
I just entered a shot in Entrance that will contend for the brown ribbon. Why? Because I think it's lovely. Maybe someone will like it. I am willing to disgust fifty rules-oriented people in hopes of pleasing one person with stars in his eyes.


somebody has left a comment on my "match" entry simply saying "brown Ribbon?".

It almost made me smile as much as the entry itself.


damn, it came 214th !!

note to self: must try harder


brilliant photo. I just nominated it for an OOBIE.
 01/24/2007 08:10:37 PM · #49
The photograph gets entered if it tells a story even if I'm the only one listening.
 01/26/2007 11:35:39 PM · #50
When I first joined I was keen to enter as many challenges as I could, but as time passed I have found it is better to really concentrate on a subject that you think you would do well, rather than rush at the last minute trying to submit a photo hoping to get good marks.

I can say I have learned a lot on here over time.
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