Why Didn't This Do Better? - DPChallenge Forums

04/11/2007 08:36:34 AM · #1

I really thought this one would fair better than it did. I find I usually don't shoot to the DPC aesthetic, but I thought this one was a better fit.

Anyways, I'm not bitter, just curious. I only received 1 comment and it wasn't very helpful, seemed more like a compliment. So any more constructive criticisms would be helpful.

Thanks

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/11/2007 12:01:22 PM · #2

bump

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

04/11/2007 12:14:01 PM · #3

Not to be harsh, but the image itself is not incredibly interesting. The composition is somewhat lacking IMHO. The foreground seems a bit busy and the "light source" doesn't really appear to be the "sun". It does fit the challenge and for that I would've voted a 5 which is pretty on par with the final result.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

04/11/2007 12:54:13 PM · #4

Cool thanks. By the way though, the light source certainly was the sun.

trnqlty

Nikon D90

04/11/2007 01:10:35 PM · #5

Just not a very interesting subject. Also I feel like the hard dark edges of the light source look awkward since they aren't a smooth circle and, as was said, it is quite busy. I also would have voted this a 5.

faery

Olympus E-400

Olympus 14-42mm f.3.5-5.6 ED Zuiko Digital Zoom

04/11/2007 01:12:18 PM · #6

I can only offer you my personal response (which is not at all in line with general DPC voters so take it with a pinch of salt)... plants as such lack drama. I gave you a 5 in voting it seems.... I think with a big challenge where the voter is flipping through 329 images, the ones that meet the challenge adequately, kind of fall into the 5 zone. If they have a certain amount of drama/interest they move up into the 6's. Excellent technicals and "story" end up in the 7's...Looking at your score spread, you got a few 9's and 7's which is great. Can't account for the dweebs that gave you 2's, 3's and 4's...

The very centre of the sun is very blown out and harsh on the eye. It's a pretty enough image and fits the criteria, but that's sort of where it ends...it's not saying anything special and it has that technical fault. Hope that helps and doesn't hurt too much :-(

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

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

04/11/2007 01:30:17 PM · #7

First, since your subject is essentially silhouette, you could have used EV Comp to reduce the image brightness in-camera and had less of a blown out center and possibly more interesting colors from the sun. Your Rebel is certainly capable of this. That might have increased your score since wonderfully colored (dare I say over-saturated) sunsets seem to score well.

I am far from the world's expert on contre-jour but I think the general idea is that the subject should also be lit by the light source you are pointing the camera toward. Didn't express that very well, but a stark silhouette may not have met the challenge very well and DPC voters are tough on photos that don't.

Finally, the resulting image, which I find pleasing, is abstract. DPC voters frequently vote abstract images lower than more representational images.

I recognize I have over generalized DPC voting behavior, but it is based on personal observation.

Hope that helps!