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06/21/2007 04:13:49 PM · #1 |
Maybe I am not understanding what I am supposed to send in to a challenge. So I guess I am asking some advice. My first few challenges were horrible. I had a very difficult time in finding a specific theme and shooting that theme. But I thought I was getting better. I thought anyway.
Last months free study I submitted what I thought was a perfect photo. Jessica. I had a couple other people look at it and one of them actually gasped. So I sent it in. I found out that my monitor shows things differently, so on most people's screen they saw a flat and dark image. My heart sank, but I got the Spider software/hardware and hopefully took care of the problem.
So I submitted this photo for the "pure" challenge:
I didn't understand how the shot only scored a 5.0. The color was good, the brightness was good, the subject was good.......so what was the problem? Sure I couldn't edit out some minor details because it was a basic editing challenge. And I only got 5 comments, in which one was nasty in my view.
I guess my question it, am I missing the point here? I don't have the $$ or time (4 jobs and a family) to get CS2 to make 85 layers for an image in the advanced challenges. So I thought I would stick with the basic ones. What am I missing, cause right now I think I am just waisting my time.
Can anyone clue me in?
Thanks......doug |
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06/21/2007 04:17:43 PM · #2 |
85 layers in CS2 aren't the solution.
Maybe this thread will help for starters, at least as far as how/what to enter to a challenge.
There's also the tutorials section, maybe something there will help.
It takes time to learn and to grow :)
Message edited by author 2007-06-21 16:18:55. |
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06/21/2007 04:23:59 PM · #3 |
Doug, just hang in there and keep plodding on. If any of us could tell you what you need for a ribbon shot, we would all be getting them. I have been hovering around the 5 mark all the time I've been here.
I am very happy when one of my challenge entries creeps up to 5.1, ecstatic when I get 5.2 and orgasmic if I get 5.5 or over :)) |
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06/21/2007 04:24:26 PM · #4 |
I think your composition is good. The set up is fine. I think you may have gotten low scores because:
Some parts are overexposed or "too bright" and some parts of the photo are out of focus. With the subject being the hands holding a bowl of strawberries, you would want those items to be perfectly in focus. Her hands are out of focus.
The overexposed areas are her cheek, fingers and behind her hair. This photo has tons of potential.
Good luck in the future.
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06/21/2007 04:55:54 PM · #5 |
I agree with kenskid and formerlee. I feel you should hang in there and believe you will do great.
I hope you don't mind but I did a quick edit to show how I would of presented your photograph with the settings and focus you achieved. Of course my edit would have to fall in advanced rules.
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06/21/2007 05:04:43 PM · #6 |
My advice is not to worry too much about the scores, I know it's not nice when you don't get the score that you hope for but there are so many different tastes and you can/should photograph to your own style...don't give up!!
Little by little all the technicalities will smooth out (at least that's what I tell myself- I still can't use layers!) |
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06/21/2007 06:10:40 PM · #7 |
| I gave this a 6, which is about standard for "yet another pretty girl/model with a cute smile". |
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06/21/2007 07:01:35 PM · #8 |
I didn't vote. I think you have a good handle on your techniques. Read the tutorials and threads about getting a ribbon.
If I was voting on this I would have given it a 5. A few things that I noticed were enough to keep it from going higher. The strings on her slip/bra clothing is distracting. Normally I don't use distracting as a reason to vote lower but this challenge was "pure" and they look messy. The bowl is tipped, again giving a messy feel to the photo. The hands are out of focus. There is a red color cast on my monitor. The catchlights look misplaced. I think they would look better if they were higher and out of the dark pupil.
The picture, taken out of the context of the challenge, is good.
She sure has clear eyes and white teeth. Just about as perfect as they could ever be. She also has a great complexion. |
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06/21/2007 07:25:14 PM · #9 |
For what its worth, I do not believe that any of your comments bordered on nasty. Yes a couple of them gave an opinion, and it might not match your opinion, but they were all done with respect. No one said anything bad about your model (big no-no) or your photography. One person expressed his/her belief that maybe this does not meet the challenge as well as it could have.
No where near a nasty or rude comment in the lot. Sorry you took it that way, but hopefully we all strive for honest critiques here. I personally do not want my comments sugar coated. |
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06/21/2007 08:22:50 PM · #10 |
| Thank you for all your opinions |
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