Non-evolutionary thoughts on high scoring images.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/02/2007 02:31:41 PM · #1

In response to the now locked thread concerning my good friend

DrAchoo's post about his blue ribbon shot in Extreme Emotion, I offer the following.

The discussion got off track from discussing photographic techniques and processes for a successful shot. While it was still on point, I felt that some of the frustration from a few posters was due to learning exactly how much effort went into this blue winning effort. I am not a DPC rock star like

DrAchoo,

De Sousa, or

Scalvert, to name a view, (not yet anyway!) ;-)

Here are a few of my more successful efforts wihtout nearly as much time or effort:

Shot while on a hike. Saw the lizard sitting there, put the camera on the ground facing up to get the rock formation in the background. Took 5 or 6 frames. Post Processing, 30 minutes, tops. Score - 7.699 blue ribbon

5 minute shoot during the kid's lunch break. Post Precessing, 1-2 hours. Score - 7.229, 5th place

10 minute photo session, Post Processing 1-2 hours, score 7.0909 red ribbon

On vacation, 40 minutes at the site, Post Processing, 45 minutes, score 6.9 blue ribbon

My point is that some challenges require a lot of forethought, set up, time, and effort. Some don't. Don't give up because you think you don't have the time or imagination to set up a shot.

After reading through this I suppose I'll get some "Shameless self-promotion" comments

eh- maybe a liitle ;-)

Nuzzer

Canon EOS-7D

08/02/2007 03:05:10 PM · #2

Some of my best results have come from minimal time and effort. One such exmaple is my top scoring image:

This was in a series of two shots I took. I wish I took more at the time to give more options.

My second-highest image came from a shoot where I took over 150 photos:

Not exactly for the same reason as

DrAchoo's attention to detail.

One thing I have learnt in my year at DPC is that you can get lucky with a shot every now and then but to do well you need to put in the time and effort on a shot. If you don't think you do then you are fooling yourself that you can consistently produce good output.

I've entered a few shots I've taken just so I have something in voting but they always end up in the mid 5's. They deserve to be there because they are not much more than a snapshot I've tried to make better in PP. If you don't put the effort in you won't get the results out.

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

08/02/2007 03:12:09 PM · #3

My top 3 scoring images all consumed a bunch of time - either in the initial taking of the image or in post process.

- Took easily 60 shots of this stupid cat to have only this one be worth editing. And the editing was long and detailed.

- Used over 60 images to create this. The actual photo shoot only took minutes but the processing was a bit more detailed. Fortunatley an automated program did most of the work for me.

Editing on this was short and sweet since it was basic, but I took over 100 shots of this guy over a 2 day period (I had let him go and then found him again a day or so later).

On the other hand though - my next 4 highest scoring images i took maybe a 20 shots combined total for them all with varying levels of editing. Mostly pretty minimal though.

You just never know what it will take to get the image where you want it to be.

zaflabout

Nikon D300

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/02/2007 03:13:19 PM · #4

the only "almost 7 shot i got" scored 6.9 ranked 6th in the challenge.

i had so many ideas and outtakes my room is a mess(planned for a week and none of them turned out how i invisoned them), eventually a simple pose in the corner did it. post processing about 30-45 min

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

08/02/2007 03:21:05 PM · #5

I was literally opening kitchen cupboards looking for something made of glass to submerge in the filled fish tank on the counter. I took three or four shots, then had something I had to run off to do.

7.6964 for my goofiness. :-P

Lucky shot, I guess.

Message edited by author 2007-08-02 15:23:44.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/02/2007 03:35:39 PM · #6

I think the lesson is to learn what types of shots take some time and which don't, and then apply that knowledge to what you like to shoot.

I like both kinds. For my current Free Study shot, I took about 100 shots because I was using a technique that required several things to go right. I entered the 99th attempt.

On the other hand, my second-highest score took about 3 minutes.

My best portrait shot took about 10 minutes to shoot 80 frames, but I actually entered the second one, which wasn't even when I was really trying to shoot - it was more or less a framing test.

If you like only spur-of-the-moment, catch a slice of time in an image photography, great - only do that. If you like only well-thought-out, highly planned, very carefully shot photography, great - only do that.

But no one should be critical of how others pursue photography.

riversong

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

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

08/02/2007 03:58:14 PM · #7

These are great images! I can appreciate the hours that involve Post Processing. I take 100's of the same subject sometimes. I spend hours PP my images, sometimes several times on one image, yet my photos score in the mid 5's. I've bought better lenes and read numerous tutorials and books.

I've taken almost 30,000 images and yet my images lack ooomph. I'm not stiving for ribbons. I'm merely striving for consistant 6's. Should I take a photography class?

Photography really is Art. I love photography, no matter how low my images score. I just want to maintain a nice attitude and enjoy taking photos. It would be nice to have better images for you all to look at though!

Any advice?
Darlene

jrdawson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/02/2007 04:03:00 PM · #8

@Riversong - find a mentor. Perferably someone nearby who can actually see your set-up and help you out. Actually watching someone else take a photo in the same environment you are in is a very good learning tool.

riversong

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

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

08/02/2007 04:06:23 PM · #9

Thank you John....will take your advice. :)

Nice portfolio, btw!

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/02/2007 04:08:57 PM · #10

Drive to ranch, take a couple shots. Drive home, see if any of them would look good blurred out for the challenge.

Same deal here. Looking through shots to see if anything would fit the challenge.

That's a 4th place, but still... Beat out by some mystery user who pretty much appeared and disappeared in a couple of challenges and got a blue on their first entry.

There is no magic. You either connect with the masses or you don't. Most ribbon winners very obviously have mass appeal. Assuming you don't screw up the technicals, it's hard not to win giving people what they like to see.

Message edited by author 2007-08-02 16:12:39.

jrdawson

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/02/2007 04:15:03 PM · #11

@riversong - another interesting learning technique is to take a good picture and reproduce it. Sit down, try to figure out how it was done, then shoot it. It works best with studio type shots as they are easier to reproduce than wonderful sunsets. And, if you pick a photo from someone who's on DPC, you can probably ask them for advice on how they did it.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/02/2007 04:44:59 PM · #12

I've made a few very good friends here at DPC. Never seen them face to face, but we often solicit feedback on entries (and agree not to vote on known entries, of course)

We never try to emulate each other's styles or techniques. Having an unbiased set of eyes look at your work can do wonders.

We don't always take each other's advice either. Sometimes you have go with your gut feeling.

I recommend finding people who's work and opinions you like and respect. Most people here at DPC are happy to help. If one doesn't want to help, the next probably will.

This is where the DPL really shined. Trigger Happy used the team thread much like the Ribbon Hogs, while we were not in the playoffs, we did finish with the 3rd highest averge out of 72 teams.

smurfguy

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/02/2007 04:49:47 PM · #13

I agree - the mentorship and peer review provided by my DPL team is great. We made good use of each other, and yes - sometimes still went with our gut.

Wonderful shots, all!

vtruan

Nikon D5100

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

08/02/2007 04:53:03 PM · #14

My best shot ever was with a Coolpix 990, no prep, 3 second set-up.

I do worse when I think about the challenge because I try to out think the trolls, which never works. :)

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

08/02/2007 05:05:27 PM · #15

Originally posted by scarbrd:

A member of Outcasts just pointed out that we had the 4th highest average, not 3rd.

My bad, (but geez, it was only .0003 difference)

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/02/2007 05:08:28 PM · #16

The Outcasts were a little more laid back. We mostly just asked which of the two shots I should enter this week. Personally, I don't seek help from others beyond that. I feel anything more and it detracts from your own vision when you allow others to reshape it but that's just me and the site certainly allows for this sort of feedback.

Message edited by author 2007-08-02 17:09:57.