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10/29/2007 07:43:11 PM · #1 |
| Well, I have been going absolutely nuts this month with photos, and I have a VERY large selection of good photos to choose from to enter. The thing is, as proven by my past choices, I seem to be incapable of choosing the right one. I know I can't just show you all the good ones and you tell me which ones you like the best, but what sort of selection process advice would you have for me? My goal is to break 6 this time, and hopefully higher than that. |
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10/29/2007 08:06:55 PM · #2 |
I say enter the one YOU like best and you can't go wrong.
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10/29/2007 08:10:44 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by jaxter:
I say enter the one YOU like best and you can't go wrong. |
Hahahahahahaha |
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10/29/2007 08:12:45 PM · #4 |
if your looking for an ok to a high OK score, then go with one that will have broad appeal , something that people don't normally see, something that is well lit, was well composed and in focus.
Many Great images break those rules and win ribbons, but the bottom 250 images in a free study tend to have broken at least one of them as well.
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10/29/2007 08:16:00 PM · #5 |
| Send your top three picks to your co-workers or friends and ask them for brutally honest opinions and to rate each shot 1 through 10. If you can get 20 or 25 responses, subtract 3 from the average score and you can probably get a decent idea of what you will end up scoring here. |
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10/29/2007 08:23:30 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Shadowi6:
if your looking for an ok to a high OK score, then go with one that will have broad appeal , something that people don't normally see, something that is well lit, was well composed and in focus. |
All that, plus something that is bright, colorful and cheerful usually does better than something dark and morose. |
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10/29/2007 08:30:23 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by ErikV:
Originally posted by Shadowi6:
if your looking for an ok to a high OK score, then go with one that will have broad appeal , something that people don't normally see, something that is well lit, was well composed and in focus. |
All that, plus something that is bright, colorful and cheerful usually does better than something dark and morose. |
I disagree :-)
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10/29/2007 08:50:07 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Simms:
Originally posted by ErikV:
Originally posted by Shadowi6:
if your looking for an ok to a high OK score, then go with one that will have broad appeal , something that people don't normally see, something that is well lit, was well composed and in focus. |
All that, plus something that is bright, colorful and cheerful usually does better than something dark and morose. |
I disagree :-)
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usually being the operative word. If you have a stunning shot that really works but is dark, oddly composed and oof, but still stunning then enter that, but most of us haven't taken that shot yet.
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10/29/2007 08:54:30 PM · #9 |
Yup, the one YOU like... Not so easy, eh? Next bet is if you have a friend who has an eye for things (not necessarily art or photos); have him/her show up at the last minute and peruse your candidates. Under no circumstances follow the advice of your nearest and dearest. (If I'm wrong here, well you are blessed more than you deserve).
This will or won't be my first free study, and I haven't a clue... |
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10/29/2007 09:26:15 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by tnun:
Under no circumstances follow the advice of your nearest and dearest. (If I'm wrong here, well you are blessed more than you deserve). |
This is SOOO cold and harsh!
EVERY time I listen to my wife and/or daughter, I get SLAMMED!!!
They are the kiss of death!!! LOL!!!
Originally posted by tnun:
This will or won't be my first free study, and I haven't a clue... |
I have been in MANY free studies and I haven't a clue!
So I'll be entering one *I* like and the heck with what anyone thinks.
I am currently the highest ranking scorer in the Free Study Marathon who has not broken 6!
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10/29/2007 09:46:08 PM · #11 |
Simple, take the one you like the least and put it in a new folder, then submit it ;)
I always happen to end up submitting the one I think everyone is love and end up tanking. I also tried the "ask the wife for her opinion" but that also seemed to blow that too...of course it could be cause my images do really suck lol.
I actually submitted my October image I think in the 2nd week and haven't even tried to get anything else...I hope it works out. It's a tough decision...good luck. |
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10/29/2007 11:58:45 PM · #12 |
Well, I'm waiting to see my own free study go floundering. One does need to keep in mind that standards are very high here. The stuff that get "wow" comments when posted up at work just gets a mid-pack rating over here.
I think the "challenge" part of the name should be emphasized. Some of it is surely a matter of the company you keep. After viewing hundreds or thousands of outstanding shots, a really good one probably becomes mundane.
I have found that if I try to stage something specifically for a challenge, it is uninspired. I seem to do best when I am out shooting anyway and I just see something that fits. |
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10/30/2007 01:01:45 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by LERtastic:
... what sort of selection process advice would you have for me? |
1. Print out a proof sheet with your 8-12 top choices on it.
2. Post the sheet on a wall/surface with very even, diffuse lighting, and stand about six feet away.
3. Throw a dart and enter whichever photo it hits. |
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10/30/2007 01:14:41 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by LERtastic:
... what sort of selection process advice would you have for me? |
1. Print out a proof sheet with your 8-12 top choices on it.
2. Post the sheet on a wall/surface with very even, diffuse lighting, and stand about six feet away.
3. Throw a dart and enter whichever photo it hits. |
You are so wise it hurts!! |
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10/30/2007 02:37:53 AM · #15 |
| Wow... that's more advice than I thought I was going to get, I think I have the one I want to enter, I just wish I could tell what the others will get too. |
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10/30/2007 02:41:44 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
3. Throw a dart and enter whichever photo it hits. |
Bummer! I was going to suggest that. :( |
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10/30/2007 02:59:17 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by ursula:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
3. Throw a dart and enter whichever photo it hits. |
Bummer! I was going to suggest that. :( |
You could have pointed out that I forgot to mention the blindfold. ;-)
Besides, if you can vouch for the method's efficacy, maybe I'll try it myself -- up until now I've never have enough "good choices" to justify buying a dart. |
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10/30/2007 03:06:09 AM · #18 |
put them on myspace enter whichever one gets the most comments ;-)
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10/30/2007 03:27:56 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by LERtastic:
... what sort of selection process advice would you have for me? |
1. Print out a proof sheet with your 8-12 top choices on it.
2. Post the sheet on a wall/surface with very even, diffuse lighting, and stand about six feet away.
3. Throw a dart and enter whichever photo it hits. |
You have 8-12 to choose from? I usually only have 1-3! I must be doing something wrong. |
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10/30/2007 03:42:26 AM · #20 |
First, get it narrowed down to at least 6 or less choices. Then put them out in front of you, and take a piece of paper and put down the titles, or numbered 1-6 or some kind of identifier.
Now...
-Which one has the best focus? give that shot 1 point
-Which one has the best exposure? 1 point
-Which one has the best/strongest composition? 2 points
-Do any of them use any special techniques or equipment? 1 point
-Are any of them shots that you could absolutely never be able to reshoot? 1point
-Are there any that you wish for any reason at all that you could reshoot? subtract 3 points
highest points wins...however, if you find that one is lagging behind in points, and you keep looking at it and thinking 'yeahhhhh...but...,
well, your heart is already biased and decided, so save yourself the trouble and stress and just go with that one, and live with the results :-)
if by this point, you are still undecided, try General E's method! :-) |
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10/30/2007 04:13:08 AM · #21 |
just choose the MOST different one
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10/30/2007 04:30:53 AM · #22 |
I got up this morning knowing EXACTLY which one I was gonna enter in the free study. My ban ended last night so it was allmost like christmas morning to me (yeah I know...I should get a life or something :P )but then I started flipping through some others...and more others...and...
but I took another cup of coffee, displayed the one I liked at first on the screen, had a look at it...went a way from the screen for a cigarette, and came back a few minutes later. Then I went with my first reaction to seeing the photo. That was a good one, so I entered it.
still doubting, but I hope I made the right choice. |
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10/30/2007 04:40:55 AM · #23 |
I usually do not have this dilemma, I enter the one which I like the most, irrespective of the fact whether I have other photos those could score higher. I follow this for all the challenges I take interest in.
If I am not interested in the challenge and if I am free enough or have some idea then I enter the one that should score high.
Last free study I took out the photo I was sure should cross 6.5 (seeing my previous experience with free studies) and entered the one that scored 5.5 around. But I liked it and I am selfish about this issue.
This free study also i have few those could score higher than the one i am entering, but i like this one and thats it.
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10/30/2007 08:22:49 AM · #24 |
Oh god, some good ideas here.. Makes me doubt my Freestudy entry for this month..
I think at the end of the day the best one to go for is the one that feels like its "the boss" of all the shots.. yeah, thats probably best.. will stick with my current entry now... |
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10/30/2007 09:05:54 AM · #25 |
I don't have anything DPC-worthy - any of you with too many to choose from want to loan me one? :-)
(And yes, I'm entering something anyway... I'm weird that way.) |
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