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01/24/2008 11:00:43 PM · #101 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Now, I'd like to say that DPC has gone off the deep end with the politically correct bullshit as of late. It has become the domain of the offended and trying to protect them from their own sensitivities has made the site stagnant and uninteresting for the most part.
A place where you have to post a link of a flagged nude image inside a flagged post inside a flagged thread is going a bit too far. |
... Where is my popcorn? This should stir up some controversy. Let the games begin.
Ray |
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01/24/2008 11:11:01 PM · #102 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever: Now, I'd like to say that DPC has gone off the deep end with the politically correct bullshit as of late. It has become the domain of the offended and trying to protect them from their own sensitivities has made the site stagnant and uninteresting for the most part. |
Posts like this must make a deep impression on someone new to the site and trying to decide if they want to join in ... |
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01/24/2008 11:13:23 PM · #103 |
Originally posted by GeneralE: Originally posted by fotomann_forever: Now, I'd like to say that DPC has gone off the deep end with the politically correct bullshit as of late. It has become the domain of the offended and trying to protect them from their own sensitivities has made the site stagnant and uninteresting for the most part. |
Posts like this must make a deep impression on someone new to the site and trying to decide if they want to join in ... |
FWIW, I have to admit that the more forum posts I read, the less I want to be a member. |
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01/24/2008 11:24:06 PM · #104 |
Originally posted by oscarthepig:
FWIW, I have to admit that the more forum posts I read, the less I want to be a member. |
Bah! all the posts just show that people care about the site! |
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01/24/2008 11:25:19 PM · #105 |
Originally posted by kolasi: Originally posted by oscarthepig:
FWIW, I have to admit that the more forum posts I read, the less I want to be a member. |
Bah! all the posts just show that people care about the site! |
Exactly... if we didn't, we'd just pack up and leave...
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01/24/2008 11:28:51 PM · #106 |
I hate this site, but I like this site. This site blows, but I am on here everyday.
I can't decide anymore. All Eye know is I like taking pictures ... |
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01/24/2008 11:32:59 PM · #107 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever: Originally posted by kolasi: Originally posted by oscarthepig:
FWIW, I have to admit that the more forum posts I read, the less I want to be a member. |
Bah! all the posts just show that people care about the site! |
Exactly... if we didn't, we'd just pack up and leave... |
lol. I think I'd rather just quit reading the forums :) |
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01/25/2008 12:09:07 AM · #108 |
They have been a bit quieter lately.... |
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01/25/2008 12:16:53 AM · #109 |
We take pictures,improve our skills by learning from seasoned photographers,and try to win a pretent ribbon. I think it is that simple. I know I'll never come close to winning a ribbon but it is something that pushes me to become better.I have seen places, animals,and people that I would other wise never see.And miss out on Joey Lawrence's amazing talent. Sure I feel intimidated sometimes...but hey, thats life! |
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01/25/2008 01:41:42 AM · #110 |
I joined at the end of 2004 and have noticed that this kind of discussion comes up on a regular basis. One thing that is always the same on this site is that there are regular threads with the message "this site has changed." So that part never changes, at least.
Other than that, I just wanted to chime in and in an off-topic sort of way say that Brad's VW bug is not beat-up, and nor is it completely unmodified, as someone incorrectly claimed earlier. It contains a trunk full of actual bricks to give it weight and a reason for border patrol to ask a lot of questions. :-)
I also spent a day riding around in that sweet little ride. |
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01/25/2008 01:54:12 AM · #111 |
OK, my two cents worth:
I started entering images after watching the site for 6 months. My first image was around December 2005. I was a dud for the first few months, but with each challenge I improved BY RUNNING WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE WAY AHEAD OF ME. They stretched me. I didn't have their gear, in fact I really still don't, but I learned what works and what doesn't. Sometimes I was surprised with results, other times I was mad with an image that I thought would ribbon for me, but I got a 5.2 or something crazy like that. Eventually I won a ribbon...three in my first year, 9 in my second, and one alread this year.
My average goes up slightly month by month and that proves I am improving. Nothing has changed for me with the rules, I still shoot the images I like and submit those. There are thousands of images that are not in my protfolio that I know would get 5's on dpc, but to me they are blue ribbon winners I will never enter.
How did I improve? By running with the champions like Mark Simms, DrAchoo, scalvert, Alexsaberi, irenem, goodman, joey lawrence , sandyp and many more I don't have time or space to mention.
Was I bored, upset at my dq, frustrated...OF COURSE! But slow and steady, without whining wins the race.
I think Mark simms is making the best choice to take a break. It will refresh him, and hopefully he will come back better than ever and stretch us all the more. many others might do the same. I will be taking 3 weeks of from February 4 to 24 because I am 'fasting' dpc in order to commit myself more to my ministry. Do whatever works for you, but for goodness sakes, this is a great site, a wonderful community, it is ever evolving and challenging, stretching and expanding in ideas.
Those who have benefited from learning on the site should use these forums to encourage and build rather than tear down. Have your say, enjoy. It's just a photography site with GIF's for prizes :) Have fun and relax...Enzo
Message edited by author 2008-01-25 01:55:59. |
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01/25/2008 02:07:55 AM · #112 |
I have not had much desire to enter challenges lately, I find it hard to come up with something original on a challenge that has a III or IV in the description. I find it even less appealing to look at 200+ photos of one of those challenges because 80% or more has already been done to death.
So yes, Lately it has been kind of boring, Sometimes it is like watching Nick at Night.
Message edited by author 2008-01-25 02:11:11. |
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01/25/2008 02:13:37 AM · #113 |
Originally posted by hotpasta:
Those who have benefited from learning on the site should use these forums to encourage and build rather than tear down. Have your say, enjoy. It's just a photography site with GIF's for prizes :) Have fun and relax...Enzo |
I always wish to thanks for the comments you have made on my entries. Your comments are always very encouraging to get. Thanks.
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01/25/2008 02:32:45 AM · #114 |
Originally posted by Bugzeye: I have not had much desire to enter challenges lately, I find it hard to come up with something original on a challenge that has a III or IV in the description. I find it even less appealing to look at 200+ photos of one of those challenges because 80% or more has already been done to death.
So yes, Lately it has been kind of boring, Sometimes it is like watching Nick at Night. |
YO Y U B DISSIN NICK AT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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01/25/2008 02:42:55 AM · #115 |
Originally posted by puzzled:
Other than that, I just wanted to chime in and in an off-topic sort of way say that Brad's VW bug is not beat-up, and nor is it completely unmodified, as someone incorrectly claimed earlier. It contains a trunk full of actual bricks to give it weight and a reason for border patrol to ask a lot of questions. :-)
I also spent a day riding around in that sweet little ride. |
ROFL
Just an update: the bricks have been removed. Rebuilt the front end and no longer get the Super Beetle steering wheel shimmy they are so famous for. I'll go put one in just for old-times sake though.
:) |
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01/25/2008 10:24:13 AM · #116 |
After reading some of the comments regarding creative license, and the term pop photos, I finally have a grasp of what has bothered me most with the way photos are rated. I have always had in the back of my mind "Does this photo say anything of importance to me?" In most cases the answer is a resounding no. But it is a game after all, nothing more. Games don't necessarily have to be important to do, just fun. So I have concluded that the serious artists and social photographers are taking images for posterity, not for weekly contests. They will not necessarily do well in the ratings, but there are a number of serious photos, and photographers, that stay with me. I find Hotpasta to take some really serious photos of culture and people, and also Joey Lawrence. They are two of the guys that I really appreciate with their style and subject. I keep coming back for images like theirs, and somehow manage to survive all the pop photos from week to week. I am an appreciator of serious subject material, as well as many of the more artistic styles, and my voting does reflect that. I am in a minority, but that is okay. I am being reached by some folks here, and I hope that it gives folks some hope that though they don't end up in the top 20, there are many of us that love and appreciate what they do. |
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01/25/2008 08:06:47 PM · #117 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Now, I'd like to say that DPC has gone off the deep end with the politically correct bullshit as of late. It has become the domain of the offended and trying to protect them from their own sensitivities has made the site stagnant and uninteresting for the most part.
A place where you have to post a link of a flagged nude image inside a flagged post inside a flagged thread is going a bit too far. |
DITTO
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01/25/2008 08:29:37 PM · #118 |
Originally posted by Brad: Originally posted by puzzled:
Other than that, I just wanted to chime in and in an off-topic sort of way say that Brad's VW bug is not beat-up, and nor is it completely unmodified, as someone incorrectly claimed earlier. It contains a trunk full of actual bricks to give it weight and a reason for border patrol to ask a lot of questions. :-)
I also spent a day riding around in that sweet little ride. |
ROFL
Just an update: the bricks have been removed. Rebuilt the front end and no longer get the Super Beetle steering wheel shimmy they are so famous for. I'll go put one in just for old-times sake though.
:) |
Bearing in mind that a VW Bug is notable for having its engine in the REAR, over the drive axle, one has to wonder about the thought-process of a master mechanic who would load the FRONT (that's where the so-called "trunk" is, like on an elephant) with bricks...
R.
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01/25/2008 09:55:41 PM · #119 |
I read about half of what is there, but wanted to interject some thoughts I have regarding the initial post and the responses.
It seems that DPC has people here for different reasons, the main 3 reasons I see are:
The Challenges
The Learning
The Community
I am honestly looking for all 3, and would expect a lot of other people to be as well.
People who want an even playing field, like Brad's idea, are looking at the challenge aspect. If his proposed changes were implemented, it would come down to almost complete skill of working the camera/lens and maybe a little bit of luck to be at the right place at the right time (in some cases). This would still not make an even playing field for the people who would be brand new to photography. I doubt someone who received a camera for Christmas is already experimenting with lighting set-ups, they are probably still figuring out all the features and manual settings on their cameras. The playing field will never be able to be even all across the board. Differentiating equipment will never allow for a completely even challenge.
While I don't enter challenges to learn anymore, I used to, and for a while, I was getting a lot better because of it. The feedback about the in-camera stuff and sometimes overdoing the post-processing, was very helpful. It was when I started to do certain things on purpose, and would get 4 or 5 comments about it, and have them almost split down the middle as to whether people liked it or not. To give a few examples from the same image:
Originally posted by anonymous: Nice portrait and well framed. The bump in the blues is a little much |
Originally posted by anonymous: it's nice...not sure about the lighting in this as it makes the background almost look flat and fake |
Originally posted by anonymous: Great lighting and pose. Love the way the blue in the jeans really stands out! |
Originally posted by anonymous: Excellent light in this. |
What am I supposed to take away from that? One person says the lighting is bad, others like it, one person likes the blues, one doesn't. As far as learning from the comments, others might still be able to, and it honestly might be related to your skill level or something like that, but all I know is that it doesn't work for me anymore.
As far as the community is concerned, I like this community, and still find it a little helpful, but since finding other photography related sites, I don't come here often looking for advice. The main reason I come to these forums now is to watch people duke it out verbally. And occasionally add my 2 cents (like right now :P).
It always seemed that DPC has had certain styles, subjects, and colors that do well, and certain ones that don't (there are of course some exceptions). I became a lot more comfortable with my own photography since I stopped trying to be DPC. I have seen too many posts arguing about editing and the rules and about Photoshop. It was only after I stopped caring about DPC results that I was able to apply my current motto for photography:
"I will use any combination of skill, technology, and equipment to create the best looking images I can."
Peace.
Message edited by author 2008-01-25 21:58:37. |
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01/25/2008 11:18:38 PM · #120 |
Taking a break is a good idea.. I just came back from mine and it definitely made me enthusiastic about entering more challenges..
On another note I believe I'll be pulling out a challenge submission.. After reading this thread I've realized I'll be booed and hissed at a little too much.. Doesn't look too much like the original or even a picture *sigh*
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01/26/2008 01:28:38 AM · #121 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Bearing in mind that a VW Bug is notable for having its engine in the REAR, over the drive axle, one has to wonder about the thought-process of a master mechanic who would load the FRONT (that's where the so-called "trunk" is, like on an elephant) with bricks... |
Well lemme tell ya somethin' about the Super Beetles in this era. They came out with McPherson struts in the front end and with the light weight in the front, they were very prone to skipping on rough surfaces in a turn, as well as getting the oscillation in the steering wheel at 50-60mph (was officially called the "Super Shimmies"). A steering damper was some help as came out mid-year 1973 production after the initial strut front end introduction in 1972, but were still prone to the jitters on vehicles with a few miles on them. As age took it's toll on the control arm bushings and ball joints, the jitters became shakes and would get pretty unstable on rough/uneven surfaces above 30-40mph in a turn. The street fix was to add weight in the front by sandbags or bricks, and to drop the tire pressure a few psi as well. After recently rebuilding the front end, the bricks were able to be removed. And about the so-called trunk? You would be amazed how much room is up front on a Super Beetle - 86% more trunk space the standard beetles due to mainly the suspension design of the Supers.
So wonder as you must. I only look crazy. Well I act a bit crazy too. Oh hell, I am nuts. Never mind.
:)) |
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01/26/2008 01:30:15 AM · #122 |
Back to the regularly scheduled rant dicussion in progress. |
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01/26/2008 03:03:22 AM · #123 |
Originally posted by Brad: Back to the regularly scheduled rant discussion in progress. |
ain't that the truth. I am honestly surprised at the "few" individual posts regarding the new rule set. I guess it reminds me of the whole Elvis thing though. Some peeps just can't handle it... ;-) |
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