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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> What's the most you have ever spent on a challenge
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 04/13/2008 03:01:19 AM · #1
Every 3 or 4 challenges I find my self needing to buy props or materials to make create my vision for the submission. For example for the Led Zeppelin challenge I ended up spending about $25 on props. Same for the Color on Color. I came up with an idea for the Water challenge and I've currently spent almost $40 on it (which has failed miserably).

So how much do you spend on challenges?
 04/13/2008 03:15:36 AM · #2
Spend?? Ummmm.... nope :)

Oops, I lie. (Had to look back at my entries to jog my memory.) I spent 50c on a book for username challenge and $1 for ladybug stickers for my dig at Dr.Achoo.
Sometimes I buy weird stuff at thriftshops and garage sales and hope to some day fit them in, but I don't go shopping with specific challenges in mind.

Message edited by author 2008-04-13 03:19:00.
 04/13/2008 04:40:14 AM · #3
Yeah I've spent £20 or so before, but normally on stuff that will come in useful again and again.
 04/13/2008 04:56:34 AM · #4
I've often wondered this same question. Looking at other peoples descriptions, there are certainly some good photos which have come from spending $20 or so on props. Looking through my challenge entries, I've never spent anything specifically for a challenge, although I did get a couple of bags of balloons for a photo for a competition, and then reshot my photo for a challenge, but that was using the balloons that I already had. :) I'm such a cheapskate.
 04/13/2008 05:04:26 AM · #5
I spent about $10 on doll accessories at a craft shop in order to do this one:

It scored miserably, but got lots of great comments.

I also spent about $10 for Barbie dresses for my shoehorn. I was going to do it up as "Shoehorn Barbie: curvy n' cute" for the recent Curves challenge. It looked pathetic, even for one of my shoehorns. (I didn't enter it)

Oh, and the "Peeps" challenge cost me a few $ as well. I had to buy extra because I kept eating the props.

Message edited by author 2008-04-13 05:05:45.
 04/13/2008 06:15:55 AM · #6
I spent $1400 on a camera, $1200 on a lens, $600 on a lens, $400 on a flash, and $130 on a tripod, (all of which I hear about from my wife.)

If that counts.
Oh, and a box of peeps =)
 04/13/2008 07:52:53 AM · #7
For the average challenge I spent about $10 to $ 15 for flowers, vegetables, entrance fees (zoos, towers, automobile shows) etc. One of the most expensive challenge entries was this

The seabass was no longer edible after the shoot.

If I count in the gasoline I need to drive to specific locations, it is much more of course, for an example, I had to drive approx. 150 miles for this

and some more for this


Then I could count in those props that will stay, as the glass stones, cardboards and lights I bought for this


There are some challenge entrise that cost me nothing, so, all in all I guess I spend about an average of 20$ per challenge
 04/13/2008 08:40:54 AM · #8
Does 90k for a studio count? After all I had to have lights, a better camera, backgrounds, props and customers to practice on! :)
 04/13/2008 11:40:25 AM · #9
On my Painting with Light, I spent 4.00 for the vase, and 40.00 for an lcd 4 light flashlight from radio shack. It did really bad in the ratings.


Message edited by author 2008-04-13 11:40:52.
 04/13/2008 11:45:57 AM · #10
Well, to get better challenge results.....

I've bought: 2 cameras, a hand-full of lenses, 4 studio strobes, 2 flash units, modifiers of every kind, a zillion studio props, costumes, hired models, landscaped my garden, bought a new car......

..... challenge entering is expensive work. :D
 04/13/2008 11:53:30 AM · #11
Originally posted by idnic:
Well, to get better challenge results.....

..... challenge entering is expensive work. :D


Hmmm

My average PRE studio purchase - 4.9864
My average post studio purchase - 5.6137

Looks like throwing money at it works!!!! another 100k and I could have a 6.0 :)
 04/13/2008 11:55:39 AM · #12
Originally posted by idnic:
Well, to get better challenge results.....

I've bought: 2 cameras, a hand-full of lenses, 4 studio strobes, 2 flash units, modifiers of every kind, a zillion studio props, costumes, hired models, landscaped my garden, bought a new car......

..... challenge entering is expensive work. :D


It sure can be. I have bought 3 cameras, a ton of filters, 2 studio flash units, a complete studio kit with 3 light stands, an umbrella and tungsten bulbs, a few lenses, many flowers for my garden to photograph, I've taken trips all over the state as I search out subjects for the latest challenge, (and at 3.39 a gallon that is a major expense.) I even bought a new more efficient car so I wouldn't use as much gas as I go on my photo expeditions. (Toyota Rav 4. Highway gets about 30 to the gallon.) So, yes my scores did improve with the slr, but not enough for ribbons. It is okay. My walls are plastered with my photos, and they change like every month as I take out the old ones from their frames and put in new ones.
 04/13/2008 12:18:29 PM · #13
Zero, if you don't count drive miles and time. Sometimes I will just go goof off for an hour or an afternoon to shoot for a challenge, which I think of as my own time to refresh my spirit and get away.
I try to shoot all my challenge shots as I find them. My top two were set up, but there was not much to that at all, and they were all done with things that I already had nearby.
Cameras and other related gear are my big expense, but those are not purchased just to try for better DPC scores, so they don't count for this. I like to surf the 'Bay for older lenses and good pro hardware as sort of a hobby.
04/13/2008 12:22:50 PM · #14
Around $650.



A Wide Angle Challenge pushed me to buy it and it's hardly been used since.

04/13/2008 12:23:23 PM · #15
I have a collection of props and craft supplies at the ready. The local loonie store, Sally Ann and similar thrift shops, ie Value Village, see a lot of me too. I try to not go too crazy buying stuff and try to keep it to under $5 (not counting gas if on my way into town).
 04/13/2008 01:24:39 PM · #16
If I am lazy, not much time at all.

If I am inspired, a lot of time and effort.

The "Centered Comp. 3" challenge is an example of my laziness.

The upcoming "Water" challenge is an example of my inspired creativeness.
 04/13/2008 11:41:33 PM · #17
Oops, found another couple I spent the big bucks on...



$4, but I'm SURE I'll eventually find another challenge that demands half a toilet seat!



Balloons- $1
Posthumous comment- priceless

eta; But yeah, already being into crafts really helps. For some challenges I just root around in the half-garage-worth of junk treasures, experimenting with this and that until something strikes my fancy.

Message edited by author 2008-04-13 23:44:07.
 04/14/2008 12:47:50 AM · #18
I have dropped a few dollars on challenge props. But the majority of my expenses for challenges is spent on fuel used while driving around looking for places, people and things to shoot. I can burn up a half tank of gas pretty easy.

Message edited by author 2008-04-14 00:48:42.
 04/14/2008 11:06:27 AM · #19
The majority of money has gone on camera and lighting gear, but specifically for challenge entries...

I spent about $50 on parts for this:

I still have the rig in my basement. I'm sure I'll find another use for it sometime. Yep, I'm sure.

I adopted a fish and took care of him for a year for this:

Fish, $2. Flower, $2. Vase, $5. A bigger bowl, food for a year, and medicine to euthanize him yesterday when he got sick, $25.

No more buying live creatures to use as props. I thought I'd give him away after the shoot, but then I got attached.
04/14/2008 11:28:07 AM · #20
Patterns challenge

$900 for wide angle lens
$250 in gas
$25 to get into Grandcanyon
$60 for Urgent Care Visit
$42 on crappy crappy food
$150 for tour of Canyon X
$50 extra memory card

total =$1477

was it worth it.

Hell Yeah
04/14/2008 11:33:38 AM · #21
$25 ? Don't you have a toilet? Would have same effect and provides one last adventure for the fish a moment of freedom before the end.

Originally posted by Ann:
and medicine to euthanize him yesterday when he got sick, $25.

04/14/2008 11:59:50 AM · #22
~$1 Insense:


~$5 cheap champaign:


~$7 fish tank:


~$3 Lollypop:


~$0.15 wasted some milk on this one:


~$120 fog machine, but bought it just as much for halloween:


~$10 chocolate:


:-)
 04/14/2008 12:51:38 PM · #23
Round trip ticket to Italy - $2100, hotel - 80 euros/night, food, wine and coffee - who knows?



Catching this moment + a comment from posthumous - Priceless
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