To submit or not to submit - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

07/31/2008 04:18:41 PM · #1

Argh, I can't decide.
I have an entry for one of the curent challenges, but it's not technically superb and I'm not completely sure that people will get why I think it fits the challenge. Plus it's a bit personal for me so I'm not sure I would like the possible negative comments on it.
On the other hand I really want to enter - it's a kind of principle that even if I don't feel it's the best of the best I've ever made I still want to participate in most of the challenges and I don't really want to skip this one.

What do you normally do if you're in doubt of whether or not to submit an entry? And do you got any good advice?

bassbone

Nikon Z8

07/31/2008 04:23:23 PM · #2

Send me a PM with a link to the photo in your workshop and I can throw you an opinion...

ikopanas

Nikon D7000

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

07/31/2008 04:23:58 PM · #3

If you don't, you ll never know if you were right or wrong!

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

07/31/2008 04:25:18 PM · #4

Originally posted by ssocrates:

If you don't, you ll never know if you were right or wrong!

Haha, true :D

bassbone

Nikon Z8

07/31/2008 04:25:37 PM · #5

Also, does the photo 'say' something that you want to say, or is just a picture of something? Just because you shoot for a challenge doesn't mean you have to enter it. I really have tried to be more critical of my own work and not enter every single challenge. Sometimes just shooting for the challenge and not entering is enough to practice and improve....

dsterner

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

07/31/2008 04:33:54 PM · #6

Originally posted by bassbone:

Sage advice from Peter. I posted a personally significant photo to a challenge and it took some knocks, but I rolled with it. After the challenge, kinder souls came back to the photo to read my photographers remarks and commented based on the story behind the photo - some liked the sentiment behind it, others offered some ideas for capturing the moment. All-in-all, I thought it was worth it...I got a little better because of it.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

07/31/2008 04:34:08 PM · #7

Originally posted by bassbone:

Send me a PM with a link to the photo in your workshop and I can throw you an opinion...

Thanks! Sent you a pm (or two actually - forgot to mention something in the first)...

PhotoDave

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/31/2008 04:36:40 PM · #8

as long as you like it thats all that matters :)

if you enter it theres always a chance of getting a negative comment but you have to take a deep breath and try to learn from it. Unless you get one of the rare commenters that are socially retarded and leave a nasty comment and in that case just ignore it and move on...

I look at mine as if just one other person besides me likes it then that is just a bonus, when I joined I was just shooting stuff I liked and got descent scores and then I got in the grove of trying to shoot for what I thought that the voters mite like and my scores went in the toilet and so I have gone back to shooting what "I" like and low and behold the scores are doing better but most important theres been comments of people liking the shots and thats worth more than a 10 any day to me :)

-dave

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/31/2008 04:36:43 PM · #9

Originally posted by bassbone:

Oh, that was one hard question... I'm not sure really.
And yeah I do learn a lot from just shooting. But other's input is also invaluable a lot of times.

Edit: I'm not sure I'm using the word 'invaluable' the right way here XD Just read what I mean, not what I write...

Message edited by author 2008-07-31 16:38:54.

DarkRider

Nikon D300

07/31/2008 05:06:59 PM · #10

If you want another opinion on your photo I'll take a look at it. Just send me a PM.

I just submit photos for myself. As long as I can see its relevance to the challenge. What some see as DNMC others see as OOB. It's just a digital ribbon.
Or just shoe horn it. Slap a clever title on it and hit send. It's all the rage now!!

bassbone

Nikon Z8

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

07/31/2008 05:12:06 PM · #11

Reviewed your photo and sent you a PM

07/31/2008 05:18:16 PM · #12

Originally posted by bassbone:

Reviewed your photo and sent you a PM

Thank you :)

07/31/2008 05:22:41 PM · #13

Originally posted by DarkRider:

If you want another opinion on your photo I'll take a look at it. Just send me a PM.

...

Thanks, I just sent you a note.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/31/2008 05:55:39 PM · #14

A bump to get some more oppinions and to say thanks for all the input so far.

<3

DarkRider

Nikon D300

07/31/2008 06:01:44 PM · #15

I sent a PM back

jhomrighaus

Nikon D5300

Sigma 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

07/31/2008 06:02:21 PM · #16

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If your in this for the money then only post where you think you will win, if you are in it for the fun and the challenge then I would say enter everything you can, the more you shoot the more you learn, the more feedback you get the better you can be.

I am entering my first free study and I suspect I will tank horribly but I am hoping for some good comments.

07/31/2008 06:16:39 PM · #17

Originally posted by DarkRider:

I sent a PM back

Replied :)

Google Glass Google Glass

07/31/2008 06:19:12 PM · #18

Originally posted by jhomrighaus:

Nah, I'm in it to learn, not for the money or the ribons - when I get better I might get greedy but I'm surely not there yet :)

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

07/31/2008 06:22:37 PM · #19

How upset will you be with a low score?

If you are willing to deal with the worst that can happen, then go for it.

Low scores aren't really a personal thing. The voters usually have no idea who submitted the image. Certain styles, certain subjects, certain models give some people away.

Sometimes there are photos I just do not like. Has nothing to do with the photographer, nothing to do with their message, their dreams, their meaning. I just don't happen to be in the mood that is receptive to that kind of image that day. Somedays I like puppy photos, and think how cute. Others, it's oh please not another one. But that's all me, not the photo. Could be same photo, just a different day.

Last but not least, do you shoot for score or shoot for you? If your image speaks to one or two viewers, would that be enough. If you sparked a new idea, a new way of seeing, a new understanding in one or two people, would it be enough and enough so that a low score might not matter? If the answer is yes, then submit.

Who knows, you might reach someone and get a good score...

-alex

Retroesque

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

07/31/2008 06:24:04 PM · #20

I long ago decided that I enter challenges ONLY with images I'm PROUD OF!

The score for me is so less important than producing an image that sits well within my heart & folio.

Early on I created some 'dogs' for the purpose of fulfilling the challenge brief while at the same time trying to second guess what the 'masses' of voters may think.

Those images usually stunk up the screen and left me feeling pretty crappy about myself as a challenge member here.

It was only once I grew to 'understand' my own place as a photographer, that I started creating and entering images I'm TRULY proud of and only enter them once I've checked with myself about the 'worthiness' of them in my heart.

Sorry if I'm waffling - it makes sense in my head - GRIN!

Another inspiration to me was something

Larus said in an interview about shooting for challenges. If I remember correctly, he said he approached each challenge subject as his 'client'. Eg - my client needs me to produce an image that says 'Evening'. And then he would work towards producing an image of the highest calibre that says Evening.

If you check his folio, you'll probably see his advice is worth taking on - SMILE!

So in this case - ask yourself - 'Am I truly PROUD of this image?' If the answer is YES - then pop it in and see where the cards fall - the score will only represent an average of what a huge variety of people and tastes think - the real measure will be any/all comments you may gain and the pride you feel about that image sitting in your folio.

Hope somewhere in these words my meaning comes through - GRIN!

Google Glass Google Glass

07/31/2008 06:29:18 PM · #21

@ ambaker and iamwoman: it's not really a possible low score that would unrattle me, more the possible negative comments.

Thanks for both of you's advice. (Although iamwoman's GRIN! is kinda scaring me *lol*)

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

07/31/2008 06:39:00 PM · #22

Even if there are negative comments, if you were able to reach one person, would it be worth it?