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07/06/2009 09:43:04 PM · #1 |
Hello Everyone! Im fairly new to the site and wanted to introduce myself! Im Lisa, from Wilmington, NC. I started out entering challenges and learning alot from comments and the tutorials.
I am having a hard time choosing which photo to enter into the challenges. I take pictures very often and then I play around in photoshop (just learning basics)I come to find that when I start tweaking them and get ready to submit a photo, I can not decide which one will do better then the other. Are there any technical things I should be looking for? Are there topics, subjects,or colors that appeal more then others? Any help and/or tips would be great!! And if you happen to live near Wilmington, shoot me a message, im new to the area and would love to chat with you! Thanks again! |
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07/06/2009 10:02:01 PM · #2 |
Hi Lisa, and welcome to the asylum :)
First, a disclaimer that I probably don't know what I'm talking about, but that never stops me :)
I think one of the first things I learned here was attention to detail; the lint ball, loose thread, backdrop wrinkles, etc. I was so busy looking at the main subject I didn't think to look at the distractions.
The best way to get a feel for what works here, as far as topics, subjects and colours, is to lose yourself in looking at past challenge entries. You'll probably notice that even here we have our fads. :) |
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07/06/2009 10:14:34 PM · #3 |
Thanks for the reply! I have been sickly addicted to looking at previous challenges and comments left for those getting a ribbon and those who score lower. As far as the backgrounds go I see what you mean. I am usually very observant, but like you said sometimes you get so wrapped up in the subject you forget the rest of it. haha Thanks again for the tips! |
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07/06/2009 10:19:18 PM · #4 |
Hi Lisa - I think you are not alone when it comes to choosing which photo to enter into a challenge. I say just pick one, enter it, and see what happens. Then if you don't get any feedback, post a thread asking for some advice. Something that has helped me a lot tho is participating in the Side Challenges. We don't vote in those, just share comments. You will learn a lot by joining one of those.
Check out this link to see what I am talking about: linkie
Welcome to the site and have fun! |
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07/06/2009 10:34:55 PM · #5 |
Hey Lisa & welcome!
It's a crap shoot... Well, let me clarify - it's a crap shoot between fantastically edited landscapes and set-up shots. And that's a gross oversimplification of this site, which is actually more complex and frustrating and addictive and inspiring than any I've run across! ;-)
Don't get me wrong - I love it here! Just don't get down in the dumps when a long exposure, surreal sunset on a rocky beach, with the aurora borealis in the sky takes the blue. It happens... Unfortunately, I don't live where those scenes occur, so there is a disadvantage on some scale. But by the same token, if a Shenandoah Valley challenge should arrive, I'll be in the cat bird's seat! =-D
There are times where a child with a cute expression (granted taken in perfect lighting) will win - I personally hate those as a rule. Then there are the animals that require a softness around the edges and a sharpness around the eyes (with extra color) that seem to capture the voters attention - I actually like those.
The beauty of this site is that it requires photogs to adhere to a specific topic every week in order to truly capture the voters' highest accolades; so naturally, there are times when a red triangle or an old truck are the key to winning a ribbon. I believe that if you study the past challenges and really spend some time and creative energy on your entry, you can win here. You're not going to win every time (not even the "greats" do that), but you can achieve some ego-satisfying success.
I've learned most of my photographic skills as a result of this site... Whether it is through the tutorials, challenges, member advice & suggestions, or conversations with friends I've made, I owe most of my success to this site and its community. Granted, I'm not getting rich (yet), but I'm not just "wishing" I could do stuff anymore - I'm doing it and getting paid.
Back to your query - "which shot should I enter?". WELCOME TO THE CLUB! ROFLMAO! You can ask 100 different people and probably get 75 different answers. My best advice to you is to enter what you feel most strongly about. That way, when it doesn't score as well as you think it should, you aren't as disappointed because you really love the shot and stand behind it. Take the good comments with the bad and with a big grain of salt. You'll get some obnoxious comments regardless of what you enter and you just have to ignore them. Take the constructive and positive comments to heart and you will begin to understand what the voters on this site want to see. Then of course that will change and you'll be wondering what the **** is going on. It's an horrific cycle, but one that is repeated by hundreds of people every week (including me!)!
Best of luck to you and keep your chin up! |
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07/06/2009 10:54:59 PM · #6 |
Wow! thank you so much for the kind words!! Now I know Im not alone in the endless thought of... well I like these colors, but this angle, but this bug is really cool.... I decided to try a membership for a month and see how it goes... I am goig to try and enter some photos in side challenges and just see where it takes me! I checked out some images from the those who recently responded to this,and Man! you all are really talented! Keep up the great work! |
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