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04/06/2010 01:07:39 PM · #1 |
I am having issues deciding whether I want to submit an image in the Black on Black challenge, so I figured I would ask what you all do, to help me decide.
Why and when do you decide to participate in challenges?
Do you only submit an image if you think you are going to get a good score? Do you submit no matter what? Would you submit an image that you think will do poorly just because, or as a learning experience?
Basically, I have an image ready to go for the Black on Black challenge, but I am almost positive it is going to get slaughtered.
My greatest weakness in photography at this point is indoor/artificial lighting. The fact that I have no studio, no light box, and no lights, only make this harder for me.
While I had fun trying to come up with a shot for this challenge and learned some things, I still feel absolutely positive that my image will not be up to par with other images submitted. I highly doubt I could get a 5.
This makes me not want to submit it, cause hey, nobody likes to go into something doomed to fail :-P
On the other hand, I could possibly get some valuable tips from submitting it, and it could be a learning experience. Learning why people do not like it, or on the off chance actually like it, would be a good way of getting better at something I am not good at.
Now I am conflicted.....I want to improve, but I do not want to fail.
What would you do? |
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04/06/2010 01:10:07 PM · #2 |
| Submit your best shot and hope to get comments. Scores are completely arbitrary compared to the experience of submitting things for critique. |
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04/06/2010 01:13:15 PM · #3 |
| If I like it I'll enter it. If you decide not to enter it you can always make a post on the forums asking for advice and comments. |
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04/06/2010 01:14:51 PM · #4 |
I go back and forth about submitting. I submit LOTS of times when I know the shot will do poorly and the longer I've been here, the more I know exactly what the criticism will be, but occasionally someone leaves a comment that is very helpful and sloooowly I improve because of it. Improve my overall photography, that is, not my average score. But I don't care about my score - I care about improving.
Bottom line is that you really have nothing to lose by entering - it costs nothing and any criticism should only serve to help you. Be thick skinned and open minded and take it all with a grain of salt and... hmmm... nope, I am all out of cliches. ;-) |
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04/06/2010 01:29:16 PM · #5 |
ahh.. another tale of the inner quality control. i say submit it
a) for fun
b) so you don't lose your update button ; (this is more important) |
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04/06/2010 01:58:29 PM · #6 |
I've been here a long time, and I submit to practically every challenge, and I frequently get hammered, and that's OK with me. A lot of my entries are doomed to be marginal, not so much because they are poorly-made as because they are fringe-thinking concepts (otherwise known as 'out of the box') or just plain banal; I enjoy doing in-your-face images of utterly banal things.
So my advice is just have fun and go for it, don't worry about the score. People don't seem to think the less of ME because I lay bricks with great frequency :-)
R. |
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04/06/2010 02:00:30 PM · #7 |
| Ditto the three previous posts. |
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04/06/2010 02:03:23 PM · #8 |
I recently joined and decided to submit something to every challenge no matter what. Usually I have something I like but not always. It is impossible (for me) to tell whether dpc users will like it or not, I have found so far that my taste doesn't generally line up with the majority. I have one image right now holding at 3.9 but it has some great comments and one Fav! (That's almost better then getting a 5.xx I think) I have also received a couple of 6.xxs.
I say have fun and submit :) |
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04/06/2010 02:03:26 PM · #9 |
If I have a picture that meets a challenge I will enter it. I am not going to only enter pics that I think will do really well. In fact, I have a pic in the free study that I didn't think was going to do well at all and now it is turning out to be a personal best. I say enter it and see what you get..
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04/06/2010 02:06:02 PM · #10 |
| Yup...what they said. I enter them because I like them even if I know they'll get slammed. Doesn't really matter! |
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04/06/2010 02:08:04 PM · #11 |
Submit. Down on your knees and submit! It's humbling. It's good for you. And if it is bound to do poorly realize that you are doing a service to all those who do better than poorly.
The only time I don't submit is when I am not at all sure about the candidates themselves, never mind their merit or whether I like them atall atall. |
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04/06/2010 02:26:09 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by macwilyum:
b) so you don't lose your update button |
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04/06/2010 02:41:15 PM · #13 |
If it makes me ... ME!... -----> ME!!! <----- Smile, than I submit the image.
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04/06/2010 02:43:08 PM · #14 |
I'll sometimes enter something expecting it to do poorly, but it is still a success if it finds it's audience. Sometimes you can be surprised. My #3 entry was a gag shot that I expected no better than a mediocre average out of. There is one entry I noticed in a challenge this week that I am certain is getting hammered, but I liked it and I think it is finding a small but appreciative audience. That makes it a success.
One thing I have found to be the most helpful is trading blunt but well intentioned pre-challenge feedback with others. (Agreeing to not vote on each others entry) I've had many times when that has given me useful insight and I have learned something. |
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04/06/2010 03:09:14 PM · #15 |
| I'll submit if I have an idea in my head. With some challenge topics nothing ever strikes me until the next day when I see the entries. Like this week's open challenges, nothing hit me until last night and now I am going to try to replicate the idea and submit it. And pretty much what others have stated, have fun with it and remember...there is no success without trying. |
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04/06/2010 03:35:55 PM · #16 |
| I don't care about ribbons, but I do try to get the highest score possible. If I don't think my picture will score at least a 7, I don't bother submitting it. What's the point otherwise?? This site is called DEE PEE CHALLENGE, not pee wee funhouse. |
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04/06/2010 03:40:31 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by posthumous:
This site is called DEE PEE CHALLENGE, not pee wee funhouse. |
Dang! I've been in the wrong place all along! |
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04/06/2010 04:04:36 PM · #18 |
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04/06/2010 04:09:49 PM · #19 |
i have two things i would like to say:
#1: alot of the time images i think wont be liked actually do well...you can never accurately predict what the voters will think of it! (my ribbon winner was a shock to me!)
#2: just do it. you are here hopefully to improve your work and nothing will improve if you don't submit your images for honest (sometimes harsh) feedback! |
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04/06/2010 04:11:04 PM · #20 |
I submit for my ownn satisfaction and to ruffle afew feathers only Ibeem to no the deep signifacance of these photos and inevitably I end up on or near the brown.its that or I am just ac**p photographer. I never expct or get above 3****. but always get heaps of comments
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04/06/2010 04:20:34 PM · #21 |
Personally, I submit very willingly, especially to redheads ;)
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04/06/2010 04:25:22 PM · #22 |
I submit almost every time, regardless of how I think it will do. The only time I don't submit, is when I honestly think the photo stinks, and I don't like it. Then I don't bother. But if I got something I think is interesting, even if it isn't wonderful, I submit in hopes of getting feedback. Otherwise, why bother going through the effort? I could actually have a really nice average if I only submitted things that would do well.
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04/06/2010 04:25:47 PM · #23 |
| I only submit when the mood strikes -- I would like to think I always try to submit something "good," but honestly, many times I submit for the sake of submitting. |
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04/06/2010 04:27:21 PM · #24 |
Personally I submit anything for a few different reasons:
a) I am undecided about the shot and want additional feedback (this is where I usually end up)
b) I'm trying something different and want feed back (probably the second most common reason I submit images)
c) I like the shot and I want to share
eta: d) Ew...lastly. I'll submit an image for the sake of submitting. Never a good idea.
edit 2: D was not a knock at karmat btw. Just my opinion. (Didn't notice her post until just now)
Message edited by author 2010-04-06 16:30:03. |
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04/06/2010 04:41:47 PM · #25 |
I try to get an idea for a challenge, then I step away and try for something slightly Leftfield. It doesn't work very often, but I enjoy twisting things to fit, as opposed to shoehorning.
But, mostly I submit what I like and hope others see the humour, sarcasm or connection to the challenge, however fragile. I enter and hope most of the time. |
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