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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Have I DPC Matured?
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 03/03/2011 07:57:01 PM · #1
I have shots in the Free Study and Negative Space challenges at the moment, I knew when I entered them that they wouldn't do well, and in fact they are both sitting around the 4.6 mark, but I'm happy.

I like both shots, I entered them in the hope that someone else out there would find and like them.

Does this mean I've DPC matured or that I've just given up trying to score well? :)
 03/03/2011 08:06:03 PM · #2
I'm in a similar situation to you. I've come to the conclusion that if I chase after good scores, I'm going to be too scared to enter anything in case I let myself down. So I think I'm going to enter what I like and hope that I get a good score from time to time.
 03/03/2011 08:27:42 PM · #3
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I have shots in the Free Study and Negative Space challenges at the moment, I knew when I entered them that they wouldn't do well, and in fact they are both sitting around the 4.6 mark, but I'm happy.

I like both shots, I entered them in the hope that someone else out there would find and like them.

Does this mean I've DPC matured or that I've just given up trying to score well? :)
Definitely matured! ;)
 03/03/2011 08:28:18 PM · #4
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
I'm in a similar situation to you. I've come to the conclusion that if I chase after good scores, I'm going to be too scared to enter anything in case I let myself down. So I think I'm going to enter what I like and hope that I get a good score from time to time.
And interesting comments!
 03/03/2011 08:28:52 PM · #5
like a fine wine
 03/03/2011 09:10:46 PM · #6
To be honest, that is the attitude I've had since the beginning. For me it's because I realize my limitations. I know I am not all that good yet so a lot my shots are experiments and/or learning exercises. I try all kinds of shots and have yet to discover my particular style, maybe when I get better that will come.

Of course I watch my scores and hope for good scores but I also understand that most of the time I am going to hover around that 5.0 range. I enter the shots that I like and, like the OP, I hope others enjoy them as well, even if often those others are few in number. While I do have a very laid back attitude about my scores I also do take the learning and improving aspect of this site very seriously.

I think taking scores to personally and seriously would kill the fun of it all, and afterall shouldn't the main objective be to have fun?
 03/03/2011 09:18:51 PM · #7
How funny, I'm in the same boat... Still like my shots, glad I entered those, despite a couple of MUCH better choices.
 03/03/2011 09:32:28 PM · #8
My girlfriend and I were just discussing this topic last night. I have intentionally entered shots lately that haven't been my best choices just to find out if anyone would connect with them the way I did when I took them. So far I have two entires with zero comments, something that has never happened before. I don't care about my score any longer. Makes me wonder how long folks actually view the image before voting on it. Or, if my entries are really that bad!
 03/03/2011 09:43:49 PM · #9
I seem to have had a lot of high scorers lately, but the funny thing is that many of them were entered expecting only a mid-pack performance. What I have realized is that, at least for me, the key is not chasing popular appeal, but learning how to improve what I personally like. Once I did that, things started clicking, as backwards as it may sound.

On the other hand, my very favorites of my own shots frequently are in the mid to high fives and have gotten both praise and criticism in the challenges. Not sure what this is really saying.
 03/03/2011 09:46:27 PM · #10
I think the bar of what is considered a good photo has been raised in the past 5-6 months, and the same photo that would pull a 5.2 a year ago will now only score around 4.5 - 4.9. Part of it is, I think, the number of entries in most challenges, which encourages people to spend less time on each photo before rating it. I also think the effect of dropping the "rule" that you had to comment on every 3 or lower vote has finally taken full effect - enough new people have joined since that time and they're not as reluctant to give out a 3, or 2 (or even 1). I'm not necessarily saying that's bad - just an observation.
I also think the editing expertise (in general) has greatly improved - I don't see many high-scoring shots that don't show the effects of non-trivial editing - even in Basic, there is a fair amount that can be done to tune the shot, and dpc'ers in general use editing to good effect.
03/03/2011 10:29:35 PM · #11
I enter some to try and get a high score but I will sometimes enter shots that I like or a different style that I want to try out knowing the score will likely be quite poor. I still compete and want to get high scores but I am not afraid to enter something that I know will likely score low.
 03/03/2011 11:15:03 PM · #12
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I seem to have had a lot of high scorers lately, but the funny thing is that many of them were entered expecting only a mid-pack performance. What I have realized is that, at least for me, the key is not chasing popular appeal, but learning how to improve what I personally like. Once I did that, things started clicking, as backwards as it may sound.

On the other hand, my very favorites of my own shots frequently are in the mid to high fives and have gotten both praise and criticism in the challenges. Not sure what this is really saying.


Maybe that's how I need to approach challenges from now on
 03/03/2011 11:21:17 PM · #13
I think for me the main objective is to maintain or improve my lifetime average. That is the guide as to my consistancy and improvement. If I, for instance, take and process an image and when completed, dont think it will score more than my lifetime average or close to it, I won't enter it. It doesn't mean that I haven't learnt a little more along the way because the more I do the more I learn. I think a lot of new members tend to plunge themsleves into entering challenges and get caught up in the excitement of the whole process and then get disillusioned somewhat when they don't score well. My humble advice....know your limits and don't try to over achieve...if your lifetime average is 5 then try to score a 5.1 or 5.2, you will be amazed at how many 5.7s or 6s you will get and how quickly your lifetime average will climb. This not only brings satisfaction but brings confidence in your capabilities. Most of all have FUN and explore every avenue of this site to help you learn more, enter the side challenges, look at the tutorials, try to emulate other images on the site and don't be afraid to ask for help. There are so many great photographers on this site that are just waiting to lend a hand, pick their brains and enjoy the ride.
 03/04/2011 04:13:33 AM · #14
I gave up caring about scores long ago.. I used to get offended if I put a shot of my kids, wife or family and it scored 4.5ish, silly of me really. now I just submit so as at least I get out with my camera once a week..

Photography for me has now become more about a way to get out the house and do something creative. In my professional photography I have never had any complaints about my work and my prints look great on the wall.

I think I would say that my attitude has matured.
 03/04/2011 05:08:48 AM · #15
This (part) would make a nice welcome letter to newbies:

Originally posted by GregoryB:
I think a lot of new members tend to plunge themsleves into entering challenges and get caught up in the excitement of the whole process and then get disillusioned somewhat when they don't score well. My humble advice....know your limits and don't try to over achieve...if your lifetime average is 5 then try to score a 5.1 or 5.2, you will be amazed at how many 5.7s or 6s you will get and how quickly your lifetime average will climb. This not only brings satisfaction but brings confidence in your capabilities. Most of all have FUN and explore every avenue of this site to help you learn more, enter the side challenges, look at the tutorials, try to emulate other images on the site and don't be afraid to ask for help. There are so many great photographers on this site that are just waiting to lend a hand, pick their brains and enjoy the ride.


I subscribe to a blend of a lot the philosophies on display in this thread. What would really make me happy is developing as a photographer, and ultimately that's my goal. So I'll try different techniques, work on little things here and there, experiment. I'll purposely over-edit or under-edit to find the balance. It's more about finding my voice and being proud of the images I see in the top left-hand corner of the DPC page than it is the score they receive.

Rarely does it all come together to hit mass appeal, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
 03/04/2011 05:59:19 AM · #16
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I seem to have had a lot of high scorers lately, but the funny thing is that many of them were entered expecting only a mid-pack performance. What I have realized is that, at least for me, the key is not chasing popular appeal, but learning how to improve what I personally like. Once I did that, things started clicking, as backwards as it may sound.

On the other hand, my very favorites of my own shots frequently are in the mid to high fives and have gotten both praise and criticism in the challenges. Not sure what this is really saying.

what if you don't really know what you like?

I'm not quite secure enough to submit all I'd like to submit yet. small steps though.
 03/04/2011 06:05:01 AM · #17
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I have shots in the Free Study and Negative Space challenges at the moment, I knew when I entered them that they wouldn't do well, and in fact they are both sitting around the 4.6 mark, but I'm happy.

I like both shots, I entered them in the hope that someone else out there would find and like them.

Does this mean I've DPC matured or that I've just given up trying to score well? :)


Yeh, you have realised you need to shoot what you like rather than pander to what a lot of DPC's like.

I realised this years ago - hence no ribbon or any chance of getting one :-)

03/04/2011 06:43:15 AM · #18
As I've given up caring about scores, my scores have gone down. I think this shows that what I like to shoot, and present, isn't exactly DPC friendly.

I'm about to try and move away from the single photo thinking anyway and focus on photo projects. Taking a shots with a single finished picture in mind seems to have lost it's appeal for me for some reason, I want to focus more on a series of related shots, something to tell a story.
 03/04/2011 07:10:19 AM · #19
Originally posted by Sevlow:
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I have shots in the Free Study and Negative Space challenges at the moment, I knew when I entered them that they wouldn't do well, and in fact they are both sitting around the 4.6 mark, but I'm happy.

I like both shots, I entered them in the hope that someone else out there would find and like them.

Does this mean I've DPC matured or that I've just given up trying to score well? :)


Yeh, you have realised you need to shoot what you like rather than pander to what a lot of DPC's like.

I realised this years ago - hence no ribbon or any chance of getting one :-)


Not true! I don't shoot for ribbons. I shoot what I like. It seems that sometimes, very rare, but sometimes, that happens to work out. ;D
 03/04/2011 07:40:17 AM · #20
Originally posted by Kelli:
Originally posted by Sevlow:
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I have shots in the Free Study and Negative Space challenges at the moment, I knew when I entered them that they wouldn't do well, and in fact they are both sitting around the 4.6 mark, but I'm happy.

I like both shots, I entered them in the hope that someone else out there would find and like them.

Does this mean I've DPC matured or that I've just given up trying to score well? :)


Yeh, you have realised you need to shoot what you like rather than pander to what a lot of DPC's like.

I realised this years ago - hence no ribbon or any chance of getting one :-)


Not true! I don't shoot for ribbons. I shoot what I like. It seems that sometimes, very rare, but sometimes, that happens to work out. ;D


Yeh but your good, I am rubbish !
 03/04/2011 09:05:48 AM · #21
Originally posted by Sevlow:
Originally posted by Kelli:
Originally posted by Sevlow:
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I have shots in the Free Study and Negative Space challenges at the moment, I knew when I entered them that they wouldn't do well, and in fact they are both sitting around the 4.6 mark, but I'm happy.

I like both shots, I entered them in the hope that someone else out there would find and like them.

Does this mean I've DPC matured or that I've just given up trying to score well? :)


Yeh, you have realised you need to shoot what you like rather than pander to what a lot of DPC's like.

I realised this years ago - hence no ribbon or any chance of getting one :-)


Not true! I don't shoot for ribbons. I shoot what I like. It seems that sometimes, very rare, but sometimes, that happens to work out. ;D


Yeh but your good, I am rubbish !


Oh, you're funny! LOL!
 03/04/2011 10:44:49 AM · #22
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
As I've given up caring about scores, my scores have gone down. I think this shows that what I like to shoot, and present, isn't exactly DPC friendly.

I'm about to try and move away from the single photo thinking anyway and focus on photo projects. Taking a shots with a single finished picture in mind seems to have lost it's appeal for me for some reason, I want to focus more on a series of related shots, something to tell a story.


I totally understand and agree with you on your point. With my busy life I usually don't have more than a few hours a week to spend on a single image. I have begun to devote time at the end of the day to shoot and process at least one photo per day. That way I get my hands on the camera gear and things stay in my mind more readily. I have also matured my attitude about my scores as well. In the begining, you get caught up in the whole process, going out to buy things for the challenge and then spending way too much time on them and sometimes getting depressed cause you're not getting rewarded with a high score. Glad those days are over! Sort of like a new relationship in a way. Can't wait till the clouds move on and can see clearly again. I love the idea of the photo project.
 03/04/2011 07:49:54 PM · #23
I enter things I really like and if the voters do as well (rarely), then that's ok by me. I am VERY mature. LOL
 03/04/2011 09:35:38 PM · #24
I envy you. I wish I could get there, perhaps Id enter more often!
 03/05/2011 12:36:18 AM · #25
someone around here once said "I won't risk a bore for a score."
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