Variety - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/19/2012 08:25:34 PM · #1

I would applaud a variety of interesting challenges. This is a photography challenge site with a lot going for it. It is not, or has not, been a computer design and fantasy image site in the past.

At this moment, there are two Expert ruleset challenges and an advanced ruleset challenge involving playing cards. Well, that's okay, I guess. Those who have been clamoring for more Expert Edit challenges can no longer complain, can they? Not everyone, or maybe not that many, want to compete in the Photoshop drawing/painting intensive competition. Actually, it's not that one can't enter a normal photograph in the Extreme Edit challenge. I won't enter anymore because of the bias of voters against images which don't take advantage of the Expert Edit options. Again, it's okay. But, I will say I feel a bit excluded from the site by too many Expert Edit challenges. There should be a better balance.

And, the playing card challenge. Sorry, I'll pass. I'm just not interested in something so esoteric and so narrow in topic. This is a rant, I guess.

All in all, the choice of challenge topics seems to be a demotivational factor for my participation. I'm sure I'm alone in these thoughts.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

04/19/2012 08:29:39 PM · #2

You're not alone. Those of you who've known me over the years know I enter just about everything, but I'm seriously demotivated this week myself. And we don't seem to be the only ones; with a little over 3 hours to go, 29 entries in "Emergency"? C'mon... That's horrible...

R.

Message edited by author 2012-04-19 20:38:01.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/19/2012 08:34:28 PM · #3

Yup, right there with you guys. I'm not good at making stuff up (set up shots). I just have no imagination I guess. I wasn't planning to go chasing fire trucks or police cars. I don't even own playing cards. I know it's cheap enough to go buy a deck, but why bother for a 5.4? I'd like to do something for the Dallas challenge, but so far I'm drawing a blank.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

04/19/2012 08:52:11 PM · #4

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

im in the club too, beside nearing the end of the semester, these current crop of challenges don't excite me either. emergency? ugh, and with deck of cards you i feel you really need to set up an elaborate shot in order to get anything good.

c'mon its springtime, get us outdoors, these current and past few challenges are for being cooped up in the winter.

im going to do the For Dallas, since its basically a expert freestudy.

MargaretNet

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

04/19/2012 08:58:00 PM · #5

Same here. I would not enter Emergency as a matter of principle - I don't take photos of people in distress, real or setup. I won't even vote on it as I am too scared of what I might see. But I will not miss the Challenge for Dallas, no matter what the rule set. I have lots of ideas - toys, fantasy stories, cute animals, lots of smiles, color and fun!

In general I wish there were more challenges that focus on photographic techniques like the Framing challenge.

deeby

Canon EOS-60D

04/19/2012 09:06:37 PM · #6

Originally posted by MargaretN:

In general I wish there were more challenges that focus on photographic techniques like the Framing challenge.

me too

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

04/19/2012 09:10:36 PM · #7

<-- checks to see how many of the whiners have posted any challenge suggestions recently...

...as I suspected.

Message edited by author 2012-04-19 21:11:04.

MargaretNet

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

04/19/2012 09:12:46 PM · #8

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

<-- checks to see how many of the whiners have posted any challenge suggestions recently...

...as I suspected.

No need to be defensive.

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

04/19/2012 09:14:38 PM · #9

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

<-- checks to see how many of the whiners have posted any challenge suggestions recently...

...as I suspected.

The latest challenge suggestion was "Tape Duct your kids". C'mon, man! I am only hoping the SC and Admin are not limited to Challenge suggestions from the membership. There are times to override the paucity of suggestions from the membership and go for some inspirational and motivational challenge topics.

Message edited by author 2012-04-19 21:16:08.

klkitchens

Pentax K-1

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

04/19/2012 09:17:20 PM · #10

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

<-- checks to see how many of the whiners have posted any challenge suggestions recently...

...as I suspected.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/19/2012 09:18:16 PM · #11

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

<-- checks to see how many of the whiners have posted any challenge suggestions recently...

...as I suspected.

im saving mine for when classes get out so i can actually shoot them :)

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

04/19/2012 09:26:55 PM · #12

I'm just sayin - I don't see any suggestions from the OP or others chiming in about how the current set of challenges sucks. I can see complaining if you had posted some topics you would like to see and got support for and they were never selected, but complaining because this week's set of challenges doesn't suit you seems counterproductive. What do you hope to accomplish by posting your distaste for anything other than purist, nature photography (which is already fairly well known)?

Granted, even I don't like an excessive amount of expert editing challenges, but it's only that way this week because of the special situation with Dallas. Can't we just suck it up / sit it out if you don't like it?

If it's just venting then send this to Rant and I'll ignore it.

eta: How is "Duct taping your kids" not inspirational or motivational??? :P

Message edited by author 2012-04-19 21:31:53.

klkitchens

Pentax K-1

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

04/19/2012 09:34:34 PM · #13

I counted myself out for Emergency! all week and then last night I was inspired.

I would prefer more Advanced challenges to basic and expert. Maybe 70% Advanced, 5% minimal, 15% basic, 10% expert. Topics have been fine.

EL-ROI

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

04/19/2012 09:41:05 PM · #14

Well, I can see the reason for the second expert challenge this week as it is more of an outreach to a hurt little boy and his family than a challenge. I could care less about the ruleset on that one. So you have to take that one out of the equation. It is a special circumstance which I support. I think everyone should be entering that challenge.

The other thing that really needs to be said is that people just need to stop popping into the challenge suggestions thread and suggesting everything that pops into their heads. Put some thought into the challenges you suggest. Some people are so surprised their suggestions are chosen and they aren't always serious.

Along with a mix of different rule sets, I think there should be a nice mix of challenge types. Categories for challenges could be broken down into the following:

Camera Technique challenges: Used to work on camera technique such as composition, color, viewpoint, exposure, shutter speed, depth of field, flash and available lighting, etc. Examples of these types of challenges would be Camera Movement, Artificial Lighting, Centered Composition, Soft Focus, Long Exposure, etc.

These would work nice for the non-member challenges. It would serve to attract people looking to better their photography and also limit their participation level thereby giving them incentive to join to participate in member challenges.

Thematic Challenges: These challenges should help you increase your creativity by allowing you to compose or capture a scene to fit a certain theme. Examples should include deck of cards, emergency, Eyes Closed, Palindromes, The Oscars, Rock/Paper/Scissors, abandoned, Motivational/demotivational posters, etc.

Creative Challenges: These should serve to aid in your creativity by challenging you to create a photograph to fit a certain genre of photography. Examples would be your abstract, portrait, landscape, macro, street, blur, still life, color and B&W. I would also see yor High Key, Low Key type of challenges being in here.

Art Challenges: This would include your Fine art, "In The Style Of", Copy a Famous Photographer, and Free Study type of challenges.

Unless Langdon would like to add a third weekly member challenge, switching the thematic, creative and art type challenges between the two member challenges each week would serve to keep the challenges diverse. And of course we always have that free study.

04/19/2012 09:41:45 PM · #15

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I think all of the challenge suggestions I've made have been implemented.

Best iPhone or SmartPhone Photo, Extreme Supermoon near Earth

Sorry, I should suggest some more. But, I have suggested some successful challenge topics. And, I have expressed support for others' good suggestions.

Yeah, I don't like the child abuse connotations of "Duct taping your kids". Cruelty to children and animals is not appropriate challenge topic material. You may think it's funny, but it's not.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

04/19/2012 09:50:07 PM · #16

Originally posted by hahn23:

Yeah, I don't like the child abuse connotations of "Duct taping your kids". Cruelty to children and animals is not appropriate challenge topic material. You may think it's funny, but it's not.

Well if you feel so strongly about it, you should probably report the guy that inspired the suggestion.

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

04/19/2012 09:56:17 PM · #17

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by hahn23:
Yeah, I don't like the child abuse connotations of "Duct taping your kids". Cruelty to children and animals is not appropriate challenge topic material. You may think it's funny, but it's not.

Well if you feel so strongly about it, you should probably report the guy that inspired the suggestion.

You may have the last word.

MargaretNet

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

04/19/2012 09:58:24 PM · #18

Most "photography techniques" challenges have already been held in the past. I don't know how do you suggest an already suggested challenge?

cloudsme

Canon EOS R5

04/19/2012 09:59:56 PM · #19

A lot of people wanted the Dallas challenge. The purpose was to bring cheer to Dallas and his family and maybe not so much to compete. Most who suggested thought expert editing would be the most appropriate to accomplish this goal. I will put in a photo, and I don't care what it scores. I just hope it helps him. Let's see everyones best here.