| Author | Thread |
|
|
11/10/2014 12:15:45 PM · #51 |
| Noise! Ummm, well maybe just Grain. :) |
|
|
|
11/10/2014 10:49:31 PM · #52 |
Darn... I didn't realize I was on mute. No way am I going to repeat all I said.
;)
Mike
Message edited by author 2014-11-10 22:50:21.
|
|
|
|
12/01/2014 09:22:46 AM · #53 |
|
|
|
12/01/2014 09:55:28 AM · #54 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
 |
That made me give an audible "HA!" in the office, which of course produced some prairie-dogging to happen around me.
Things will likely liven up around here once people slow down from their holiday rush and settle into "winter hibernation mode" |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 08:32:12 AM · #55 |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 11:04:45 AM · #56 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Too much snow perhaps? |
Too much snow, way too much cold, and yes that does have an effect on some people. Add in entries that are getting kicked to the curb no matter how good they are, and why would anyone want to stay?  Ammie is leaving and honestly I probably will not be far behind. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 11:26:40 AM · #57 |
Originally posted by snaffles:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Too much snow perhaps? |
Too much snow, way too much cold, and yes that does have an effect on some people. Add in entries that are getting kicked to the curb no matter how good they are, and why would anyone want to stay? Ammie is leaving and honestly I probably will not be far behind. |
Just curious...those who are thinking of leaving (or have left), where are you going? |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 11:35:09 AM · #58 |
| hey, we don't use negatives no more |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 12:47:36 PM · #59 |
Originally posted by PuppyDogMom:
Originally posted by snaffles:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Too much snow perhaps? |
Too much snow, way too much cold, and yes that does have an effect on some people. Add in entries that are getting kicked to the curb no matter how good they are, and why would anyone want to stay? Ammie is leaving and honestly I probably will not be far behind. |
Just curious...those who are thinking of leaving (or have left), where are you going? |
Can't speak for Ammie.
But I'm going to be going to meetups with other photogs and working on studio skillz. Whether or not I bother to share those images as challenge entries here remains to be seen, but the way things are going, I'm thinking it'll be a long time before I enter anything from those shoots.
Just getting increasingly disillusioned with this site. Have nearly self-dq'd many times recently, but haven't. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 01:23:23 PM · #60 |
score is a score its that one comment from the person that gets it that makes me smile, I've not entered for a while so maybe I'm missing what the voters are doing but i guess there is still a core of the old guard hopefully
whats the alternative false likes on Facebook or instragram, i post to 500px etc and get lots of affection but that doesn't improve my photography
Message edited by author 2015-02-16 13:24:55. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 01:35:12 PM · #61 |
Originally posted by Giles:
score is a score its that one comment from the person that gets it that makes me smile ... |
Yes ... if scores are really bothering you then just turn off the option to show your score during the voting period, by the time the results are posted you'll have moved one or two photos (challenges) on and won't care ... |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 02:04:24 PM · #62 |
I know what you mean,  Giles, but nowadays comments are very few on the ground, and ones from members whose opinions I value are scarcer still. Even moreso with Ammie leaving, she was one of the few I enjoyed getting comments from. But not about to do the FB/Instagram thing either, mostly cause it's a pain in the arse to keep up with social media sites, and I really don't care for comments that have had little or no thought put into them.
Also, just sheer boredom with DPC. Normally, by now, I would be happily spending the day off today shooting for a challenge. But knowing already that my entry's just going to get beaten down pretty much deters me from even bothering to come up with even an idea, as almost-constant negative reinforcement tends to do.
@  GeneralE...As for turning scores off, doesn't really work for very long before I want to see how my image is doing! I'm just too competitive to not know my score!
Message edited by author 2015-02-16 14:07:21. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 02:11:44 PM · #63 |
Well, I've entered about two of every three challenges since the site was two months old, and these days I'm feeling pretty good any time the scores are 5+ -- if I can take it so can you. :-)
(appealing to your competitive nature) |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 02:17:18 PM · #64 |
Susan maybe it's time to take a break from the challenges. The people here are great. The help from the peeps in the forums alone is worth the cost of admissions. Maybe it's time to relook at what DPC can be to you. It is still valuable when it comes to things like setting up your new flash gear, finding out where to purchase backdrop stands. Your input is also valued here. You always have help for us when we need it. As I said maybe it's just time to use this place in a different way.
Message edited by author 2015-02-16 14:17:37. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 02:19:45 PM · #65 |
| Thanks Trace, you always have good words of advice :-) |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 02:25:36 PM · #66 |
| It's all cyclical. This is a challenge site, so the main challenges are, well, competitive. Sometimes the competition is motivating. Sometimes it's not. But there's really no reason to "quit" the site if we're still interested in photography. There are so many other ways to participate here beyond the main competitions. Especially when exploring new techniques, subjects, etc. Just posting to a thread to get feedback is worth the price of admission. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 05:59:30 PM · #67 |
Originally posted by cowboy221977:
HEY SINCE IT IS SOOOO QUIET HERE WILL ANYONE MIND IF I YELL. Ok I'm glad that's off my chest |
Yikes! This thread, to me, was an observation about the number of new posts / threads on the front page. Was looking for more comments like cowboy's above ... didn't think it would be about quitting the site, etc... :-/ |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 06:14:35 PM · #68 |
Originally posted by tanguera:
It's all cyclical. This is a challenge site, so the main challenges are, well, competitive. Sometimes the competition is motivating. Sometimes it's not. But there's really no reason to "quit" the site if we're still interested in photography. There are so many other ways to participate here beyond the main competitions. Especially when exploring new techniques, subjects, etc. Just posting to a thread to get feedback is worth the price of admission. |
Yah.....sure it's not always a thrill ride. My scores have sucked lately, but a recent entry that I really liked that was pure crap technically garnered me a couple of "those" comments we all love.
I still love it here!
|
|
|
|
02/16/2015 10:38:28 PM · #69 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by cowboy221977:
HEY SINCE IT IS SOOOO QUIET HERE WILL ANYONE MIND IF I YELL. Ok I'm glad that's off my chest |
Yikes! This thread, to me, was an observation about the number of new posts / threads on the front page. Was looking for more comments like cowboy's above ... didn't think it would be about quitting the site, etc... :-/ |
Apologies for bumming anyone out with my site-quitting comments in this thread.
But I am bummed by Ammie leaving, because a) I really liked her and her work and valued her comments, and b) her reasons mirror mine. Watching yet another great photographer decide to leave rather than try to tough it out through this cyclical trench, and I don't blame her.
Let's face it, if you signed up for a gym membership, worked out faithfully each day and followed a healthy eating plan, you expect and should get positive results. If you practice the piano for an hour each day and take lessons a couple of times a week, you can expect to become a better pianist.
If, however your physical conditioned worsened as a result from working out at the gym, or you went from playing Bach sonatas in practice and lessons to being relegated to playing 'Chopsticks' at recitals by your teacher, would you stick with either? {robably not. People thrive on positive feedback, but honestly the forum in which that feedback is received is paramount. A social media *like* is meaningless imnsho, which is why I avoid those sites like the plague.
DPC is supposed to be a place where there is a much more knowledgeable crowd to provide feedback, no? Going by the feedback I've been getting since December, ie in terms of votes, clearly I suck as a photog and should have my gear listed for sale by now.
Ok think I've flogged this beast to death. Bye for now everyone. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 11:01:24 PM · #70 |
Originally posted by snaffles:
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by cowboy221977:
HEY SINCE IT IS SOOOO QUIET HERE WILL ANYONE MIND IF I YELL. Ok I'm glad that's off my chest |
Yikes! This thread, to me, was an observation about the number of new posts / threads on the front page. Was looking for more comments like cowboy's above ... didn't think it would be about quitting the site, etc... :-/ |
Apologies for bumming anyone out with my site-quitting comments in this thread.
But I am bummed by Ammie leaving, because a) I really liked her and her work and valued her comments, and b) her reasons mirror mine. Watching yet another great photographer decide to leave rather than try to tough it out through this cyclical trench, and I don't blame her.
Let's face it, if you signed up for a gym membership, worked out faithfully each day and followed a healthy eating plan, you expect and should get positive results. If you practice the piano for an hour each day and take lessons a couple of times a week, you can expect to become a better pianist.
If, however your physical conditioned worsened as a result from working out at the gym, or you went from playing Bach sonatas in practice and lessons to being relegated to playing 'Chopsticks' at recitals by your teacher, would you stick with either? {robably not. People thrive on positive feedback, but honestly the forum in which that feedback is received is paramount. A social media *like* is meaningless imnsho, which is why I avoid those sites like the plague.
DPC is supposed to be a place where there is a much more knowledgeable crowd to provide feedback, no? Going by the feedback I've been getting since December, ie in terms of votes, clearly I suck as a photog and should have my gear listed for sale by now.
Ok think I've flogged this beast to death. Bye for now everyone. |
The piano analogy is a good one. It's hard not to get better when you practice. But you must realize that not everyone likes the same music. While I play piano and I love Scott Joplin music, I really don't care for freeform jazz music. Some classical is wonderful, some bores me to death.
Yet when I practiced consistently, I got better.
That's why I'm still here.
I'm practicing consistently (well, off an on recently), and I know I'm getting better. People may or may not like what I shoot, but I like the results I've been getting by putting in my time.
I played piano starting about 17 years old. And I was pretty good. I haven't played in years and years. I miss it terribly, but it's hard to start over and put in the time. I wish I would have just kept up with it so I don't have to start from the beginning again.
That's why I'm still here.
I don't have any ideas for Friday the 13th.
I'm finding orange extremely boring.
But I'll get my practice in for at least one. When I find myself doing all the exercises, even the ones that hold absolutely no interest to me, I get better. I actually did learn more from the boring piano exercises than I did from playing the things I enjoyed. Although I really didn't see it at the time.
That's why I'm still here. :)
Message edited by author 2015-02-16 23:02:01. |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 11:31:39 PM · #71 |
"Better" is such a relative and subjective term. Especially when applied to a site where it is a generally shared goal. The more important question is if we feel we are improving. In the gym analogy, you are assuming a linear progression, with everyone improving at the same rate. This does not take into account differences in body type, genetics, motivation, ultimate goal (marathoner or just losing one size), etc.
It is the same with everything else, including DPC. Some have a natural style that pleases many, others march to our own drum. It is hard when our personal style is not as rewarded as other styles we find less interesting. But it is a mistke to believe that everyone should love our work as much as we do, and to extrapolate from that that we are not improving.
But if we are doing something just for fun, and we're not having fun, that is a whole other story :) |
|
|
|
02/16/2015 11:48:37 PM · #72 |
Anyone who uses DPC challenge scores as a metric to measure their progress towards a state of being "better" at photography is totally barking up the wrong tree. Seriously. Speaking for myself, the "better" I get the lower my scores go, generally. As Johanna said, "better" is such a subjective term, and group voting itself is an entirely subjective thing. There's no reality at all to these scores, any more than there is to accumulated fake money in a monopoly game.
The *reality* of DPC lies in the relationships formed and the interaction with other members. The *reality* of being a "better photographer" lies in your heart. Reach out and interact, dig deep within and contemplate. It's all up to each of us to shape our experiences, whatever it is we choose to do. |
|
|
|
02/17/2015 04:47:09 AM · #73 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Anyone who uses DPC challenge scores as a metric to measure their progress towards a state of being "better" at photography is totally barking up the wrong tree. |
So true Robert. If I took notice of my scores I would have left back in 2003.
When I joined back in 2003 and saw the talent here I thought "How can I compete?". It took me a while to figure out I could not and eventually, I did not want to.
The result is that I enjoyed my photography more, eventually only shooting what I liked.
I have gone through phases where my mojo to take photos was just not there and even after buying more equipment the mojo was still absent.
I don't shoot much these days but when I do I enjoy it. I changed my equipment so I don't have to carry backbreaking bags to just single cameras. Makes life easier for me and helped me enjoy my photography again.
|
|
|
|
02/17/2015 08:21:07 AM · #74 |
Geez, Susan.......give yourself a break! You can do whatever without having to give up DPC. A regular Friday night in a club/bar/watering hole will cost you more than a year of DPC, and even if you don't re-up, we're still here for ya as a user.
Take a break, take a powder, take a hike.......but most of all, take it easy. Bear's right, Johanna's right, Wendy's right, forget about the faceless scores or the uninspiring challenges. DPC is, and hopefully always will be an exceptional resource for you.
You're a good photographer, have faith in that. BTW.......*DO* engage in the local stuff. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I did the local show/club/gathering thing for a couple of years about five years ago. What I was amazed and delighted to discover is that much of the stuff we do here is completely alien to so many local folks. They simply don't get the global exposure and community that DPC offers. I'm not saying that you won't find the occasional stone natural photog who's talented in many ways, but one of the reasons I stopped going there was that I simply could not get what I needed from the clubs here. That, and like most clubs/volunteer orgs, sometimes the "Inner Circle" simply sucks all the air out of the room. YMMV.
Anyhow.....we're here, do whatever you like, but you don't have to "go".....just explore other things as well. DPC is a great comparator for the real world.
|
|
|
|
02/17/2015 08:26:07 AM · #75 |
Here's a thought Susan... you can teach me to play the piano. I have always wanted to play the piano.
I'll buy the coffee. :O)
Ray |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/09/2025 03:53:41 PM EDT.
