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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> HElP, why didn't it do better....
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 05/18/2010 06:57:43 PM · #1
I can remember when my husband started here and he complained about his scores. I thought no big deal but now it's me complaining and I want to know 'Why aren't they doing better?"

So here's my query. My goal is to beat Steve as learn as much as possible as quickly as possible.... What wife doesn't want that so HELP!

So here they are...


Place: 89 out of 170
Avg (all users): 5.3064
Avg (commenters): 5.6667
Avg (participants): 5.1471
Avg (non-participants): 5.4095
Views since voting: 73
Views during voting: 281
Votes: 173
Comments: 10
Favorites: 0


Place: 209 out of 394
Avg (all users): 5.5986
Avg (commenters): 5.2000
Avg (participants): 5.4902
Avg (non-participants): 5.8750
Views since voting: 20
Views during voting: 209
Votes: 142
Comments: 5
Favorites: 1 (view)


Place: 367 out of 380
Avg (all users): 4.3810
Avg (commenters): 3.6667
Avg (participants): 4.3000
Avg (non-participants): 4.5532
Views since voting: 33
Views during voting: 230
Votes: 147
Comments: 4
Favorites: 0

So hit me with your comments....


05/18/2010 07:03:15 PM · #2
My dinner's ready, so I'm only going to hit 2 out of the 3.


It's a nice shot, but I think you got hit because people wanted action. There really isn't much action in the shot, but you did a very nice job on it.


Free studies are extremely difficult. I always think the score is about .5 lower than a normal challenge. Wonderful photo, but the sky it so light. Try putting a gradient on it to help bring it down a bit?


05/18/2010 07:06:53 PM · #3
Welcome to DPC! I am sure you will be able to learn a great deal here.

Regarding your question on your entries, here are my thoughts on the shots you posted. I am being honest and trying to be helpful, so take it for what it is.

Sports Entry:
I think your entry is engaging and shows some great faces, but it shows more the 'after the game' rather than the action of the game. For that, I think it was voted low.

Free Study (Horses):
I think in your effort to boost the details and color intensity of your shot, you ended up severely pixelating the image. This is especially noticeable in the coat of the horses - there is the classic green and pink pixel noise that is a red flag for 'overprocessed'. I think this is what really cost you significantly.

B/W Landscape:
The scene itself is serene, but the location really does not draw us in or make us want to linger. The light is harsh (as if taken mid afternoon). You would be better to back and visit this spot late in the afternoon or early in the morning to get the rich soft light on the trees.

You also have some significant processing issues - blown out clouds, muddy sky, blurry details.

05/18/2010 07:12:07 PM · #4
I'll give it a shot.

Teamwork looks like a snapshot. Nothing wrong with snapshots, they just don't do well in contests.
To me,it would have been better if none of the girls were looking at the camera.

Momma is quite grainy and the horses look green and splotchy.

West Fork, well, I don't see anything to focus on and I think you didn't either :}

All in all though, two of the three placed toward the middle which isn't too bad. Steve has quite a jump on you and he is really good so you might have a bit of a time catching him. Bear in mind, I only know what I like and am not qualified to tell you what to change. You do have a good teacher.

Message edited by author 2010-05-18 19:23:16.
 05/18/2010 07:48:54 PM · #5
Thanks for the info and yes I do have a great and understanding teacher. We have been having lots of fun doing phtography together. It's a great way to spend time together.

I understand now both his frustrations and complaints about his pictures. He and I approach things ver differently and have different preferences for subjects but still are having a ton of fun taking pictures.

This October I get to mark and item off my wish list when I visit my daughter, who lives in Albuquerque, NM and go to Balloon Fiesta 2010. I am so excited and want to really improve my skills by then so I can take the best advantage of my skills by taking amazing pictures. (Not just good snapshots) Some of it is leaning on my part and some is using the right equipment.)

So, even though I want to beat Steve at a challenge, mostly I feel pressed to learn as much as possible before October. I need to learn to find 'the shot' and then have the skills to take it when presented with it.

Thanks for any and all help.


05/18/2010 07:55:31 PM · #6
Originally posted by cowtownmom:
My goal is to beat Steve as learn as much as possible as quickly as possible....


She thinks I'm going to help her after a post like that!?
05/18/2010 08:00:36 PM · #7
My 11 year old has officially beaten me in a challenge, so it's definitely doable! Heck, it's only Steve... :P
 05/19/2010 04:27:40 AM · #8
oh, come on now!! He didn't enter the challenge for which you could have beat him!!!

Congrats on a wonderful finish!!!
 05/19/2010 09:16:23 AM · #9
Originally posted by vawendy:
My 11 year old has officially beaten me in a challenge, so it's definitely doable! Heck, it's only Steve... :P

Actually, she beat me by a fair amount in her first challenge (though not since.) It'll happen again and when it happens, she'll crow about it like she did the first time!


Me: 5.01


Her: 5.62
 05/19/2010 09:48:57 AM · #10
GO!!!
BEAT SPIFF!!!!

I'm leaving comments on your pictures. (For what it's worth) ;-)
 05/19/2010 10:18:41 AM · #11
So, let me get this straight... I'm expected to help her do better in challenges in which her stated goal is to beat me?

Hmmmm...
 05/19/2010 10:41:14 AM · #12
Yes Spiff! You are! And you betta not steer her in the wrong direction either!
 05/19/2010 10:48:59 AM · #13
CTM, Bassbone said it well, you are struggling with what I see alot of us struggle with at first, processing, and doing it in a way that is subtle yet pleasing. Photoshop for people is often like the first time they use Word and use every font in there to the point where the letter or newsletter looks like a ransom note.

This is certainly something I went thru, but look around at shots you like and ask people how they got that effect. I am no pro or massive ribbon winner but I would certainly be willing to give you any pointers I can.

J
 05/19/2010 10:55:53 AM · #14
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by vawendy:
My 11 year old has officially beaten me in a challenge, so it's definitely doable! Heck, it's only Steve... :P

Actually, she beat me by a fair amount in her first challenge (though not since.) It'll happen again and when it happens, she'll crow about it like she did the first time!


Me: 5.01


Her: 5.62


That's because she asked me for advice ;)

As per a critique - here's a general style critique-

Get closer, fill the frame.. You did that on your first entry.. Pay attention to the big bold strokes, photographs have plenty of detail, that will take care of itself more or less, it's the composition and the dominating shapes/colors/textures that really matter. Remember, if it doesn't look great as a thumbnail, it's probably a mid-5 shot at best, and probably worse.

Specifically-

The horses are cute, but overprocessed, and probably under exposed.. I think it would have been a much better shot in about 25-30 minutes (the sky would have balanced better with the horses.

The girls.. Yeah, snapshot. Perhaps it would have been better if you just had one of them.. Probably best if you had them toss the ball into the air and shoot the shot or something... DPC loves ohh-ahh..

The River- My gosh, that's aweful :) Out of focus, soft everywhere.. Clouds are blown out, no point of interest to speak of. Great try, aweful result.

---

So don't worry too much about any of this (go look at some of my first entries, or hell, even today's sometimes, my hidden gem scored much worse than your river, albeit with a few very nice comments..). You'll get better and better.

Message edited by author 2010-05-19 11:01:21.
 05/19/2010 10:55:58 AM · #15
Originally posted by Luci11e:
Yes Spiff! You are! And you betta not steer her in the wrong direction either!

I'm giving her good advice so far. Just last night I told her that there is no such thing as "too much Topaz". It is the secret "WOW-factor" plugin and more WOW is always better.
 05/19/2010 11:04:20 AM · #16
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by Luci11e:
Yes Spiff! You are! And you betta not steer her in the wrong direction either!

I'm giving her good advice so far. Just last night I told her that there is no such thing as "too much Topaz". It is the secret "WOW-factor" plugin and more WOW is always better.


So she entered the lock contest ehh? :)
 05/19/2010 11:06:14 AM · #17
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by Luci11e:
Yes Spiff! You are! And you betta not steer her in the wrong direction either!

I'm giving her good advice so far. Just last night I told her that there is no such thing as "too much Topaz". It is the secret "WOW-factor" plugin and more WOW is always better.


SPIFF!!! No You Didn't!!!!
At least you better not have.
 05/19/2010 11:28:35 AM · #18
So you are the wife that he always refers to that he should never trust, or go with judgements as to which pic to post. Well...Im glad you just beat him in scores, be it not in the same challenge...and he helped you doing it even. With a subject like that in frame and to do so well is a testimony to your photographic skills.

Im not suprised he bought a new lens the other day. Another photographer looking to improve shots with equipment rather than natural talent... He must be desperate:)

Steve...your progress (or demise) is followed with great interest...lol
 05/19/2010 11:33:33 AM · #19
Originally posted by RianBotes:
Another photographer looking to improve shots with equipment rather than natural talent... He must be desperate:)

-Insert snappy response here-
 05/19/2010 11:39:20 AM · #20
Originally posted by RianBotes:
So you are the wife that he always refers to that he should never trust, or go with judgements as to which pic to post.

Actually, I find her input to be quite valuable. The one she didn't like much is currently in the 5.8 range.
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