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08/28/2012 07:42:25 PM · #76 |
Originally posted by Venser:
Originally posted by SandyP:
But the second Tanguera's photo popped up on your screen, there it was.... beauty, lighting that made you gasp... and an expression on the model's face that made you feel there was a story there. |
This is what makes getting high scores difficult, and somewhat meaningless. When I saw that photo, I didn't see anything of which you describe. It didn't even crack my top 50% in voting. The point being is it still won making the actual score irrelevant. |
 VenserI would love to know which photo you scored highest in that challenge, just out of curiosity!
Message edited by author 2012-08-28 19:43:00. |
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08/28/2012 08:11:20 PM · #77 |
Originally posted by Neat:
Originally posted by Venser:
Originally posted by SandyP:
But the second Tanguera's photo popped up on your screen, there it was.... beauty, lighting that made you gasp... and an expression on the model's face that made you feel there was a story there. |
This is what makes getting high scores difficult, and somewhat meaningless. When I saw that photo, I didn't see anything of which you describe. It didn't even crack my top 50% in voting. The point being is it still won making the actual score irrelevant. |
VenserI would love to know which photo you scored highest in that challenge, just out of curiosity! |
No problem.
My only 10. Gave two 9's and two 8's also.
There's something about the look on that persons face which says they've seen a lifetime of experiences, some good, some bad, and they're not going to take shit from anybody. There's something real behind the photo and the person. The blue ribbon models pose looked a little too contrived, the hand and arms didn't look right for my liking and I knocked it down quite a bit.
Hopefully that explains my thought process behind these two votes.
Message edited by author 2012-08-28 20:17:16. |
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08/28/2012 08:19:14 PM · #78 |
Originally posted by Venser:
Originally posted by Neat:
Originally posted by Venser:
Originally posted by SandyP:
But the second Tanguera's photo popped up on your screen, there it was.... beauty, lighting that made you gasp... and an expression on the model's face that made you feel there was a story there. |
This is what makes getting high scores difficult, and somewhat meaningless. When I saw that photo, I didn't see anything of which you describe. It didn't even crack my top 50% in voting. The point being is it still won making the actual score irrelevant. |
VenserI would love to know which photo you scored highest in that challenge, just out of curiosity! |
No problem.
My only 10. Gave two 9's and two 8's also.
There's something about the look on that persons face which says they've seen a lifetime of experiences, some good, some bad, and they're not going to take shit from anybody. There's something real behind the photo and the person. The blue ribbon models pose looked a little too contrived, the hand and arms didn't look right for my liking and I knocked it down quite a bit.
Hopefully that explains my thought process behind these two votes. |
That makes sense, I too liked that one gave it a 7.
SO who were the 9's and 8's.
I'm trying to get inside your mind.....lol |
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08/28/2012 08:23:41 PM · #79 |
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08/28/2012 08:27:05 PM · #80 |
ok thanks, makes sense to me! |
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08/28/2012 08:37:22 PM · #81 |
Originally posted by MinsoPhoto:
Not a bad idea to skip a few challenges. I have taken a few breaks from here and usually come back rejuvenated. |
+1 Cutting back a little recently due to life interferences, so only entering FS and maybe a couple challenges a month just to stay in the game. |
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08/29/2012 06:24:20 AM · #82 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
The reason we pay attention to scores is because we want to improve, and that's one way (that's actually measurable) to tell if we're improving. But no matter how good we get, we tend to think that we can still get better and so we keep pushing ourselves. |
Originally posted by Venser:
The scores here are meaningless. The only numbers I look at are my month over month sales, they are the only ones which matter. If the scores and ribbons could translate into real dollars than they might mean something. |
This cracked me up......
For some of us, sales are meaningless as a gauge of our skills. The only thing flakier than the retail buying public, is the retail art buying public. Just because something appeals to someone for their decor is no gauge whatsoever of its artistic/photographic merit.
Here, you have photographers voting on your work, and despite the expressed disdain for the "average voter", this is our community who know us best and review our work on a regular basis.
I'll take that every time over someone who's buying one of my expensively framed, nicely enlarged & printed images as a reflection of my abilities.
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09/09/2012 02:05:55 PM · #83 |
Originally posted by Paul:
Clear alignment with challenge - sometimes that means finding a middle pathway between perceptions of a challenge, shoot late after you've read the discussion thread (the aim here is to avoid the low ballers who disagree with your interpretation).
Avoid clutter, ensure the eyes have somewhere to settle and that this area has pristine focus (in camera - sharpening artefacts ruin scores).
Maintain clarity - use your histogram display on the camera to ensure you gather maximum data - harder to 'break' an image in post.
Don't let post processing define the image - for the most part, don't tone map, absolutely avoid halos.
Use a palatable composition.
Maximise the screen real estate - avoid portrait orientation, square crops give you more if the composition works.
Get rid of any blemishes - dust spots, target banding etc are ruinous.
Subject should communicate depth and draw you in, leading lines, perspective cues, good use of depth of field to isolate subjects etc.
Shadows (on the ground) and reflections seem to do well too.
That's just a brain dump - and what do I know anyway...
Just my thoughts of the things that I think score well. In no way do I think any of those gets you a truly 'good' image; but if we are game playing....
In reality the stuff I like to look at is like the image below:
That's the sort of image that I give high scores for... but shooting for a 7+ is all about mass appeal. |
Awesome suggestions Paul! I really enjoy the guidance you provide for your fellow dp'ers. I do believe that all those suggestions make one a better photographer...
however
 Neat, my observation is this. To score high on DP you have to study the winning pictures over the past several challenges weeks or even month. Pick one of the styles and try to work on that. I have noticed that the winning entries are almost always in the same style. Different subjects but same style of processing. That is not a bad thing in itself but in reality DP as many other venues is only a fraction of the many art fans out there. However, to achieve a 7 here, I believe your effort has to be done specifically to please this certain audience. This of course is only my humble opinion...
Message edited by author 2012-09-09 14:07:05. |
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09/09/2012 11:22:57 PM · #84 |
Re original post: Seems a little selfish. Maybe show a little gratitude for what those on this site have taught you? Maybe ask instead how you can share your obvious talent with those on the site who are getting started. To paraphrase, "Ask not what DPC can do for you. Ask what you can do for DPC."
If that doesn't work, you could always blame the lousy Americans for voting your precious 7s down. Their selfish hearts are conspiring to deny you a personal best, don't you know?
Obviously a little tongue in cheek above. Hope you'll stay and lift others with your talent. |
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09/10/2012 11:07:38 AM · #85 |
One thing I've grown to love (and hate) about DPC is you seldom get a "pass" on any "flaw" in your picture. The public is fine with a nice image, regardless of flaws. But DPC'ers, as photographers, expect excellence in every image, and if you pay attention, you can learn a lot, and be challenged a lot.
I was willingly drafted last-minute into doing a shoot over the weekend, and was very pleased when I noticed that I was putting these "lessons learned" into practice, knowing what to do to compensate for that, and knowing I could trust my equipment without having the reassurance all was OK after every shot.
I've had to console myself score-wise by understanding that in order to get over 5.0, you had to get a non-trivial number of votes 6 or higher.
If your shot isn't worthy of a score of 8, 9, or 10 by a large number of the voters, you are not going to crack the 7.0 barrier. Then, think of the number of 8, 9, or 10 votes you give out for each challenge, and I think you will start to get an appreciation of just how tough it is get over 7. |
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09/10/2012 11:36:44 AM · #86 |
Originally posted by dtremain:
One thing I've grown to love (and hate) about DPC is you seldom get a "pass" on any "flaw" in your picture. The public is fine with a nice image, regardless of flaws. But DPC'ers, as photographers, expect excellence in every image, and if you pay attention, you can learn a lot, and be challenged a lot. |
I really can understand (and appreciate) the fact that flaws in my pictures are decreasing the number of 8, 9 and 10 votes, which bring me to average votes of 5.0-6.0 (and sometimes over 6.0 when I'm lucky). Problem is, I have to learn from those flaws and that is only possible when someone tells me about those flaws. Therefore, commenting is really important. Not only on the really great pictures, but also on pictures of a 'lesser' quality. I know it is impossible to comment on every submission, but I really think that we (including myself) should comment more on those 5 and 6-scores in order to give those photographers some tools to improve.
Message edited by author 2012-09-10 11:38:25. |
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09/10/2012 11:44:23 AM · #87 |
Originally posted by Kroburg:
Originally posted by dtremain:
One thing I've grown to love (and hate) about DPC is you seldom get a "pass" on any "flaw" in your picture. The public is fine with a nice image, regardless of flaws. But DPC'ers, as photographers, expect excellence in every image, and if you pay attention, you can learn a lot, and be challenged a lot. |
I really can understand (and appreciate) the fact that flaws in my pictures are decreasing the number of 8, 9 and 10 votes, which bring me to average votes of 5.0-6.0 (and sometimes over 6.0 when I'm lucky). Problem is, I have to learn from those flaws and that is only possible when someone tells me about those flaws. Therefore, commenting is really important. Not only on the really great pictures, but also on pictures of a 'lesser' quality. I know it is impossible to comment on every submission, but I really think that we (including myself) should comment more on those 5 and 6-scores in order to give those photographers some tools to improve. |
I agree that commenting is very valuable. My recommendation would be to request critique after challenges to get a better sense of what the audience was looking for with the challenge.
In addition, I found my scores and images improved much more once I started to comment more. This makes me understand what i like and what i don't, and try to put it into words that make sense. Good luck! |
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09/10/2012 12:18:32 PM · #88 |
to the original question, its hard to get a 7+ becuase once you go over 7.xxx avg, every score of a 6 or 7 lowers your avg.
:) |
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09/10/2012 12:23:48 PM · #89 |
| Yes, commenting more can help you learn a lot, but if that was all it took to get good scores, I should routinely get 8s, yes? But it still takes a lot of natural talent and practice, too. |
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09/24/2012 09:23:02 PM · #90 |
YES..... A SEVEN AT LAST.....
WELL...
YOU DID IT.....
YES... FINALLY THE '7' YOU WERE DREAMING ABOUT -
YES... IT FINALLY HAPPENED.....
WITH THIS AWESOME IMAGE 
AND ALSO A RIBBON...... CONGRATULATIONS MY DEAR.....
FROM SHEZ
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09/24/2012 11:47:51 PM · #91 |
Originally posted by sherpet:
YES..... A SEVEN AT LAST.....
WELL...
YOU DID IT.....
YES... FINALLY THE '7' YOU WERE DREAMING ABOUT -
YES... IT FINALLY HAPPENED.....
WITH THIS AWESOME IMAGE
AND ALSO A RIBBON...... CONGRATULATIONS MY DEAR.....
FROM SHEZ |
THANKS SHEZ, YES UNEXPECTED, BUT VERY GLAD! |
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09/25/2012 12:20:45 AM · #92 |
| See, it's not so hard after all. ;) |
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09/25/2012 12:58:49 AM · #93 |
Originally posted by chazoe:
See, it's not so hard after all. ;) |
I know, it had to take a colored shot after all!! |
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09/25/2012 02:28:00 AM · #94 |
New Goals:
Blue Ribbon
Yellow Ribbon (this will complete the set)
Get your average up a notch, then another notch,
eg 5.6000, 5.7000, 5.8000
There is always something you can use to PUSH yourself.
No reason to leave.
Have fun along the way.
Leave comments and help others in the same way you wanted others to help you with useful comments.
Etc etc etc etc etc
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09/25/2012 02:28:57 AM · #95 |
Nice, I made your list :) |
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09/25/2012 03:04:13 AM · #96 |
Originally posted by RamblinR:
New Goals:
Blue Ribbon
Yellow Ribbon (this will complete the set)
Get your average up a notch, then another notch,
eg 5.6000, 5.7000, 5.8000
There is always something you can use to PUSH yourself.
No reason to leave.
Have fun along the way.
Leave comments and help others in the same way you wanted others to help you with useful comments.
Etc etc etc etc etc |
Yes always new goals, will stay around a little while, until I get busy with my business, having fun ATM! Thanks Maria. |
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09/25/2012 08:21:10 AM · #97 |
you cant do this
you promised to leave after a 7
no backsliding now |
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09/25/2012 10:46:35 AM · #98 |
| I would be happy to beat my PB let alone a 7 lol. 2.5 years and I can't get a new top image :/ |
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09/25/2012 10:53:19 AM · #99 |
Originally posted by MinsoPhoto:
I would be happy to beat my PB let alone a 7 lol. 2.5 years and I can't get a new top image :/ |
2.5 years is nothing! LOL! |
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09/25/2012 11:15:55 AM · #100 |
| It took me 7 years to get a 7, mostly likely it'll be another 7years before I see another......Lol. Love in every minute of it :-) |
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