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01/25/2005 07:33:31 PM · #1 |
I have just finished commenting on every image in the challenge, and I wanted to take a few moments to decompress and to summarize this experience.
First, this was an unbelievably enriching experience for me. Exhausting, yes, but even more so rewarding. It is hard to describe what it feels like to be so completely immersed in images produced by others. I want to thank everyone who submitted for the opportunity to view their work.
I did the best I could to be honest and tactful. I know from some of the pmâs I got that I failed on some occasions, and I am sorry for that. Anyone who has come to know me knows I would never intentionally hurt someone else, that I would only want to share my love of photography and encourage others to reach their full potential. All the same, it was inevitable that some feelings would be hurt, considering how many submitters had very emotional attachments to their work.
At the outset, it became painfully obvious how easy it is to say âgreat imageâ to the obvious ones. It is another thing altogether different to try to give every single image the same complete and fair viewing. But, by doing so, I saw some things I never would have noticed, and found some talent that really deserves recognition. I canât publicly recognize them now, but there were some sweet, sweet gems in this challenge, and, once itâs over, I hope they will get their due recognition.
One thing that struck was how many of entries were really not that competitive. These entries seemed to fall into two categories: those that didnât seem to represent the best of someoneâs capabilities, and those from people who either donât know how to compete, or just didnât want to follow one of the proven recipes. In some ways, this challenge should have had a warning label on it. Can you imagine how brutal it might be for those where this was one of their first challenges, and they entered their favorite picture from the past year, without having any idea as to the nature and behavior of these challenges?
Now, after having spent a fair amount of time with this, there are some mechanical issues that really should be addressed from a coding stand point. This required way too much of an effort. At first, it was easy to find the un-commented entries. But, the further along I got, the harder it became. We really need a way to sort or filter the images after having made that first pass through the randomly sorted images. Yes, I know you can fine-tune and comment without losing your place, but that takes too many steps. I also think we could use a much larger box for comments, and it would also be nice to have the buttons for forum codes available while commenting.
You may be wondering, how did it all end up? First, following bear_musicâs lead, I made an initial pass assigning each image a 4 or a 7, just based on my initial reaction. Then I used the following guide to help fine tune my votes
10 â eye-poppers
9 â unequivocal outstanding images
8 â great images
7 â great images that needed a bit more effort to appreciate
6 â good images that donât necessarily wow, but all the same, above average, or a good image that wasnât necessarily a great choice as a challenge entry
5 â images that are ok, but needing something
4 â a decent enough image that probably was a bad selection for the challenge, or an almost ok image
3 â a bad image that should not have been entered
This is my final tally
Score: Count (% of total)
10s: 10 (1.89)
9s: 18 (3.40)
8s: 37 (6.98)
7s: 66 (10.38)
6s: 175 (33.02)
5s: 197 (37.17)
4s: 37 (6.98)
3s: 1 (0.19)
I just canât tell you how much Iâve learned in the past two weeks , and I really want to thank everyone involved in this, especially to those who put their work out there to be judged.
Skip
Ps: As for me, as much as I like my own entry, I harbored no illusions about it going in, and Iâm glad that I didnât. The competition here is just too fierce. I am not about to predict finishes, but I will really be happy to be in the top half on this one.
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01/25/2005 07:34:55 PM · #2 |
Incredible accomplishment.
Yours is the most helpful of my 14 comments. Thanks.
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01/25/2005 07:43:21 PM · #3 |
| Skip, you're comment on my image was very encouraging and helpful at a time when I am getting very discouraged about my performance here. I really wanted to PM you and tell you thanks, so I'm glad I have the opportunity to do that here. Thank you for taking the time to comment. And try to ignore the PMs from those who don't want to learn. |
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01/25/2005 07:43:47 PM · #4 |
Skip - you give so much to this site and I know how busy you are in your own life. That was a great thing to do and I am sure it will be appreciated very, very much. In such a large challenge, I am sure most people aren't getting a lot of comments. Thank you for DPC! (I didn't enter the challenge, but still think what you did is terrific!!!)
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01/25/2005 07:53:22 PM · #5 |
Commenting on all of the photos on any challenge is quite an accomplishment, but 531 comments! Your immortality is clearly proven.
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01/25/2005 07:55:25 PM · #6 |
| WOW!!... Great job skip - I thought I was the only one nuts enough to try that :).... so I know first hand how great your effort was - it took me about 12 hours I think, and you are right, it was a right proper pain to find the last few images to comment on.... I spent 15 minutes trying to find the very last one! |
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01/25/2005 07:57:07 PM · #7 |
| I haven't read your comment yet, but I want to thank you for reminding people (again) that writing comments is primarily beneficial to the commenter as an educational tool. |
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01/25/2005 07:57:24 PM · #8 |
Congratulations mate, awesome achievement.
Your comment on my entry was spot on, no complaints from me.
Message edited by author 2005-01-25 19:58:48.
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01/25/2005 08:01:49 PM · #9 |
Way to go Skip! That is an accomplishment, especially because I know you didn't fly by the images, but gave each weighted thought.
Now take 5 minutes to rest and do "Breaking New Ground!" :-) |
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01/25/2005 08:44:12 PM · #10 |
You gave my image a glowing review and for that I am greatly appreciative. I know there are a lot of shots both in this challenge and in the archives that are obvious winners, shots that blow most everyone away, so commenting on them is almost unnecessary- so many others do. But to get a glowing comment when your score is just barely above average, can make your day- or mine, as the case may be. So thank you. You did indeed make my day, and I don't care that you didn't have any "constructive criticism" to offer- that's the best kind of compliment!
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01/25/2005 09:25:22 PM · #11 |
Just one quick question:
If you're commenting on all the images, why don't you use the full scale for voting? Why only 3-10? That way you are actually depreciating your top scorers. On your scale 10=7, 9=6 etc, if you follow me.
If you're not voting on all the photos then this is not (as big an) issue, but if you vote on all then you should (in theory at least) use all of the scale. Was this just an coincidence, i.e. there wasn't any photo that you didn't think was at least worthy of a 3, or was this deliberate.
OK, maybe not a quick question :)
BTW, thank you for your comment on mine, constructive and uplifting. You get loads of respect and admiration from me for even attempting this, let alone completing it. I've problems in just voting on this large scale.
Cheers mate
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01/25/2005 09:34:15 PM · #12 |
Thank you for you great,great work. You gave me not only a fabulous score but more important, selfconfidence. Wish I had the ability and/or confidence to give good feedback. Perhaps someone can give a guideline on what to look for and what to comment on. (Pity my average score is not even close to what you gave me);-)
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01/25/2005 09:36:43 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Gauti:
Just one quick question:
If you're commenting on all the images, why don't you use the full scale for voting? |
I'm certainly not answering for Skip here or anything, but personally I didn't see a single image in the pack that warranted a 1 or 2, and normally I do see at least a few. Though I have to say there was one that really had me wondering "Is that *really* the best photo they took all year??" Even so it wasn't worthy of a 1 or 2.
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01/25/2005 09:39:28 PM · #14 |
I am absolutely awed by your efforts in this regard. I voted on each of the submissions, and considering the amount of time I spent doing that, I am left speechless by what you have accomplished in this instance.
I must also thank you for your comments on my submission, as I found them to be a great source of inspiration.
Thank you ever so much for the time and effort you put into this. You sir, are a prime example of the "Good Folks" one hopes to meet in life. I for one am proud to have made your acquaintance and hope I can learn a great deal from individuals such as yourself.
Thanks again,
Ray |
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01/25/2005 09:40:40 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by ahaze:
Originally posted by Gauti:
Just one quick question:
If you're commenting on all the images, why don't you use the full scale for voting? |
I'm certainly not answering for Skip here or anything, but personally I didn't see a single image in the pack that warranted a 1 or 2, and normally I do see at least a few. Though I have to say there was one that really had me wondering "Is that *really* the best photo they took all year??" Even so it wasn't worthy of a 1 or 2. |
I agree with you there, fortunately there wasn't any photo that was so bad that it was a 1 or 2. Or since I'm not done voting, not any yet:)
Maybe the real question is, do you use the full scale (when appropriate), or just the 3-10 part of it.
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01/25/2005 09:52:55 PM · #16 |
Hey Skip: my personal congratulations on your unselfish devotion displayed in this gigantic and super human task. Like you have observed, this is possibly one of the best way to learn composition and presentation.
Some of us do not realize the benefits that such a task can bring. Outside of this you have paid honor to each image like few of us do.
Again, my congratulations and may your images gain from this generous effort.
Dan, currently sneaking in with eye patch.lol |
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01/25/2005 10:05:55 PM · #17 |
Skip, thank you for your comment! I too found it incredibly uplifting.
I didn't want to PM to thank you until after the challenge (since I never PM during the challenge...for any reason)...
... but Thank you! |
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01/25/2005 10:09:58 PM · #18 |
Skip... wow, way above and beyond! I do appreciate the comment you left on my image as well... it was very encouraging! Thank you!
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01/25/2005 10:14:22 PM · #19 |
Well, thank you all for your kind comments for me. Sometimes, it is very easy to forget that we are all in this together.
Just a few other observations/answers:
1) Yes, I do typically use the full scale, but Andi was correct here: I saw nothing that hit a 1 or a 2, but, as I mentioned, I saw a more than a few where I wondered why they picked the image they did to represent their best. And, along those lines, I tried really hard to respect their choices, to see what made them think it was their best (and I think that is where I may have stepped on some toes, by questioning that).
2) One of the most interesting things I found had to do with the "anonymous" factor. Remember all the hand-wringing before the challenge? Honestly, out of all 530 entries, I only recognized the work of 10-15 photographers, either by seeing the images before or by recognizing their "signature". Even so, I really tried to focus on the image and what its message.
3) I think the thing that motivated was comments in other threads by people like Andi and Neil, people whose work I have tremendous respect for. When these veterans felt like they were really getting knocked down in a challenge, I could only imagine what the going was like for the rest of the pack.
So, I set out to see what I could see. And honestly, I saw an incredible amount of tremendous photography. Sure, I'm willing to bet that there is something that could be done to tweak just about every image in the bottom 80%, but all the same, there's some really great stuff there! And I don't think my scoring was unduly generous.
4) indulge me here, please ;-) I also have to thank my sister Liz for my being able to do this... I was two years ahead of her in high school, and I signed up for Typing, a real crib course. The second day of classes, she transfered in. Not to be outdone by a younger sister, I became an incredible touch-typist, which really comes in handy from time to time ;-) |
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01/25/2005 10:33:11 PM · #20 |
| I appreciated your comments. They were very helpful and nice. |
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01/25/2005 10:33:39 PM · #21 |
Here's a crazy thought. Anybody that got a comment from skiprow look through his portfolio and comment on 10 of his pictures.
He has 614 comments received as of this thread. Wouldn't it be fun to make it 1,000 o_O
Message edited by author 2005-01-25 22:34:54.
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01/25/2005 10:35:02 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
I think the thing that motivated was comments in other threads by people like Andi and Neil, people whose work I have tremendous respect for. When these veterans felt like they were really getting knocked down in a challenge, I could only imagine what the going was like for the rest of the pack. |
Okay, now I am just well and truly bowled over. Someone tremendously respects my work and considers me a veteran?!?! Jeez Skip you make me sound like an actual photographer!! :D
Thank you. Your comment made my day, this one made my week.
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01/25/2005 10:37:03 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Here's a crazy thought. Anybody that got a comment from skiprow look through his portfolio and comment on 10 of his pictures.
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I'm on it. Great suggestion.
Originally posted by faidoi:
o_O |
I've seen this many times and have no idea what it means. Is it some kinda demented emoticon?
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01/25/2005 10:41:30 PM · #24 |
| You deserve an honorary ribbon for your accomplishment. You have put more effort into this endeavor than most ribbon winners have put into their pictures! |
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01/25/2005 10:44:51 PM · #25 |
"most excellent work here, both technically and aesthetically. can't offer any improvements, so i'll just sit here a minute and enjoy it, if you don't mind ;-)"
This comment was made on mine by skiprow... Can anybody just begin to imagine what those words meant to me, an amatuer in every sense of the word. And skiprow, thanks for enjoying my effort. For you and the others like you I will continue to improve.
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