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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Comments please?
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 03/15/2006 03:19:00 AM · #1
Hi everybody. I submitted this photo to the master of disguise challenge. It didnt do very well at all, but i wasnt expecting much either. This whole game is still new to me. I was just wondering if somebody could give me some more in depth pointers to what i should look out for, or how i could have maybe done better with this challenge. Heres the link...
 03/15/2006 03:23:48 AM · #2
Well, I am assuming it didn't do so well because it is hard to see how it meets the challenge. You have to remember the people are scrolling through and probably only spend 30 seconds max looking at the shot before they slap down a rating. I am slow, and I do not understand your concept, but many seem too :)

The shot is fairly well composed. The one penny seems a bit overexposed and the focus could be a little better.

Just my 2 cents ;)
 03/15/2006 03:32:49 AM · #3
Thanks, I did have a bad feeling about not explaining the photo in the title. The thing is, i figured it would be ruining the pun of the photo if i explained it. Ive noticed that in DPC many people explain their photo in the titles. I guess it will get a higher rating then, but i still find it to be way more exciting to see how many people would get it without me using my opinion/my two cents as the title. I was disapointed with the blurred edges, but im pretty busy around this time of year, and wasnt able to spend too much time on taking this photo. I know next to nothing about photoshop, and thats what im gonna spend this entire summer on, but could anybody explain to me in a nutshell if it is possible to get rid of that overexposure on the right penny? i actually like how it accentuated the "in god we trust" part, but id still like to get rid of that brightness.

Message edited by author 2006-03-15 03:34:03.
 03/15/2006 03:33:42 AM · #4
Hi,
I will give it a shot. To score high here there are several things to keep in mind when shooting a challenge.

1. Stay on topic - I believe you went to far out of the box on this one. I, personally, don't see the relationship between the phrase "2 cents worth" and master of disguise in the way you presented it.

2. Technically sound photograph - Your photograph is good but has some technical issues such as the blown highlights on the face up penny and a distracting element in the bottom left that is neither identifiable or needed.

3. WOW factor - This site has so many good photographers young and older that can come up with a good photograph at a drop of a hat. You have to do #1 and #2 well and then add the WOW factor. Sometimes it subtle and sometimes it shines but it must be there.

I have been a member for almost two year and have not won a ribbon to date. My best finish was a top 10. But I am improving as time goes by and you will too. Your photograph was not bad but fell short. Dust yourself off and give it a go again. I wish you the best of luck in each and every challenge. Wish me luck to, I need it.
-SDW

Message edited by author 2006-03-15 03:37:18.
 03/15/2006 03:39:03 AM · #5
Originally posted by southern_exposure:

1. Stay on topic - I believe you went to far out of the box on this one. I, personally, don't see the relationship between the phrase "2 cents worth" and master of disguise.

Dust yourself off and give it a go again. I wish you the best of luck in each and every challenge. Wish me luck to, I need it.

-SDW


Yeah, it wasnt really fitting to master of disguise, but the perameters were something like " take your best shot of something that is not quite what it seems" I see how many do not see this as fitting, but i found the title master of disguise and the goals somewhat different. Oh and dont worry. In no way whatsoever do I find this discouraging. if anything it just makes me wanna go out and use what im learning. Best of luck to you with those photos. I really hope you get a ribbon soon. It could give any dpc member a huge deal of confidence!

Phil
 03/15/2006 04:13:24 AM · #6
What about this image, does anybody like it better. I almost submitted this one, but i found the colours less interesting.

03/15/2006 12:24:12 PM · #7
bump
 03/15/2006 02:18:35 PM · #8
Personally I didn't really see how it related to the challenge. The picture was not all that bad, but for a challenge-like previously posted-you need to get your point across and make your impact right away. If not you cannot really expect a high score. Another important thing is to keep it simple and not too far out there. Goodluck with your next challenge, keep at it and you will be making major improvements in no time, I know I have with my short time with DPC and in photography in general.
 03/15/2006 03:20:50 PM · #9
Originally posted by tapeworm_jimmy:

The image has nice colors, superb sharpness and generally good technical post processing. There is a lot good about it.

There are two areas you might consider for improvement, both are related.

1-You might try shifting the point of focus from the backside penny to the nearer front side penny (re-shoot, obviously). This image has a huge amount of foregound real estate that is out of focus. Generally speaking it is better to have the background soft focused and the nearer foreground sharp focused. It is not a hard and fast rule but generally works best. Shifting the primary focus forward to the nearer penny would reduce the amount of distracting foreground softness and increase the softness in the background. You will maintain the shallow DOF you intended but redistribute it in a more pleasing way for the viewer.

2-The foreground penny is terribly overexposed. You need to readjust the lighting to eliminate overexposing it. Generally speaking you want to avoid having it more than an f/stop or so brighter in the brightest areas than it is in the properly exposed areas to avoid blowouts like this.

The atrociously low score your image got had less to do with photography than people's interpretation of the challenge topic, so don't feel bad about that. Over time the quality of the images at DPC has improved greatly but the quality of the voting has not. Yours is not a especally bad photograph like the voting appears to indicate.

Message edited by author 2006-03-15 15:23:02.
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