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05/03/2006 02:57:55 PM · #1 |
Maybe I am on the wrong site for me? Everyones photos here are so awsome! Mine look like feeble attempts compaired. Perhaps there is another site I should go to for input on improving? Where did everyone start before they found DPC? A Mentor is out as they are hard to find where I live. Any ideas at all? I would love to take pictures as beautiful as the ones here.
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05/03/2006 03:03:06 PM · #2 |
Here's an interesting thing to do. When you find a photographer whose photos you think are really awesome, check their history. Scalvert is a good place to start, for example. He's been ribboning often enough and generally scores within the 6-7 range.
Click on the "Avg" column to sort entries by their score and check his out. He certainly didn't start at a 7. He's been on a steady incline. A lot of the people on this site are people who started out where you are and have learned. (Some of us, unfortunately, never learn. ;) ) Rikki is another good example.
Don't get discouraged by what you see - be encouraged by where people have been and where they've gotten to now! |
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05/03/2006 03:03:17 PM · #3 |
This is as good a place as any to start. Just dont think of it as competing with the photographers who get a 6/7+ average. Compete with yourself and your improvement. You went from a 4.4 to a 4.9 so that's a bit of an improvement right there!
Looking at the images on this site, reading the tutorials and the forums, and reading photography books will really help. Then you can use the challenges as the end of week test to see if you can put what you've learnt into practice.
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05/03/2006 03:05:51 PM · #4 |
Hang in there this might help tutorial on resizing. I really like your negative entry and judging by comments others did to but you were hammered by the size of your photo.If it had if been bigger it would have got a much higher score. DPC is a great learning site with many people willing to help (",)
Just look at some peoples profiles even some of the greats get low scores sometimes!
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05/03/2006 03:07:50 PM · #5 |
Also, another way to learn is to comment on others photos. You don't need to go technical either. Just saying what gives an image that wow factor for you is enough. Saying what works is much easier than what doesn't most of the time so start there.
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05/03/2006 03:08:24 PM · #6 |
yes there are other sites but wouldnt you want to learn from the best? I have been doing alot better since I first started. Reading my manual for my camera and photoshop books wasnt enough, so I look at other members details on how they do photos and it has helped alot with settings and how to angle the camera to get the best look. Its taken me awhile because I dont enter many challenges but im trying to start up again. You'll catch on!
Originally posted by liltritter:
Maybe I am on the wrong site for me? Everyones photos here are so awsome! Mine look like feeble attempts compaired. Perhaps there is another site I should go to for input on improving? Where did everyone start before they found DPC? A Mentor is out as they are hard to find where I live. Any ideas at all? I would love to take pictures as beautiful as the ones here. |
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05/03/2006 03:08:58 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by mk:
Rikki is another good example. |
Yeah, Rikki used to suck... well, he still sucks, but his photography has improved tremendously.
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05/03/2006 03:18:52 PM · #8 |
Nope, you're not in the wrong place!
Lil, take a look at my shots. There is nothing professional about them, believe me. I've only been here two months and in that time I've learned more than everywhere else, EVER.
Yup, sometimes I get majorly depressed over ever trying to compete with the top photographers, sometimes I want to give up when my reality doesn't begin to match my vision, but I always find something to change my mind.
It might be something I learn by merely looking at other shots, such as details of composition or lighting, it might be a well-thought-out and helpful critique, or it might be discovering a tutorial that teaches me something I didn't even know existed to learn.
I constantly remind myself that the only competition that really matters is the one against myself, to continue to learn and improve, and this is most definitely the place to do that!
Yes, there ARE incredible photographers here who most of us will never match, but they're not jealously guarding their secrets but willingly sharing them with all of us so that we can grow and develop our own unique styles. The willingness to share is what sets this apart from most photography display/competition sites and makes it well worth being a part of.
Stick around, it grows on you ;) |
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05/03/2006 03:22:21 PM · #9 |
You are in exactly the right place. Everybody in this place is willing to help and who is better to help then those you like their work.
Jst read the tutorials, follow the forums (you should check out the mentorship threads for LOTS of input) and keep shooting.
I was/am a beginner when I first joined and have managed (barely) to get my avg. score above 5.0
This is IMHO the best place to learn. |
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05/03/2006 03:29:51 PM · #10 |
Thank you...
The resizing tutorial gave me info I didn't know. Finding out I am not the only one feeling this way was the biggest help. Been reading the tutorials and learning alot. I am in the right place, learning from the people that take the pictures that WOW me. Thank you, my photo depression is much better.
OOOO Ya, hey Rikki, I like your portfolio :)
Message edited by author 2006-05-03 15:30:33. |
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05/03/2006 03:33:58 PM · #11 |
Christine, dispite being small your Negative entry actually got a good average score. Kinda shows that even this early in your stay here, you are starting off better than a beginner.
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05/03/2006 03:39:44 PM · #12 |
I wouldn't exactly call this a feeble attempt Christine,
One of the best flame shots I've seen!
Take note of what has been said, get your challenge pics up to size for a start, votes will improve straight away, then just learn, composition is the next thing you have to start getting to grips with.
Look around and take part..thats all you need, your pics are ok for most of the basic things, focus is good, colours look alright..just build on it.
Good luck,
Paul.
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05/03/2006 03:39:53 PM · #13 |
I've been feeling discouraged, because my scores have been going down it seems like, but then I looked at some of the snapshots of my kids that I took a few months ago, and some that I took this weekend, and I can see a definite improvement. So while I may never be a kiwiness or an elsapo, or a Rikki this site is helping me to get better.
Message edited by author 2006-05-03 15:40:17. |
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05/03/2006 03:43:20 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by margiemu:
I've been feeling discouraged, because my scores have been going down it seems like, but then I looked at some of the snapshots of my kids that I took a few months ago, and some that I took this weekend, and I can see a definite improvement. So while I may never be a kiwiness or an elsapo, or a Rikki this site is helping me to get better. |
Margie, you also seem be to submitting files that are quite a bit smaller than they need to be. Are you having difficulties getting them the proper size? You may want to check out the tutorial linked earlier about resizing for challenges. Those extra pixels can really make a difference. |
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05/03/2006 03:48:09 PM · #15 |
| Yeah, I just realized that on the last challenge. For some reason I had 540 stuck in my mind as the max size instead of 640, and that's what I've been resizing to. Doh. |
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05/03/2006 03:52:10 PM · #16 |
| DPC is good place to improve your photographic skills. My technique and composition has improved considerably. Scores don't always reflect your improvements or skills. My scores began as very level consistant line with a slight upward slope. Now they have wild oscillations both low and high, reflecting my predilection to experiment. These forums are a superb way to learn new techniques and have a lot of fun as well! So stick with it and read the forum posts! |
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05/03/2006 03:52:12 PM · #17 |
I find my scores are lowest when I am doing something I have no real aptitude or experience in doing (or completely blow it by entering the wrong shot). So, I am learning how to do something or experimenting. So, in order for me to get a 6 or better, I have accomplished that skill and am fine tuning.
I really believe in order to ski power, ya have to fall alot on the groomed run. So, my scores are not what I am worried about, but trying new things is where the fun is. The challehge makes me try new stuff. Just my thoughts. |
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05/03/2006 04:07:23 PM · #18 |
.
Message edited by author 2006-08-12 21:44:30. |
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05/03/2006 04:10:33 PM · #19 |
PeeCee, you made my whole day!
I think this is where I get lost with pictures, Could you explain
"composition"
What exactly is that? Told ya I was new and I prolly should know this but.... |
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05/03/2006 04:14:18 PM · #20 |
i dont think you can base your scores on dpc as your photograpic ability, all my scores suck, but i have a little photo buisness thats growing and thats not to bad,
some people here are pro photographers who have been shooting for years, but there scores areent that great either,
its kinda sora an are to ribbon on dpc, it really has to wow the population |
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05/03/2006 04:15:00 PM · #21 |
Don't get discouraged too early in the game!! :) Just keep trying different things (angles/editing/cropping/etc...) This site is full of people that are more than willing to help out & filled with good tutorials. Took a look at your portfolio, you have some nice shots! Like peecee said that flame shot is really nice! Just keep on shootin'! :)
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05/03/2006 04:22:00 PM · #22 |
I started specifically to work on my ability to stage shots and think out of the box. I'm primarily a nature photographer. Around here I'm strictly mediocre, running with a 5.14, and yet in real life I have a bad habit of picking up ribbons right and left. Make of that what you will, but I say that it's a pretty good indication that your DPC score isn't necessarily a measure of your talent.
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05/03/2006 04:22:23 PM · #23 |
I started here. But I don't base my scores on my skill either. I've learned so much here I can't even put it into words. There are some amazing photographers on this sight and I'm not aiming to be like them, but aiming to to better myself and my work. Before last fall I didn't know anything about photography.
I stumbled upon this site while looking for a type of spider. Started messing around with my lil p&s and ended up with a dSLR before Christmas.
Now I'm looking at starting a small portrait business- nothing big because I don't want this to be a job. It's a hobby and and I trully enjoy it and I want to keep it that way.
Anyhow, just keep shooting, keep asking for tips and learning from this place. |
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05/03/2006 04:27:47 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by Drummie:
Hey, just to mention....I came in LAST on the "window framed" challenge....so don't feel bad, it could've been worse :). |
And that photo is on someone's favorites list, too! ;-D
So as others have said, sometimes scores aren't everything.
Message edited by author 2006-05-03 16:28:55. |
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05/03/2006 04:28:59 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by liltritter:
PeeCee, you made my whole day!
I think this is where I get lost with pictures, Could you explain
"composition"
What exactly is that? Told ya I was new and I prolly should know this but.... |
hmm, not easy to just quickly explain composition, but if you like doin' a little research, try searching the forums here, or googling.
Try - Composition, Rule of Thirds, The Golden Mean, Leading Lines
to start with :-)
Also take a look at the challenge histories, some compositional techniques have had their own challenge. Great examples.
If you come up with questions, post em or feel free to pm me, I can try to at least point you in the right direction. And like everybody says, keep shootin', keep participating, have fun, it will come :-) We are all here learning, even the 'big guns', (they're just learning at different levels than us mere mortals ;-) |
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