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09/06/2003 03:22:32 AM · #1 |
This has probably been discussed a bazillion times before, but in case it has not ....
What is it with some entries to the challenges and people not making the slightest attempt to match the challenge?
Take the Oops challenge for example, an excellent and fun topic.
There are some excellent shots there that you would look at, regardless of the challenge, and go "oops!". Some may be set up, some may be genuine oops' either way I think they are excellent.
There are some shots there that you don't see the connection ... until you read the title of the shot and then chuckle, or similar, and can see why it is an "oops!" situation.
And then there are the "here is a photo of my cat", or "what a lovely flower" entries, nothing in content or title to even remotely tie it to the topic.
It is as if people have a decent photo, are so desperate to enter it onto something they just shove it into whatever the next challenge is.
Personally, for the insects challenge I am considering posting a photo of an old cardboard box I have in my garage, title it "milk bottle in pink" and post it in the insects challenge. It would end up being closer to topic than many photos I have seen in the last couple of months.
Personally, I give a much better score to an average photo that is on topic that a truly excellent photo that has stuff all to do with a challenge ... but maybe that's just me.
Oops, goota dash, have just spotted my dog walking through the living room and need to grab my camera as I may enter that in the insects challenge rather than the box (it'll be a tough choice).
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09/06/2003 03:24:43 AM · #2 |
Did you not read the challenge criteria - something gone wrong!!!!
Not something funny or something funny that has gone wrong!
Broaden your outlook man |
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09/06/2003 03:24:57 AM · #3 |
I'll post up my picture of the sunset ;) lol
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09/06/2003 06:24:06 AM · #4 |
Natator, I know what you mean.
As for the insect challenge.. *rolls eyes* Perhaps I should take a picture of my bros and my mother holding some Pesticide... Tsk tsk.. Pests... ;) |
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09/06/2003 07:42:12 AM · #5 |
For not being on DPC very long, you sure know what you are talking about. And all those entries of yours are blatantly on target with the challenge.
Open your eyes and broaden the horizon. Every picture entered has something that the photographer was trying to get at, related to the challenge. Why would someone who thinks they have a great shot, enter it into something that may get it bad scores in?
Some people think outside the box, and some think WAY out of the box. sometimes it is up to you to figure it out. Because voters go through here and vote pictures in less than 5 secs, they do not always see the connection. ie: all the complaints about "creativity is not welcome here." But the way that it really works is be totally literal to the MAIN WORD IN THE CHALLENGE, and it will do good. Basically you are doing this. you are not allowing for interpretation.
Not everyone thinks and sees things the same way that you do.
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09/06/2003 08:41:59 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by dacrazyrn:
For not being on DPC very long, you sure know what you are talking about. And all those entries of yours are blatantly on target with the challenge.
Open your eyes and broaden the horizon. Every picture entered has something that the photographer was trying to get at, related to the challenge. Why would someone who thinks they have a great shot, enter it into something that may get it bad scores in?
Some people think outside the box, and some think WAY out of the box. sometimes it is up to you to figure it out. Because voters go through here and vote pictures in less than 5 secs, they do not always see the connection. ie: all the complaints about "creativity is not welcome here." But the way that it really works is be totally literal to the MAIN WORD IN THE CHALLENGE, and it will do good. Basically you are doing this. you are not allowing for interpretation.
Not everyone thinks and sees things the same way that you do. |
But also every challenge there are a set of 'here's my cat/ dog/ child' shots as well... People like to share their pictures, nothing wrong with that. |
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09/06/2003 09:08:57 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by natator:
This has probably been discussed a bazillion times before... |
Yes, it has.
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09/06/2003 09:38:16 AM · #8 |
Simply put no matter what the challenge is there will always be photos that you as the voter don't find fit the challenge. Leave a comment such as... "I don't see how this fits the challenge would you care to enlighten me?" Give it a day see if the person responds. You might actually learn something or simply have your eyes opened up wider.
A dog photo in the insect challenge could easily be portraying FLEAS! A flower could have a worm on it or being eatten by other bugs and fit into the challenge. A child photo in the insect challenge could be making a personal statement about the childs personality and how they irrate the photographer like a fly by bugging them. |
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09/06/2003 02:17:54 PM · #9 |
Most folks that think outside the box a little know they will get 1s from the folks that devote all of 2 seconds per photo to voting. They won't normally be offended if you just slap your one on and move along to the photo that clubs you over your head with the challenge. They live for the handful of comments that start "I GET it!!! Very creative approach :)" Score is secondary...
That said, I've seen some shots that I just can't make a connection to. In those cases, I follow OneSweetie's advice and post a comment saying I miss the connection and inviting a PM if I'm missing something. When I get an answer, it often opens my eyes to something I can't believe I missed :)
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09/06/2003 09:15:37 PM · #10 |
Looking at the image, when voting helps me to extract merits. Thinking about things extraneous to the image interferes with this process.
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09/08/2003 01:29:17 AM · #11 |
Well, each to their own.
Personally I see a huge difference between "thinking outside the box" (a ridiculously over used cliche) and simply shoving in a photo as you have it and like it or lack the imagination to come up with something that fits the bill.
I love that the challenges have themes, it greatly adds to the fun of doing them.
A standard picture of the family cat, photo title of "Tiddles" or something, unless it has something within the theme (for instance there was a nice shot of a cat with strange markings and a comment about nature making a mistake - nice twist) to me has stuff all to do with a topic.
Taking the "think outside the box" cliche to the max, and I very much agree with it in principle, but not as a weak excuse to include absolutely anything and we have (remembering no clue even in a photo title):
Insects: There are fleas involved.
Nostalgia: I had a cat when I was a kid.
Repetition: There were 8 other cats in the litter.
Back to school: This is the cat left behind when I went to school.
Sports: This cat can run really fast.
Oops: Meant to take a photo of that tree that fell on the car but oops, took one of my cat instead.
Dinosaurs (were there one): This is not a dinosaur
Etc etc etc
I doubt there are many challenges you could not fit it into ..... but I don't think that is the spirit in which the challenges are intended.
I am all for thinking outside the box ..... but I hear it being used as an excuse, rather than a genuine justification.
As I said, each to their own.
(This is not aimed at photos of cats at all by the way, they are just an example)
Oh, by the way ..... this post is actually encouraging people to post absolutely anything on any topic .... you just need to "think outside the box" far enough to realise it.
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09/08/2003 01:36:24 AM · #12 |
| I'm always delighted when I see an entry that I would have thought would never fit that particular challenge if someone described it to me, but does. I call it 'creativity' and I learn a lot from it. If a photo is true to its own interpretation of the challenge, I reward it. I try to let the photo speak to me rather than forcing all photos to comply with my own preconceptions. It sure makes voting fun and rewarding! |
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09/08/2003 01:53:47 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by OneSweetSin:
Leave a comment such as... "I don't see how this fits the challenge would you care to enlighten me?" Give it a day see if the person responds. |
I did this in the Oops challenge. I got a reply which helped me to re-see the photo again. Without the explanation, I'd given it a 3 for being really off-topic. With the explanation, I found myself laughing it all the way up to a 6.
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09/08/2003 02:41:23 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by Koriyama:
Originally posted by OneSweetSin:
Leave a comment such as... "I don't see how this fits the challenge would you care to enlighten me?" Give it a day see if the person responds. |
I did this in the Oops challenge. I got a reply which helped me to re-see the photo again. Without the explanation, I'd given it a 3 for being really off-topic. With the explanation, I found myself laughing it all the way up to a 6. |
See how easy that works? I am sure people don't go out a shoot pictures of (let's continue with a cat) and then come look at what the challenge topic is. It relates somehow. FInd out, just like above.
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09/08/2003 06:55:55 AM · #15 |
| I've noticed some people try to twist an image to fit a challenge by giving it a relevant title, but I'm not convinced by a lot of them. I very much agree with natator. It's not thinking outside the box, it's being desparate. Then again, I've only just joined and haven't entered a competition yet so what do I know! |
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09/08/2003 07:08:13 AM · #16 |
| I did leave a comment asking for explanation in three instances for the opps challenge. Something I learned a long time ago is helpful here I believe... always begin by assuming you are wrong and not the other person. After I asked for clarity I found out that I had missed something in the photos. The photographers were very polite in their answers and helpful. I am always open to seeing something in a new way and learning from others. Asking for explanation helps me achieve those goals. |
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09/08/2003 07:09:40 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by natator:
Well, each to their own.. |
yes. yes, indeed. If you get wound up every time you see something that doesn't trip your trigger in a challenge, you're not going to enjoy yourself very much. Just go take take some photos (enjoy that nice camera), and take it easy. |
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09/08/2003 08:29:07 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by natator:
Personally I see a huge difference between "thinking outside the box" (a ridiculously over used cliche) |
So what you're saying is that creativity is cliche??
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09/08/2003 11:11:56 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by irockstars:
Originally posted by natator:
Personally I see a huge difference between "thinking outside the box" (a ridiculously over used cliche) |
So what you're saying is that creativity is cliche?? |
Or perhaps passé .... |
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09/08/2003 02:47:27 PM · #20 |
Now that repetition is over, I can discuss my own sins against literal challenge interpretation...
I entered "Are we there yet?" for the repetition challenge. I knew before entering (in fact I knew before shotting) that a large number of people would think I was trying to shoehorn a picture of my kid in regardless of the challenge. This shot was taken specifically for this challenge. We got in the car and drove around (I'd like to thank my wife for driving) with me snapping nearly 150 shots while Malia made various faces. (Some of the outtakes are hilarious)
As far as relevance to the challenge, I'm certain anyone that has ridden more than 30 miles in a car with a young child would not have needed the title to understand how this relates to repetition... But it would require a little thought on the part of the viewer...
All that said, I'm quite happy with how it did. Several people understood where I was coming from and allowed me to come from there :) The majority that felt I didn't meet the challenge at all didn't bother me. They are as entitled to their narrow interpretation as I am entitled to my broader interpretation :) 2nd to last is just fine with me as long as someone enjoyed my effort...
Side Note : Whoever gave me the 10 was likely just being nice, but I thank you :)
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09/08/2003 03:11:21 PM · #21 |
I really enjoyed some of the repetition shots that were "implied" like myql's.
One of my favorites was this shot. I really thought it would be top 10. It really said repitition to me.
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09/08/2003 03:14:29 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by myqyl:
As far as relevance to the challenge, I'm certain anyone that has ridden more than 30 miles in a car with a young child would not have needed the title to understand how this relates to repetition... But it would require a little thought on the part of the viewer...
Side Note : Whoever gave me the 10 was likely just being nice, but I thank you :) |
Maybe this is a case where leaving it untitled would have forced that moment's thought, and they would have come up with the cliche themselves. Putting a title like that on a picture without a repeating visual element may encourage voters to think "shoehorn" instead of "clever."
I wasn't the 10, but was way on the high side of the curve ... I sure "got it" immediately. Maybe you can post a montage of the out-takes. |
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09/08/2003 04:17:19 PM · #23 |
I can't help but reply on this one either. I'm with you natator. I'm all in favor of being creative and clever, that's a huge part of the 'challenge' in DPC, right? But it is also a 'photography' site; ie, a picture is worth a thousand words. if you need a thousand words to tell me what your picture is about, I'm going to be giving the picture that speaks for itself a better score.
Some of the pictures remind me of some sweatshirts you might see in Moscow or Japan --#1 New York Football Time!-- or --Super Dope XTRA Cool-- that just leave you going err, huh?
Anyway, I'm getting my macro picture of my stapler ready for the Sports entry. (no no, it fits! see, this one time I was driving to work, when I drove by Office Max, and I was like, 'Hey, that reminds me, I have to get some blank CD's to record the new DMX song', then I took my eyes off the road for a second and got in the wrong lane, so I got off on the wrong exit and was like "Gosh darn, I am such a goof", then I thought I may as well go to the Office Max, but got lost and ended up in a bad part of town, so I'm like really worried cuz it's getting dark and then this big guy comes up to me while I'm at the light and I'm like all freaked out thinking "Oh crap I'm gonna get mugged or something" and he keeps walking towards me so I kinda freak totally (I hadn't had enough sugar that day, see I'm hypoglycomic) and just BAIL out of the car running as fast as I can screaming like a little girl on the first day of school (I dropped all the Junior Mints I had been snacking on, but that's another story), so I kept running until I thought "Jeez, maybe I shouldn't have run away from my car like that, it might be safer to be in a car then dragging my panting tongue on the pavement walking around", so I'm like TOTALLY lost now and came up on the park where a little league game was going on and thought "Whheeeew, I'm saved", but turns out it's not a little league game, it's the weekly "Jumping In" ceremony for the local chapter of the East Side Loco Piru Crazy Boy Crips Siko Killer Street Oriented Youth Group (AKA, Gang). So they're beating the total crap out of the recently inducted new members and see me, Johnny Milquetoast, walking up, and I'm just thinking "uhhhhh, s**t", when this girl, and I mean she is waaaaaay hot, pulls up in a cherry red ferrari and says 'hey mister, need a ride?' so i get in and she's all like 'sweaty guys make me wanna go fast!' and reaches over to snap in my seatbelt, then i -... oh wait a minute, this is the wrong story... stapler... sports... oh yeah, that's right... so, i couldn't make any teams in highschool, but was a reporter for the school paper and was in charge of stapling all the issues together and fridays (sports day!) was really thick so every time I think of sports i remember how sore my hand was on fridays from the stapler. |
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09/08/2003 04:55:35 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by wsargen:
I can't help but reply on this one either. |
Umm, I'm sure you had a point in there somewhere and I'm reasonably certain that it was "on topic" for this thread, but I'm clueless as to what you're talking about.
So I'll just give your post a 1 and move on :)
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09/08/2003 08:29:57 PM · #25 |
That's what you get for thinking outside the box, Winthrop. All these litereallists just won't take the time to appreciate your humor.
Myqyl - your repetition shot was OK, I got it (with the title - without, it would have been a mystery) and gave it a 5. FWIW, however, it set my daughter to giggling - she loved it. :-) |
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