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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> How much have I improved…your opinion please?
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 05/23/2007 11:28:19 PM · #1
When the Vanishing Point challenge was announced I used it as a tool to see how much I had improved. The first challenged I entered at DPChallenge was the original Vanishing Point challenge, so what better way to see if I had improved by comparing the same challenge almost three years apart.

So here is my first entry at DPC (Vanishing Point)


And here is my 95th entry (Vanishing Point II)


Some may ask why did I choose train tracks twice. Again it goes back to seeing how much I improved. I wanted the same subject in the same challenge.

I would like to ask anyone to comment on my improvement or lack of. All constructive comments or critiques are welcome and gratefully appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
SDW

Message edited by author 2007-05-23 23:28:40.
 05/23/2007 11:32:54 PM · #2
huge improvement in composition, light, and editing skill! i'd say you've learned quite a bit in three years. i only hope that i will too!
 05/23/2007 11:35:12 PM · #3
I'd say you went from "oh my god that's bad" to "wow, pretty nice"

It also looks like your front page photos are pretty good as well, especially your disco duck and your TT pic...

I think you're definitely getting the hang of it : )
 05/23/2007 11:35:33 PM · #4
A tremendous improvement! Your "after the Rain" shot was one of my top-rated images in the Vanishing Point II challenge. I loved the composition and tones.
 05/23/2007 11:50:54 PM · #5
Thanks everyone for the comments and I would like to thank everyone that has helped me along the way including DPC for giving us a venue that allows us to learn from our mistakes and from the input of other users.

Thanks,
SDW
 05/24/2007 12:54:18 PM · #6
Very nice and from what I see you have improved alot. Great job!
 05/24/2007 12:58:38 PM · #7
I would say you aren't even the same photographer. This first looks like a snap shot, the second is art.
 05/24/2007 01:01:56 PM · #8
u have become an artist
:)
it doesnt get much better than that!
 05/24/2007 01:03:53 PM · #9
well you learned how to resize:) great improvment in every way.
 05/24/2007 01:13:38 PM · #10
Hi Scott,

I look at these photos and am inspired to hope that I can do the same in my time here, the newest shot is great!

Rich
 05/24/2007 01:20:53 PM · #11
First, you learned how to put in the maximum size.

Now for the pictures themselves.
Your first entry demonstrated that even then, you had an eye for interesting angles. You didn't just stand in the middle of the tracks, hold the camera up to your face, and shoot.

That eye for interesting is still evident today, but now you also know more about light, composition, etc. My only comment on the second entry would be that the crop at the top is pretty tight; I'd rather see a little more up there. But heck, it's a great shot, your inclusion of the person on the branch was genius, and your score shows it! :)
 05/24/2007 03:07:46 PM · #12
Scott,

I don't "know" you well here, though I've admired your photos and appreciated your posts in the forums. I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents.

The change is dramatic. What I see in the first image is a lot of raw potential. A good subject, an interesting approach providing an interesting perspective, and a feel for what is visually appealing. The technicals were what got in your way for image one, both in terms of the actual shot and the way it was processed. I could still see what you saw, what I think you wanted to show me, but it wasn't great to look at because of those pesky technical issues.

The second image shows none of the technical issues. It is your vision, implemented. There is nothing distracting in the image, and it's clear that if there's something I don't "like," it was a choice by you, not an oversight. I don't care, for example, for the inclusion of the person, and the lighting directly ahead doesn't appeal to me. But it's like that because you chose for it to be like that; your images now clearly carry what you want, instead of hopefully having that message seen through a lot of noise (in the communicative sense, not the digital artifact sense). I can't argue with that, even if something is not what I would have done, or doesn't reach me the way something else might have. You are the artist; that's for you to decide.

It's nice to see that kind of improvement here, and I appreciate you sharing it.

When my first challenge rolls around again, I'll have a different story to tell: I've still not been able to reach the score I got on my first challenge (that was a 6.0; my current challenge submission image is at 4.5). I'm not sure my tale will be as interesting to tell as yours is ...

Best,

Rob
 05/24/2007 05:15:04 PM · #13
Again thanks to everyone that has responded to my post and commented. I greatly appreciate you input. I just looked back at my comments on my original entry and seen what I posted after the challenge was over.
Originally posted by swhiddon:
To all that commented and voted on my photograph; thanks. Your advice will help me improve and learn from my mistakes.

I guess I have improved a little from my mistakes and a lot from your advice.

Thanks to everyone,
SDW
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