DPC 2008 Entries - Best Year Ever?

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

10/02/2008 11:17:48 PM · #51

For sevilduvarci and boysetsfire in particular, how long would you expect someone to stick around when almost every shot they enter is so far from the accepted norm that it never stands a chance? It's just not the right venue for that stuff, so no surprise that they split after a while.

Retroesque

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/02/2008 11:46:06 PM · #52

Originally posted by posthumous:

But I do agree that DPC has gone downhill. There was a time when bucket and jjbeguin and e301 and boysetsfire and sevilduvarci and xion would all have photographs entered in the same week. Those people are the truly irreplaceable ones, and are mostly gone now.

I agree Don - these were VERY cool, left of center photographers who added much to my personal journey in photography - sorely missed.

vlado

Canon EOS-70D

10/02/2008 11:57:14 PM · #53

Originally posted by yanko:

I'm referring to the photography not who is shooting it.

Lets look at it objectively...

There a 2008 challenge in the top 10 highest scoring challenges (Advertisement III), there's two 2008 challenges in the top 10 highest average scores (Time Lapse and Your Occupation III) and three 2008 challenges the top 10 for highest median scores (Night Sky, Time Lapse and Your Occupation III).

So, while this doesn't make it the "best year ever", it would suggest that it is up there with other good years.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

10/03/2008 12:25:45 AM · #54

Originally posted by vlado:

Originally posted by yanko:
I'm referring to the photography not who is shooting it.

Lets look at it objectively...

There a 2008 challenge in the top 10 highest scoring challenges (Advertisement III), there's two 2008 challenges in the top 10 highest average scores (Time Lapse and Your Occupation III) and three 2008 challenges the top 10 for highest median scores (Night Sky, Time Lapse and Your Occupation III).

So, while this doesn't make it the "best year ever", it would suggest that it is up there with other good years.

Thanks for making my argument! Seriously, though if we go by your measure then 2002 was the best year and that most certainly wasn't the case. Looking at scores and averages would be a poor way to judge this. A lot of things affect score which have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the photograph. For example, very small challenges tend to produce big scores for the winners. There are also some types of challenges that always scores well so if those challenges don't run in a particular year (see Wildlife for example) then it can skew the results.

Perhaps, a slightly better way to judge this is to look at the number of favorites a ribbon winner gets. Granted, the older the photo the more favs it has a chance to pick up, but there have been photos that piled up the favs really quick and didn't stop. For example, take a look at these photos which have been major standouts over the years:

Would any photo from this year make that group? I say no. Because of the big score

Techo got for this shot you would probably have to consider it but I would say it falls short (sorry Techo).

Message edited by author 2008-10-03 00:32:01.

antares1966

Nikon D7200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

10/03/2008 12:31:24 AM · #55

Originally posted by yanko:

I say no. I think DPC has lost too many good photographers over the years and the new ones just haven't been up to par.

Thoughts?

Might this not be a simple function of the relatively large numbers of new people joining, presumably many of whom are coming here to improve their skills?
What you see as increasing mediocrity I think reflects more on the success of this site, to attract people with an interest in learning from their peers, and I would presume many are at the early end of the learning curve (heaven knows I count myself among them).

There are plenty of websites available that showcase only the best of the photographic art, that's just not my primary expectation here.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/03/2008 12:38:28 AM · #56

Originally posted by antares1966:

Originally posted by yanko:
I say no. I think DPC has lost too many good photographers over the years and the new ones just haven't been up to par.

Thoughts?

Might this not be a simple function of the relatively large numbers of new people joining, presumably many of whom are coming here to improve their skills?
What you see as increasing mediocrity I think reflects more on the success of this site, to attract people with an interest in learning from their peers, and I would presume many are at the early end of the learning curve (heaven knows I count myself among them).

There are plenty of websites available that showcase only the best of the photographic art, that's just not my primary expectation here.

Interesting perspective, and probably the one presented that I could most agree with.

When dpc started out, it was a small group of friends "competing" to better their skills and have fun.

How far away from that should we go?

Also, some of the ones mentioned in this thread got photography jobs in the "real world" and thus either outgrew, or didn't have time for dpc. How is that a bad thing? Especially when dpc was the catalyst for that growth? (I'm thinking specifically of

heida, though there are others).

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

10/03/2008 12:55:07 AM · #57

Originally posted by karmat:

Originally posted by antares1966:

Originally posted by yanko:
I say no. I think DPC has lost too many good photographers over the years and the new ones just haven't been up to par.

Thoughts?

Might this not be a simple function of the relatively large numbers of new people joining, presumably many of whom are coming here to improve their skills?
What you see as increasing mediocrity I think reflects more on the success of this site, to attract people with an interest in learning from their peers, and I would presume many are at the early end of the learning curve (heaven knows I count myself among them).

There are plenty of websites available that showcase only the best of the photographic art, that's just not my primary expectation here.

Interesting perspective, and probably the one presented that I could most agree with.

When dpc started out, it was a small group of friends "competing" to better their skills and have fun.

How far away from that should we go?

Also, some of the ones mentioned in this thread got photography jobs in the "real world" and thus either outgrew, or didn't have time for dpc. How is that a bad thing? Especially when dpc was the catalyst for that growth? (I'm thinking specifically of heida, though there are others).

Oh you're right, it's not a bad thing. I'm sure the hobbyist is more likely to stick around longer than the one that goes pro but that's besides the point. Do you think this year is the peak of DPC quality wise? Have you faved more photos this year than last or the year before? The person who I really want to ask this is

GeneralE, mainly because I want to figure out what the heck someone has to do to get a fav from him. :P

Bernard_Marx

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/03/2008 08:26:03 AM · #58

A couple more irreplaceables come to mind...

Ennil

JPR

Very interesting minds.
I miss their uploads.

Edit to add: Sorry, I do realize that this post wasn't really intended to bemoan the loss of individuals. but RESPECT (in my best Ali-G voice).

Message edited by author 2008-10-03 08:27:41.

justamistere

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

10/03/2008 10:53:35 AM · #59

I'm still a slowly advancing my skills, since I've got a 8-9 Hour a day, ball-n-chain day-job, and other household resposibilities, wife and chores, an ageing/expiring mother.

Anyway, more to the topic, yes I miss many "faces" that I came to know around here, even if they didn't comunicate or know me personally. That's a fact of life I learned the first time, when I graduated from H.S., many of the co-students were never to be seen again. Seems they all went separate ways. Sad.

Yes it's always nice to thrive and learn near the experts in the field. If they were around maybe I would advance my skills faster. Something to look up to.
There always will be "Legend of the times", some never replaceable, but a picture/slice-of-time can last a lifetime.
Missed but never forgotten.

Thank You for the Experts that stick around, I'm sure we can benefit them some way, too.

justamistere

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

10/03/2008 11:09:10 AM · #60

Originally posted by ambaker:

As the song goes, to everything there is a time and a season. I've seen a lot of people come and go, on this site in the last six years. Entering on a regular basis is work. As the genral ability on the site has improved, it is even harder for a person to dominate.

The photographer comes in, learns, starts improving, and then starts winning. If you are at the level on being able to win on a regular basis, you are a darned good photographer. I suspect that the departures are for a couple of reasons. One is that they start looking for another, bigger challenge. The second is, that they are good enough to start being in demand. If you are doing professional work, and trying to make money at being a photographer, that leaves even less time to work on challenges. And at some point something has to give, and you have already been there and done that.

Have we lost too many good photographers? There are people I do miss. At the same time, there will be another one along in a minute. As long as the departures are not due to unfairness on the part of the site, then it is what it is. If you look at the challenge entries today, versus the challenge entries of a few years ago, I believe the overall quality of the entries is higher. So while we have lost some, and some I do greatly miss, there are more good photographers here than ever. As proof I offer up the fact that I still have not won a ribbon. Were all the good photographers gone, I would stand a chance.

Maybe this is more to-the-topic here.

I agree with Ambaker (page-1) and antares1966(page 3), this is a natural flow, like the stock market's ups-and-downs.

And as Simms (page-2) indicates there are different stlyes of photographers, some more genious then others. Some conform more to this sites audience, and some that do no conform, but do great also and create a following/audience.

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/03/2008 04:18:37 PM · #61

Originally posted by yanko:

We obviously aren't holding our mouths right to get a fave from him....mmmmuuuuuuuuuuwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/03/2008 04:25:19 PM · #62

Originally posted by Jason_Cross:

You guys are forgetting Leroy.

He is doing some really great work now. He upgraded his equipment and is putting out some very nice work. The shunning he received here has helped push him into a new direction. To bad for DPC though ...

ambaker

Google Glass Google Glass

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

10/03/2008 04:42:41 PM · #63

Originally posted by yanko:

Evidently to be a favorite of GeneralE, you need to be related. Check out his one favorite.

I was also interested in the selection of images you posted. Most definitely images like those are not being entered today. Perhaps it is because they were done under a special set of rules maybe?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/03/2008 04:58:53 PM · #64

Yanko'd in a yanko thread. The irony.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

10/03/2008 05:18:41 PM · #65

Originally posted by ambaker:

I was also interested in the selection of images you posted. Most definitely images like those are not being entered today. Perhaps it is because they were done under a special set of rules maybe?

Only one of those pictures is expert editing...

10/03/2008 05:19:01 PM · #66

Originally posted by violinist123:

Yanko'd in a yanko thread. The irony.

Forgive the ignorance, what is a "Yanko'd"?

10/03/2008 05:32:31 PM · #67

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Originally posted by violinist123:
Yanko'd in a yanko thread. The irony.

Forgive the ignorance, what is a "Yanko'd"?

User A: The sky is blue.

User B some time later: The sky is blue.

Users C, D, E, F, G: User B you're absolutely right!

10/03/2008 05:34:17 PM · #68

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Originally posted by violinist123:
Yanko'd in a yanko thread. The irony.

Forgive the ignorance, what is a "Yanko'd"?

User A: The sky is blue.

User B some time later: The sky is blue.

Users C, D, E, F, G: User B you're absolutely right!

Ahhhh! That happens a lot.

10/03/2008 05:35:47 PM · #69

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Originally posted by violinist123:
Yanko'd in a yanko thread. The irony.

Forgive the ignorance, what is a "Yanko'd"?

User A: The sky is blue.

User B some time later: The sky is blue.

Users C, D, E, F, G: User B you're absolutely right!

Ahhhh! That happens a lot.

Used to happen often to this guy with a fetish for making animal eyes yellow named yanko. Hence the term.

edit: or maybe he was always being user B to me. I forget now. So many god photographers jumped ship, yanko'ing just lost its appeal. Or something.

edit: yeah that's right 'god' photographers.

edit: why are you still reading this drivel.

Message edited by author 2008-10-03 17:39:11.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

10/03/2008 05:39:11 PM · #70

Originally posted by violinist123:

Used to happen often to this guy with a fetish for making animal eyes yellow named yanko. Hence the term.

haha, yah, I'd already married the term to the user, but when I asked didn't know what it meant. It's a huge phenomenon on other forums I frequent too.

Message edited by author 2008-10-03 17:39:37.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

10/03/2008 05:40:38 PM · #71

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

Originally posted by Jason_Cross:
You guys are forgetting Leroy.

He is doing some really great work now. He upgraded his equipment and is putting out some very nice work. The shunning he received here has helped push him into a new direction. To bad for DPC though ...

Thats good to hear about Leroy. And it is too bad for DPC, he could give some really nice insight and had really good first hand knowledge. Hope things continue to do well for him. Maybe somewhere in his subconcious all the drama was a need to breakaway from DPC in order to really expand his photography.

BTW, by May 2009 I should have alot more free time on my hands. After that you should see some ribbon hogging- so all you people just need to hang around (it'll be much nicer beating people who's names I recognize than people I don't). :)

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

10/03/2008 06:10:04 PM · #72

I just finished voting on pajamas. The first one I voted on in a very very very long time. Average vote 3.777.... I have never ever seen so many bad photos in a challenge before...... I hope this is not representative for 2008...

Caravela

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

10/03/2008 06:16:53 PM · #73

Wow, this is quite a morbid thread, isn't it? Doom and gloom for DPChallenge...apparently! :(