The 1x Reject Club - DPChallenge Forums

03/02/2009 04:28:56 PM · #826

Originally posted by pawdrix:

I do like the fact that they judge based on imapct over "technical merit" or else you would have another "waterdrop site"..., in other words, technically stunning images of absolutely no substance, whatsoever.

I couldn't agree more :-)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

03/02/2009 06:26:40 PM · #827

Ok, I feel better about myself after getting two through I got a double rejection for big versions of these two shots (the second was done in a mild sepia):

Maybe I'll put them over in the critique section. I thought they told enough of a "story" to garner some consideration. The story just happens to be happy...

Message edited by author 2009-03-02 18:27:06.

Adamsw216

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

03/02/2009 06:36:37 PM · #828

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Ok, I feel better about myself after getting two through I got a double rejection for big versions of these two shots (the second was done in a mild sepia):

Maybe I'll put them over in the critique section. I thought they told enough of a "story" to garner some consideration. The story just happens to be happy...

If I were to make a guess... I'd say one of the reasons is motif. Photos from those merry-go-round things are rather common...

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/02/2009 06:43:35 PM · #829

Motif is a weird one--- There are many fresh images at 1x but there are some repeating themes.

Third world denizens for one. :P
Abandoned docks/piers with milky water is another.

I enjoy images of both but when motif is chosen as a reason for voting down, it seems like a catchall for "doesn't fit the 1x mold."

Am I bitter? Well, I'm down to 4 upload slots! haha :)

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/02/2009 06:54:32 PM · #830

Originally posted by mpeters:

Third world denizens for one. :P

Yes, pay attention Achoo. Bright colors are ok so long as they are surrounding natives of the Indian sub-continent Said natives can be doing nothing interesting at all.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/02/2009 06:56:18 PM · #831

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by mpeters:

Third world denizens for one. :P

Yes, pay attention Achoo. Bright colors are ok so long as they are surrounding natives of the Indian sub-continent Said natives can be doing nothing interesting at all.

I will break them like dripping water eventually breaks the rock!

Nikon D200

03/02/2009 06:59:47 PM · #832

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by violinist123:

Originally posted by mpeters:

Third world denizens for one. :P

Yes, pay attention Achoo. Bright colors are ok so long as they are surrounding natives of the Indian sub-continent Said natives can be doing nothing interesting at all.

I will break them like dripping water eventually breaks the rock!

You gotta get yourself a screener position. :)

03/03/2009 11:04:04 AM · #833

Originally posted by violinist123:

It's not about color. If the image is interesting it will get in. If it's common it won't.

I think Ursula said it somewhere befor; B&W's do well because many of those shooters take not only interesting shots but most important, their conversions are really, really nice.

Third World shots always do well...everywhere. If the shot is sharp and the dof is shallow...some nice colors, you don't need much more than that. Those images seem to automatically trigger peoples National Geographic button. They go zombie. After looking at a million India images I've noticed with a nice set of lenses and some respectable talent (above average talent) it's nearly impossible to take a bad shot. If you have a good eye for people and a little courage...you'll rule.

Message edited by author 2009-03-03 11:19:28.

03/03/2009 11:13:14 AM · #834

My 2 slots become available today. I have 2 shots ready to go, and I think they both could go either way. We'll see what happens! If one or both of them get published it will bump me up to 3 slots per week.

03/03/2009 11:17:26 AM · #835

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Third World shots always do well. If the shot is sharp and the dof is shallow...some nice colors, you don't need much more than that. Those images seem to automatically trigger peoples National Geographic button. They go zombie. After looking at a million India images I've noticed with a nice set of lenses and some respectable talent (above average talent) it's nearly impossible to take a bad shot. If you have a good eye for people and a little courage...you'll rule.

So are you saying India is the "water drop" of 1x? ;)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

03/03/2009 11:24:14 AM · #836

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

So are you saying India is the "water drop" of 1x? ;)

India is the "waterdrop" everywhere. Can't miss.

Thailand...Viet Nam...Africa, don't leave them out of the mix. Anywhere you find unaffected looking poor folk...you have a pretty good chance of getting good shots. Bad teeth...wicked bed-head a little snot and some colorful clothes...viewers will drool. Viewers will drool.

Third-World-A-licious!

eta: I went to pbase and did a quick search "India"...look what I found right at the top. Awesome work and there are thousands of images like it all over the internet these days.

Message edited by author 2009-03-03 11:33:24.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

03/03/2009 11:29:08 AM · #837

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

So are you saying India is the "water drop" of 1x? ;)

India is the "waterdrop" everywhere. Can't miss.

Thailand...Viet Nam...Africa, don't leave them out of the mix. Anywhere you find unaffected looking poor folk...you have a pretty good chance of getting good shots. Bad teeth...wicked bed-head a little snot and some colorful clothes...viewers will drool. Viewers will drool.

Third-World-A-licious!

This "effect" can also be seen on dpc. :P

03/03/2009 11:41:20 AM · #838

This is from that same folder on pbase. All she needed to do was take a simple, nicely composed sharp shot (not rocket science, fwiw) using a shallow dof. It's all there...messy hair, tears...a little stuff coming out of the nose. Bingo!

If you're a people shooter and you go Third World...you should be able to get at least 50 of these, out of a thousand, plus frames...somethings wrong. There are entire city sections in many 3rd world countires with literally millions of people that look like her or relgious dudes (Varanassi) we often see and they pose for free or for some change.

I can't wait to go and prey on them myself. Just matter of time and a little economic upturn.

Message edited by author 2009-03-03 11:52:46.

03/03/2009 11:56:57 AM · #839

Originally posted by pawdrix:

India is the "waterdrop" everywhere. Can't miss.

I'm guessing it doesn't do so well in the third world...

Over the months I've been at 1x I see it is similar to DPC in that it has its own rules of what succeeds and what doesn't. Sometimes you can break in without following the rules, but most of the time you can't. The same goes over here. Occasionally a ribbon winner also wins a posthumous, but not often. The quality of photos, when taking into account the selection process, is similar between the two sites. If DPC were run like 1x, we'd only ever see the Top 5 posted from each challenge and the rest of the shots would disappear into the ether. If one views the site in this manner, the quality is comparable (also taking into account the 720 px limit).

On 1x B&W or muted colors rule. Themes that tend to melancholy rule. Story does drive a lot of the pictures, but there are many that do not tell a story. This is not to say you can't be published without this formula, but it is more difficult.

On DPC color rules. Themes tend to be upbeat and happy. Story does not drive a lot of pictures, but there are many that do tell a story. Clean and crisp is the rule. This is not to say you can't win without this formula, but it is more difficult.

That being said, I'm enjoying 1x to the extent it is expanding my horizons somewhat. I entered, I think, 4 B&W shots in a row over here at DPC. That's probably 1x's doing. I also enjoy (to some extent) suddenly being thrown into the role of "underground 1x" trying to get happy, colorful shots published. It gives me insight into the posthumous crowd over here. :)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/03/2009 12:13:19 PM · #840

At DPC people are given a week to meet a Challenge theme. From years of experience I can tell you with a majority of the themes it's nearly impossible to unearth a genuine image...peak emotion, with perfect lighting etc. compared to one that was set-up specifically to meet the theme.

That's not to say it's not a skill but it's easier to set-up a shot and smack the theme directly out of the park than it is to walk around for hours and hours looking for something genuine that accomplishes the same. If you have the time, the models, the equipment/props, the space needed for your shot it makes things easier. Those who can rule or master the elements within a week, have a good chance of rising to the top where at 1x that's not an issue.

1x has NO time limit so the work is not pressed down to what people were able to accomplish in a short weeks time. The one week time frame mitigates the potential for greatness, so we get what we get. For example, if Challenges lasted for two weeks it might level out the playing field for some who don't always have time or models at their immediate disposal and you would see better, more agressive and challenging images emerge. Give people months or a lifetime to shoot what they love and there will be no comparison in quality.

Also people at 1x aren't dabblers. You see a stronger commitment from the photographers (for the most part)than here at DPC. You can tell by the consistency seen in some of the portfolios and the development of personal themes. I see a lot of images at 1x that come from developing strong focal points and not images that have a one shot deal type of feel. Ursula's flowers and the particulars to how she shoots them might be a good example. Her style didn't happen overnight and you can sense that immediately. That same sense of clarity and purpose can been seen in a lot of 1x's nude work and Street.

It's apples and oranges.

Message edited by author 2009-03-03 13:11:40.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/03/2009 12:31:05 PM · #841

Originally posted by pawdrix:

...wicked bed-head a little snot and some colorful clothes...viewers will drool. Viewers will drool.

Say, I might have to rethink my philosophy on self-portraits ... ;-)

Adamsw216

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

03/03/2009 12:31:29 PM · #842

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Personally, I found DPChallenge when I got my SLR by googling "photography assignments." I was looking for something akin to a class assignment of shooting something within a certain set of parameters. I was actually very surprised to find an entire community that does this regularly and has been doing so for many years. I'm rather glad that DPC exists the way it is as much as I can appreciate the existence of 1x and their own ways.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

03/03/2009 01:27:44 PM · #843

Right now the latest 20 show a lot of color, a lot of landscapes, and a flower or two.

03/03/2009 01:36:27 PM · #844

Sounds promising! I have a colorful landscape in screening right now. :)

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

03/03/2009 01:37:14 PM · #845

Originally posted by freakin_hilarious:

Sounds promising! I have a colorful landscape in screening right now. :)

But does it have a flower???

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/03/2009 01:46:02 PM · #846

Yep, but you have to look really closely.

hihosilver

Nikon D200

03/03/2009 02:05:31 PM · #847

Well, it seems to me we are all working so hard to figure out the FORMULA for 1x...but what if there ISN'T a formula? So far, I've got

1 purple building;
1 orange landscape;
1 duo tone landscape;
1 color - panning pelicans;
1 B&W - blurry happy child

And no flowers.

If there's a formula, then...please share. ;-)

Message edited by author 2009-03-03 14:09:09.

03/03/2009 02:18:00 PM · #848

Other than the third world talk above, I'm just trying to find high quality, interesting images to submit. In fact, the "trying to find" part is the most fun for me. I haven't looked through the archives for hidden gems in a long time!

Speaking of third world, I watched a really cool video at TED the other day. A very interesting way to look at various statistics from around the world.

03/03/2009 02:23:27 PM · #849

Originally posted by hihosilver:

If there's a formula, then...please share. ;-)

There isn't a formula in that sense, but there is a gestalt. Or let me say it this way, IF there is a gestalt for what works on DPC, there is also one for 1x. If there isn't one on DPC, then you could argue the same for 1x. I think my point is that 1x is similar to DPC in many regards, but the "rules" (ie. the gestalt) are different.