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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Worst Score Ever!
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 03/11/2009 09:09:06 PM · #1
Please can you critique my shot for the Skin challenge below? I was gutted with the score, my recent motivation and membership renewal ending with my two lowest scores ever!



It was probably my most "prepared for" as I built a lightbox to shoot it, I know the DOF should have been greater and will try again next time. But has no one on here heards of "skins" for iPods and phones? They are pretty common? I tried to explain it in the title for those that didn't know what one is.

Skins

Crackberry Shop

So apart from the subject can you give me advice on how to get a better DOF when shooting in a lightbox, f/22 or something? I don't have a macro lens so would use either the 50mm f/1.8 or the 18-200mm zoom.
 03/11/2009 09:14:56 PM · #2
People sometimes confuse photo quality with how well it fit the challenge.

In my opinion, technically, it is very well done. You should be proud.

When it comes to how well it fit the challenge, I think most people were looking for organic skins. So while your photo did meet the challenge in that it has a skin, it might just have been a little "out of the box" for most people.
 03/11/2009 09:25:30 PM · #3
I agree that technically, it is very well done. But I gave it a 5 because it didn't catch my interest at all. If I had looked at it longer, I would have probably given it a 6, because technically it is better than a 5. But the photo itself has no emotional catch, nothing intriguing to make me want to look at it longer.

It was the same with the cufflinks. Technically, it was very well done, but the subject seemed very dull.
 03/11/2009 09:25:34 PM · #4
It's a "product" shot, and despite the fact that there is some latitude for "improving" it, I doubt it would increase interest significantly.

If you placed the subject less prominently, subdued the lighting, as if, altogether, the shot, at least at first glance, "appeared" to be about anything else photography cares about, you would more likely seduce a seductress and, probably, secure the forgiveness of less material critics. :-)
 03/11/2009 09:40:01 PM · #5
Well if it's any consolation my lowest score was a product shot as well. You have to remember that Blackberry execs aren't voting in these challenges so you don't have any voters who come in already liking your subject matter and lets face it nobody is into product shots. You don't see people saying I've got to get me a print of that product in a catalog or ad.

Since there's zero potiential for connecting with people in this area of photography you have to really wow people with technique. You need to have explosions of light, water, or something to make it exciting enough to look at, otherwise you're doomed to a low score.
 03/11/2009 09:45:11 PM · #6
Don't let it get you down -- but instead let it motivate you to come up with something different. The current blue ribbon winner in self portrait without people, Budya, improved from her worst ever with this
, score 4.4357
to the blue with this
, score 6.8603
in just 3 weeks.
 03/11/2009 10:04:08 PM · #7
Originally posted by yanko:
Well if it's any consolation my lowest score was a product shot as well. You have to remember that Blackberry execs aren't voting in these challenges so you don't have any voters who come in already liking your subject matter and lets face it nobody is into product shots. You don't see people saying I've got to get me a print of that product in a catalog or ad.

Since there's zero potiential for connecting with people in this area of photography you have to really wow people with technique. You need to have explosions of light, water, or something to make it exciting enough to look at, otherwise you're doomed to a low score.


Wow your score was harsh! Why so low, it was an old camera! I do agree though with one of your comments, "This shot does NOT deserve this placing. 4.5's are reserved for photos with not much technical and/or creative merit. This has both of those and then some." I do feel lower than 4.5 was pretty harsh for me, especially when you go and look at other 4.4's and below!

I tried to make the lighting look clean and technical, like a promo shot. So yes no water droplets on blackberries ha ha. And thanks for the kind comments, I was getting a bit down on the old photography again. I know the cufflinks shot was rushed, I didn't expect that one to do well, but I just expected better of this.
 03/11/2009 10:22:07 PM · #8
I got the skin reference right away. I also thought the shot was great, both technically and visually; it shouldn't have ranked as low as it did, no way.
 03/11/2009 10:28:00 PM · #9
As a promo shot I'd say you did a very good job :)

For this specific challenge however....

I didn't vote so no, I wasn't one of those rotten scores, and wouldn't have been anyway. Having said that, it just doesn't excite me for a Skin challenge. If it had had some sort of totally unexpected skin, for example, that would improve MY scoring of it.

Okay, picture a typical formal-pose yearbook or Sears-type portrait in this challenge. I imagine it would score about the same. Technically it may be spot on, it would definitely show some skin... but it just doesn't have that certain something special to bring it to the forefront. I hope you see what I'm trying to say. :)
03/11/2009 10:35:37 PM · #10
your image, while technically proficient, relied on its title to make the connection to the challenge. Anyone who looked at the image without the title wouldn't think 'skin.' If the challenge title is 'watch' and you enter a clock and title it 'watching the clock,' your score will be lower even if its a great image of a clock.

I didn't vote in the challenge but I think you did a good job with your light tent.
 03/11/2009 10:44:56 PM · #11
Originally posted by dahkota:
your image, while technically proficient, relied on its title to make the connection to the challenge. Anyone who looked at the image without the title wouldn't think 'skin.' If the challenge title is 'watch' and you enter a clock and title it 'watching the clock,' your score will be lower even if its a great image of a clock.

I didn't vote in the challenge but I think you did a good job with your light tent.


Thanks (& BeeCee & LadyTara), I have "assumed knowledge" on here before with mixed results, so rather than assume everyone knew it was a skin I thought I'd call it out. It wasn't shoehorn though as I shot it specifically for the challenge, although people who still didn't get it after reading the title probably voted it worse because of the title, doh!
 03/11/2009 11:52:23 PM · #12
Its a great picture, no doubt about it. Glad your playing around with the lightbox! But what is a great picture in no way means its gunna get a great score on here. I know this, shot for the client of DPC. I remeber I was really bitching on one shot that I thought was perfect for the challenge.

Funny part is, I posted to another website were I was contacted by the manufacturer of that plug. They offered me money of a similer image without the reflection for a pretty nice chunk of change. They used it in adds and packaging. Keep at it man!
 03/12/2009 12:04:31 AM · #13
My worst score. My most veiwed and most commented on photo.
I had just started taking pictures of these birds and knew what I wanted but didn't know how yet. I almost got it right.
03/12/2009 03:22:10 AM · #14
Rob one of the many things that I have learned from this site is that the voter is a fickle animal. This makes for much frustration when it comes to scores etc.

There have been occasions where I have spent a lot of time with set up and composition only for the shot to pan with the voter. My advice is C'est la vie. If you are happy with your submission then publish and be damned.

To use just one more metaphor - You can't please all of the people all of the time so the best thing is to please just one yourself.

Hopefully comments left will help you see where you might improve so do better next time.

BTW I got your skin shot and thought it a novel twist on a predictable challenge :)
 03/12/2009 09:19:37 AM · #15
Thanks.

Even though I shoot for other purposes than DPC, are there some generic pointers to get a good score on DPC? I would imagine:

(Exposure is a given)
1. Meet the Challenge and make it obvious. (i.e. not too OOTB)
2. Pleasing composition.
3. Humour/Twist?
4. Set up difficulty?
5. Creativity?
6. Not repeating the same old shots?

I'm confused about point 6 though as many high scoring shots seem to be the same as previous high scoring shots. They are marked down by some people who for example don't want to see another water drop, but enough of the regulars seem to like them that they still score well?

Your thoughts?

P.S. I know scoring high on DPC isn't the be all and end all, I would just to ribbon at least once. I have set it as a goal for 2009.
 03/12/2009 09:57:21 AM · #16
in my opinion, the low score has little to do with whether or not people thought the shot was DNMC. i think the one thing it is missing is either the emotive or photographic "pop" that voters expect and reward on DPC. again, that doesn't mean its a bad shot, its technically excellent, but it does explain the low score.
 03/12/2009 10:47:42 AM · #17
I think unless their thumb blocks the view it should above one for effort if nothing else. Most photos I see on this site ate better than you see in newspapers, and magazines, books, etc... Very few should score below four. I say this because I think most here are better than average. There are many pros here. I'll get off my soapbox now, I have spoke my piece.
 03/12/2009 11:30:35 AM · #18
you have 4 options:

1. take photos that you like and ignore what others think about them

2. take 'eye-candy' shots which replicate others that have done well

3. learn how to take a certain type of photo, and take it over and over and over and over again

4. drink heavily

I think your photo suffered from a reliance on the title to portray the message (I wouldn't have known it was skin otherwise) and a softness which didn't add to it's techno message. Using option 3 above, just get really good at using the lightbox (you're pretty much there already) and take strong images that don't need a long introductory title. Big scores await.....
 03/12/2009 11:37:17 AM · #19
option #1
 03/12/2009 11:43:15 AM · #20
But 4 really helps 1!
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