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11/17/2009 01:21:39 AM · #1 |
I opened DP Challenge for probably only the 27th time today, I wanted to click update as has become my life habit, and there it was, sitting in the top left hand corner of my screen, in bold red writing no less, "Important Notice! Your membership is about to expire..."
So it's been a year already, a year since I was browsing the web, looking for a photography course to drag me away from my bland landscapes, my Sydney Opera House collection and shots of coke cans in my house, when I stumbled across a forum somewhere on the vastness of the WWW, where some kind soul had left an innocuous comment something along the lines of "...a great way to improve your photography is to go to www.dpchallenge.com".
What's this I thought, another site of the many teaching aperture, shutter speed, rule of thirds and a myriad of other techniques, why not give it a try I thought, can't do any harm...I thought.
So into the address bar I typed that innocent little address "www.dpchallenge.com" for the first time. The site opened up, "Those are some nice shots", I thought, "Looks a little bland, a little lacking", I thought. All the same, I'll just have a look over, see what I think.
There was no way of knowing, there was no warning, no disclaimer, nothing that indicated just how much that one action would take over my life!
I watched for a while, and then I prepared myself, I took the plunge and submitted a shot! I braced myself for the barrage of abuse, insults and jester at my shot compared to that vast array of talent obviously displayed on the front page. And them it came, my first comment, the first time a stranger ever made a comment on one of MY images, and it went like this:
 Connor - ha love it, i love the B/W it adds mood 7
My delight was almost overwhelming, someone liked my photo, and suddenly that little address, and that "lacking site" became my life!
It's been a bumpy year indeed, ups and downs, I've gone from being delighted with my 5.4479 for
to being disappointed my 6.6689 for
 didn't make the top 5, my how things have changed.
Along the way I've got an HM, then a red and then the mighty coveted blue. I got a 7+ score less than a year after thinking I would never make 6.
I've learned that no matter how good the shot, some people won't like it, some people won't get it, and some people just won't care, and I've come to accept that.
I've learned a whole lot about creativity, something I thought I genuinely thought I didn't possess.
I've become a street photography addict, I can often be found wandering the streets of Sydney now looking about in a random way, camera over my shoulder.
And so much more.
Thanks to all those who have influenced and helped me, most of you have no idea :)
So here's to DPChallenge in all it's aspects. And will I be renewing my membership? Damn right I will, another year of obsession coming up! |
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11/17/2009 01:37:24 AM · #2 |
What a lovely post, Iain, I really enjoyed reading that one.
We're thrilled we get to keep you for another year! |
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11/17/2009 02:01:32 AM · #3 |
it has become my custom to post these reflective comments when I renew as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for sticking around!
Message edited by author 2009-11-17 02:01:42. |
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11/17/2009 06:40:17 AM · #4 |
Thanks  Beetle, smardaz. Lets hope year two proves to be as inspiring as the first one! |
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11/17/2009 06:51:35 AM · #5 |
I agree -- fun post!
And don't forget, you have some posthumouses! (posthumi?) |
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11/17/2009 06:57:35 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
So it's been a year already, a year since I was browsing the web, looking for a photography course to drag me away from my bland landscapes, my Sydney Opera House collection and shots of coke cans in my house, when I stumbled across a forum somewhere on the vastness of the WWW, where some kind soul had left an innocuous comment something along the lines of "...a great way to improve your photography is to go to www.dpchallenge.com".
So here's to DPChallenge in all it's aspects. And will I be renewing my membership? Damn right I will, another year of obsession coming up! |
Yes, yes....warm, touching, poignant....nice to have you on board for another year....
What we REALLY wanna know is.......how on earth did you come up with your username????
AND.....if it was just something random and mundane......make up a cool story!
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11/17/2009 07:41:59 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Yes, yes....warm, touching, poignant....nice to have you on board for another year....
What we REALLY wanna know is.......how on earth did you come up with your username????
AND.....if it was just something random and mundane......make up a cool story! |
I'm afraid I couldn't possibly reveal that, I'm sworn to secrecy.
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11/17/2009 07:56:23 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Yes, yes....warm, touching, poignant....nice to have you on board for another year....
What we REALLY wanna know is.......how on earth did you come up with your username????
AND.....if it was just something random and mundane......make up a cool story! |
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I'm afraid I couldn't possibly reveal that, I'm sworn to secrecy. |
Sigh....
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11/17/2009 08:15:12 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Yes, yes....warm, touching, poignant....nice to have you on board for another year....
What we REALLY wanna know is.......how on earth did you come up with your username????
AND.....if it was just something random and mundane......make up a cool story! |
I'm afraid I couldn't possibly reveal that, I'm sworn to secrecy. |
yup--can't keep your oddity covert if you reveal it.... |
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11/17/2009 08:24:29 PM · #10 |
| Strangest thing, I just renewed my membership! I remember all to well when my first comment was found helpfull. Had no idea that almost everyone found every comment helpfull. Will be nice to follow your work for at least another year =) |
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11/17/2009 08:45:18 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
I opened DP Challenge for probably only the 27th time today, I wanted to click update as has become my life habit, and there it was, sitting in the top left hand corner of my screen, in bold red writing no less, "Important Notice! Your membership is about to expire..."
So it's been a year already, a year since I was browsing the web, looking for a photography course to drag me away from my bland landscapes, my Sydney Opera House collection and shots of coke cans in my house, when I stumbled across a forum somewhere on the vastness of the WWW, where some kind soul had left an innocuous comment something along the lines of "...a great way to improve your photography is to go to www.dpchallenge.com".
What's this I thought, another site of the many teaching aperture, shutter speed, rule of thirds and a myriad of other techniques, why not give it a try I thought, can't do any harm...I thought.
So into the address bar I typed that innocent little address "www.dpchallenge.com" for the first time. The site opened up, "Those are some nice shots", I thought, "Looks a little bland, a little lacking", I thought. All the same, I'll just have a look over, see what I think.
There was no way of knowing, there was no warning, no disclaimer, nothing that indicated just how much that one action would take over my life!
I watched for a while, and then I prepared myself, I took the plunge and submitted a shot! I braced myself for the barrage of abuse, insults and jester at my shot compared to that vast array of talent obviously displayed on the front page. And them it came, my first comment, the first time a stranger ever made a comment on one of MY images, and it went like this:
Connor - ha love it, i love the B/W it adds mood 7
My delight was almost overwhelming, someone liked my photo, and suddenly that little address, and that "lacking site" became my life!
It's been a bumpy year indeed, ups and downs, I've gone from being delighted with my 5.4479 for
to being disappointed my 6.6689 for
didn't make the top 5, my how things have changed.
Along the way I've got an HM, then a red and then the mighty coveted blue. I got a 7+ score less than a year after thinking I would never make 6.
I've learned that no matter how good the shot, some people won't like it, some people won't get it, and some people just won't care, and I've come to accept that.
I've learned a whole lot about creativity, something I thought I genuinely thought I didn't possess.
I've become a street photography addict, I can often be found wandering the streets of Sydney now looking about in a random way, camera over my shoulder.
And so much more.
Thanks to all those who have influenced and helped me, most of you have no idea :)
So here's to DPChallenge in all it's aspects. And will I be renewing my membership? Damn right I will, another year of obsession coming up! |
LOL welcome *back* to the insanity! I joined dpc cause at the time I used the local library for internet access. One day someone came and sat at the computer next to me and these amazing images began appearing on his screen. I know now that RayEthier was voting on the images in Holy Places. He caught me sneaking peeks and tod me about the site. He failed to neglect that it seems to be the toughest competitive photography site around! SWo me and my Samsung 2.1 mp camera began entering challenges...ah those were the days...
Now I own a DSLR, three lenses and my amazing bf (whom I originally thought of only as a shooting buddy, nothing more...boy was I proved wrong!) who has been into photography for half his life, is a certifiable photo nut, no other word for it. We shot for at least 4 hrs straight today, would've continued til dark if I hadn't had to leave for work. I introduced him to DPC and he is now as badly hooked as I am!
And yeah I would say I have been improving. Chrissake, I'm even a member of the CC now! My top 5 pix are all in the 6s, which I never dreamt would happen. But especially since I met Ryan, for whom light is a toy to play with and manipulate, and he doesn't hoard that skill and keep it to himself. He's given me filters, his first-ever flash to use handheld, and even better, his knowledge and feedback.
I owe so much to him, but I never forget Ray taking the time from voting on Holy Places back in May 2006 to tell me about DPC.
Susan
PS: I loved your mailroom, surprised it didn't ribbon!
Message edited by author 2009-11-17 20:45:58. |
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