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12/01/2005 08:16:41 PM · #1
Just thought it was kinda funny, but I entered 3 challenges at once (Industrial, Free Study, and Adulthood) and have almost the same score on all three photos. My photos are all equally mediocre.

Free Study:
5.0926
5 comments

Adulthood:
5.1744
3 comments

Industrial:
5.3660
10 comments

Anyone else score pretty consistent, or do your scores vary from one challenge to the next?
12/01/2005 08:19:50 PM · #2
I vary.
12/01/2005 08:20:02 PM · #3
my scores are pretty consistent..5ish..which I think is a good thing..for me anyways..I hope one day to be in the 6ish..
12/01/2005 08:31:34 PM · #4
Current scores:

Free Study: 6.76
Adulthood: 4.82

Yikes...
12/01/2005 08:36:47 PM · #5
One hour ago:
Adulthood 4.9890
Free study 4.9891

No doubt they won't stay anything like that close (and hopefully there will be some improvement, especially in the free study which was 5.3 this morning), but I couldn't believe they could get that close.
12/01/2005 08:36:55 PM · #6
The past 10 challenges i have managed to raise my overall score and remain consistent. 5.2 to 5.8 with a lowsy triptych try (4.7).
Free Study is at 5.66 and Industrial at 5.44 so i remain where i am aiming to be. that is, to beat my average score, and hence raise it.

If only i'd aim for ribbons!
12/01/2005 08:50:38 PM · #7
I've been pretty consistent for the past year or so, with a few lucky shots and dismal bombs sprinkled along the way. My profile average has been my benchmark score to beat since it was around 5.7, and that has turned out to be a tough coach: if I manage to succeed, then the bar goes higher and I have to try even harder the next time. Next year should be interesting... ;-)
12/01/2005 08:51:51 PM · #8
Huge variations. for me. The trick to getting them is to submit what you like, instead of what you think everyone here will like.
12/01/2005 08:54:23 PM · #9
DPC has changed me. I started with average score of 4.9 after my first 4-5 submissions and I worked hard to score better than my average. after 18 months into digital photography, the work has gone harder.
12/01/2005 08:55:06 PM · #10
Originally posted by scalvert:

I've been pretty consistent for the past year or so, with a few lucky shots and dismal bombs sprinkled along the way. My profile average has been my benchmark score to beat since it was around 5.7, and that has turned out to be a tough coach: if I manage to succeed, then the bar goes higher and I have to try even harder the next time. Next year should be interesting... ;-)


you have really raised the bar...your pictures are awesome..and yes, next year for you should be interesting...

Message edited by author 2005-12-01 20:55:31.
12/01/2005 09:24:20 PM · #11
I'm in three challenges right now too. 5.0, 5.7 and 6.9 where is the consistancy in that? Still, an average of 5.3 is, well, average.
12/01/2005 09:30:28 PM · #12
I'm a schizophrenic :D

Collections
Votes: 162
Views: 220
Avg Vote: 6.1099
Comments: 8
Favorites: 0
Wish Lists: 0
Updated: 12/01/05 09:27 pm

Adulthood Without Adults
Votes: 177
Views: 289
Avg Vote: 5.4689
Comments: 7
Favorites: 0
Wish Lists: 0
Updated: 12/01/05 09:27 pm

Free Study IX
Votes: 107
Views: 195
Avg Vote: 4.8972
Comments: 18
Favorites: 0
Wish Lists: 0
Updated: 12/01/05 09:27 pm

Go figure :D


12/01/2005 09:37:30 PM · #13
Dead Even (Almost):

Industrial:

Votes: 150
Views: 193
Avg Vote: 5.1467
Comments: 5
Favorites: 0
Wish Lists: 0
Updated: 12/01/05 09:35 pm

Free Study:

Votes: 102
Views: 148
Avg Vote: 5.1471
Comments: 1
Favorites: 0
Wish Lists: 0
Updated: 12/01/05 09:35 pm

12/01/2005 10:08:31 PM · #14
Hmmm I'm not sure if I'm average, below average, or an idiot savant. I show signs of brilliance, but then come back to earth. I have one top ten, one top 75, and then 2 that finished at the other end of the spectrum, one in the last 10, and one in the last 75. My current is hovering below 5. So I cant decide which I am, so I will let the DPC group do that for me. :-)

MattO
12/01/2005 10:16:20 PM · #15
I just had two in a row over 6, which were my two highest scores; but I'm back down where I belong with my latest entry in Free Study, which last time I checked was 5.2-ish. :-)

Nordlys
12/01/2005 10:24:29 PM · #16
Mine all floated at 5.2 to 5.3 for about 2 days straight. Nearly identical to each other. It was strange.

Study is now close to a 5.9 and started at a borish 4ish..LOL.and for that shot that was ridiculous, so I am glad to see it climbing. My adulthood is down to a 4.8 and started in the 5.3/5.4 range but it was a fly by night entry which could have been done better had I not been so jumpy to enter, and my collections is at a 5.0, but I know I could have done that one better lighting wise.

So all in all I am satisfied, since my personal goal is a 5.5 with the shots I truly know are good. For Free Study I literally pulled my original shot that sat for a few weeks and traded it with another that was hardly touched for editing at all - and in the last hour before deadline, I entered it. I just did a quick one click on it for an edit and through it in place of the other and said "what the hell". I let it fly or fall. It is turning out to be my best entry yet of all challenge scores.

One never knows, but so far, I am pleased. My last two challenges were in a nice range for ability and camera. Not a bad start. When I upgrade to a Rebel next year, I intend to be quite more competitive.

Rose

Message edited by author 2005-12-01 22:54:14.
12/01/2005 10:24:38 PM · #17
is 5 really average around here though? I'd be willing to bet 1,2,3's are given out much more often than 8,9,10's. This place scores HARD and can be very finicky. I have no evidence to support my theory but my feeling is that a 5 is actually above average around these parts.
12/01/2005 10:28:35 PM · #18
My first four were: 5.564, 5.561, 5.521, 5.350 & my present one in free study is sitting at 5.7387 so far. that is pretty consistent, but I would rather be going up!
12/01/2005 10:41:37 PM · #19
Originally posted by megatherian:

is 5 really average around here though? I'd be willing to bet 1,2,3's are given out much more often than 8,9,10's. This place scores HARD and can be very finicky. I have no evidence to support my theory but my feeling is that a 5 is actually above average around these parts.


I would say a 5 is the basic starting point. From there you weigh factors. So to me, if I get a 5 on an entry, to me it is saying that it isn't a bad photo, but not grand enough to "that particular person" to meet their personal expectations of a 6 or above. However, on the other hand, it also didn't meet their expectations of what deserved below a 5, so it is an average score really.

A 5 is the average score I give, as I said, and I go from there. I have given out below that though to some images. Usually my reasoning is based on each individual challenge, and if I find the subject matter distasteful, or built on social or political views, or just plain not creative, or even too artsy fartsy. I usually give 6's and 7's if the subject interests me and I find the technical ability above average. I give 8's to those that I feel just fall short in some way or another, depending on challenge, of what I feel deserves the 9's and 10's. For 9's, I usually base that on falling short by one point of a 10 in either lighting, or cropping, or subject being just a bit more far away then I care it to be, etc. And of course, my 10's is what I give to those I find the most appealing and flawless. Sometimes they aren't even flawless, but something superceeds it, like the subject matter being rare, or just off the hook in lighting or contrast or composition, etc.

I also tend to score during roll over, so the next day, when I am more refreshed and have time, I go back and usually do a lot of bumping up of scores. RARELY, do I bump down. Don't think I have yet actually. Just today I bumped up some 9's to 10s, some 8's to 9's, etc. I did this all the way down to the 6's I had placed. The rest of my voting I am happy with now.

Some people have their favorites. Mine? I happen to love the truly great landscapes and macros. I tend to fall short of enjoying anything artsy fartsy, nudes, people in photos to depict a theme (as I feel sometimes others may know who they are on here and give away anonymity), and emotional views or political or social views.

In any case, I would say that a 5 is the middle of the road. Just average, but nothing to be ashamed of. Usually there is good reason aside from just being an average shot to fall below or even above that margin. So if I get a 5 in a challenge, and it just so happens to put me in the 100th place out of 147 entries, I am still happy with it.

Set personal goals. Then anything more is a bonus. Anything less, you will only be competing with yourself. And competing with one's self is much more of a challenge then trying to compete with others in some cases, and much more satisfying then a ribbon if you reach that goal.

Rose

Message edited by author 2005-12-01 22:50:06.
12/01/2005 11:10:24 PM · #20
I give a 5 for effort if I think it's an average shot. Not meeting the challenge will get you a 1-3 from me, and tickling my fancy will get you a 7-10. If it meets the challenge, but it's kinda boring, and there's nothing special about it but still nothing wrong with it, I give it a 5.
12/01/2005 11:25:12 PM · #21
My free study entry is at 4.37... no comments either, I wish someone would tell me what's wrong with it at least
12/02/2005 12:12:24 AM · #22
I'm at 4.7..no comments either. and I really like my entry. I had no dilusions of getting a ribbon with it, but dang..... I was figuring mid 5's anyway.

Also, not in any other current challenges.

Message edited by author 2005-12-02 00:12:47.
12/02/2005 01:16:34 AM · #23
You need to get through at least ten challenges and then look for a general trend if you care about the scores. I may be one of just a few who think that, in the context of a challenge, the percentile where you finish is more telling than the numerical score.
12/02/2005 01:20:19 AM · #24
i can do a 4.8 to a 6.8 in under 10 days. I'd say i swing either way!
12/02/2005 01:20:49 AM · #25
Originally posted by megatherian:

is 5 really average around here though? I'd be willing to bet 1,2,3's are given out much more often than 8,9,10's. This place scores HARD and can be very finicky. I have no evidence to support my theory but my feeling is that a 5 is actually above average around these parts.


So am I voting wrongly by giving out so many above 5 votes? Please advise, thanks.
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