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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Constructive critiques of FS entry, please!
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08/08/2014 03:05:26 PM · #1
Absolutely no idea why this attracted so many low votes and so few strong scores.

Help me understand, please!

08/08/2014 03:25:59 PM · #2
First, there weren't that many "low" scores: just 8 out of 83 below 5, or fewer than 10% of them. If we call 5 & 6, collectively, "average" scores, then you had more "high" scores than you did "low" scores. It's important to realize that. To be a winning image in DPC, all that had to happen here was for the whole line to move up one notch: if your 5's had been 6's and your 6's 7's, it's a winner. The edge is VERY fine, and you finished on the wrong side of it (as I usually do myself) in the middle of the pack with a technically well-crafted image.

Why? Because voters aren't scoring on how well an image is "crafted"; most of them don't care, and arguably they SHOULDN'T care. No, they're scoring on intangible things that add up to IMPACT, whether it be emotional, compositional, "OMG how'd he do THAT?" or whatever else. And this is pretty much as it should be, arguably.

Your image is, compositionally, distinctly middle-of-the-road: it's not *bad*, but it's in no way exceptional. The technique is straightforward and perfectly competent, but it doesn't manifest itself in any Gee-Whiz way, which of course is entirely proper for true nature photography. But what are we LEFT with? An engaging but middle-of-the-road image of a group of Marmots looking alertly off at something. It's not surprising you finished in the middle of the pack score-wise: animal images that do well on DPC generally feature one (or more) of three aspects: 1. there is distinct action, or 2: there is exquisite light, or 3: it is an extreme close-up with fantastic detail.

People want to see something that makes them look twice, Richard, something that makes them thing "Oh, yeah! THAT's how it's done!"

And on that front, neither you nor I, old-school photographers that we are, very often manage to hit the target, though it's fun to try. Any number of your striking mountain landscapes have accomplished the task, but this one hasn't.

Message edited by author 2014-08-08 15:30:56.
08/08/2014 03:37:16 PM · #3
Ok! Thanks for the explanation. It was helpful.
08/08/2014 03:45:32 PM · #4
I left a comment.
08/08/2014 03:47:37 PM · #5
Yes, very well put, papa-bear.
08/08/2014 04:33:24 PM · #6
Bear certainly put it way more eloquently than I think anyone ever could. I left a comment on your image none-the-less.
08/08/2014 04:41:03 PM · #7
FWIW, in addition to all of Bear's observations, I'd say that the pov was just slightly below eye level, which for me, reduces impact. I also find that the bright green bg detracts from the adorable critters. Maybe just a slight desat to bring the focus back forward. And finally, to my eye, the fur in the belly area of the front guy looks "crunchy" to me, they way oversharpening tends to do. Since I know you don't tend to do that, I'll assume that the it's the fur that has that texture, which just looks odd compared to the rest of his body.
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