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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Never made to the Top 10
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12/09/2015 09:01:40 PM · #1
I haven't made to the Top 10. It's not so easy. I always disappointed but I'm keeping trying.

Also, my pictures never make to the Favorite List.

I do not have that many friends from DPChallenge. That's fine with me and my pictures aren't that good either. It's just for fun for me.
12/09/2015 09:12:02 PM · #2
No. it's not easy. Some of my best shots floundered here on DPC. Some of my stuff that I think is quite mediocre did well. You have to take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes there are reasons for why certain pics do poorly that have nothing to do with the quality of the shot.

I left some comments on a few of your pics after your last post.

Try getting involved with some other folks in a small feedback group. Getting some objective input and alternative ideas can help.
12/09/2015 09:31:27 PM · #3
It's even more fun to share a hobby with friends. But like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. Become more involved, comment more, participate in the forums, enter side challenges. You can't expect to have many friends if you're not around :)
12/09/2015 09:56:01 PM · #4
It's true that I had a few Top Tens in my first 50 challenges.

BUT... It's BECAUSE I made comments on several hundred images here... which made me look at what I liked (and didn't like) about every image I commented on.

It reinforced to me... what I wanted to see in an image... taught me what I didn't want to see in an image... and... so... my "style" came into being.

You've made one comment on one photo... in eight years here.

I heartily suggest that you start going through the current challenges... making comments. It will force you to figure out what you like and don't like about photographs. Then, while you are shooting, you'll remember those things. You will automatically become... what you want to be (as a photographer).

I'm certainly not saying that you should have given more to DPC. I'm simply saying that... if you want to grow as a photographer... you'll need to put more into it.

Sometimes, giving is getting. (actually, now that I think about it... that's almost always true, unless you're a drug dealer. No... that's even MORE true. Nevermind. *grin*)

If you want to get more... go look at images... force yourself to comment on them. That will tell you who you are as a photographer.

Truly.

If you want to be in the Top Ten... go comment on the Top Ten... and the Bottom Ten...

See what you like and don't like.

12/09/2015 10:30:10 PM · #5
Originally posted by Lydia:

start going through the current challenges... making comments. It will force you to figure out what you like and don't like about photographs. Then, while you are shooting, you'll remember those things. You will automatically become... what you want to be (as a photographer).


Yeah, that.
12/09/2015 11:50:30 PM · #6
Might pay to read through the comments from your first thread last week

Disappointed
12/10/2015 01:03:29 AM · #7
I have nothing to say. I'm thinking about quitting. I'm happy to be still an amateur photographer.
12/10/2015 01:21:09 AM · #8
Think how it will be nice when an amateur will be able to beat the professionals...
One day anything can happen :)
12/10/2015 01:23:09 AM · #9
Originally posted by jere2201:

I have nothing to say. I'm thinking about quitting. I'm happy to be still an amateur photographer.


Pretty much all of us are amateurs.
12/10/2015 02:04:49 AM · #10
Originally posted by Paul:

Originally posted by jere2201:

I have nothing to say. I'm thinking about quitting. I'm happy to be still an amateur photographer.


Pretty much all of us are amateurs.


I am! Profession can kill the passion :)
12/10/2015 02:12:00 AM · #11
DPC is an open-ended stream of opportunities. You have to take them.

If you only want to look and listen, it is a quit(ish) place.

If you join in, [challenges, side challenges, comments, threads on comments] the fun never stops.

It's what you make of it.

Please join in, we want you to.
12/10/2015 05:29:51 AM · #12
You already have a thread very similar to this one with some very helpful comments and ideas.

I am not sure what you want folks to do ?
12/10/2015 08:02:51 AM · #13
I have been close a few times but never the top 10..
I have been in the top 20 and for me and DPC, that is good considering what I am up against for images.

I use DPC for learning and growing and experimenting new techniques and ideas.. how can I shoot something different.
It keeps me out of my boredom rut that some people get into. It keeps challenging me as I go.
Use it how you wish, but as for friends here just reach out and chat, if you really see an image you like send a message and say it, if someone comments on your images, thank them in PM

A lot of friendships start during DPL when you get to collaborate with other members for competitions against each other so when that comes up, join a team!!
Also, they are made for when you ask for help on images, how do you make this better, a lot of people here have spent HOURS with me with lightroom, photoshop teaching me how to do things. I have found and formed some really good friendships outside of DPC

I consider myself an armature enthusiast hobbyist, but recently my photography has taken a turn into the business world. I am getting my feet wet still into it, but I am getting more busier as I go along. You do what you with what you got and what you want out of things.
Just because you don't get ribbon or top 10, it does not lessen your perception of the person you are.

Reach out, ask for help, We can only do so much here, it is a community, it is a family, but its how YOU approach it and what you do with it.

Message edited by author 2015-12-10 08:03:52.
12/10/2015 08:04:40 AM · #14
Originally posted by jere2201:

I haven't made to the Top 10. It's not so easy. I always disappointed but I'm keeping trying.

Also, my pictures never make to the Favorite List.

I do not have that many friends from DPChallenge. That's fine with me and my pictures aren't that good either. It's just for fun for me.


Look. You're contradicting yourself here. On the one hand you complain about not making the top ten or peoples' favourites lists, or having many friends here...then you say, 'that's fine with me and my pictures aren't that good either'.

This is no different from any other hobby. If you want to get good at it you have to learn the basics; reading and studying the basic rules of composition, which can be bent once you know them well and going out and shooting with an eye to, say, using leading lines or the rule of thirds in your shot is a start.

And once you learn the basics, you have to go out and practice, which means shooting. You live or have ready access to a rural area, and they are full of photo ops - old barns listing to the side, farm critters of all sorts, farm activity (I see you like shooting combines). Go and explore. Learn to shoot from different angles.

In terms of sharpening your eye, as Lydia and many others have said, go and comment on images. Or try this: choose any challenge. Go to the back page first, where the DQs and so-called 'worst' images live. Then study the pics on that page before clicking through, and actually looking at and reading comments, on the images in that challenge until you end up on the front page and can see the ribbon winners and honourable mentions. Then rinse and repeat. It should soon become clear what separates those that win ribbons from the rest of the pack.

Also, look into seeing if there might be a photography club in your area. It's such a popular hobby that there are no shortage of them these days and most communities have at least one. Yes, many of the members will probably be better than you. All the more reason to go and seek them out and learn from them.

Otherwise, how on earth will you learn? Many years ago I decided I wanted to tap my maples so I could make maple syrup. So I found the farmers who've been tapping the longest here in my immediate area, and put in some sweat equity - driving the sap truck, collecting sap, etc - and asked a ton of questions, borrowed some equipment, and tapped my own trees. Now, 8 years later, I have all my own equipment, spend hours collecting sap and boiling it to syrup. And I still pop by to say hi to my mentors and we compare how our respective sugarbushes are doing.

So in short, get out there and just do it. If you don't, then your skill level will just stay where it is.

Hope this helps, this time round.
12/10/2015 09:23:47 AM · #15
Yeah I mean I even went in and edited one of your photos and gave constructive ideas- see the comments on this .
As others have said, it is what you make of it.
If anything, you can TAKE all you want, but part of taking can be GIVING comments and feedback. Even saying "this is great, how did you do it?".
Browse old and new challenges and find what you like. Look into how it was done. Explore new settings on your camera. Explore new ideas. Pick up a prime lens. Read blogs.
Photography is both easy and a lot of work. Almost anyone can use a camera - but not everyone chooses to become a photographer or artist.

Originally posted by Tiny:

You already have a thread very similar to this one with some very helpful comments and ideas.

I am not sure what you want folks to do ?
12/10/2015 09:50:00 AM · #16
I'm not going to sugarcoat things for you. Pity and favorites won't make you a better photographer, practice does...being lazy doesn't. I do something that has to do with photography everyday. I read something, pick up my camera, vote, look, or write. every.day.

You've been given lots of great advice in both threads you've started, so listen, do, learn, and you will grow.
12/10/2015 10:45:09 AM · #17
Originally posted by RKT:

I'm not going to sugarcoat things for you. Pity and favorites won't make you a better photographer, practice does...being lazy doesn't. I do something that has to do with photography everyday. I read something, pick up my camera, vote, look, or write. every.day.

You've been given lots of great advice in both threads you've started, so listen, do, learn, and you will grow.


+1

I also started and was very bad and spend time and learn. I spoke to many over here and got many great ideas and learned a lot. You can see my portfolio where I was and where I am not.

This was my idea of color on color :) isn't is crazy :)

12/10/2015 11:28:02 AM · #18
Gladwell suggested in a book that anyone can master any skill with 10,000 hours of guided, concentrated practice. Argue with that all you want, but...
to become a better photograher, shoot, shoot, shoot
You've only entered 50 challenges - not nearly enough
Also, seek feedback. You've made 1 comment. You've received many more than that, but have only marked less than half as helpful. What gets rewarded gets done.
Patience. Great photography is about the details - so many details have to come together just right.
Shoot for the joy of it - not to get a dpc score, or a favorite. Listening to a few suggestions isn't going to improve your image scores a great deal.
Keep in mind who your fellow dpc'ers are - an international community of very, very good to absolutely phenomenal photographers.
12/10/2015 03:25:49 PM · #19
+1 to both RKT and dtremain. You have to earn a ribbon, here and that means a lot of hard work; hell nowadays I aim for the top ten, but if I fall short I don't beat myself up about it. If you want people to fave your images, then go out there and shoot and enter images that will make us go 'Wow! That's amazing!'

And this really is not the place for a pity party. If you want gushing, effusive praise for anything you shoot from people who don't know a thing about real photography, then just go post them on Facebook.
12/10/2015 03:27:12 PM · #20
Originally posted by snaffles:


And this really is not the place for a pity party. If you want gushing, effusive praise for anything you shoot from people who don't know a thing about real photography, then just go post them on Facebook.


Or Flickr. Nobody ever says anything bad on Flickr.
12/10/2015 04:07:19 PM · #21
Originally posted by jere2201:

I'm thinking about quitting.


Well then, you probably should.
Unless, of course, you want to get better. In that case you should stay and take your lumps like everyone has (and does) and stop whining about it.
12/10/2015 05:48:25 PM · #22
Originally posted by jere2201:

I have nothing to say. I'm thinking about quitting. I'm happy to be still an amateur photographer.


I can't believe any of you are even responding to him. He has started 3 threads that basically say "I am a terrible photographer and I am going to quit photography" and in those 3 threads he has responded back 2 times. Once in the quote above and once in another thread to thank one person. Has he sent anyone a message asking for help or a critique? If he has then disregard my post, but from where I am sitting it looks like someone just wanting attention. He has been given a lot of good and sound advice, time for him to pick up the ball and play with it.
12/10/2015 05:49:44 PM · #23
Originally posted by smardaz:

Originally posted by jere2201:

I'm thinking about quitting.


Well then, you probably should.
Unless, of course, you want to get better. In that case you should stay and take your lumps like everyone has (and does) and stop whining about it.


Unless of course you choose to stay, and continue to enter challenges and whine, while continuing to ignore things commenters point out to you, like that an image is 1/3 the allowed size, which does affect the voters, using a pop-flash esp at close range and so on.

As a member of the Critique Club, there is nothing more gratifying than writing a critique and suggesting that the person do something different or experiment more with, say, a certain lighting technique...and seeing, only a month or so later, that same person's latest entry doing considerably better because they actually paid attention to what was said, took it to heart, and did it.

The reverse is true too. There is nothing more aggravating than writing critiques for people who really would benefit from them, only to see them continue to request critiques and make absolutely no effort at all to implement whatever has been suggested.
12/10/2015 06:31:48 PM · #24
I do see that one comment that you did make was on your own photo :-)

I use to ask for feedback all the time, some of it I didn't agree with, some of it I didn't like, but at the end of the day I realised that the critique I received from fellow DPC'ers really helped me to improve as a photographer, I cherish it now actually to tell the truth!!

Listen to all the advice given above, all is good. I do believe in the 10,000 hour rule also.,practice practice and MORE practice!!!

Message edited by author 2015-12-10 20:01:43.
12/10/2015 11:29:47 PM · #25
you have everything in your own hands to make it to the top
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