To play or not to play? - DPChallenge Forums

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

09/28/2016 12:41:29 PM · #32

Current scores: 5.0 and 5.2. The irritation of voters continues. I'm good at it. :)

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

09/28/2016 12:44:49 PM · #33

Originally posted by Melethia:

So I shall continue to irritate the voters, then. As long as all of the rest of you do as well. Those are my terms.

Wonderful thing to do Deb. Looking forward to it.

The thing is posting pictures on FB does not interest me at all. I do not play to get a pat on my back. Taking the camera and shooting is a "modus vivendi" for me - I need it more than I need praise. But of course comments like yours make me even more motivated and make me think. Looking at your pictures makes me understand the world better and think even more and. I learn from everything I look at even if it's not my cup of tea.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

09/28/2016 01:20:44 PM · #34

Originally posted by Melethia:

So it appears as though I'm going to have an even dozen (12) challenges where I have failed to meet my own average, and failed to get into the upper half (with one at 51%!) in the limited field of challengers. So why should I continue to play? I do like having challenges to shoot for. So there's that. But (and this is a serous question) is it fair to the few voters we have left to continue to apparently bother you with my entries? We're down to just a handful of voters these days. Would it be best to just stick to Facebook? Does anyone want to point out why I'm doing so very poorly these days? (I'm guessing "boring" is the main reason. I'm pretty sure at least a few have actually met the challenge.)

The one plus for the rest of you is that when I do play, I vote more. And I tend to vote higher (much higher) than I receive. So there's THAT.

I just added up my last 12 challenges......including my hiatus in the middle.....and came up with a 6.03 average.

My "normal" average is 5.6 & change.

The ones that are above my average are eye candy......mist/river/bridge shots that everyone loves, not necessarily evocative, thoughtful, or artistic. Just consistent capturing of beautiful immobile stuff reasonably well composed.

Funny thing......The ones *I* like best are the ones that dragged my average down.

I learned here not to take scores too seriously. I learned here how to shoot, how to see, how to compose, and most importantly, how to be comfortable with the photographer that I am. This community is second to none.

I've been with you as a member of Team Suck, I met you in New York at a DPC GTG, I've chatted with you in the forums, I shot (pictures of) pigeons in Paris with a smile on my face thinking how much that would amuse you, you have always have a kind word and an aumsingly wry outlook on life that I like. Honestly......I cannot imagine DP Challenge without you.

Just sayin'

Message edited by author 2016-09-28 13:23:42.

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

09/28/2016 01:52:16 PM · #35

6.03, huh? Very impressive!

tnun

Ricoh GR III

09/28/2016 02:20:18 PM · #36

Originally posted by mariuca:

Originally posted by Melethia:
So I shall continue to irritate the voters, then. As long as all of the rest of you do as well. Those are my terms.

Wonderful thing to do Deb. Looking forward to it.

The thing is posting pictures on FB does not interest me at all. I do not play to get a pat on my back. Taking the camera and shooting is a "modus vivendi" for me - I need it more than I need praise. But of course comments like yours make me even more motivated and make me think. Looking at your pictures makes me understand the world better and think even more and. I learn from everything I look at even if it's not my cup of tea.

yes.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

09/28/2016 02:39:50 PM · #37

Originally posted by Melethia:

6.03, huh? Very impressive!

Yes, but.....

One storm, weird temps, the bridges, and I had a bunch of river fog that covered three challenges.

My point was that when I got here, it was all about the scores.

People like YOU taught me how to see the world around me differently.

jomari

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

09/28/2016 06:28:07 PM · #38

Originally posted by Melethia:

So I shall continue to irritate the voters, then. As long as all of the rest of you do as well. Those are my terms.

Good to hear! I'll join you. I am also an irritation to voters and I was wondering whether or not to stop annoying them, but I've just renewed so everyone will have to grin and bear it.

Jules1x

Fujifilm X-T1

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R

09/28/2016 09:11:01 PM · #39

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Originally posted by Melethia:
6.03, huh? Very impressive!

Yes, but.....

One storm, weird temps, the bridges, and I had a bunch of river fog that covered three challenges.

My point was that when I got here, it was all about the scores.

People like YOU taught me how to see the world around me differently.

I'm still learning how to see (and shoot) the world differently. Please stay!

09/29/2016 12:39:19 AM · #40

Originally posted by jomari:

Originally posted by Melethia:
So I shall continue to irritate the voters, then. As long as all of the rest of you do as well. Those are my terms.

Good to hear! I'll join you. I am also an irritation to voters and I was wondering whether or not to stop annoying them, but I've just renewed so everyone will have to grin and bear it.

Excellent!!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/01/2016 09:42:30 PM · #41

Current scores are 4.9 and 5.1. I will never reach my average again. I am succeeding at my new goals! :-)

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

10/02/2016 10:06:21 AM · #42

I'll add in my voice Deb...I've had the same thoughts. In fact, though, I've entered more than usual lately in order to help get participation numbers up. To me, that means entering more topical challenges...though to be honest I really am not inspired to shoot for specialized topics, so it's usually a matter of luckily having something that fits in. Never a recipe for success.

Still, the problem is with fewer people voting, the outliers matter more. I think that's why scores are down in general. And it definitely doesn't "encourage" us and make us feel good about our photography. That's a problem for the site...participation should be encouraging you to shoot more and making you feel good enough about your photography that you care to spend the time to improve.

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/02/2016 11:45:27 AM · #43

Yes, numbers are down. But historically, participation has always been lower in the summer. We're just now coming out of it, so hopefully people will return invigorated form their vacays :)

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

10/02/2016 12:25:42 PM · #44

Deb, we need your spirited photography! ... please keep posting, voting and commenting. I still remember that you noticed one of my first entries and sent me a PM to welcome me. That was in 2007 and, years later, we still PM and I still love your photography and style and I still want to come visit you again in LA! Scores are a crap shoot, especially when there are so few entries/voters, but who cares. Just have fun doing what you enjoy, there are plenty of us here who will continue to notice.

primabarbara

Fujifilm X-T1

Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

10/02/2016 12:38:44 PM · #45

Originally posted by Neil:

...it definitely doesn't "encourage" us and make us feel good about our photography. That's a problem for the site...participation should be encouraging you to shoot more and making you feel good enough about your photography that you care to spend the time to improve.

Only a few of us have enough ego to go on with consistent low votes. But it is even more frustrating for all those who were members since the "golden era" of dpc who are used to have a much higher average. For me - becoming active after participation was declining - a score above 6 is a huge success and a 7 is out of reach. But still I like to be tickled by new "challenges "

And I want to thank all those wonderful people and the critique club who are commenting and uttering their honest opinion - which is the most rewarding part of dpc. Thank you so much!

Nadine_Vb

Nikon D2X

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro for Nikon

10/02/2016 01:21:35 PM · #46

Melethia, just stay and play. You'll be back anyway. Take me for an example. I keep coming back all the time as well.

Message edited by author 2016-10-02 13:21:59.

Elaine

Canon EOS R5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

10/02/2016 01:41:32 PM · #47

Originally posted by primabarbara:

I'm watching the discussion about low voting numbers, low scores and low participation for quite a while now. There is no suggestion from me how the situation can be improved - sorry.

But I have some thoughts that I wanted to share. Unfortunately the members who can answer my questions are not here any more. But maybe the one's who are still here are wondering about it too:

What do all those photographers DO with their pictures? Where is the place they show off their savvy and creativity AND get feedback about it? I can't believe all those great photographers who aren't active any more on dpc are content with showing off their work on facebook with all those noncritical yes men or have quit photography.

There is no harm in submitting pictures in challenges when you don't build your self-esteem on scores. You can even play around just like Melethia is planning now.

But I agree with Neil about the point he made about motivation:
Originally posted by Neil:

...it definitely doesn't "encourage" us and make us feel good about our photography. That's a problem for the site...participation should be encouraging you to shoot more and making you feel good enough about your photography that you care to spend the time to improve.

Only a few of us have enough ego to go on with consistent low votes. But it is even more frustrating for all those who were members since the "golden era" of dpc who are used to have a much higher average. For me - becoming active after participation was declining - a score above 6 is a huge success and a 7 is out of reach. But still I like to be tickled by new "challenges "

And I want to thank all those wonderful people and the critique club who are commenting and uttering their honest opinion - which is the most rewarding part of dpc. Thank you so much!

I am not a top scorer on this site. I am active in my local camera club and have done well in the quarterly print competitions (judged by artists/photographers from the community). My goal in becoming more active here is just to shoot more. I won't say the score is irrelevant, but I'm used to 5.5 and below. Getting a high score feels good, but becomes meaningless if the photo is not worthy. Facebook and Flickr are full of lousy photos getting raves. I don't learn by getting a high score, and if I think my mediocre photos are great because of high scores I will not be inclined to improve.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

10/02/2016 02:55:23 PM · #48

I went from entering every challenge, to not entering something for the last couple of weeks. And the sad part is: it's been easy to skip more and more challenges. Since I first joined, I was wondering when the addiction would run it's course. And I'm afraid that the time may be coming.

Just to add my two cents worth:

1. Yes. The scores have been dropping. While it's frustrating, the seem to be dropping across the board. So it's bothersome, but just kind of like mosquitoes when camping: not perfect, annoying, something to bitch and moan about, but not worth quitting over. You have to decide you enjoy the other parts and take the annoying with it.

2. I think what I'm missing the most, and why I haven't been around, is that the forums seem to be almost completely dead. It used to be that the front page would be full of responses. I display the last 20 threads, because I used to miss things frequently. They'd scroll off the home page on the same day. Now there are topics that are 3-4 days old. And sometimes only one or two threads active in a day. When I'm missing DPC and thinking I should enter something. I just come around and browse. But there's really nothing to browse anymore. :(

3. It's dumb, and it's just me (I think), but the longer submission period is just making it seem overwhelming. More things in life to do that I can't keep up with. But like I said, that's dumb. I know when it went from 2 a week to 3 a week, it was hard to keep up. This should be giving me more time. But I have to keep pulling out my phone to try to keep track of everything. And many times, I just don't even bother anymore. I used to just know what was coming up and when. And even if I didn't have my camera with me, I'd keep track of it and use my phone or just go back later. And now, by then end of the second week, I've just lost interest. But I'm the Sesame Street generation -- so I have a very short attention span. :)

But the main problem for me is the forums. I wasn't here for the challenges as much as I was here for the companionship, the conversation, the people. And that seems to be slipping away.

As for Deb's original post: She's obviously never allowed to leave this place, or we'd have to just shut it down. She's a wonderful reminder as to why photography is important. We have the vocal people who show the different aspects of photography. The posthumous thread is invaluable. The arguments about what is or is not art is invaluable. Irritating. But so important. We stretch and grow by arguing, stepping back, reexamining, and going back to arguing again.

But Deb's photography reminds me that we really need to look. Not just surface glances, but really look at a photograph. They're simply little encapsulations of something wonderful. Yet on the surface, are so easily missed. This one is just brilliant!

as is this:

A constant reminder that life doesn't have to be flashy or obvious. But there needs to be life.

Anyway... The challenges are perfect for what I need. They're an excuse to get out, shoot, and explore. Unfortunately, they're not enough for me. Maybe we need to get the DPL back in so there's enough people to be posting again. Even though they have a tendency to just post in their own groups, we can still sucker people in to a good conversation. But challenges without the conversations just aren't enough on their own. The only reason I picked up my camera in the last couple of weeks was to shoot my son's eagle project being completed. And that's just not right.

Enough rambling. Just thought I'd think out loud for awhile.

Message edited by author 2016-10-02 14:55:46.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

10/02/2016 03:31:58 PM · #49

aptly put, vawendy.