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10/23/2004 12:55:26 PM · #1 |
I just finished voting for both NIght Shot II and School Days (I didn't enter either so I'm unbiased).
I just have to say - Night Shot II shots are among the best I've ever seen. I gave more 10s than I've ever given. And I gave just as many 9s. DPC Members are becoming unbelievably good and truly inspiring. So many of the images weren't just perfect technically and compositionally - they were unique, original and really compelling and dramatic. The quality has improved so much that I will never feel bad about getting a 5 or a 6 compared to these outstanding member photographers. I'm so glad there is a place online where I can learn something and be inspired.
As for school days... I voted on that next - heart pounding with anticipation for more truly inspiring images. I have to admit... I rarely do this, but I actually gave out the most 1s I've ever given. I cannot believe how truly bad so many of those images were. Some were okay. Others were pretty good. Very few had decent composition, sharp focus, good white balance, etc.
However, what's with people obviously using their cell phone cameras to take images in these challenges? I count at least 15 cell phone camera shots. I cannot believe there were so many blurry, very grainy, out of focus pieces of crap submitted for votes.
It makes me think I'll stop wasting my time voting on non-member challenges. THe difference in quality is just so vastly different. I don't mind at all spending my time giving votes and comments to people who are actually trying -- and I will admit I could tell about 50% of the school days shots were clearly made by people trying so I'm not saying anything against those images. However, I really don't want to spend time voting on cell phone images or pictures that are worse than something my three year old neice would take.
Message edited by author 2004-10-23 13:01:19. |
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10/23/2004 01:07:33 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by ccraft:
However, what's with people obviously using their cell phone cameras to take images in these challenges? I count at least 15 cell phone camera shots. I cannot believe there were so many blurry, very grainy, out of focus pieces of crap submitted for votes. |
i dont think they are using cell phone cameras, just cameras that dont have good focusing capabilities, or cameras that just generate alot of noise due to small sensor size and maybe long exposures. it would be pretty gutsy to use cell phone cameras on this site because the camera would have to save exif data in order to be validated.
i could be wrong though, who knows.
Message edited by author 2004-10-23 13:10:23.
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10/23/2004 01:35:31 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by ccraft:
However, what's with people obviously using their cell phone cameras to take images in these challenges? |
Actually, cell phone shots wouldn't really be allowed here, since they don't provide EXIF data. At least I highly doubt that they do... |
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10/23/2004 01:51:52 PM · #4 |
| i remeber one that looked like a cell phone shot, i even said something about it, but it could be the way they saved it too. |
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10/23/2004 01:55:12 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by alansfreed:
Originally posted by ccraft:
However, what's with people obviously using their cell phone cameras to take images in these challenges? |
Actually, cell phone shots wouldn't really be allowed here, since they don't provide EXIF data. At least I highly doubt that they do... |
which is sorta what i said ^_^
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10/23/2004 02:03:30 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by ccraft:
I count at least 15 cell phone camera shots. |
For comparison purposes, here's a shot out of my Nokia 6820:
By the way, that's full size.
Edit: And disappointingly it doesn't have EXIF. :-(
Message edited by author 2004-10-23 14:05:11.
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10/23/2004 02:10:05 PM · #7 |
| It's probably people that don't know how to resize and/or just putting an entry just to have an entry in the challenge. |
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10/23/2004 02:43:55 PM · #8 |
I hope that non-member challenges don't get ignored or go downhill too much. I am a member, but lean towards the non-member open challenges lately becuase they are less about editing skills - which I am very weak on. I use the open challenges to hone my photography skills hopefully. I agree that the quality in member challenges is amazingly good and I am happy to get a 5 up against them. But I do believe it is a combination of photography and editnig skills, with the long-time members excelling in both.
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10/23/2004 02:45:31 PM · #9 |
Ccraft you have you right to your own opinion but let me just give you an example of how your post sounded to me. It sounds like you are bias towards members [even though you did not enter any of the two challenges] and it sounds like you are trying to separate the registered user from the members, just my opinion. You could of post in a more tactful way. I agree that most, even myself do not have the skills or equipment to compete with most members but that does not mean most don’t try [in your defense you did say some tried].But at the same time you used the word perfect towards members and the best you could say about the open challenge was, “Very few had decent composition, sharp focus, good white balance, etc.” , don’t forget that open challenges do not have the advantage of advanced editing. And there have been some bad entries by members as well. I can’t help but wonder what the members that did enter this challenge will think about this post. And by the way how many comments did you give out on the bad pictures that maybe would help that person improve. I know I have not received a comment from you on this challenge.
Maybe with opinions like yours registered users should stop participating, but then DPC would have to go to a straight Membership site without the option of being a registered user. And if all registered users abandoned DPC because we felt second-rate to members DPC would drop from 28,042 users to 1492, a big drop.
The Internet world does not show emotion so people don’t know how to take your thread that’s why we have to be very careful in what we convey. This is what came across to me when I read it. Just remember comments on bad pictures are far better than bashing them in a thread.And like I said at the beginning of my post some registered users don’t have the equipment to compete or even be compared. I know you will agree that equipment does make a difference because this is taken from your bio: I joined DPChallenge when I bought my first digital camera in December. These challenges have been a great way to stretch my skills and I've learned a lot since joining. I've since purchased a beautiful Nikon D70 DSLR and I'm in love. After painfully trying to push my Kodak point-and-shoot to the limit, it'll be so nice to start entering challenges with a camera that will allow me to capture anything.
OK let me set back and take a beating for posting this…
Message edited by author 2004-10-23 15:10:18. |
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10/23/2004 02:50:08 PM · #10 |
Just wanted to put my two bits in.
I'm a new non-registered member and new to photography. I agree, looking at the member challenges is just breathtaking and these pictures are unbelievable. Then you turn around and start looking at the non-member challenges, yes, you will not see the level of complexity and quality, however please don't disregard the non-members that are just starting out and trying to improve. Without the members looking at these pictures and providing constructive comments how are these people supposed to get better? Give it a one if it deserves a one and provide a way for these people to get better. Offer your comments good and/or bad, offer something for them to improve on (yes, I’m talking about myself here for sure).
Maybe next time start voting from the non-member entries and move to the member challenges, that way you can expect improvements between the two. Photo-editing is also another way of improving your digital pictures which also takes time and experience to learn.
Don’t give up on us!
Striving for perfection, just another non-member waiting for my Blue Jacket!
PS: in the last 2 weeks I’ve learned a lot … thanks to all for your posts, keep up the good work..
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10/23/2004 03:22:21 PM · #11 |
I personally joined this sight because I was impressed by the content of the challenges and Quality of shots taken by the photographers. Although my experience is limited in photography and computer skills, I'm very eager to learn and look forward to some strong critism of my work. I'm 54 yrs old and have been active in sculpture and painting all of my life, but find this media excitingly new and refreshing! Please give us newbies what we joined this sight for, constructive advise! Most critiques I've received have been by other new members. Where's the old hats hanging at?
Message edited by author 2004-10-23 15:26:10. |
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10/23/2004 03:36:53 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
Ccraft you have you right to your own opinion but let me just give you an example of how your post sounded to me. It sounds like you are bias towards members [even though you did not enter any of the two challenges] and it sounds like you are trying to separate the registered user from the members, just my opinion. You could of post in a more tactful way. I agree that most, even myself do not have the skills or equipment to compete with most members but that does not mean most don’t try [in your defense you did say some tried].But at the same time you used the word perfect towards members and the best you could say about the open challenge was, “Very few had decent composition, sharp focus, good white balance, etc.” , don’t forget that open challenges do not have the advantage of advanced editing. And there have been some bad entries by members as well. I can’t help but wonder what the members that did enter this challenge will think about this post. And by the way how many comments did you give out on the bad pictures that maybe would help that person improve. I know I have not received a comment from you on this challenge.
Maybe with opinions like yours registered users should stop participating, but then DPC would have to go to a straight Membership site without the option of being a registered user. And if all registered users abandoned DPC because we felt second-rate to members DPC would drop from 28,042 users to 1492, a big drop.
The Internet world does not show emotion so people don’t know how to take your thread that’s why we have to be very careful in what we convey. This is what came across to me when I read it. Just remember comments on bad pictures are far better than bashing them in a thread.And like I said at the beginning of my post some registered users don’t have the equipment to compete or even be compared. I know you will agree that equipment does make a difference because this is taken from your bio: I joined DPChallenge when I bought my first digital camera in December. These challenges have been a great way to stretch my skills and I've learned a lot since joining. I've since purchased a beautiful Nikon D70 DSLR and I'm in love. After painfully trying to push my Kodak point-and-shoot to the limit, it'll be so nice to start entering challenges with a camera that will allow me to capture anything.
OK let me set back and take a beating for posting this… |
I am a full member who is trying to grow and I need the open challenges very much. That is where I can keep focused on my photography skiils (or lack of!) and less on high level editing. Just as the best and most experienced here have moved on to DSLR's - it isn't the camera, but the experience that makes them so much better. And true, too, with editing. But we all have to start out somewhere, and for me, I am still at the beginning and have really valued having a place where the experienced and non-experienced can co-exist. I hope we can hold on to that!!
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10/23/2004 03:39:08 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by ccraft:
It makes me think I'll stop wasting my time voting on non-member challenges. THe difference in quality is just so vastly different. |
Do keep in mind that you only have to vote on 20%. Surely you could look over the pages of thumbnails and find 20% that appear good enough that you wouldn't feel your time is wasted. Your average vote given would be somewhat skewed by this, but if members stop voting on the open challenges (which they and other members can and do enter) then that hurts everyone involved in the site.
Member status and photography skill are not directly related. Sure, the overall quality of submissions may be better for members as a group, but a person with zero photography experience and a lot of money to burn may think nothing of paying for membership. Being a member doesn't suddenly make that person's photographs better. On the flip side, some of us have many years of experience, but are not members due to not being able to pay. I know I would gladly pay for membership if I could, but for now I'm restricted to those open challenges. I'd be very sad if people stopped looking at my work simply because some of the submissions in the challenge are from non-members.
I know, that's not precisely what you're saying. I understand how frustrating it can be to look through hundreds of photographs of which many are either uncreative or poorly executed (I participate in challenges in other places which have lower overall quality than you will ever see on this site). You did mention that half the submissions were from people who were clearly trying, though. Those people need the encouragement and advice so they will not only improve the quality of their submissions but also so they'll be more likely to become members if they can. Please continue to vote/comment on at least some of them...it will help make this site a better place for you too.
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