Why did this do so well? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/19/2007 03:07:36 PM · #1

I know that the usual question in the forums after a challenge is "Why did my shot do so badly?" I don't have that question this time. My question is why did this shot do so well?

Since my DPL team was in the playoffs, and I had nothing for the Dichotomy challenge, I had to enter something in Dreams or Nightmares. I couldn't really think of any ideas, so I figured anything with a bed in it would probably be okay, so we dragged a bed 2 blocks to the park at 6 am, set it up in a field, took about 50 pictures with the 12-24 at 12mm to get some distortion, and dragged the bed back home. I had no idea what the trench coat and umbrella were about. I still don't know, but the model had to wear something...

So, I don't understand the shot, don't really like it, and expected to get about a 5.2, but was entering to support my team. Then it got a 6.3, and I have no idea why. Is it because of the perceived level of effort, hauling a bed to the park? Is it because it's the kind of shot people don't understand, but think they should? I have no idea.

edit: writing whole sentences is tough sometimes.

Message edited by author 2007-07-19 15:34:49.

daboardergirl

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

07/19/2007 03:19:13 PM · #2

I really like this shot. I think it did well because it was unique, an interesting angle, mysterious, involved Mary Poppins-which brings fond childhood memories :)- and that green really pops out at you. Great job!

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/19/2007 03:23:17 PM · #3

My guess is because the voters appreciate effort.

I find that some mediocre images do very well if there was some obvious effort put into getting the shot. OR a very good idea. a bad shot of a very clever idea that took some work will score well. There may be exceptions.

Lugging a bed onto the turf = effort.

Message edited by author 2007-07-19 15:24:30.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/19/2007 03:26:33 PM · #4

Because no one knew wtf a dichotomy is?

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/19/2007 03:29:46 PM · #5

Good concept, great composition ..... tells a story. Nice shot!!!

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/19/2007 03:30:05 PM · #6

how did anyone know during voting that a bed needed to be hauled to a park. This could have been taken literally feet from the house. Actually, it would make sense that it was taken from a window given the angle and the green grass is just the backyard. Effort shouldn't influence voting. Just because a mediocre image takes effort doesn't make it a good image.

Usually posts like this aren't started by the photog. I completely agree that it scored surprisingly high for DPC. The image isn't bad on any technical merits, but I don't find it that engaging.

Chalk it up to one of those good freak scores. It will come around again and one of your favorite images will score a low 5. It happens.

I respect the fact that the photog is even surprised by this score.

abhinaba

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/19/2007 03:38:15 PM · #7

I really appreciate your honesty..

Never mind about the rest..wrong assumption.

Message edited by author 2007-07-19 15:44:11.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/19/2007 03:39:02 PM · #8

Originally posted by Jmnuggy:

Whoooooah Nelly!!!

Well, I'll start by saying that it must have took some effort to get the bed out of the house. Hell, I can hardly lift my own mattress, let alone the entire bed. Park or front lawn...that took effort.

Second I never said that effort makes for a good image. What I said was that voters appreciate effort (and a good idea) and will vote people up for putting in time and energy.

Again, there may be exceptions.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/19/2007 03:40:34 PM · #9

Originally posted by daboardergirl:

I used Mary Poppins in the title to explain the umbrella, after I showed it to my Team Light teammates, and their response was "um, okay, that's fine, but why the umbrella?"

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/19/2007 03:40:35 PM · #10

Many entries tried to associate an unrelated shot with dreams using the title, so some of your competition eliminated itself. The bed makes an automatic connection with dreams, and the bizarre umbrella and coat reinforce that connection since dreams are often weird and impossible to understand. Thus people can look at the image alone and recognize it as a scene from a dream. Result: a good score.

The_Dentist

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/19/2007 03:43:18 PM · #11

Well - isn't his how dreams are supposed to be? You go to sleep in your bed, in your very familiar bedroom, and all of a sudden you wake up but instead of your bedroom, your bed now lies in the middle of a green field... If this is not a dream, I don't know what is...

And on top of that, all of a sudden you realize you are wearing a trenchcoat and an umbrella... You are most obviously dreaming.

This is one the very few entries that does not even require a title to make you instantly think "dream!".

Message edited by author 2007-07-19 15:43:39.

AJSullivan

07/19/2007 03:43:26 PM · #12

When I viewed this, the first thing that came to mind was that they really worked to get this shot. Also, I think it hit a personal note with me, because (i doubt im alone) Ive had those dreams where you wake up (in the dream) and your bed is somewhere else - in the middle of the ocean, in a cave, whatever, so it made sense to me. The trench coat and the umbrella (on an obviously not raining, not sunny day) just helped carry over the surealness and dreaminess of the image.

Plus I like the color green (joke)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/19/2007 03:44:59 PM · #13

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Agreed, I tend to vote higher for shots that look like the photographer put some effort into meeting the challenge, whether it's dragging heavy things around, or something that has obvious setup time involved. And yes, the bed was heavy. I've dragged other furniture all over town for challenges, but if I'd known better, I would never have attempted to move the bed.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

07/19/2007 03:46:40 PM · #14

Effort or perceived effort is rewarded. The technicals are on, the POV is different. The color pops. Those things sell on DPC.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/19/2007 03:48:47 PM · #15

Originally posted by annpatt:

I've dragged other furniture all over town for challenges, but if I'd known better, I would never have attempted to move the bed.

...and eggs are so much lighter ;P

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

07/19/2007 03:49:35 PM · #16

Originally posted by scalvert:

Yeah, but the Ribbon Hogs still kicked our butts! We were all rather disheartened when Julie got the red in Dichotomy, and you and De Sousa got blue and yellow.

justamistere

Nikon D3s

07/19/2007 03:50:35 PM · #17

Nobody could argue with Scalvert, He is right, it does have a bit of surealistic dream objects.
It quickly gets to the point, using dream related objects.
It seems most people like a smaller number of objects for the photos subject.
For improvements, maybe some Fog, and definitely I prefer a different crop AND angle.

Yes it shows one of our fears that come out in dreams, vulnerability.

Message edited by author 2007-07-19 15:53:00.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

07/19/2007 03:50:48 PM · #18

Personally, I preferred it without the title :)

-Technically it's good, no screaming flaws.
-It's simple, uncluttered, easy to take in at a glance.
-The incongruity of the elements suggests "dream" well.

Everything just tied together to do well in this specific challenge :)

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

07/19/2007 03:53:17 PM · #19

You know I hate moving and you move furniture around for a single shot! First the couch, now the bed - heck just that effort it is worth 10 and add another 10 for Shannon's take on it! If only I could give you 10's twice :)

tate

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

07/19/2007 03:58:03 PM · #20

umbrella's add .7 to any score ;P ... do a search

DPC challenge umbrellas

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/19/2007 04:22:35 PM · #21

the challenge is for "dreams". Not being understandable is a good thing.

Donna21

Fujifilm FinePix S9000

07/20/2007 11:51:56 AM · #22

I'm going to post my reply before I see anyone else's, lol.

I thought it fit the challenge purely because it was so surreal. My gut reaction was just like waking from a strange dream (as are your comments about not knowing what it means)!

Honestly, I didn't even think about the effort of dragging a bed - I might have scored you even higher if I had.

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

07/20/2007 12:12:44 PM · #23

Originally posted by annpatt:

I know that the usual question in the forums after a challenge is "Why did my shot do so badly?" I don't have that question this time. My question is why did this shot do so well?

Given your unusual twist on a common question, it may also be worth putting a twist on the common answer: it did not do all that well. 6.3 is a solid score, but it is not setting the sky on fire.

;-)

FWIW, I like the shot, but the anonymity of the figure does not work so well for me. Good effort on the bed, though!