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01/29/2008 11:36:01 PM · #1 |
I among many have stressed over my inability to compete toe to toe here at dpc. Throughout my 54 years I have generally been one of the "others". You know who the "others" are. They, or we, are the ones who may have many talents yet may never reach that top rung. Just yesterday I asked my wife what was one of the things that attracted her to me some 28 years ago. She replied by saying it is my adventurous nature. Even though I still get too disappointed over little things, I still find that I am willing to keep trying.
Being a member of dpc is a challenge in itself. Many of us, me included, may never win one of those meaningless awards. Even though I say that (meaningless awards) I will probably continue to submit entries. Entries that in the dpc world are mundane, not technically up to par and some of the time, out of the box. For you see, that "out of the box" spirit is what differeniates me from so many. Granted my individuality labeled me many decades ago as a certified member of the "others" it still hasn't deterred me from still reaching for that rung. The difference for an "other" is that it is okay to be ordinary.
So, for all of you that fret over dpc I say try not to let it eat you up. It is very easy to quit and leave the game to those that know they are the leaders. Yet it takes pride and determination to be willing to continue.
louisp
"Very Ordinary Photographer"
"Experimental Artist"
"Good Pond Keeper"
"Loving Garden Piddler"
"Inventive Ex-Wood Worker"
"Skillful Ex-Model Maker"
"Talented Thinker & Opinionated Orator"
"Semi-Skillful Technologist"
"A Tremendous "But I Think That I Can Fix It Dear" Husband"
and stubborn as as mule..............
Message edited by author 2008-01-30 06:03:09. |
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01/29/2008 11:40:17 PM · #2 |
He who uses DPC as benchmark for their talent have fools for judges.
(think I read that in a fortune cookie or somethin')
Message edited by author 2008-01-29 23:54:40. |
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01/29/2008 11:40:36 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by louisp:
"Very Ordinary Photographer"
"Experimental Artist"
"Good Pond Keeper"
"Loving Garden Piddler"
"Inventive Ex-Wood Worker"
"Skillful Ex-Model Maker"
"Talented Thinker & Opinionated Orator"
"Semi-Skillful Technologist"
"A Tremendous "But I Think That I Can Fix It Dear" Husband"
and all around determine mule. |
and a good human being... that's enough for most of us ;) |
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01/29/2008 11:40:44 PM · #4 |
| I sometimes feel the same way, but sooner or later they will award me my meaningless award....lol |
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01/29/2008 11:53:26 PM · #5 |
| Actually I feel I am serving an important function shoring up the middlers at DPC and more than occasionally enriching the brown spectrum. |
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01/30/2008 12:17:31 AM · #6 |
Shoot what you like. Period.
If it happens to align with what does well on DPC, great.
If it happens to align with what does well elsewhere, great.
If you get a fave, or a comment showing you connected strongly with someone, FANTASTIC. :)
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01/30/2008 12:20:44 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by tnun:
Actually I feel I am serving an important function shoring up the middlers at DPC and more than occasionally enriching the brown spectrum. |
It's a very important job! I'm doing my best to keep up my end of this bargain, too. After all, if we all dropped out, some of the big dogs would fall to the bottom, and that would be unacceptable. :-) |
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01/30/2008 12:21:36 AM · #8 |
I kinda think my signature says a lot about how I feel about the subject.
Message edited by author 2008-01-30 02:16:51.
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01/30/2008 02:10:28 AM · #9 |
Louis, you have some of my highest respect! For that matter, every atheist that I have sparred with mentally has my deepest respect and admiration...because in times of HIStory :} when the standard dialect is "nice-ness" requiring everyone to be politically-correct in order to say nothing that offends anyone, meeting people with standards is a "breath of fresh air!"
I have never demanded that anyone believe like I do (no matter much it may have appeared that way.) My First Amendment Rights according to the US Constitution give me the right to speak...whether anyone hears or accepts what I say. (I realize that DPC is international, but if I understand correctly...there are similar documents in nations around the world that guarantee similar rights to be allowed to speak freely.)
Though there is some question, as to the veracity of The Bible as being written by One Holy "Other," one thing is undeniable. Someone penned the words that are found in the Scriptures. THAT being established,...the writer of the Book of Revelations, chapter #3, last section of the chapter, believed that extremists were a higher class of people that moderates.
Paraphrasing into contemporary vernacular, "I wish that all of you 'lukewarm' moderates would 'get-a-clue'! The fact that you don't stand a stand for something on some issue...makes me ready to puke! Either believe in Me or don't believe in Me, but if you keep on 'straddling the fence,' then I'm going to 'blow chunks' with you like the worthless pile of ______________ that you really are!"
I even respect the "nice" people because they...are...the...dangerous...ones! (Remember...Respect means to have a clear and sober understanding of every soul with whom you interact, and when duplicity reigns causing questions about that accuracy, then wariness remains your standard and keeps you on a heightened state of alertness for potential clues as to the person's character.)
With an atheist you know when you smack into one of their boundaries. "Nice" people will often just smile while getting mad at you in their hearts. I don't trust "nice" people any farther than I can throw 'em!
People with character are the same in private that they are in public! I don't have to agree with you in philosophy in order to be able to praise you for who you are in practice.
Message edited by author 2008-01-30 02:17:44.
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01/30/2008 04:42:13 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by Brad:
He who uses DPC as benchmark for their talent have fools for judges.
(think I read that in a fortune cookie or somethin') |
Hey Brad can I use that as my signature??
very wise words |
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01/31/2008 06:34:49 AM · #11 |
I think everyone gets this and stops fretting about it once they realise that DPC has it's own 'style' and tastes, just like every other website. It is true that the standards here are usually very high, so much so, that a lot of the crowd (who would be phenomenal on a wider stage) are left by the wayside clawing at 6s or 6.2s or maybe even a 6.5.
And i've had a few friends who became disillusioned by DPC and in turn, in themselves because they used DPC as the benchmark for their work; it is rated by other serious photographers who know there stuff so if they say something is bad, they think they're bad and take it personally. I've never won a ribbon, screw them. If i like a shot i'll stick it in and see what happens because at the end of the day i'm proud of it.
I've gone way off track here, but i wanted to say you're not alone in this and it's fun being the middle class of DPC. I think i'm personally resigned to my fate of not getting a ribbon, but meh, whatever. |
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01/31/2008 01:42:50 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Tez:
I think everyone gets this and stops fretting about it once they realise that DPC has it's own 'style' and tastes, just like every other website. It is true that the standards here are usually very high, so much so, that a lot of the crowd (who would be phenomenal on a wider stage) are left by the wayside clawing at 6s or 6.2s or maybe even a 6.5.
And i've had a few friends who became disillusioned by DPC and in turn, in themselves because they used DPC as the benchmark for their work; it is rated by other serious photographers who know there stuff so if they say something is bad, they think they're bad and take it personally. I've never won a ribbon, screw them. If i like a shot i'll stick it in and see what happens because at the end of the day i'm proud of it.
I've gone way off track here, but i wanted to say you're not alone in this and it's fun being the middle class of DPC. I think i'm personally resigned to my fate of not getting a ribbon, but meh, whatever. |
Thanks for your remarks..........louisp |
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01/31/2008 03:21:43 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Brad:
He who uses DPC as benchmark for their talent have fools for judges. |
Can I paraphrase that as, Brad says DPCer's are fools? ;)
As for the full quote, I agree, but find it hard to actually apply when it comes to my own talent.
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01/31/2008 03:33:48 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by keegbow:
Originally posted by Brad:
He who uses DPC as benchmark for their talent have fools for judges.
(think I read that in a fortune cookie or somethin') |
Hey Brad can I use that as my signature??
very wise words |
Is it wise to call yourself a fool ? Suppose so. |
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01/31/2008 04:45:02 PM · #15 |
Can you imagine where we'd be without mediocrity? The lowest one on the top would be sitting right on top of the highest one on the bottom. Mediocrity would be reinvented!
The space in the middle makes room for the bell to ring. |
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01/31/2008 04:52:46 PM · #16 |
| Actually mediocrity is constantly being reinvented, and we are doing it. Rather creative I think. |
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01/31/2008 04:56:14 PM · #17 |
When you are the best at what you do, what do you have to strife towards??
When you sit at the bottom, you can't look any lower.
When you sit in the middle, you have two options, to climb up or fall down.
When you do what you like and enjoy, the direction becomes an adventure and a challenge.
Some will like what you do, others will hate it. You like it, that's all that matters! |
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01/31/2008 04:58:43 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by SteveJ:
When you sit in the middle, you have two options, to climb up or fall down. |
There seems to be a third option - just accept it and don't bother. That seems to be the message of this thread. |
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01/31/2008 05:06:43 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by SteveJ:
When you sit in the middle, you have two options, to climb up or fall down. |
There seems to be a third option - just accept it and don't bother. That seems to be the message of this thread. |
Hmmm, yes. But to just accept it and don't bother means you need not do a thing in the first place, without attempting anything, you can't find where you fit or don't fit?
During my life I have followed many paths dismissed by scientists, I have delved into the unusual and unknown, in the past and in the future. And the one thing I found is there was always someone who was prepared to be different and follow a different path. Hippies thought they were different, until there were thousands who thought they were different. This is repeated throughout history, but there are few who follow their own path, regardless of the pain, poverty and humiliation. So, do you follow that one person who dares to think differently, or do you follow your own inclinations?? |
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