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05/29/2008 08:05:42 AM · #1 |
Just wondering if anyone else on here feels the same. I've been a member on here since 2004. I've only ever entered two challenges. I've taken pictures I could have entered but sometimes I look at the current challenges go off and create a picture for them and then decide they aren't good enough. I commend those that have the confidence to grow to accept comments good and bad and learn from them. I became a member of this site years ago.
But I love this hobby, I have no intentions of becoming a pro photographer (I'm a web designer) I love creative things. I play guitar and yet rarely for anyone else. I play the keyboards and again rarely for anyone else. I often lately spend my weekends drawing on concrete blocks and creating tile mosaics. It seems I love these things, they are a release and an outlet in an otherwise often tumultuous world.
Just wondering how others got the confidence to enter challenges and put their work and in some part themselves out there?
this is the latest picture I took for a challenge and yet again didn't enter I need to find a way to get over this.'
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 12:27:06. |
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05/29/2008 08:09:31 AM · #2 |
Yes, it is a tough thing to get over. Recently I went for many many months without submitting anything for a challenge.
One tip ... you might ease on into it by participating in one of the many side challenges. They are the warm and cuddly challenge area.
Along with you I like the fun of an artistic endeavor ... quilting, stained glass, painting, decorating, etc.
The side challenges usually let me have fun and play more artistically with my photos.
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 08:10:20. |
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05/29/2008 08:09:33 AM · #3 |
Looks better than anything I have ever entered. Hell I once scored a 6.0 by hanging my point and shoot out of a moving car and snapping pictures of buildings in DC!
I would say the only real thing "wrong" with it. While I think the lighting is better than anything I have managed to ever achieve even when trying. It does seem a bit harsh. Something to have filtered the light/flash might have helped. |
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05/29/2008 08:15:26 AM · #4 |
| thats a great shot, it would have done really well in the challenge |
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05/29/2008 08:23:57 AM · #5 |
Yeah, I also recommend side challenges as well ... you could even theme your entries to the current challenge. If you want full on critical comments you can ask for them, most people will be critical but constructively.
The amount of useful comments and stuff I have learned since being on this site is massive. I think even after 3 months I am a better photographer ..... still a long way to go yet!
If you do enter a challenge and it bombs out, after the challenge if you haven't got reasons why then post a thread and people will tell you what they didn't like.
By looking at other challenges you also get an idea of how your shot may do ... a couple of times I've entered shots that have done better than I thought and other times I've entered shots I loved but they have bombed out! At the end of the day it should be mostly about what you like or maybe entering to get some opinions on what you could have done differently.
IMHO if you like the shot and it meets the challenge then submit it, if it is shoe horned into the challenge you may well get a lower score so just be prepared for it .... personally I like looking at other pictures as much as creating my own, and seeing other peoples creative take on the challenges is great. |
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05/29/2008 08:26:08 AM · #6 |
Thanks for the replies. JersyGenie I did put myself up for one sherpet is starting in June (everyday things). I did start a few over the years and have never finished them!
Funny you mention that RainMotorsports I made a home made soft box about 2 weeks ago from instructions off of good old trusty google! Needless to say the pics were great ... I forgot I left the damn thing on could smell smoke about 15 minutes later while sitting at the comp looking through pics I took using it. I ran back into the other room to discover the wax paper I used just catching alight! So maybe if I wasn't so daft softer light might have helped yes!
Thanks JulietNN
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05/29/2008 08:27:15 AM · #7 |
Looks like you probably SHOULD enter. If this is an example, you would probably do better than you think. I've only been here a few months, and I'm slowly inching my way to a 6.0... :-) But when you do actually enter something and you get some good comments, it's worth the few negative comments.
Jeanne suggested a side challenge. I'm working my way through the May "Creative choice" challenge, and it has been an excellent experience. 1. You really feel like you are "getting to know" some of the people around here! 2. It's just for fun. You can play with things, venture in directions you wouldn't ordinarily go, and just see what happens. 3. because there is no imagined pressure of competition, the comments seem a little more helpful. I seem to see a lot of this format. " I liked this, and I liked this. If it were me, maybe I would have done this differently."
You learn something, and don't feel like a piece of crap! Win Win!
OK. By the time I posted this, a bunch of people had suggested side challenges. But Jeanne was still the first, so she gets the glory.
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 08:28:17. |
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05/29/2008 08:27:32 AM · #8 |
| Confidence of what? Is getting low scores bothering you? Only one thing I can think of that if you are bothered with the low scores you receive, I mean really bothered that makes you puke sometimes, then don't enter too much or at all. Confidence will grow each time you enter to challenge, not supposed to be the other way. You are a web designer, you do write html or asp codes I assume... how confident are you now, and how confident were you when you started that business. Even if you don't want to make photography as your business, which should make things easier since no pressure, you should enter regularly. I think confidence is not your problem, but encouragement is... You need some people to encourage you to enter. You are doing good, no one would know your improvement or even you, if you skip the class (challenges) a lot ;) |
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05/29/2008 08:35:29 AM · #9 |
I know it's not because I can't handle criticism and it's not because I'm that fragile that I couldn't handle negative comments the two previous challenges I entered I entered because I didn't care. I came 24th in one and had many wonderful comments.I think the more I look at other peoples work as I have over the years. The more I see so many talented people that I think a part of it is I don't want to enter images that waste peoples time and energy commenting.
I really am not sure what it is that stops me so often. damn it all. It's not about wanting to be in the top 10 or ribbons or anything like that. I guess it may in some way have to do with the fact I know it's a hobby and always will be for me. |
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05/29/2008 08:37:25 AM · #10 |
| Oops sorry Jaker *gives you some glory too* LOL |
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05/29/2008 08:55:44 AM · #11 |
Your aborted entry is pretty darn good. I happen to like the harsh lighting on it. I think it goes along with the hat you are wearing and kind of has a bit of a "mystery woman spy" look to it.
Don't be afraid of throwing it in the mix. Sometimes I have been quite surprised at how something I thought was just so-so has fared. Sounds like you may just not have a competitive streak in this area. Thats ok as well,
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 08:58:28. |
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05/29/2008 08:57:39 AM · #12 |
| just shoot, work it and submit it ... you'll have fun |
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05/29/2008 09:04:05 AM · #13 |
don't think about it just do it.
really, its not a big deal--i look at the challenges as "assignments". meaning, I have to go out and do my homework and submit something. whether or not it does well isn't that big of a deal. yes, I like scoring high, so does everyone, but low scores come in and make me see things about my photos that I need to work on. look at my soft focus entry. I pass that red shed every day and thought I gotta take a picture of that thing. I tried something new w/ soft focus, shot it in the morning, and it turned out ok, but not fantastic. didn't score great either. oh well, but I wouldn't have done it w/o the challenge probably.
don't think, just take a challenge topic, shoot a picture and submit it--if you look through people who have shot challenges for 3 to 4 years you'll notice most have made at least a .5 to 1.0 point improvement in averages through the years if not more--thats when I finally decided to become a member and shoot challenges. I set a goal to enter 30 this year (after I became a paying member in march) and I'm already up to 17 if you include the current one and free study. lots of pictures I probably wouldn't have shot otherwise...
good luck! |
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05/29/2008 09:26:34 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by tpbremer:
I look at the challenges as "assignments". meaning, I have to go out and do my homework and submit something. whether or not it does well isn't that big of a deal. |
I like your attitude! |
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05/29/2008 09:37:01 AM · #15 |
| Just so you get all possible views... some of us who've been here for years haven't really improved all that much and have absolutely no confidence entering challenges at all. And yet we still do it. It's a sickness. I'm in search of a cure, by the way.... :-) |
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05/29/2008 09:50:23 AM · #16 |
| Everyone has talent. Some talents appeal to the masses some don't. As long as you like what you are taking shots of is really all that matters. Think of the challenges as a way of showing off your talent good or bad. By the way I looked at your portfolio and you have talent. So get out there and show it off. Good luck. |
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05/29/2008 09:50:33 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Melethia:
It's a sickness. I'm in search of a cure, by the way.... :-) |
I've found part of the cure is entering bizarre stuff and collecting comments instead of votes. You seem to be doing pretty well at that:
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05/29/2008 10:28:46 AM · #18 |
OverClover, I triple dog dare you to enter a challenge, you can not resist a bet, can you???
Seriously, you shot is good. If you want, I will do a head to head with you and you can wipe the floor with me!! |
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05/29/2008 10:33:24 AM · #19 |
OverClover,
Your shots are far better then mine.
Get in there and get some glory.
If you get a low score, it just means the low scorers are Philistines.
Michael |
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05/29/2008 10:35:32 AM · #20 |
First of all your aborted image looks nice & if it was mine then I may have entered it happily. As per as the question about getting confidence try this simple trick.Instead of seeing the results of any contest from top see it from bottom. [ Haha that's the easy way to show my images to you..:) ] You should easily get that confidence for the next challenge. Does it works?
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 10:45:10. |
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05/29/2008 10:36:46 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by overclover:
Just wondering how others got the confidence to enter challenges and put their work and in some part themselves out there?
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Maybe it's just because I see things a bit simplified, but I asked myself the question "what's the worst thing that can happen?"
Would be interesting to hear your answer for, let's say, the nice lady portrait in your OP.
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05/29/2008 10:45:43 AM · #22 |
Personally, I enter what I like. People will be critical of anything you throw out there and you must learn to take it. Most of the comments I have received have actually been quite helpful. Just enter what you like and see how it does and you will learn how to get better as time goes by. Have fun with it!
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05/29/2008 11:29:08 AM · #23 |
Thank you all for your replies. You're on Juliet no-one said I could resist a triple dog dare!!!
>BLEEP<>BLEEP
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 12:31:00. |
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05/29/2008 11:37:30 AM · #24 |
| all right lass, get shooting, FS or the other two advanced ones, ! |
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05/29/2008 11:45:57 AM · #25 |
Well Partners might be a bit hard, I don't have one and all my friends are single women! So I'd have to go stealth and take pictures of couples hiding myself in bushes may get arrested trying that. Masks ends tomorrow and Im working all day. So I pick Night sky or free study.. I couldn't bring myself to enter one least of all enter two in a week have a heart you lovely thing! :))
Message edited by author 2008-05-29 11:46:43. |
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