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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Submitting photos with known imperfections
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 06/16/2002 07:01:25 PM · #1
I know the critics will burn me at the stake, but for this challenge, I submitted a photo with a known and glaringly obvious defect in it. I just don't have time to setup and reshoot, but still want to see responses to my approach for this subject. I learned a lot from this challenge after two sessions and over 200 shots, but didn't review full size until too late.

I would really like to hear how others feel about submitting work with known imperfections? Do you hold back for fear of negative responses or do you take a day off work and lock yourself in a room until it is right?
 06/16/2002 07:13:13 PM · #2
Well, I'm going through the same thing right now. I have two shots to decide between. The first one is composed better but has an obvious error (the kind of, where I looked at the photo on screen and went "How could I take 20+ pix of the same thing and MISS THIS????). Anyway, I did set up again and took more shots and tried a different angle. And avoided the error (live and learn! ;) Anyway, I'm toying between the two. The first one looks better (except for the error), the second one doesn't have the error and has a slightly better take on the challenge, in my mind. My husband's voting for the first one. I've submitted the second one. At this point. There's still almost 5 hours left, I could change my mind numerous times. But I think I will stick with the 2nd one. I don't want to look at the error and hear the comments all week. Also, for the 2nd one, people don't have my first shot to compare, so maybe they will like it anyway. Who knows.

Originally posted by Gene L.:
I know the critics will burn me at the stake, but for this challenge, I submitted a photo with a known and glaringly obvious defect in it. I just don't have time to setup and reshoot, but still want to see responses to my approach for this subject. I learned a lot from this challenge after two sessions and over 200 shots, but didn't review full size until too late.

I would really like to hear how others feel about submitting work with known imperfections? Do you hold back for fear of negative responses or do you take a day off work and lock yourself in a room until it is right?


 06/16/2002 07:27:18 PM · #3
I have yet to submit a photo for which I would give myself a 10.
If I know what the problems are and have an idea (but not time/equipment) to fix it, well... I want to see how many others comment on that vs. some other problem maybe I don't know about.

I'm trying to submit a photo every week. Most of the time the comments reflect that the viewer "got the point" of the photo but found flaws in the execution. I'm prety happy with that, and would expect my scores to gradually creep up a bit, because this is a learning site....
 06/16/2002 07:42:48 PM · #4
I took a bunch of pictures with errors this week, some so stupid as I was smoking when I took the picture so theirs misty ereas, won't be doing that one again. But I submitted a flawless (I hope) picture for this week.
 06/16/2002 08:32:20 PM · #5
Originally posted by Gene L.:
I know the critics will burn me at the stake, but for this challenge, I submitted a photo with a known and glaringly obvious defect in it. I just don't have time to setup and reshoot, but still want to see responses to my approach for this subject. I learned a lot from this challenge after two sessions and over 200 shots, but didn't review full size until too late.

I would really like to hear how others feel about submitting work with known imperfections? Do you hold back for fear of negative responses or do you take a day off work and lock yourself in a room until it is right?

You know its gonna happen so just deal with it. Filter through the stuff you already know and look for the new information. Just understand that everyone is looking at your picture for the first time so don't be suprised if you get ALOT of comments about the same thing.

 06/16/2002 08:50:48 PM · #6
Originally posted by anarchos_punk:
I took a bunch of pictures with errors this week, some so stupid as I was smoking when I took the picture so theirs misty ereas, won't be doing that one again. But I submitted a flawless (I hope) picture for this week.

I wish i could make a flawless photo.. When I do that, it will be time for me to graduate from dpchallenge :)

 06/16/2002 10:45:19 PM · #7
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by anarchos_punk:
[i]I took a bunch of pictures with errors this week, some so stupid as I was smoking when I took the picture so theirs misty ereas, won't be doing that one again. But I submitted a flawless (I hope) picture for this week.

I wish i could make a flawless photo.. When I do that, it will be time for me to graduate from dpchallenge :)

[/i]

And when you think you have that flawless photo, someone will find something you could have done better.

 06/16/2002 11:02:04 PM · #8
Well, I finally did get out and do one of the shots I was thinking about. But they did not seem worth entering to me. Everyone could have been better, and none captured what I was going for, so I sat this one out. No reason wasting time with crap.


Originally posted by daysez:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
[i]Originally posted by anarchos_punk:
[i]I took a bunch of pictures with errors this week, some so stupid as I was smoking when I took the picture so theirs misty ereas, won't be doing that one again. But I submitted a flawless (I hope) picture for this week.

I wish i could make a flawless photo.. When I do that, it will be time for me to graduate from dpchallenge :)

[/i]

And when you think you have that flawless photo, someone will find something you could have done better.

[/i]


 06/16/2002 11:26:12 PM · #9
Originally posted by Zeissman:
Well, I finally did get out and do one of the shots I was thinking about. But they did not seem worth entering to me. Everyone could have been better, and none captured what I was going for, so I sat this one out. No reason wasting time with crap.


I just posted this in Rants, but I feel it applies here also.
"If you don't submit a photograph to a challenge because you are not totally happy with it even though you know it is the best you have got then you can not call yourself an artist because an artist knows that he/her will never be totaly happy with anything they do, they will always feel they can do better. Please don't deprive the rest of us the results of your artistic endevors because you do think it is not good enough."

 06/17/2002 02:00:58 AM · #10
Bullshit, do not be an asshole. If I give something a half assed try, then why should I expect anyone to take it seriously??

I am not talking about perfection, but if I think it sucks, than how can I learn from other people telling me it sucks? And if I think there are several things I can improve, why should I waste peoples time?

Originally posted by daysez:
Originally posted by Zeissman:
[i]Well, I finally did get out and do one of the shots I was thinking about. But they did not seem worth entering to me. Everyone could have been better, and none captured what I was going for, so I sat this one out. No reason wasting time with crap.


I just posted this in Rants, but I feel it applies here also.
"If you don't submit a photograph to a challenge because you are not totally happy with it even though you know it is the best you have got then you can not call yourself an artist because an artist knows that he/her will never be totaly happy with anything they do, they will always feel they can do better. Please don't deprive the rest of us the results of your artistic endevors because you do think it is not good enough."

[/i]


 06/17/2002 02:37:38 PM · #11
Originally posted by Zeissman:
...I am not talking about perfection, but if I think it sucks, than how can I learn from other people telling me it sucks? And if I think there are several things I can improve, why should I waste peoples time?

Originally posted by daysez:
"...If you don''t submit a photograph to a challenge because you are not totally happy with it even though you know it is the best you have got then you can not call yourself an artist because an artist knows that he/her will never be totaly happy with anything they do, they will always feel they can do better..."


I think that the demarcation here is in differentiating between something that knowingly sucks (which obviously doesn''t represent one''s best effort) and something that is your best even though you aren''t completely happy with it. I refuse to submit a photo just for the sake of submitting something. To do so is a waste of everybody elses'' time. However, I will submit something could be better if only (fill in the blank). We are all dealing with limited resources, be it time, equipment, creativity, or whatever. This thread begs the question: is not the point of the challenge to present the best we can produce within the constraints of our limited resources?

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/17/2002 2:37:45 PM.
 06/17/2002 08:44:24 PM · #12
Ah! but our resourses are so unequal. By default my picture is imperfect because all I can afford is a point and shoot. Is it then a waiste of time to enter because I have no chance to win? I hope not. I'm here to learn. Mr. Z. have you nothing more to learn?

BTW, the veriety and excellence in the shadow contest is very exciting. Thumbs up all. Beth
 06/17/2002 09:33:20 PM · #13
i haven't checked in detail, but i believe we've had winners with both low and high-end cameras. you may have to be more creative in some of the challenges to work around your camera's limitations, but most should be just as possible for you to win as someone else - regardless of your camera.

Originally posted by aelith:
Ah! but our resourses are so unequal. By default my picture is imperfect because all I can afford is a point and shoot. Is it then a waiste of time to enter because I have no chance to win? I hope not. I'm here to learn. Mr. Z. have you nothing more to learn?

BTW, the veriety and excellence in the shadow contest is very exciting. Thumbs up all. Beth


 06/17/2002 10:18:06 PM · #14
Ok, ok, the limitation is in me as well as my camera. :D I'll ask for pointers next week. Re the question of this thread. I submitted anyway knowing it is flawed by this groups standards.
 06/17/2002 10:24:33 PM · #15
i believe most of the winners are higher end cameras. that really doesnt say that a good camera equals a win. what happens is that a person who likes photography will take a lot more pictures. over time, their skill will get better. they will attempt to learn about what it is they enjoy, and that happens to be photography. they will eventually want a better camera, and they will eventually buy one. so that means theyre combining experience, and sometimes greater ability, with quality equipment.


P.S. I LOVE YOU

* This message has been edited by an administrator (langdon) on 6/17/2002 10:57:00 PM - idiocy.
 06/18/2002 12:18:04 PM · #16
I started with a Casio digi that maxed out (only did) 320x200. Many, many poor photos came out of that camera, but a few jewels as well. I took well over 10000 photos with that camera. Less than 100 would I ever share with the "general public". My next camera maxed out at 640x400. At my desk, I can see 6 shots from that one that could only be described as amazing. I think I got more like 15000 shots out of that Sony. It has a great lens and the percentage of "sharable" quality shots went up, but that was partly due to added experience. My current cam offers me sooo much res., all I can say is gosh, often.
What I am trying to say is, low end/high end whatever, learn the capabilities of the tool in front of you to sqeeze the best you can from it and for god''s sake take more pics! I still take alot of cr@ppy pics, but the media is forever, shoot sh*t, shoot vomit, just shoot and have fun with it.

* This message has been edited by the author on 6/18/2002 12:19:01 PM.
 06/18/2002 12:43:41 PM · #17
Originally posted by gr8photos:
i haven't checked in detail, but i believe we've had winners with both low and high-end cameras. you may have to be more creative in some of the challenges to work around your camera's limitations, but most should be just as possible for you to win as someone else - regardless of your camera.

Originally posted by aelith:
[i]Ah! but our resourses are so unequal. By default my picture is imperfect because all I can afford is a point and shoot. Is it then a waiste of time to enter because I have no chance to win? I hope not. I'm here to learn. Mr. Z. have you nothing more to learn?

BTW, the veriety and excellence in the shadow contest is very exciting. Thumbs up all. Beth


[/i]
I looked at this in some detail a while back... There have been numerous winners with low-end cameras. There are more winners with high-end cameras, but my guess is that they are (as a group) the more experienced photographers as well, and that is the real correlation.

-Terry

 06/18/2002 01:18:20 PM · #18
The good and the bad and the lie of digital camera life.

The good...Ease of access and instant feedback. Now you don't need a lab, expensive processing or waiting for your photos. This speeds the learning process for new phtographers.

The bad...Expensive to buy into mid-range consumer digicam quality much less serious amatuer gear. But the return is fast if you take a lot of photos.

The lies...Ease of access and fancy buttons does not mean less confusing. Give new photographers quality optics and some basic aperature/shutter control and save the fancy gizmo's for teenagers and gizmo collectors. And all these digital zooms are Bullsh-t! Never pay attention to anything but the optical zoom numbers. Auto focus is VERY slow in digital and you better know the tricks to getting the auto focus to focus on the real subject and that is not always at the subject.

We are at a definite technological infancy of digital camera tech and until digital slr's like the new Canon D60 and Nikon D100 cost less than a $1,000 I fear we will at times frustrate emerging amatuers more than encourage them with limited but expensive digicams.

I was lucky to have the bucks to get a Canon G2 but even that camera is still just a digicam with a fixed lens..although flexible enough to get me through my learning phase.
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