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 08/01/2003 07:49:47 PM · #1
Just wondered how much time people spend on their challenge shots.

I've set own 'rules' in that I don't want to miss a challenge where possible and so, no matter how much time I have, I'll submit something. The other rule being that it must have been taken for the challenge. This encourages me to be resourceful and more creative if I find myself running tight for time.

I find the most rewarding challenge results so far are those where people's perceptions of something are changed, inspired and refreshed despite an absence of elaborate preparation. I've spent only a maximum of about an hour on any given challenge submission so far, although the next challenges may require more time. I'm quite looking forward to seeing what I could do with more dedication to set-up.

1. What are people's longest and shortest set-ups?
2. How many shots are bespoke shots just for the challenge and how many are conveniently appropriate submissions?
3. What's the furthest you've travelled purely for a challenge submission?
4. How many of your challenge submissions would you be prepared to hang?
5. Do you aim to produce works of art in their own right - aside of the challenge focus?

Message edited by author 2003-08-01 19:52:22.
 08/01/2003 08:40:51 PM · #2
I usually go out 2-3 times a week and take shots for a couple hours each time, I dont do the 'staged' shots, only what I find in my nieghborhood. I usually take 100 photos each shoot, I am half mindful of the challenge topics when I go out, but I also look for shots that please me, just because they do. I would not hang many of my challenge shots, I have many others I like better that don't fit in the challenges. I would say most my challenge shots are intentional, occassionally I will luck out and take ones that just happen to fit.
 08/01/2003 09:31:36 PM · #3
Personally, I don't go out of my way to take shots for challenges. Its easy to get stuck in a rut that way. I go about my normal activities, and try to combine them with challenges. For example, it started raining and I thought "ooo I've always wanted to get some good waterdroplet shots" [I put my camera in a ziplock bag w/ a hole for the lens hehe]... and it just so happened to work for round.
 08/01/2003 09:53:01 PM · #4
I like to try and enter no matter what.. I like the pressure of putting something together last minute..

1. Usually around an hour to shoot and process
2. I shoot especially for the challenges
3. Walked up the road for one... done a few still lifes so far..
4. Definitely not all of them that's for sure..
5. I do try and focus on the challenge.. It allows me to pretend I'm a pro on an assignment!!! sad but true..
 08/01/2003 10:46:59 PM · #5
I don't enter if I don't feel a strong affiliation with the challenge. Usually, the title will jump right out at me, and I will know in my head what i want the shot to look like... however, I haven't been doing so well in the two challenges that I have entered so far, so perhaps I should find another method. BUT... although I would like to do better in the challenges and make it maybe into the top ten here soon, I LOVE my pictures.... even if no one else does! And that's all that really matters to me.

For the "In the Future" shot, I interpreted probably a little different than most will see fitting to the challenge, and I will probably be scored lower for it, but I know it's a great pic, and in my head.... its a 10! Guess we will have to wait and see.

For example, I did not enter the Movie challenge or the Right Angles one... because I just don't have the shot in my head that I would like to see on the computer.
 08/01/2003 10:54:16 PM · #6
I just take a whole lot of photos for the sake of my hobby... and sometimes one fits a challenge on here. If it does, I throw it in. If something doesn't come up that matches a challenge, it passes...

edit: so I guess, yes, I am to create something in its own right. I would hang up any of my three entries

Message edited by author 2003-08-02 05:19:21.
 08/02/2003 02:32:30 AM · #7
With the limited resources I have I first try to think out and picture in my mind what I want in the final result.. (wife says I lack imagination :)

1) The shoot is usually 10 to 30 min, processing 30 min - this I guess will increase as my experience and resources accumulate
2) I shoot just for the challenges.
3) Nowhere till now - but will venture out once the rains are over
4) ...
5) I aim to produce something I can look back and feel good about, second criteria is to create something where I can learn newer things
 08/02/2003 03:53:51 AM · #8
I've only been doing this a couple weeks and have entered three challenges. I want to submit something in each challenge because I learn something from every comment I get.

I spent about 3 hours today trying to get the right shot for the "Right Angle" challenge. I took about 150 shots. I'll take some more in the morning light before I decide which one to enter. Mostly I am still experimenting so I'm sure as I get to know my camera better this time will be shortened.

So far my submissions have been shots around my house and yard.

I carry my camera with me everywhere and am always looking for good shots, most having nothing to do with the challenges.

No, wouldn't hang any of my submissions so far.
 08/03/2003 02:07:36 AM · #9
Maybe I am too addicted to this site. I have just started photographing 3 month ago and it is on my mind every day. I drag my camera with me everywhere I go and I always find something interesting around me to photograph. I enjoy it that much. I even get weird dreams about the challenges here at DPC - Am I a basket case?

I only enter challenges that have special interest for me. For the few challenges I've entered, I spent about 1 day per week planning, shooting, editing, and choosing among my many choices. I usually take my time during the week to think about the challenge and come up with some ideas. Then towards the end of the week I go out and shoot about 100 photos. I usually post my "masterpiece" during the last hour of the deadline :-)) I have yet to create work of art worth hanging.
 08/03/2003 10:47:46 AM · #10
1. What are people's longest and shortest set-ups?
I've spent all week trying to get that 'perfect' shot for the challenge (usually if it's a topic that really excites me) vs. 20 minutes, last minute kind of deal.

2. How many shots are bespoke shots just for the challenge and how many are conveniently appropriate submissions?
90% are for the challenge specifically. But if I'm pressed for time but still want to enter, I've been known to enter something I just happened to shoot. Usually those are when I get my crappiest scores ;) .. - i.e. my Night on the Town entry. .

3. What's the furthest you've travelled purely for a challenge submission?
Just around town and the surrounding areas.

4. How many of your challenge submissions would you be prepared to hang?
I have a fair number hanging up in my cubicle already - "Liquid Eyes", "Start Spreadin' the News", "Office Space", "Innocence" ... Mostly I get lazy about making stuff print ready ..

5. Do you aim to produce works of art in their own right - aside of the challenge focus?
Yes, I rarely try to just 'meet the challenge.' I always try to take pictures that excite and stimulate myself, at the very least. However, I doubt I always meet the goal of producing a work of art - I think my "Complimentary Colors" submission was way too literal and boring - but I do my best to try to bring "something" to my shot.

:)

08/03/2003 11:36:35 AM · #11
1. What are people's longest and shortest set-ups?
I generally spend quite a bit of time on a picture but some are rather short. "Love You....Great Grandma" was my shortest, I only took five frames and had to work with that. My grand daughter was not co-operating.

2. How many shots are bespoke shots just for the challenge and how many are conveniently appropriate submissions?
I very seldom enter a shot that wasn't taken for the challenge. I find it a challenge in the true sense of the word to shoot specifically for the theme.

3. What's the furthest you've traveled purely for a challenge submission?
I never travel out of town purposely to shoot for DPC.

4. How many of your challenge submissions would you be prepared to hang?
I have only one framed and that is "Between Rides". If I have someone helping with a picture I order a print of it and give it to them to show my gratitude.

5. Do you aim to produce works of art in their own right - aside of the challenge focus?
I find it hard to shoot snapshots anymore, probably missing a lot of good shots. I try to compose all of my shots so if they are good I can make them into a respectable photograph.
08/03/2003 02:08:02 PM · #12
[quote=timmi]Maybe I am too addicted to this site. I have just started photographing 3 month ago and it is on my mind every day. I drag my camera with me everywhere I go and I always find something interesting around me to photograph. I enjoy it that much. I even get weird dreams about the challenges here at DPC - Am I a basket case?

Timmi,
If you're a basket case so am I :) I find myself unable to sleep some nights because I can't stop thinking about ideas for a challenge. I was looking for right angles everywhere I went this past week. Every time I get near a computer I have to check to see how my entries are doing (they're never doing well so far). I, too, take my camera everywhere I go.. just in case.

Is this the way it is after you've been here awhile or is it just some kinda newbie syndrome?
 08/03/2003 02:39:15 PM · #13
Originally posted by fayepek:
Is this the way it is after you've been here awhile or is it just some kinda newbie syndrome?


It's a Newby syndrome, but you may never get over it. :<)
 08/03/2003 09:59:16 PM · #14
1. What are people's longest and shortest set-ups?
My longest setup probably took about an hour. Shortest time is zero, like for my "right angle" challenge where I just noticed a "scene" that I liked at snapped a few shots of it. :)

2. How many shots are bespoke shots just for the challenge and how many are conveniently appropriate submissions?
Almost all of my entries are shot specificly for a particular challenge.

3. What's the furthest you've travelled purely for a challenge submission?
The farthest I've traveled is 90 miles to San Francisco for my entry in the "Bridges" challenges.

4. How many of your challenge submissions would you be prepared to hang?
I could see hanging 3 of my challenge submissions. :D My two highest rated entries and my entry for the "Despair" challenge. Maybe a couple others (in the garage) :D :D

5. Do you aim to produce works of art in their own right - aside of the challenge focus?
I don't really focus on that. I try taking the best picture I can, and then giving it as much "omph" as possible legally with Photoshop, but I don't consider them works of art. I don't really consider a picture a work of art unless it's minipulated/created using Photoshop. After all, you just snapped the picture, you didn't really create what others are seeing. :)
08/04/2003 02:17:16 AM · #15
1. What are people's longest and shortest set-ups?
Longest: In terms of a single "shoot", setting up and getting the shot, it would be Liquid. I spent about 3 hours one night working on that. Transportation came just as I had been thinking about trying to capture some shots of trains by my work, so I practically spent the whole week - lunchtimes, before work, after work, probably a total of 15-20 hours - taking pictures of trains (plus cars and airplanes). (That may have been my most disappointing entry - I had lot's of better shots than the one I selected, but had so many I sort of got boggled.)
Shortest: My Speed and Trends shots were, I think, less than an hour from beginning of setup to finished product.

2. How many shots are bespoke shots just for the challenge and how many are conveniently appropriate submissions?
All but one, Night on the Town, were specifically taken for their challenge. And NOTT, I had the camera with the thought in the back of my mind to shoot for the challenge, but forgot about it. Shooting for the challenge is the fun of it for me - the thing that stretches me to try new things - but I do sometimes have to remind myself to forget the challenge and just shoot stuff around me.

3. What's the furthest you've travelled purely for a challenge submission?
No more than 5 miles from home - just around my house or office.

4. How many of your challenge submissions would you be prepared to hang?
I haven't framed any yet, but maybe Weather and Speed. And maybe Liquid, though the subject is a bit corny. (Sorry, had to do it.)

5. Do you aim to produce works of art in their own right - aside of the challenge focus?
I aim to capture something that people will find interesting and enjoy, and usually I try to judge that by trying to capture something I enjoy. Whether it's something that communicates, has emotional impact, or is just visually interesting. If that's art, then I guess the answer is yes. If not, oh well...
 08/04/2003 02:26:05 AM · #16
I agree with ChrisW123. I love photoshop. It's a great tool for enhancing the beauty of photos (as long as it's not overdone). I wish DPC wasn't so "anti spot editing"... I wish there were more challenges with specific editing allowed. I believe many would benefit from improving their image retouching skills as well. It tought me to avoid some mistakes when I am photographing.
 08/04/2003 03:19:28 AM · #17
For the Future challenge, I used two shots taken previously. One shot was taken on July 21, and the other was taken about 8 months ago. I spent about three hours in processing (when I should have been sleeping), so I hope it does well...

JD Anderson
 08/04/2003 04:20:16 AM · #18
Originally posted by fayepek:
Timmi,
If you're a basket case so am I :) I find myself unable to sleep some nights because I can't stop thinking about ideas for a challenge.


Maybe we should set up a special place for us basket cases, a place where we'll always have a like-minded person to turn to, a place where only the intrepid dare to tread.

Hey, we've got one - it's right here. I'm addicted, too.
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