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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Have you Improved ?
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04/21/2006 03:37:23 PM · #1
I sure have, atleast i think i have, from my first photo shoot here
//tmosleyphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1153464
to my most latest here
//tmosleyphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1153459
04/21/2006 04:11:22 PM · #2
You sure have improved. The lighting is soo much better. What are you doing differently?
04/21/2006 04:12:53 PM · #3
I would hope that as we all shoot, discuss, learn, and adjust, that our skills improve with time.

I only see a few exceptions to this though.

One is so good, there in no room for improvement.
One doesn't accept criticisim (one's own or from others) and hence do not learn from mistakes.
One fails to realize that there are skills to be learned.

Let's hope that none of us fall into these categories (well except maybe the first one).

04/21/2006 04:24:23 PM · #4
Judging by my scores and my lack of ribbons, I have not improved.

However, DPC and ribbons aren't all there is too it, and I know better - yes, I HAVE improved:

- I now automatically consider a number of things I never bothered with once upon a time (like composition, light, background, etc)

- I no longer have to think hard and talk to myself a lot just to figure out that mysterious and confusing relationship between f-stop and DOF. I know whether I want the "big number thingy" or the little one

- I can keep up with conversations full of abbreviations, rules and technojargon

- I occasionally remember to check certain settings like ISO BEFORE !!!! I take the photo

- deleting superfluous photos is getting more difficult, because these days the rotten photos are the exception, not the good ones

- I am teaching photography classes at the local community center, my students are perfectly happy with me and my knowledge, and people come to ME for advice!

The list goes on. Still no ribbon, but I know I can and do take good photos. I'm happy :-)
04/21/2006 04:50:10 PM · #5
to
to
Nah, I don't think I've improved at all! ;P
04/21/2006 05:11:44 PM · #6
Few things I've notice. I think of aperature more in relation to DOF rather than stopping down to get sharpness for sharpness sake. I think of slow shutter speeds not as loosing sharpness due to camera shake, but showing motion. Things like adjusting settings are much more intuitive. I concentrate more on impact of composition and trying to give a sense of depth rather than pixel peeping shots for sharpness. I care less about a brand or a specific lens but rather the composition, dof, color, contrast, and image impact.

I think those are good things.

Message edited by author 2006-04-21 17:14:04.
04/21/2006 05:16:01 PM · #7
Nope. You can't improve on perfection. I'll keep trying though.
04/21/2006 05:35:12 PM · #8
I absolutely have improved in the two years I've been here - both in photography itself as well as post processing (which I have greatly simplified since the days when I first thought I knew and understood Photoshop).

BUT.... You'd never know it judging by the pictures I throw into challenges here!!! LOL!!!

My wedding pictures, however, are far and away better than anything I used to shoot two years ago. In fact, I'd say I have grown a lot just in the last 6 months.
04/21/2006 05:46:29 PM · #9
Yes you have improved Troy. Nice work.

I'd say I've DEFINITELY improved as well in my short one year here.

From early challenges:


Recent challenges:

THANK YOU DPC!!!!!!!!!

Message edited by author 2006-04-21 17:49:40.
04/21/2006 05:48:38 PM · #10
<-----Two years ago
<------One year ago
<------This year

I think I've improved some. :)
04/21/2006 05:53:32 PM · #11
Hmmm... most definitely Troy! Indeed a great improvement.

As for myself, check the facts:

First 10 challenge average: 4.1025 with zilch placement
Last 10 challenge average: 6.3776 with 3 top 10 placement and 1 ribbon

Message edited by author 2006-04-21 20:04:55.
04/21/2006 10:14:15 PM · #12
see this site is working its magic, i took my critiqes from you guys on my first shoot, and just kept moving along, learned how to meter properly, compose the subject in the frame properly, used different poses, and read alot of forums, and know i have moved up alot, and i see alot of you have to, isnt that just great, its soo uplifting to look at my first shoot and look what i shot today, pretty cool,
04/21/2006 10:29:09 PM · #13
Yeah, I've improved. I went from being like "ok, I think I know the camera settings for this picture" to "ok, I need to compose here and here and make sure the light is like so, and balance with this and *click*"

I actually got some fairly decent shots yesterday of the kids at a school I have been substituting at for April. I feel that's saying something because it was naptime with the lights off and the kids' idea of posing for a photograph was coming right up to the lens, sticking their hands on it, and jumping up and down like popcorn on fire. I will try to get them posted before too long. I am planning to take 500 more shots or so today. The weather is hazy but otherwise G O R G E O U S!

Part of that comes down to making a switch in the last week from P&S to a DSLR with L glass.

Oh, and I've still got LOADS to learn. LOTS more progress to make!

Funny thing, with owning the camera less than a week, I've already had a job offer. It took me 20 minutes to convince them that I'm not a pro.

Showing them the pictures I took that day might require another 20 minutes :)
04/21/2006 11:16:07 PM · #14
Nope. I still suck!
04/21/2006 11:27:11 PM · #15
Originally posted by dudephil:

Nope. I still suck!


Me, too. I am a proud memeber of team suck :D
04/22/2006 12:56:39 AM · #16
It's more like I'm remembering what I used to know, in my case....

R.
04/22/2006 01:08:09 AM · #17
OK bear, fess up, exactly how long did you go without exercising your photographic skills?

You've probably forgotten more stuff since lunchtime than I will learn before I turn 80.
04/22/2006 01:12:25 AM · #18
Originally posted by eschelar:

OK bear, fess up, exactly how long did you go without exercising your photographic skills?

You've probably forgotten more stuff since lunchtime than I will learn before I turn 80.


8 years or so, I think. I tend to lose track. I started back up again in late 2001. Got "serious" again in late 2002. My "Best of 2002" is the image that got me excited again :-)

R.
04/22/2006 04:25:54 AM · #19
starting photography all over again all i do is read and listen to people that are not into photography say something like: "oh, that looks great". there is nothing wrong with that but sometimes i like to here someone say: "dear god man, were you looking at your setings when you took that picture", and then of course explain to me what i did wrong or a simple opinion on how it would look better. so back to the subject, being modest, i think im ok, but i'll let other people be the judge on that.
04/22/2006 05:03:15 AM · #20
Not really improved, but more picky on what I enter.
04/22/2006 05:34:37 AM · #21
I think I have a bit too :)
from to


04/22/2006 05:57:53 AM · #22
I have only been here a very short time, but I feel I have improved alot. I have learned alot in post-processing (ALOT) but where I have really been stretched (as a photographer overall rather than just in my DPC entries) is how I think and approach a shot. These challenges have gotten me to think a different way, try different ideas, get out of the box with my shots and create/capture images that are taken with an end product or emotion in mind rather than only catching a snapshot of my kid in a funny or interesting pose (I stil take these as well - they just seem to come out a bit better). I have been having a blast here.

my first my best

On top of that my wife has joined up. She had no clue how to get the compact flash card into the reader and pull up a pic let alone how to process it in photoshop. She too is learning to take pics with a purpose, is understanding how to use our camera and photoshop and is excited about her ideas and how she is able to make and see them come out. She has beaten me in one challenge and I have a feeling it won't be the last time. She has a Negative image coming that will look really, REALLY cool.

Message edited by author 2006-04-22 06:00:54.
04/22/2006 05:59:28 AM · #23
Having only started in January of this year and with my challenge scores yoyoing from upper fives to the pits of brown ribbon territory, it would be hard to discern improvement per se. I kind of already new a lot of the technical basics of the camera but now find myself focusing on composition and aesthetics a lot more than I ever did. As to manipulating light... my next big journey! Still plenty of room for improvement though...
04/22/2006 06:29:34 AM · #24
yeah, i've improved...


one of my first. . . . . . . . one of my latest

two of the main things i've learned here are 1) have a strong subject (even if you're photographing a landscapte), and 2) pay attention to the details--even the little ones.

beyond that, practice, practice, practice, practice. you just can improve by shooting 100 images a week--and i'm not talking about 100 images with the same settings. i'm talking about exploring light and all the ways that magic little box can collect it.
04/22/2006 06:56:28 AM · #25
I am almost too embarrassed to post the first pictures I entered on DPC almost 4 years ago. I have learned so much and of course the digital technology has also greatly improved and become more affordable. For comparison's sake though, my first 10 entries averaged a score of 4.90. My most recent 10 entries have averaged 6.03.
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