DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Taking pictures for the right reasons
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 40, (reverse)
AuthorThread
09/10/2003 11:41:06 AM · #1
Competitions suck the life out of your photography


Some other thoughts
09/10/2003 11:44:55 AM · #2
hmmm, this is interesting coming from one of the site council....

care to elaborate?

btw,, none of the enlarge links work on that site.
09/10/2003 11:47:00 AM · #3
I find competitions keep renewing my spirit, though I have to put a lot of thought and energy into them.

The article/artwork you linked to was great. Sometimes as photographers, we often get so focused on getting the next shot that we miss the beauty that surrounds us. I have realized since I look into the lens, while I see so much more -- I often miss connecting with what is around me. I see so much more, yet I am often blinded.

It's like I gained a third eye, yet lost some of my hearing. Does that make sense?

Best to you, Gordon.
Renee
09/10/2003 11:50:37 AM · #4
I thought the link explained it quite well. If all you do is shoot for competitions, they tend to take over and take the fun and content out of your pictures.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a site council member having an opinion that DPC shouldn't be the be all and end all of photography, or having the opinion that if it is, it probably doesn't help you create the most interesting pictures.

There are lots of reasons to pick up a camera: to see the world more clearly, to get out there and experience new things, to be a voyuer, to be a participant, to try and get a message across, to just have some fun, to forget about your troubles, to record a moment in time. Winning a contest is just one of these and sometimes consumes people to the point of eclipsing the other reasons for taking pictures.

ps: the links seem to work for me

Message edited by author 2003-09-10 11:51:46.
09/10/2003 11:56:44 AM · #5
I completely agree with you, Gordon.

When I finally get frustrated because I can't find something interesting to photograph, I usually put the camera away and within a few hours, I am usually starring at a bunch of neat photos. I cleansed the frustration by enjoying what is truly beautiful.

Once you release the desire to capture the awe, the awe captures you again!

Best,
Renee
09/10/2003 11:57:40 AM · #6
Thanks gordon for the link, good reminder and some cool shots too.
09/10/2003 11:58:03 AM · #7
I totally agree Gordon. Contest/challenges do help you learn but you have to apply yourself in other ways to really grow. Be it books, surfing websites that have articles to read, or read what Tom Scott says in that link and find out how and why his photography really changed.

What (I believe) Gordon is saying (being a site admin doesn't mean you can't have your own thoughts) is to do the challenges BUT also get out there and apply yourself and learn more and do others things, TOO.
09/10/2003 11:58:15 AM · #8
Got them to work,, it was me.

I'm not saying,, you shouldn't have an opinion.. I just wondered what it was.
and I agree! The contests for me are about a learning experience.
They challenge me to look at something I may not ordinarily.
09/10/2003 12:01:36 PM · #9
Maybe flip the thought around:

Why do people enter photographic contests ?

Is it for approval ?

Do people stop once they develop enough confidence and belief in their own vision that they don't need to try to find mass approval ?

Is it for rewards, fiscal or otherwise ?

Is it to learn ?

To be part of something ?
09/10/2003 12:01:42 PM · #10
I.

AM.

ROBOT.

SITE.

ADMIN.

..::: d e s t r o y n o n - c o m p e t i t i v e s e n t i m e n t ..:: ...
09/10/2003 12:03:58 PM · #11
Originally posted by sslickk:

Got them to work,, it was me.

I'm not saying,, you shouldn't have an opinion.. I just wondered what it was.
and I agree! The contests for me are about a learning experience.
They challenge me to look at something I may not ordinarily.


The challenges ARE good for that. I read that link the other day and thought...I must go listen to that song. I want to change my way of thinking about that next win or that next OMG you rock comments. I want to do it for the very reasons I picked up a camera to begin with...fun.
I hope this topic will help someone.
09/10/2003 12:04:02 PM · #12
sorry.. sometimes i cant help but be facetious/sarcastic ;)




09/10/2003 12:10:34 PM · #13
i agree with gordon to some extent.

i think that if all you do is shoot for the competitions, AND, you arent particularly successful at them, then yes, it can have a negative effect on your efforts. By consistently comparing your work to others purely on the basis of numerical values and number of comments, you completely skip over the content and soul of your images, and at the same time, maybe reinforce the view that your work 'isnt as good as other people's'.



09/10/2003 12:16:36 PM · #14
there is a definite difference between shooting for one's self and shooting for a challenge, obviously. the problem is when people let shooting for challenges suck the individuality and creativity out of the work. technically you could be producing a wonderful photo, but then you're just going through the motions and it's really not all that fun.

another example: chefs. how many people started out loving to cook, and then go to work preparing food all day and then end up getting takeout when they go home?

for me the benefit of the challenges is to get me to shoot some things that i wouldn't normally. if a topic truly does not interest me or i have little to no ideas about it, then i won't enter that particular challenge. but in general it gets me off of my butt and started thinking about the world around me, and that's an excellent thing.

if i was just here for the ribbons, i'd wouldn't be here...if that makes any sense.
09/10/2003 12:25:16 PM · #15
Originally posted by muckpond:

there is a definite difference between shooting for one's self and shooting for a challenge, obviously. the problem is when people let shooting for challenges suck the individuality and creativity out of the work. technically you could be producing a wonderful photo, but then you're just going through the motions and it's really not all that fun.

another example: chefs. how many people started out loving to cook, and then go to work preparing food all day and then end up getting takeout when they go home?

for me the benefit of the challenges is to get me to shoot some things that i wouldn't normally. if a topic truly does not interest me or i have little to no ideas about it, then i won't enter that particular challenge. but in general it gets me off of my butt and started thinking about the world around me, and that's an excellent thing.

if i was just here for the ribbons, i'd wouldn't be here...if that makes any sense.


The chef analogy is very good.. I used to cook for pay... I was a private caterer (now sometimes called private chef)
Since I quit doing that, the joy of cooking (no pun intended) has returned I love cooking for my friends and family. The money(read ribbons) took a lot of the joy out of it.

I think we all like to have the approval of our peers. Many times when I get a comment that I percieve as negative or wrongly critical I look at the work of the person who left it.

Many time see their work explains their comment. How they veiw the world and photography has an impact on how they view my work.

It's as educative as the comment.
09/10/2003 12:31:01 PM · #16
*i* am in a rut.. I know its just how the article posted describes it. Any ideas how to break out besides listening to self help tapes? :)
09/10/2003 12:33:53 PM · #17
The constant grind of the 'weekly' theme here is good in some ways and bad in others. I think it's BAD in the fact that it does require a lot of thought and preparation to prepare a high quality image in that time frame. Doing that over and over again will ultimately keep you from developing your own 'vision' and own favorite subject sets. You will spend more time in the 'competition' mode than you will in the 'my own photos' mode.

The GOOD things about the challenge grind are that they help you look at things that you may not have in the past and they could help you develop some favorite interest subjects over time.

Once the 'newness' wears off of the challenge concept, I think photographers should try to balance their time between DPC and their own visions.
09/10/2003 12:39:17 PM · #18
Originally posted by frisca:

*i* am in a rut.. I know its just how the article posted describes it. Any ideas how to break out besides listening to self help tapes? :)


Breaking out of a rut is not too difficult. Put your camera away for a few weeks... that is what has worked for me in the past.
09/10/2003 12:44:39 PM · #19
Originally posted by frisca:

*i* am in a rut.. I know its just how the article posted describes it. Any ideas how to break out besides listening to self help tapes? :)


It's best to put the camera away and go out and do something you love to do. You'll see things from a fresh perspective again, and before you know it, you'll be snapping away.


09/10/2003 12:44:41 PM · #20
I also agree with Gordon, which is why I have decided not to enter the nostalgia contest. Also after seeing my results on oops, I think I need to step away and just take pictures.
09/10/2003 12:44:49 PM · #21
I believe shooting a challenge in order to challenge yourself is different than shooting a challenge to win. Based on what I have read about the history of this site, the goal was to create challenges that will help expand the photographers skills and vision. If I am right, the "winner" is the photographer that accepted the challenge and found something new, different, interesting, thought provoking etc. How could a technically competent photograph ever get a "1" is such a competition? I believe the reality of the competition has grown to be something quite different.
09/10/2003 12:54:14 PM · #22
RULE TO LIVE BY:

If it's not *fun* anymore, and you don't *have* to do it, then don't do it ;D ...

The corollary is that if you're having a good time, and it isn't making you feel bad, and you have the time and energy, go for it.

But to say one thing is inherently good or bad, imo, misses the whole element of free-will and individual response that is present in any such situation.


09/10/2003 01:04:00 PM · #23
i failed to qualify my statements with 'good or bad for ME'....

09/10/2003 01:07:08 PM · #24
I'm sure for most people, certainly for me, entering challenges is just one facet of the photography learning experience. I read articles and books, am taking a studio lighting class, submit pictures to publications and have sold pictures on ebay. Many of the types of pictures I enjoy taking have never fit into a challenge so I share them in other ways. This site offers a sense of community and the challenges do make me consider subjects I wouldn't otherwise consider. I have learned a great deal from this site, whether or not I participate in a particular challenge. Just looking at the work of other photographers is a learning experience. Guess like anything else, it's all about balance.
09/10/2003 01:07:41 PM · #25
Originally posted by frisca:

*i* am in a rut.. I know its just how the article posted describes it. Any ideas how to break out besides listening to self help tapes? :)


Sometimes I go and read a book, lie in the sun, let it go.

Other times I take my camera for a walk, and just shoot stuff without worrying about if it'll be good or not - I spent most of the summer not shooting much and got back into it again recently - just by shooting stuff that interests me until I start feeling like I can see photographically again.

Find something you are passionate about, and look at it for a while. Leave the camera in the bag or at home and just look at stuff sometimes works too. When you start wishing you had a camera to capture the picture that you see might mean you are out of the rut. When I feel I'm wanting to take pictures, I'm framing shots in my mind all the time, camera with me or not.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 10:02:40 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 10:02:40 AM EDT.