What do you consider to be "doing well"?

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

12/01/2009 11:56:53 AM · #8

Oh dear, if I had to assume that "doing well" meant over 6, I'd be very disappointed very often. I'm usually quite delighted if I manage to get over 5.5. Seriously. And with some entries, I'm delighted to get a comment or two even though the score won't be over 5.5, and in some cases will be under 5.

K3Master

Pentax K-3

12/01/2009 12:02:14 PM · #9

Originally posted by Melethia:

Well, for the record not "doing well" doesn't mean that I'm disappointed either. There are many factors to consider, but when it comes to playing the DPC game, then yes, "doing well" is quantifiable. It'd be like playing a board game. I can have fun, even if I'm losing, but it's much more rewarding to finish first/make more 'money'/beat more people. Doesn't necessarily mean it's more or less fun, but it definitely feels better :)

Message edited by author 2009-12-01 12:02:31.

JamesA

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G

12/01/2009 12:03:23 PM · #10

Here on dpc 5.5-6+ is a go score. Lower in free studys.

rooum

12/01/2009 12:10:37 PM · #11

I'm very happy with a 5.5 plus. Delighted with a 6. But really, what makes me most happy are good comments and i'm ecstatic with a Posthumous Ribbon.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

12/01/2009 12:18:08 PM · #12

$5 Million dollars a year.

scarbrd

Leica M10

12/01/2009 12:30:09 PM · #13

I consider anything above my average as acceptable, anything below my average is a disappointment.

jeger

Canon EOS-5D

12/01/2009 12:30:40 PM · #14

I aim for better than my average.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM

12/01/2009 12:36:49 PM · #15

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

$5 Million dollars a year.

And what, pray tell, would you do with all of that?

sukuriant

Canon EOS-40D

12/01/2009 12:39:32 PM · #16

To me, it's not so much about the score I get for a single image, but how well I thought I did that image in comparison to my other photographs. For example, I'm presently in two challenges. One of them, I have a 5.5385. That's in polka dots, and I missed the subject concept. The other is a 5.4615. That's in free study. I'm actually hurt because I thought that the one that I have submitted to free study is better than the one I have in Polka Dots. In fact, as I said a moment ago, the one in Polka Dots, I missed the challenge and "shoe-horned" it in, as said in a separate thread, because I wanted to see how it would fare (and I wanted comments on it, etc).

So, to me, I'm getting a better score for a challenge that I MISSED the topic on.

What hurts even more right now is that I look at my gallery (yes, I know, I've only been to (now) 4 challenges), and my very first entry is scoring higher than both of those; and, in retrospect, I don't think that image is very good.

But really, there are two ways I can take this: I can moan and complain about how I find the grading unfair, ooooooor, I can be more diligent and try to produce more artistic works that the people of this site will like

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

12/01/2009 12:39:35 PM · #17

Originally posted by Melethia:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
$5 Million dollars a year.

And what, pray tell, would you do with all of that?

I'd buy a full-priced edition of Lightroom. LOL. I'm just kidding with my answer being the one John McCain gave when asked what income level would be considered "rich".

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

12/01/2009 12:42:24 PM · #18

Ah, I did not recognize the reference. I think I'd consider rich to be, well, able to afford a modest home. But I have less lofty goals than most. Heck, I even drive a sensible car and didn't go for the full-frame camera upgrade... :-)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

12/01/2009 12:45:19 PM · #19

Depends on the image. There are some images that I enter that I recognize going in may not appeal to the masses. For those images, if I score above 6.0, I feel I have done well. There are other images that I *do* feel have potential to really do well, that is they nail the challenge description in an easy-to-see way, they are technically well done, well-composed and do not present controversial imagery. On the rare occasion :-P when I enter an image meeting these criteria, if I score below 6.5 I am disappointed, and I'm really looking for that 7+ score.
These days, I tend to shoot almost entirely for myself, and if what I shoot meets a challenge, well then even better!

noraneko

Canon EOS-7D

12/01/2009 12:45:58 PM · #20

Well, there was a time I considered it a 6.5, then a 6, and now, after a year away, more of less, I seem to be back in the land of mediocrity, lol.

ETA - I really love Posthumous Ribbons, but have only won one. Must try for that more often.

And a focusing camera would be sweeeeet!

Message edited by author 2009-12-01 12:47:09.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

12/01/2009 12:47:17 PM · #21

This begs the question -- if decent photographers are excited by scores of 6+, does the average voter score low, and thus, not know what they're talking about?

The response to this is usually, "Every score is deserved, every vote is the right one, and therefore every average is accurate." I'm not so sure.

I'm just as surprised by the comments in the weekly "show us your scores" threads that say, "The photos in this challenge are outstanding and I'm deeply impressed." Sometimes I'm shocked by the weakness of the entries.

I think there is a wide dispersal of photographic appreciation and talent, and the overlap of the two falls along a spectrum just as wide. In a forum where everything is accepted (as opposed to 1x.com, where most everything is rejected), just about every opinion, informed and otherwise, is going to show up. The excitement of very good photographers at a dead-average score of 5.5 is then understandable.

And to answer the OP's question, I think I'm doing well with a score of 6.0 or more.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

12/01/2009 12:52:38 PM · #22

To me doing well is taking a shot I love and posting it and then people like it.

What I hate is when I post something I didn't really like and it winds up on my profile page.

For me, anything better than a 5.5 makes me feel as if it's worth the effort. Average or better is what I try to aim for.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

12/01/2009 12:58:06 PM · #23

Originally posted by sukuriant:

I'm actually hurt because I thought that the one that I have submitted to free study is better than the one I have in Polka Dots.

Probably is. Freestudies tend to get voted on harder by some members. I feel a 5.5 in a FS is like a high five or low 6 in any other. Unfortunately, it still reflects the same in your average.

Message edited by author 2009-12-01 12:58:36.

sukuriant

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM

12/01/2009 01:08:35 PM · #24

Originally posted by Louis:

This begs the question -- if decent photographers are excited by scores of 6+, does the average voter score low, and thus, not know what they're talking about?
...

The excitement of very good photographers at a dead-average score of 5.5 is then understandable.

That is something interesting, and I hope people notice it. Look at some of the photographers that are excited about getting a 5.5 or 6. Many of them have ribbons! To me, this is a great surprise. I would figure that people who often get middle 6's (or at least their profile page shows such scores) would consider "good" images to be higher than 5.5 ... 6 or even 6.5, but it's not.