I've been a member for just over a year. I'd played with photography for for over 15 years, hoping to take some great shots, but never really getting much. Then, in March of 2005, I bought my DSLR and found this site.
June '05, didn't know how to use any photo software
Aug '06, gave up PS Elements months ago because it was too limiting.
June'05, 1st 20 challenges, nearly 30% of my shots were in the 4's
Aug '06, Last 20 challenges, about 5% of my shots were in the 4's
June '05, Took 2 months to break 6.0
Aug. '06, Been in the top 10 4x in the past 20 challenges.
Most of all, I've taken and edited some shots that have amazed me and surpased my former dreams. Now I dream bigger!
Here's to better skills and awesome shots in the future.
I feel like my shots are better. Participating in the 30 day self portrait challenge help my PS skills in ways I never imagined.
My average is getting a little better.
But to be honest, I am really feeling like I can't compete without a dslr. People are doing triple in camera exposures, and I am no jj, so it is a little frustrating sometimes.
That said, I have been taking pics for about a year, and I don't know what I'd do without this site and the awesome people here :-)
No progress for a while. When I started here until January or so I had learned a tremendous amount. Then stopped entering and basically taking pictures for a while. Just entered two challenges and think I have a shot for the third. I'll tell you after these if I am progressing.
I think my photography has improved but my judgement is still lacking when it comes to challenge entries. If I could only put the two together...
Heh! I like your choices most times - a bit quirky compared to the DPC formula, which is nice! :-)
I'm still happily mediocre. I just enjoy the whole process - thinking about what to shoot, wandering about with a camera, seeing what I ended up with, and playing with the pictures a bit in post processing. Heck, I even print a few and hang 'em on the wall, too. It's all good.
Rather than worrying about statistics, etc., I think a more pertinent question deals with how you FEEL about your own photography. DPC scores are meaningless compared to your own sense of progress. There are those who equate scoring high in challenges to being a good photographer. I feel sorry for people who hold on to that idea too tightly.
My scores tend to be all over the place, and I definitely go through rough patches here and there.. but I think on a whole, I've improved. I just recently got a new high score, and another new one in my top 4. While it hasn't been a complete upward climb, I DO think I'm improving. It's been awhile since I've had a score under 5 at least!
I feel like my photography has improved drastically over the past year but i rarely submit to challenges. I really need to start doing it again. I'm browsing through here all the time I just don't like submitting mediocre work just to fit a challenge. This free study is the first time in months i've submitted and i can't wait to see what people have to say.
I suck, I have had some good photos at over 50% in the scoring but the majority are below 10%
I say again: Just because DPC's voters think your image "sucks" doesn't mean you suck as a photographer. Conversely, the fact that someone has won ribbons in DPC doesn't equate him or her to being a good photographer.
I suck, I have had some good photos at over 50% in the scoring but the majority are below 10%
I say again: Just because DPC's voters think your image "sucks" doesn't mean you suck as a photographer. Conversely, the fact that someone has won ribbons in DPC doesn't equate him or her to being a good photographer.
Ok, well, my composition has improved a little, I have a better camera now so that makes a difference in what I am capable of - settings etc - and I now have photoshop so I can edit a lot better than I used to be able to do. I am also beginning to slowly recognise how I can improve futher.
Tends to be a little up and down for me, although I am happy to just keep my scores above 5. Trying not to shoehorn entries anymore, which should help, lol.
Edit to add:
And as for my own feelings about the quality of my work. I am feeling more and more capable and feel like I am defining my own style. I am liking the shots I take more now on a regular basis, and I am having alot more shots turn out nice coming out of the camera (which makes choosing which ones to edit harder). I have realized that equipment can only do you so good. You need the technical knowledge as well as the eye to see good shots. Still have a ton to learn, but I don't ever want to stop learning, for then I will loose interest. I will keep chugging away at this, even if my DPC scores are sup-par.
I've been a member for less than a year. I think my photography has improved and I take a lot more pictures these days. So for me that's progress.
Regarding the challenges and the scores, I have become less excited about them because it seems that people take them waaaay too seriously. Also it seems as thought what i think is a good shot and what the voters think aren't the same. (both for my shots and others)
I think my photography has improved but my judgement is still lacking when it comes to challenge entries. If I could only put the two together...
Heh! I like your choices most times - a bit quirky compared to the DPC formula, which is nice! :-)
I'm still happily mediocre. I just enjoy the whole process - thinking about what to shoot, wandering about with a camera, seeing what I ended up with, and playing with the pictures a bit in post processing. Heck, I even print a few and hang 'em on the wall, too. It's all good.
High percentile of 72 and low of 10 but mostly in the 30 range - Good thing I like my own pictures :-) To be honest, I don't see much difference in my photos since I started here....
I seem to follow a cycle that has my scores climbing and and consistently being good. Then, I'll get a really high score and invariably my next 6 or 8 will be in the 4s and low 5s.
Then, I'll give up for a few weeks, or just *make* myself shoot something. And eventually, it will creep back up.
And so it goes. . .
As far as my overall photography, oh yea. It's improved dramatically. I just have to remember to not let dpc be my confidence meter. :)
