So since for some DPC is a place to learn, I thought we could have a thread where we could put our near misses and total losses before our friends for constructive criticism. Many don't want to post negative comments or low scores, but when the challenge is over and the dust has settled, we know our photo just didn't work.
This, with the community's acceptance, can be a place where a photographer can choose to request advice on what might have made an image stronger.
Some simple rules (guidelines really).
1. Only comment on works requested by the photographer.
2. Never post publicly an edited copy of another person's photo without permission. Send privately to them.
3. To keep this thread small, post a comment on the photo or send a PM with your suggestions. Using the comment section is more helpful because the comments stay with the image and others can see them and learn from them. 4. If you request assistance, have a thick skin. We all have our babies and our "darlings" but the votes are the votes. So if you choose to put something here for general feedback, prepare to have the one thing you thought worked best be identified as the thing that broke your image.
I can update this first message with other guidelines as suggested.
I thought this had all the elements... bright background, humorous expression, fit challenge... It scored decently, but not so high as I expected (figured a 6.2 for sure).
What could I have done differently?
Remember, it's best to post comments/suggestions on the photo.
Got images you want to find out what went wrong? Share them here.
I have started the ball rolling. Note though I am no expert and don't comment a lot due to this very reason so take this just as my personal view on the image:)
I have started the ball rolling. Note though I am no expert and don't comment a lot due to this very reason so take this just as my personal view on the image:)
I have one question which is somewhat unrelated but can/will help with giving feedback. Is there a way to get your voting average for a challenge after it's closed without doing it the long manual way?
I'll throw something up here that I thought should've done better.
I'll also add my $0.02 for whatever it's worth to some others - I find that I also learn a lot about improving my own photos by offering what I like or don't like about some others - that way in future shots i know what i'd like to try or to stay away from.
I figured this would've been a 6+, but it barely broke 5.
I have one question which is somewhat unrelated but can/will help with giving feedback. Is there a way to get your voting average for a challenge after it's closed without doing it the long manual way?
CS
Great question... and sadly I don't see where it can be done. Bummer.
I have one question which is somewhat unrelated but can/will help with giving feedback. Is there a way to get your voting average for a challenge after it's closed without doing it the long manual way?
CS
This is sort of a thread hijack, but it would seem to me that if you divide the number of images in a challenge by 2 then look at the images that placed at the half way mark, you would in a way, have the average score for the overall challenge. I'm sure that there is a better way, but if there is no need to nit pick over a tenth of a point or so it would probably work good enough.
This finished slightly above "meh" for the Empty challenge... I thought it conveyed emptiness and was a clear, appealing photo. Figured a 6.2 at least...
This finished slightly above "meh" for the Empty challenge... I thought it conveyed emptiness and was a clear, appealing photo. Figured a 6.2 at least...
This finished slightly above "meh" for the Empty challenge... I thought it conveyed emptiness and was a clear, appealing photo. Figured a 6.2 at least...
This finished slightly above "meh" for the Empty challenge... I thought it conveyed emptiness and was a clear, appealing photo. Figured a 6.2 at least...
This finished slightly above "meh" for the Empty challenge... I thought it conveyed emptiness and was a clear, appealing photo. Figured a 6.2 at least...
What did I do wrong?
what makes it appealing? I don't see anything.
Truth be told, I have been known to disagree with my friend Posthumous on matters relating to the "appeal" of images, but he is dead on on this one.
The subject is most certainly not captivating, the image is mediocre and the background is rather bland. I seem to recall making a comment on this image to the effect that it was an OK image, but not earth shattering and I still believe that.
I will let other, more knowledgeable people proffer an informed opinion.
Would appreciate a bit of feedback why this one did so average. I was really pleased with the look of the photo and being a load of "empty" bottles I thought the subject was spot on. Appreciate you can see my reflection in the bottles and also that some of the bottles were a bit grubby - this photo was taken of a neighbours recycling bin so there was no preparation involved. Perhaps like the balloon photo, it was just not very interesting.
Perhaps garbage just doesn't do well on here as my previous garbage photo didn't do amazing either:)
Are both overcooked in your opinion? I realised after the event the peelings one was overcooked - what a difference it makes looking on different monitors. I didn't think the bottles one was too bad but perhaps it was and that was one of its downfalls:)
Doh! Someone has very kindly pointed out the fact that even though the bottles in my photo may be empty, the overall feeling of the photo is far from empty. A serious oversight on my behalf even to the extent that the title reinforces the fact that there is nothing empty in this photo apart from the bottles and can.
I feel I am therefore quite lucky to have done as well as I have done considering this. Next time more thought and less processing:)
This finished slightly above "meh" for the Empty challenge... I thought it conveyed emptiness and was a clear, appealing photo. Figured a 6.2 at least...
What did I do wrong?
I am not sure if this will be helpful, but here is an empty balloon shot of mine that give you some ideas on how you might have done things differently.
The shriveled balloon, lighting and floor may add a bit more drama. Since it was not entered in a challenge I can't how it would have scored relative to yours. It was an alternative shot to my entry in the Balloon challenge last December.
Doh! Someone has very kindly pointed out the fact that even though the bottles in my photo may be empty, the overall feeling of the photo is far from empty. A serious oversight on my behalf even to the extent that the title reinforces the fact that there is nothing empty in this photo apart from the bottles and can.
I feel I am therefore quite lucky to have done as well as I have done considering this. Next time more thought and less processing:)
Wow, dpc is just like public education. It teaches innovative thinkers to conform by punishing creative solutions to problems. Maybe langdon can get an NEA grant.
