Did anyone do anything interesting over the weekend? (It's Sunday night here). Got any photos to share?
I attended classes as I do now every weekend, but it was neat. We have a scriptwriting for animation class with a woman who lectures at UCLA. She talks to us over a conference phone and webcam :). Then in the afternoon I had to design a character which I'll be making a maquette out of starting next week. I tried an idea for an evil, emaciated, bald fairy, but our teacher wasn't very impressed because it seemed too detailed. Then this morning we did some life drawing, and in the afternoon I worked on a walk cycle for a game we're developing in my Advanced 3D class...
I'm happy and busy, but no wonder I have no energy left over to vote or take photos :(.
I'm only rambling about this because it's so QUIET in here! Where did everyone go?
I agree..the topics as of late are getting way off from teaching new folks the basics of photographic technique.
Not only that. These topics are very advanced for voters and many people who vote have enough trouble distinguishing proper use of light, depth of field, color correction, composition, contrast much less the use of a urban legend.
Too many of these kinds of topics are very advanced. You won't attend too many photography classes asking you to photograph an urban legend :-)
The uniqueness of this site is in the WAY we vote and the fact we all work for the SAME TOPIC each week. Not that we offer topics far removed from what other photographic sites offer (portraits, colors, macros, nature, still life, etc..etc..)
Dont give up yet. I for one have been sick with an abcess tooth this weekend, but am feeling half alive this morning, so I got up and submitted. Remember the subject is not just Urban Legends, but Superstitions also, and there are MANY of them. Worldwide even.
Originally posted by boyte1: Dont give up yet. I for one have been sick with an abcess tooth this weekend, but am feeling half alive this morning, so I got up and submitted. Remember the subject is not just Urban Legends, but Superstitions also, and there are MANY of them. Worldwide even.
But I don't understand the need to get so off with the topics. I predict this week more poorly set up shots with obvious technical flaws all in the search of a topic.
Why? Because many folks here are just getting into taking photography to the next level ...from casual photogrpahy to actually paying attention to technical aspects. Most people learn by keeping things simple. Complicated topics seem to me to take away from the learning process.
There are some of us still around, but the general action seems to have dwindled. I for one am not submitting this week. Primarily because I couldn't find a three legged rabbit, or should I have said footed. A lucky rabbits foot must be as worldly as any superstition that I know of. I do hope that the challenge gets a little more based on nouns and not so many verbs, as I think nouns are easier to find. I bombed this week with the illusion so that probably didn't inspire me to get into this weeks quest. Looking forward to better days ahead. Autool
If you haven't been thrilled with the topics of late, how 'bout suggesting some ideas of your own? We're on irc...efnet #dpchallenge offering some ideas up to d&l right now. If you don't have irc...you can post ideas on dpcfanatics chat and we'll paste em on the irc channel. Or..you could just post your ideas in the forum.
Now that I have started to participate in this forum, I might as well get it all out. I have not played with the chat sites, because that is just another thing to burn up my spare time. It is my opinion that DP Challenge has taken a nosedive since the chats got started. Not that they are not fun for some they don't allow the site to be as interesting as it used to be. The forums are dead by Monday night and remain that way until Sunday evening. NO one even mentions the previous challenge in the forums or discusses techniques any more. Is all of that being done at the chat? I think that D & L had better take a serious look at what has become of the wonderful photography site they started last January. Also I think it has become too heavily centered on ART rather than Photography like I think it was originally intended. There is probably room for both but something needs to be done to spur the interest or it will just go away. Sorry! Autool
Originally posted by autool: Now that I have started to participate in this forum, I might as well get it all out. I have not played with the chat sites, because that is just another thing to burn up my spare time. It is my opinion that DP Challenge has taken a nosedive since the chats got started. Not that they are not fun for some they don't allow the site to be as interesting as it used to be. The forums are dead by Monday night and remain that way until Sunday evening. NO one even mentions the previous challenge in the forums or discusses techniques any more. Is all of that being done at the chat? I think that D & L had better take a serious look at what has become of the wonderful photography site they started last January. Also I think it has become too heavily centered on ART rather than Photography like I think it was originally intended. There is probably room for both but something needs to be done to spur the interest or it will just go away. Sorry! Autool
Participation in the forums has dwindled because a growing number of people have observed that the same arguments and debates occur weekly. How many times can you have the same discussion before you lose interest?
Incidentally, there are only about 21 regulars in dpcfanatics chat...there are 250+ participating photogs on the site. Surely the chats cannot be held solely responsible for the site's alleged slump. Afterall, you're not chatting...where's your constructive contribution to the forums? :P
Finally, though the chat is comprised of 'dpc fanatics,' the topic of conversation is dpc-related only about 30% of the time. It's merely a place for people with similar interests to communicate real time. If you're not interested in using the chat, fine...but please don't go making wild accusations about something you haven't even seen. :)
Originally posted by magnetic9999: one slow week does not the "Decline of Western Civilization" make
I agree :-)
I will have to fall in with autool on this though. I feel the challenges have been more centered on things OTHER than straight photography for a little more than I prefer. Challenges like Corporate world, Sins, Urban Legends, etc...don't seem (to me) to produce very many timeless photographic moments :-/
Froober, Sounds like I hit a nerve. I wasn't making an accusation only an observation. I admit I don't spend a lot of time on the forums contributing but I have spent a lot of time reading and studying others contributions. I have stated in the past that I am not an authority on the subject and that I would leave the contributions to those with more practical experience. That has worked pretty well for me, and I feel comfortable that I have not given any body any bum steers on how to take a better picture. I have voted on almost every picture since I started in May, 2002 and also contributed by making constructive comments at the same time. If it doesn't appear that my contributions are as plentiful as you would like, then I am sorry to disappoint you. Autool
I take pictures. Hundreds of pictures every week. Not a black cat,one armed night stalker, or Rudi Gulianni( so I can't spell! He is an urban legend) in the bunch. I was going to do spilled salt but couldn't get an attractive shoulder to pose for me. Maybe next week.......
All things go in cycles. If the topics were hot every week, then we would all drop like flies from over exposure. If the forums get off topic for awhile and just "have fun", then perhaps that just indicates it is time for a short break from study and time to blow off some steam... After a few parties and several hangovers, the time will soon be ripe again to get back to work and discuss photography. I for one feel better now for getting away from my camera for a few weeks. (But I do keep up with reading the forums) When I pick up my camera again, I will feel like a kid at Christmas! And DPChallenge getting away from "TOPIC" there for a moment... Loved it!
I've tried to push myself by entering every challenge since I joined, no matter how much I've disliked the topic. The results have been varied, but at least I've tried!
Sadly this week I have been unable to enter as my camera isn't working. I've been promised one on loan, so hopefully I won't have to let myself down again.
Yes, I did do something this weekend. I drove up to Four Peaks, in the Superstition Mountains. It is the tallest peak near Phoenix, at about 8,000ft. It takes over an hour to cover the 18 miles of trail to get to the top. I photographed a tarantula on the way back down. It is an interesting drive. In the middle of the desert, in low spots, there will be groves of Sycamore trees, turning fall colors. Nice views up there too.
Originally posted by lisae: Did anyone do anything interesting over the weekend? (It's Sunday night here). Got any photos to share?
I attended classes as I do now every weekend, but it was neat. We have a scriptwriting for animation class with a woman who lectures at UCLA. She talks to us over a conference phone and webcam :). Then in the afternoon I had to design a character which I'll be making a maquette out of starting next week. I tried an idea for an evil, emaciated, bald fairy, but our teacher wasn't very impressed because it seemed too detailed. Then this morning we did some life drawing, and in the afternoon I worked on a walk cycle for a game we're developing in my Advanced 3D class...
I'm happy and busy, but no wonder I have no energy left over to vote or take photos :(.
I'm only rambling about this because it's so QUIET in here! Where did everyone go?
Originally posted by lisae: Did anyone do anything interesting over the weekend? (It's Sunday night here). Got any photos to share?
I attended classes as I do now every weekend, but it was neat. We have a scriptwriting for animation class with a woman who lectures at UCLA. She talks to us over a conference phone and webcam :). Then in the afternoon I had to design a character which I'll be making a maquette out of starting next week. I tried an idea for an evil, emaciated, bald fairy, but our teacher wasn't very impressed because it seemed too detailed. Then this morning we did some life drawing, and in the afternoon I worked on a walk cycle for a game we're developing in my Advanced 3D class...
I'm happy and busy, but no wonder I have no energy left over to vote or take photos :(.
I'm only rambling about this because it's so QUIET in here! Where did everyone go?
I've been shooting... my wife got me a Pentax ZX-7 with 28-90 and 100-300 zooms for my birthday (happy birthday to me!) so I've shot a lot of film this week. I'm in the playing-with-all-the-nifty-settings phase. LOL I'm anxious to see how they come out.
Hockey season has started so I'm spending a lot more time on the ice coaching.
I haven't been all that interested in the challenge subjects lately so I haven't been submitting. I tried submitting before when I wasn't into the subject. It showed in the results and I decided not to submit unless I had something I was satisfied with.
And, as someone else said, I'm tired of all the usual pointless arguments so I haven't even been participating in the forums. It's cyclical, I'm sure. Things will be back to normal in no time.
But for now... I'm having fun and staying busy. :)
