What´s the problem? Just keep sending in entries and you´ll bury that bear deep in your portfolio when you have had experience participating in challenges and those 6+ scores keep pouring in. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has 4.* scores, well maybe not kiwiness but the rest of us mere mortals do :)
Don't worry about it. I've got lots of scores lower than that. I've been here a long time and been close to winning a ribbon a couple of times, but I still can't seem to stop myself from entering bad photos.
My first and still my worst - though I didnt think it was that bad. I entered this image just a day or so after finding out about this place. Probably a good thing as I didnt really understand what was going on here and the score (most likely since I cant remember to well) didnt really hurt that bad cause I didnt know any different. Just keep experimenting and entering. Its all good fun in the long run.
Looking forward to entering many more. It was so fun reading the comments on it and watching the voting. :)
Just for a little boost for you, here's a reworking of your image with better PP and some after-the-fact composition decisions made. These changes are NOT challenge-legal, of course, but they don['t represent that much of a change in your setup had you done them before shooting: some glass under the honeybear, some graduated light on the BG, a looser framing.
as entered
as modified
Here's an image I entered that has absolutely no reason for existing. Not only that, I was 10 months into my DPC experience when I created this monstrosity:
And you have to wonder what you were thinking? I always forget humor falls on deaf ears here with the DPC crowd.
MattO
What are you talking about? I found this one hilarious. Gross but hilarious.
Did you happen to notice the final score? And the bellcurve? Pretty bad for a photo that meets the description has decent focus and decent lighting. Its nothing earth shattering. But until the last day of voting was in the 4's.
I personally liked your photo. Even though I am not expert but I gave it a pretty high score. I am in the same boat as you. I entered my first challenge a week ago and I scored in the 4s. I got some great comments and I am looking foward to entering my next one. I am here to learn not win. :)
I lucked out for a change with this one. Rarely happens when I move outside of the norm. I was certain I'd end up with a 5.3 or something.
I was pretty sure this was going to be a Honey Challenge with gum, snot and the occasional Lolly Pop thrown in. Didn't foresee the huge wave of Post-It's that made it.
Here's an image I entered that has absolutely no reason for existing. Not only that, I was 10 months into my DPC experience when I created this monstrosity:
My first entry was so bad people thought I was doing a bad version of a completely different technique:
Read the comments on the lowest-scoring photos in each challenge; that's how I learned.
But also don't be afraid to enter stuff that isn't necessarily stunning. I learn on every entry, including the current two that are earning about 5.0. And sometimes I want to try things just to see what comes out.
