I don’t know if this is an appropriate request.
If it’s not, please just tell me and I’ll delete it.
My son grayo just enrolled in DPC. He is 11.
I think he has a good sense of composition, colour and attention to details.
He has already done some very nice pictures. (Of course I can’t be very objective :-)
Something more, I think that participating in DPC may be a funny way for him to progress not only in photography but also in English.
He submitted a picture in the “match” challenge.
I know that the picture was not a good one and maybe I should have discouraged him to submit it but I haven’t done it.
He liked his picture and wanted to share it.
And then he was quite desperate when he saw the score ( a completely deserved one)
He interpreted it as a sure sign he is bad in photography in general and not just that this picture was bad.
I know loosing is a part of the learning process but it’s so hard when you are a pre-teenager.
Would you be so kind to leave him some encouraging messages?
P.S. He entered the "entrance" challenge and his picture scores much higher :-)
Do not get discouraged! Keep taking pictures! The more pictures you take the more you learn and your skills will grow.
And a big pat on the back for Mom for being a support network and encouraging Rossen to try. I know where you are coming from as that my 8 year old has participated in some challenges and was disappointed with her first two scores, 5.0174 & 4.5374. She wanted to get in the 6 range:-) It is hard when a parent sees their child get discouraged but it makes it all the more important to continue to encourage them and be supportive. There is always the next challenge and as you mention he is doing much better in his second challenge - which will be a good discussion point for you and your child to explore what the pros & cons of the two photos are. He has your support & encouragment which will help him grow in his skills. And in all too short of a time your child will eventually take some pictures that are better than your own - which is what I am seeing with my 8 year old:-)
Before your son (or anyone else) gives up on their photography, and brands themselves as talentless hacks, please read this article: The Myth Of Talent
And then go and look at the portfolios of goodman and SandyP. Those are two photographers who started off here scoring pretty low, but now consistently generate great images and high scores.
"Talent is a set of skills you develop over a long time through desire"
grayo should keep practising. He's only 8 now - by the time he's 18 he could easily be talented enough to make a living from this stuff.
Grayo if you love taking pics then that is what you must do - I started out in the UK taking out of focus flowers and burning through film like there was no tomorrow - I didn't have the luxury of getting ANY feed back via a great site like this. I just carried on and started to get better and better - It's one of those things you just have to keep trying at. Just like those stunt guys that jump over cars - They started on little BMX bikes jumping mud hills and crashing a lot!
After many hard years of putting myself through college etc I am now lucky enough to live in LA and travel the world taking pictures for a living. Do not be disheartened by one bad score - There will be plenty more. Get this my first entry into a challenge here barely reached over a score of 4 - And I am supposed to be a professional!!! So good luck and keep competing.
Jeff
