I think it would be helpful to both the new members and the people that enter challenges, if a person had to vote and comment on a couple of challenges before they can actually enter one. That would help them get to know a little bit about the site, learn what pictures do well and get to know some of the people here. I wish I had waited a bit before I entered a challenge.
*members = anyone who wants to enter a challenge, whether paying or non-paying
I think it would be helpful to both the new members and the people that enter challenges, if a person had to vote and comment on a couple of challenges before they can actually enter one. That would help them get to know a little bit about the site, learn what pictures do well and get to know some of the people here. I wish I had waited a bit before I entered a challenge.
*members = anyone who wants to enter a challenge, whether paying or non-paying
That's pretty much what I did. First 2 challenges that I voted for,I actually commented on every photo in the challenge.
I didn't get my foot wet for a month and then entered my first challenge.
I am not sure if this should be a rule, it might prevent people from joining, which would be a shame.
Having said that, I waded in with challenges from the start and regret doing so. Some of my first entries I now look at and shudder. Had I been forced to wait out a little I would never have entered the first challenges I did, and not have some attrocious scores against my name.
Maybe make it as a SUGGESTION when people sign up?
I'm so implusive, I jump right in. But I do follow rules pretty good and something like this would have slowed me down a bit.
EDIT
Sorry, I was typing. It would discourage some people, but then if you make it something someone has to earn, maybe they would put more thought into it.
I found DPC on a Sunday night about 2 hours before the "deadline." i grabbed my camera, shot, entered, got a lousy score.
Looking back, I grin and cringe at some of my earlier submissions, but I can honestly say that at the time, that was the best I could do. If I had waited a week or two, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it, thus not learning as much as I have (doesn't mean I always apply it :-P).
Perhaps as a suggestion, as someone else mentioned.
I found DPC on a Sunday night about 2 hours before the "deadline." i grabbed my camera, shot, entered, got a lousy score.
Looking back, I grin and cringe at some of my earlier submissions, but I can honestly say that at the time, that was the best I could do. If I had waited a week or two, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it, thus not learning as much as I have (doesn't mean I always apply it :-P).
Perhaps as a suggestion, as someone else mentioned.
I had almost the same experience, just exactly one week later.
I've only stuck with it by exercising the discipline to enter (almost) every challenge.
I spent a couple of weeks voting before I entered - mostly to get the courage up to put something in! At that point I'd only just got my 602 and didn't really know what aperture or iso meant.
I made a promise to enter the next week, then almost changed my mind when the topic was '7 Deadly Sins'. What the **** do I shoot for that?!
After taking my shot I spent the rest of the week worrying that it would be 'off-topic' (LOL!). A friend persuaded me to leave it in.
I pulled a 6+ with my first ever studio shot, so maybe the 2 week build up did help.
