So this is nowhere near where I live but if you didn't know that until you read this then it doesn't really matter does it? ;)
This was taken during the Auckland GTG:
Editing Steps: Convert single exposure from RAW in 0.5 steps from -2 to +2
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Levels 0, 0.61, 255 on sky
Levels 0, 1.06, 255
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Post Challenge: Well, I expected some feedback after the challenge but not the abuse and name calling in the comments and also this thread. Not a single DPC rule was broken with the submission of this image but many people decided that because I explicity didn't follow the challenge description (which isn't part of the challenge rules) that I should be branded a liar, a cheat, and a d**k in one case.
I thank those of you who could enter the debate with some civility. I remind those of you who did not that the site rules state "you may not...offer slanderous, rude, profane or inflammatory comments."
Statistics
Place: 5 out of 135 Avg (all users): 6.8355 Avg (commenters): 7.3684 Avg (participants): 6.6207 Avg (non-participants): 6.9681 Views since voting: 5586 Votes: 152 Comments: 74 Favorites: 3 (view)
I just came across this again and was just reading back through the comments in amazement at the vast amount of outage.
Love the fact you marked them all as helpful though!
Nice shot, didn't belong in the challenge, but hey, what can you do, I would imagine there were many more other than yours in the exact same situation, only difference is that you pointed it out!
I think people on DPC are far too kind , you should be DQ'd , end of story, what I do not understand is that someone with obvious talent is so shallow as to cheat in the hope of a ribbon.I would like to post a small challenge directly to you in the hope that you can redeem yourself , post a picture using the rules as stated for this challenge and prove what a good photographer you are, I have looked at your portfolio and am pretty sure you can come up with something. Good Luck
I agree. Pretty disgusting. Wish I could withdraw my vote. Good to see people are upset about this cheap behavior, though.
I'm not a fan of people breaking the spirit of the challenge. I think it's kind of sad really - it defeats the purpose of this kind of challenge.
Having said that, I think you're being singled out pretty unfairly considering how many times this has happened in the past without the incredible backlash I see here.
I gave you a 9 in good faith. You might keep your place but you definitely don't deserve it, and I consider you to be a cheat because the instructions were so specific, and you so flagrantly thumbed your nose at them, that that is the only conclusion to be drawn IMO.
My word, I have to say I am a little taken aback by the hostility here - at least you were spared a ribbon, you'd have been crucified (photo opoportunity for 'religion'?). We all knew that there was potential for people to actually shoot wherever they wanted. There are a whole bunch of images that could've been taken anywhere; what mattered in this challenge was whether the photographer made an interesting image from what was in front of them - I think you did an OK job with a great scene, nothing amazing or unique but competent.
Come on people no one died and I read the notes as written with a clear and cheeky sense of humour, nothing malicious at all (can that be said for all of the comments?). You really think misjudging an audience and deploying a poorly received bit of jokery warrants this degree of abuse?
We see DNMC all of the time. Is this really so different?
For me, the most important thing is that we all had a legitimate opportunity to ask ourselves if Nuzzer made the most of this scene - did you take yours? Or were you seduced by the scenery?
If people continue to score on the quality of the eye candy rather than scoring photographic interpretation and vision, then this is an inevitable consequence... and perhaps even a useful reminder.
[edited for punctuation - initially composed on my iPhone]
Holy cow.. .I've never seen comments like this and they bum me out for you...actually, I'm shocked.. I'm sorry and I hope you don't let it get you down.. I'm not sure why it's not ok to do what you did, but it is ok for this public lashing.. one reason this site really sucks sometimes is the nasty words left for others.... No matter to me as I don't care about following the "rules" in this context... Your image didn't break any rule THIS SITE has implemented..It's a nice shot and it deserved the spot the voters gave it..
There was a challenge a couple of years ago where you had to submit a 2 second shutter speed. One of the ribbon winners was clearly not within the guidelines and he copped about as much flack as you are right now. His image is still one of utter amazement but he will still be remembered for his cheating'. Sometimes we get remembered more for the negative things, but the fact remains, that you have a beautiful image and that is something to be proud of. You are not going to be able to change how people choose to see this image...so concentrate on the positive. At least you admitted that this is not 47 steps from your house. How many others in this challenge are within the same boat but won't admit it without being confronted.
Take the fame of your image and do with it what you will....but don't let it get you down.
This coming from someone else who did the same thing? Come on!
Does it matter? Absolutely. We trusted you to follow the rules. Purposely breaking the Challenge rules without even a hint of it being legitimate is really low.
I agree with the others. I mean you could easily have entered this in a free study. I mean they happen often enough right?
I would say that the attitude is even a step beyond childish. Arrogant is suitable and I don't think it would be a stretch to say it's quite rude to everyone else who entered in the spirit of the challenge.
I mean what's the point? You just wanted to win? Why not enter yourself in the kiddie foot races at your local elementary school? You'd be guaranteed a win. OK, so that's a pretty silly example, but is it any more childish? Or would it be more anal for the rulekeepers to DQ you from such a race on the grounds that you aren't in the same class?
I'd say that it's a no-brainer, but whatever. Best choice at this point would be a self-DQ. But the gall that you showed in entering in knowing disregard for the guidelines for this challenge is quite offensive.
This just cheapens DPC and encourages others to cheat. It is a real bad message for new comers. I have to say that if most people on this forum had the chance to shoot that same scene they would do it as well, or much better. So, what have you proven? The setting is spectacular, but I honestly do not see that you have done anything more than capture it as a snap shot and gotten to the front page by cheating.
The editing is actual quite poor with a sloppy selection between land and sea. I encourage others to look closer.
I challenge you to have some balls and DQ yourself.
There was a challenge a couple of years ago where you had to submit a 2 second shutter speed. One of the ribbon winners was clearly not within the guidelines and he copped about as much flack as you are right now. His image is still one of utter amazement but he will still be remembered for his cheating'. Sometimes we get remembered more for the negative things, but the fact remains, that you have a beautiful image and that is something to be proud of. You are not going to be able to change how people choose to see this image...so concentrate on the positive. At least you admitted that this is not 47 steps from your house. How many others in this challenge are within the same boat but won't admit it without being confronted.
Take the fame of your image and do with it what you will....but don't let it get you down.
I think people on DPC are far too kind , you should be DQ'd , end of story, what I do not understand is that someone with obvious talent is so shallow as to cheat in the hope of a ribbon.I would like to post a small challenge directly to you in the hope that you can redeem yourself , post a picture using the rules as stated for this challenge and prove what a good photographer you are, I have looked at your portfolio and am pretty sure you can come up with something. Good Luck
What fun is a challenge if you cheat to get a score? I'm pretty sure I'm happier with my personal best score than you are with your placement. why, because I followed the rules and made it obvious. Hope you enjoy not having any dignity!
i don't care if you lived there or not! im sure many more people didn't meet the challenge criteria, they just didnt say anything about it! still deserved 5th place!! great shot! :]
Funny that it got an "Honorable" Mention. Kinda ironic. Good example of why these sorts of challenges should be gotten rid of, some people will handicap themselves by limiting themselves to the challenge wording.
Very tacky. I hope you enjoy your undeserved 5th, and are proud of yourself for pushing down those who actually made an honest effort to meet the challenge.
you should have come in last... i knew some people would lie about it... after all theres really no way to regulate it. i wish the mods would DQ you... you dont deserve 5th place
So this is nowhere near where I live but if you didn't know that until you read this then it doesn't really matter does it? ;)
I guess it doesn't if you don't have a conscience, and I would have to say in the spirit of this challenge that you don't. Shame too because its a beautiful photo, but will always have an * next to it in many peoples book.
lots of gullible people here =)
Great shot. I was considering cheating too but something like this would have been way too many steps to do without taking the week off.
This is a nice shot and all, but even though you fooled the voters, I don't think it's in the spirit of the challenge to just go out and shoot a nice landscape, regardless of the challenge description.
Ohhhh, I think I'm going to have to hate you. Jealousy is swallowing me whole :). But this is perfection -- so jealous or no -- it gets a 10 from me! You are BLESSED!
I'm not buying it. Do you live on a rock sir? Besides, this is a shocker. It's over-sharpened, too much neat image and HDR isn't even real photography. Did you photoshop the clouds too? Bleh, back in my day....
p.s. you forgot the dust bunnies in the top right corner.
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