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DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Results >> Free Study entry: Why so many "2"??
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11/08/2012 01:22:01 AM · #1
Please help me with this result for my first FS entry:



With 123 votes I got:
18 "4s"
4 "3s"
9 "2s" (!)
1 "1"

Wouldn´t have expected that number of low scores results...Overall it ended with a "5" but the 9 "2s" ?
Whats wrong technically/with composition/ with colour? Or are apples simply not sophisticated enough for FS?
Neveretheless I got two very good comments during the vote. Thanks a lot for that, guys!

Please comment to help me learn.
Thank yu all!
11/08/2012 02:46:10 AM · #2
Left you this comment:
Originally posted by Comment by Art:

Technically a decent photo, but artistically "meh". It looks like a documentary type photo - a newspaper or catalog type shot. Not sure about the high number of 2 votes - that does seem odd, but sometimes there's no explaining voting patterns. Just can't dwell on it. Free Studies are very tough competitions and pulling a 5 for your first try is not bad at all. When I (rarely) enter a FS, I usually ask myself "is this something I or someone else would hang on their wall?". More emphasis on artistic qualities and WOW factor. Hope that helps.
11/08/2012 07:09:54 AM · #3
Left comment on image.
11/08/2012 07:31:45 AM · #4
I'll leave feedback on your entry but generally FS are expected to be of very high quality since one has a whole month to work on them. there is no DNMC and troll voting is usually a minimum from the sheer number of entries.

you image is lacking in many aspects and the voting confirms that. the only thing you can do is what you are doing ask for input.
11/08/2012 07:42:05 AM · #5
The twos vs. threes here seems to be just a statistical fluke. There are more twos than you'd expect, but fewer threes. There may be an underlying reason, or it might be just chance.
11/08/2012 12:57:51 PM · #6
Weccome to DPC (a little belated as you joined several months ago). Even ribbon winners get 1's and 2's so I would not worry about it. Free studies are tough, as there are some very good photographers here. A combination of your final score, your distribution (all clustered at 4-6 can imply a compentant but boring image, etc.), and comments should give you an accessment of how people judged your photo.
11/08/2012 01:08:07 PM · #7
Thank you all for your comments! That really helps seeing my pictures in a different and more objective way and improving my skills in photography (although I´m totally hooked about my first DSLR and the pictures I can produce with it).
And you´re right: There are a lot of really professional photographers to learn from. I highly appreciate the community and the help you all give to newbies like me.
11/08/2012 01:30:13 PM · #8
keep learning and keep entering, as you grow in your craft about a year down the road you'll look back at this and say to yourself, "yep, that's a '5' alright"
11/08/2012 01:32:17 PM · #9
Short answer: people want the Apple in a light box.
Slight longer answer: the photo is much too busy, especially the background (focus is great though).
The "2" vote answer: From what I've seen people vote harsher in FreeStudy, this is the best of the month after all. So those two's might have been "3's" or "4's" in a normal challenge, but get pushed a little lower due to more discerning eyes.
11/08/2012 01:44:57 PM · #10
Originally posted by jaysonmc:

Short answer: people want the Apple in a light box.
Slight longer answer: the photo is much too busy, especially the background (focus is great though).

That was my first impression too — get in closer to the real subject ...

I myself often submit photos which I find "interesting" but which will not be considered "compelling" by the majority of voters, and my scores will reflect that. However, I don't think the score is the most important thing about the photo.

If I were to make a single change to your picture it would probably be to give it a tighter, vertical crop, to focus in on the fruit and emphasize the descending lines, something like this ...

11/08/2012 01:45:48 PM · #11
Harsh mid-day shadows (shoot at dawn or dusk, the "golden" hours)

Subject is busy, cluttered, and generally unattractive.

Composition is weak, with a centered subject and clutter about the edges.

Horizon is off-level.

Image has been sharpened, leading to strangeness in the bokeh (see left hand, top quarter of image, especially the branch/sky transition and lichen on branch)

De-Noise would have helped smooth the bokeh out.

Sharpening halos.

Spots on the apples should have been cloned out to present an attractive subject (not legal in Basic or Minimal challenges)

---

Next time, try showing me just one apple, and make it the best darn apple you've ever seen a picture of, pay attention to the "big strokes" and forget the details, show me the sensual curves of the apple, show me the reason this caught your eye.. If you had done nothing but crop the image down to nothing but apples with a small bit of sky showing through, the score would have improved. Basically it's just too busy, with no story, no real point. I see it and think "apples" and I'm done. Give me something more to 'chew' on. :)

BTW: I know the above is super harsh, don't take it personally, it's just a very honest and critical analysis of the image, and doesn't in any way reflect upon you or your potential.

11/08/2012 01:55:16 PM · #12
I gave it a 1.
Cory nailed it bang on.


Message edited by author 2012-11-08 13:55:49.
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