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I gave up; there's only so much rejection I can take.

I submitted some really good photos, all were rejected.

I'd like it if there were clearer selection criteria posted somewhere. I've been seeing lots of heavily PP'ed and HDR images. I always kept PP to a minimum as per the posted guidelines, and I really think I was penalised for not "sexing up" my photos in post.

But, the rejection was getting me down, so I stopped submitting. I think PPG is marketing disaster for Pentax. It's really turned me off the brand, and I'm sure I'm not the only user that feels this way.

My next camera is a 5DMII.
 
Are you saying that you submitted really good photos to the PPG that were rejected because of something someone else did, and you are switching brands because of it?

That's heavy.....
--
'Things have a way of revealing themselves to you, if you're quiet, and
you're listening.'

Roughly quoted from artist George Perrou.

GMT minus 7
http://www.gorgephotos.com/

 
I have voted a bit lately, but I haven't been through more than 5 or 6 pages, so I didn't make it to the end. It's interesting to hear that the submissions are apparently down.

Maybe it's just happenstance.

--
'Things have a way of revealing themselves to you, if you're quiet, and
you're listening.'

Roughly quoted from artist George Perrou.

GMT minus 7
http://www.gorgephotos.com/

 
seanessy said:
But, the rejection was getting me down, so I stopped submitting. I
think PPG is marketing disaster for Pentax. It's really turned me off
the brand
Click to expand...
I'm not sure I follow. Is there a C*non Photo Gallery with more relaxed standards?
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper
 
All I'm saying is that I think that the submission guidelines are being successfully ignored- Lots of HDR and heavily PP'ed work gets accepted, wheras my files- largely unmodified- are consistently rejected. Is PPG a showcase for the craft of photography, or for Photoshop skill?

PPG provides no feedback-even a rudimentary rubric of some kind would be good.
Because there's no feedback, the experience has been completely negative for me.

Why should I keep submitting?

What are the criteria for acceptance into PPG? How much post can I do on my files?

I've just been really discouraged by PPG. I'm still taking photos with my K10, but I'm really reluctant to submit them anymore. I'm happy with them, my family is happy with them, so why should I let PPG, or anyone, discourage me from doing what I enjoy?

I know I'm being a bit of a baby here, and I know that C or N have no gallery like this. I'm just tired of being told my best work isn't good enough. How does one judge photos objectively, anyway?

Anyway, thanks for all your kind words of encouragement- yet another reminder that I should spend LESS time here, and more time with my camera.
 
I've tried to see if there are any "trends" to those accepted into the PPG and I don't think they select one style over another. My submission to acceptance ratio is probably somewhere around 20:1, but I keep trying and enjoy the challenge.

Years ago (in the Middle Ages when I was in college) I was fortunate to have three semesters of instruction by a professional large-format landscape photographer. We had weekly critiques, and those critiques really weeded out the insecure people from those with thick skin wanting to learn from their mistakes (or better put, learn from their inexperience.)

I'll never forget how the Professor one week critiqued our dry-mounted photos. He took a ball-point pen and looked at each of the student's photos and circled each dust speck. (Destructive criticism?) It seemed cruel at the time, but you can bet your bottom dollar that darkroom / enlarger dust was never a problem with the students after that weekly critique!

Hang in there...challenges can be fun.
--
Ron Johnson
Brigham City, Utah; At the top of the Great Salt Lake
GMT-7 Mountain Standard Time

The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked.



http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/ronaldgjohnson
http://www.pbase.com/ronaldgjohnson
 
Thanks, Zion.

I guess I need feedback on my work from people who are not worried about hurting my feelings.

I stopped submitting to PPG because there's no opportunity for growth, no feedback, only a growing sense of failure.

I'll try again.
 
Post some of your best photos in to this thread and ask comments
 
seanessy said:
PPG provides no feedback-even a rudimentary rubric of some kind would
be good.
Because there's no feedback, the experience has been completely
negative for me.
Click to expand...
Well, you don't usually get feedback from galleries. They either take your work in or leave it out.

Agreed, it would be much more valuable to us if we would get feedback. You always can post the rejected images here and people will tell you what they think.
seanessy said:
Why should I keep submitting?
Click to expand...
At the end of the day you are the only one to decide that.
seanessy said:
What are the criteria for acceptance into PPG? How much post can I do
on my files?
Click to expand...
Well, as it sounds you took a look at the recent additions to PPG. That will give you a rough guideline of what you can get away with ;)

I have read of people resubmitting after increasing saturation. I haven't (but then I do change gamma and contrast a bit usually which brings out more saturated pics anyways).
seanessy said:
I've just been really discouraged by PPG. I'm still taking photos
with my K10, but I'm really reluctant to submit them anymore. I'm
happy with them, my family is happy with them, so why should I let
PPG, or anyone, discourage me from doing what I enjoy?
Click to expand...
If that's what happens then you shouldn't submit anymore. Be clear about that: What counts is if you like the shots you take! Even if the rest of the world don't like them it doesn't matter that much. Don't do photography to please others (unless you are a professional, of course), do it for yourself.
seanessy said:
I know I'm being a bit of a baby here, and I know that C or N have no
gallery like this. I'm just tired of being told my best work isn't
good enough. How does one judge photos objectively, anyway?
Click to expand...
On your last question Jim (a.k.a. dotnik) came up with a good set of rules:

I quote here from http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=29876817
dotnik said:
This unique rating system is used:

1. Imagequality: sharpness / detail, color quality, contrast quality,
low noise, low distortion and correct perspective. 6 areas rated 0 to
3 for each image.

Please state if image quality has been changed for creative purposes.
Otherwise the image will be rated lower.

2. Scenequality: Subject quality, Composition. Eyecatching effect.
Quality of being at the right place at the right time. Mood.
Spontaneity (scenes with a twist).
6 areas rated 0 to 3 for each image.

3. Creativity: Camera handling. Post processing. Light quality.
Simplicity. Info quality. Extraordinary approach/result. 6 areas
rated 0 to 3 for each image.

The images are rated in 3 main categories:
1. Imagequality: 18 points possible
2. Scenequality: 18 points possible
3. Creativity: 18 points possible.
Click to expand...
This are the rules for the famous "inspiration challenge" series. I hope it will continue. If it does it would be a perfect place to get well funded criticism for your shots.
seanessy said:
Anyway, thanks for all your kind words of encouragement- yet another
reminder that I should spend LESS time here, and more time with my
camera.
Click to expand...
I see that you know how to get the right priorities! Keep shooting and keep submitting.

Prieni
--

There are two kinds of light--the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.
  • James Thurber
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/ralfprien
 
PPG is not a forum for critque .

I don't want to sound harsh but the rules haven't changed since you joined.

If you wish to have you photos critiqued there are lots of places on the Internet that do this.

You can even post them here for some really gentle critique (more like ego massaging) unless your images are really poor then people can be quite harsh.

I really don't understand why you thought you would get any feedback, and if you didn't why are you complaining you don't ?

Ppg is a gallery to showcase the best work a Pentax camera can do, this is decided by members then a board.

Unfortunately if the members or the board don't think you images are suitable then there not.

This does not mean there rubbish or even poor just not whats required for the gallery.
 
I'll reinforce what others have said.

Please yourself first. Don't try to figure out what they want to see at the PPG and taylor your images to that end. Create what you like and submit it, or don't submit it.

You have your own contract with the PPG. If you see heavily processed and/or HDR images being accepted, know that someone else decided that that's okay, but that you are choosing a different path. Your contract with the PPG and their contract with the PPG are (apparently) different, and that's okay.

BTW, I can tell you from experience that you can get images accepted that aren't over processed.

As others have said, the PPG is not about detailed critical feedback. You'll need to get that elsewhere. So, get the feedback elsewhere and submit your favorite images to the PPG, and beyond that, enjoy your photography.

Lastly, if you decide the PPG isn't for you, that's perfectly okay. The PPG is what it is and it's not for everyone. If you choose to continue submitting images, remember that your favorite work is still your favorite work, regardless of whether it gets accepted to the PPG or not.

T

--
'Things have a way of revealing themselves to you, if you're quiet, and
you're listening.'

Roughly quoted from artist George Perrou.

GMT minus 7
http://www.gorgephotos.com/

 
How relevant is the PPG anyway? Good for a little ego boost? As far as I can tell, I have received no reactions from the photos I have in PPG, and maybe no viewings. I can't imagine that someone would pick my name from the artist list and look at my photos.

Michael
 
Member said:
Member said:
I think they have accepted too many average shots and the PPG quality
was never high from the beginning.
--
Alan Chan
http://www.pbase.com/wlachan
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
If anything the standards at PPG have been climbing. The material submitted generally ranges from good to outstanding.

With such a bounty to choose from the images that get accepted are ones that Grab You By the Collar & Demand Your Attention. Once in a while I feel like I've been slugged in the gut when I look at a submission - those are the ones I defnitely vote up.

The only nit I would pick is what was earlier said, that sometimes the images look like they have a lot of PP work. Too much for my taste. But then, I can vote these types of images down and if enough people vote the same way then the image doesn't get accepted.
 
seanessy said:
I gave up; there's only so much rejection I can take.

I submitted some really good photos, all were rejected.
Click to expand...
Sure :-) I sometimes vote on the PPG and 80% of the pictures are just mundanes, not really bad, sometimes "almost there" but nothing really outstanding IMHO.

You're certainly not the first to whine and be discouraged though.
seanessy said:
My next camera is a 5DMII.
Click to expand...
Oh yes, that's obvious it will make you a much better photographer ;-)

--
Manu

 
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