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What Do Judges Look For ?


J.K

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A good topic this one.

 

I'm still very green when it comes to photography - composing the shot etc. At the end of the day, we all take photos of what we like to see. I'm certain that 99% of what I take is snapshot orientated. Occasionally, there's a bit of a flukey shot that might be better composed than the others I have taken.

 

I love this competition lark though, because it does make you think a little more about your photos.

 

For me, like a number have said already, there are usually pictures in amongst the pack that really stand out for me - it could be for a variety of reasons - the subject matter, the lighting, the contrast in the picture, the colours, the sharpness. It varies from photo to photo.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - if you find something attractive, you tend to be drawn towards it... :P

 

It doesn't matter a hang what type of camera you use to take the shot.

 

If I was judging, I would base my decision on what popped out at me from the screen.

 

If other people enjoy what you have taken, well that is a real bonus. I think that on this forum, that is genuinely the case - people are enjoying looking at what is a very diverse collection of photos from pros to beginners and in my eyes, its all good.

 

I'm finding that I am spending more and more time looking at the shots people take on this forum - in the competition, in the Photo of the Day. The standard is really great and I really do hope that no-one is put off from entering - that would be a big shame.

 

Andrew.

 

PS And to demonstrate my point, one of my favourite photos was Hellbelly's picture of a tub of Flora. I liked it, because it made me spray coffee on my PC monitor.

Edited by Westie

Westie.

 

If you're being chased by a police dog, try not to go through a tunnel, then on to a little seesaw, then jump through a hoop of fire. They're trained for that.

 

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as you say a good picture is a good picture ,whats difficult is when the required photo is more specialist especially wild life shots ,a stunning pic of a stag on a mountain top using a 3 trillion magnification long lens would definitely be higher up the list than a exact same photo using a puny compact with a tiny dot representing the beast in acres of country side.

general panoramas are not so much of a problem but the addition of other lenses make it that much better .

perhaps 2 winners should be awarded one for slr type cams and one for compacts.

even slr types have problems just think of the difference there would be if the subject was the country side and a wideangle dedicated camera was used as are some becoming as standard.

it may appear i am disgruntled at not having a slr but i didnt need one when i bought my compact ,i have several slr's lying about with lenses of all sizes but i never use them had they been digital that may have changed but film is boring waiting years to fill up a 12 picture roll and believe me that stag will definately see an 18 stone fatman in a yellow flourescent jacket creeping up close enough to fill the frame of my compact ,i would mind it filling my frame though! i love venison

Edited by chesters1

Believe NOTHING anyones says or writes unless you witness it yourself and even then your eyes can deceive you

None of this "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" crap it just means i have at least two enemies!

 

There is only one opinion i listen to ,its mine and its ALWAYS right even when its wrong

 

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I'm in a similar situation as clifftop in that I rarely agree that the 'top three' were the best three but the judging is subjective and I don't know that much about photos anyway so I'm perfectly happy with the selections.

 

I like this topic for the same reason I have enjoyed watching the comps and now, putting in an entry or three. The topic has made me think just as the comp requirements make me look around.

 

I suppose I'd have to say

1. Clear or if blurry, done in a way that adds to the theme of the comp. Usually clear.

2. Uncluttered. Needs an obvious subject and not a lot of distraction from that subject.

3. Interesting (to me so totally subjective).

 

On the last comp, one of the carnival photos Snatcher posted really grabbed me with the riot of bright colors. It absolutely violated my #2 so I guess I don't even follow my own rules for judging. :D :D

" My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!" - Harry Truman, 33rd US President

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Hi everyone,

 

Just came in to see how my little Farken the Ferret was fairing in the recent Comp. He IS the light of my life atm. We have lost him in the yard three times already though so my heart is not coping with the new experience of owning a ferret all that well.

 

Hi JK,

 

I really love it that you have listed originality as your second choice. When I started entering the comps, I had only ever photographed babies on a cheap camera, and so I thought that my strong urge to be as creative as original as possible was simply just to make up for lack of experience and quality in my photos. With the Communication Comp, I was obsessed with the idea of two snails connecting, partly because this site had drawn me into an interest in macro photography, but mostly just because the idea appealed to me so much. I wanted their antennas crossing at first, saying 'En Garde' and I got that but the photo I entered was the best choice. That photo took 3 days and 60 shots to get. We had about 8 snail actors and it was just a coincidence that one was light and one was dark in the final photo which I think adds to it by giving a contrast of colours and I felt giving a definite male/female vibe. But even with our new Canon and HB teaching me a little about the complexities and skills involved with taking a great photo, I am still drawn to an original idea first and foremost when looking at photos.

 

I think distance is really important too, a photo of a pile of dirt can grab you if taken up close, or in the case of landscape shots etc, if there is a prominent feature in the foreground, like Chippys Fallen Tree shot.

 

Crispness and Quality are vital obviously, however when I judged the Doggie Comp, even though I knew it had no chance of winning, I had to include the very blurry but awesomely creative shot of a 'mutt flying through the air'.

 

Colours are SO important. When looking through the ferret photos, he was amongst leaves in most of them and blended in to the background too much, the contrasting colour of the dirt in the chosen shot was the decision maker.

 

Lighting I am still learning about, it's one of those hidden things that makes a photo stand out. The difference between a professional looking and unprofessional looking photo. A 'trick' of the trade that we all become delighted to discover.

 

Composition I'm still learning about too. Like I said, I just like to get in close usually. Maybe try to keep it simple and avoid a cluttered background, not always possible with oportunistic photography obviously but helpfull for a staged photo.

 

So I think my Top 5 would be

 

Crispness/Quality

Originality/Interest Grabbing

Colours/Contrast

Composition/Distance/Uncluttered Background (does that all come under the same category)

Lighting/Mood

 

If anyone has wondered why I don't enter the Comps anymore. Don't know how to use the Canon and his Highness wouldn't let me anyway, and the Sony is full of dirt since it last went fishing. Not to mention a You Tube addiction.

 

Hope everyone is well,

 

Hi Rabster! 8^)

 

Tracy.

I hate getting up early, I didn't even realise there were two 6 o'clocks in one day!
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