 Ariel Lepor |
Winning the Contest Hi, everyone! I've been entering pictures for the last several months, and, even though I think I got some prize-winning shots from my Fuji, none of them (including the ladybug, flying hummingbirds, and resting hummingbird ones) even got to be a finalist! Is there something I'm missing? Can I improve in my photography? I'd like to know how to improve my photos (reason I use betterphoto), but people rarely if ever say to change something! So, does anyone have any ideas on how I could improve? (After all, if I'm doing everything perfect already, I'd win!) Thanks!!!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Bob Cammarata |
Look carefully at each photo you've taken and pretend you are seeing them for the first time. Be critical and cognizant of the subject of each and how it's presented...but not personally biased by the memories or passions you may have experienced while at the scene. This is how your photos (and everyone's) are judged. ...Couple that with the fact that many great images are passed over due to the sheer volume of entries each month. The greater the challenge the more satisfying the reward.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Craig m. Zacarelli |
dont sweat... perfection is Objective.. you can shoot a photo that is a complete work of art and if for one reason or another someone dont like it, they dont like it! I have just about given up with contests... I know I have some really good shots but they get overlooked, part of what Bob said about sheer volume of entries..so I just enter a couple now.. I dont care anymore...as long as I like my shots.. hey, by the way, I just sold my first four prints...three off my site and one that I printed out and framed and gave (a few ) to my sister to disply in her health club!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
I guess you're right, but I would appreciate it if people would help me be critical of my photos. Thanks, Bob.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Hey, sorry about that Craig. We posted at the same time and I just got back. And congratulations!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Sylvia Rossler |
Hi Ariel :O) I wouldn't expect that people critic your captures objectivly here on BP. It is kind of hard to critique a capture when 20 people before you say that the capture is beautiful and perfect.Noone likes to be the *badguy*. I took a look at your pictures and the first thing I saw is that in the most of your pictures the subject is right in the middle of the capture (against the rule of third of photography)This might be a reason why your captures are not chosen. Another fact that you shouldn't forget is that the judges have seen soo many captures of the same subject, so your captures needs to be something new, something original to attract their eyes. I hope my *speach* helped you a little bit :O) cya Sylvia
|
|
|
|
||
|
Brock E. Litton |
In my opinion one big thing you could change is the lighting conditions under which you shoot....the best shots you have are of the moon and the blue one with the moon in it...keep shooting and dont worry about the contests
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debbie Del Tejo |
There are times when I take photos upon photos....and I come to THE ONE. The one I love the best. The one that is perfect in MY EYES. I love this photo. If I love it and my heart is happy with it...I am satisfied. If someone else likes it, EVEN BETTER. Then I become estatic. Love your work not to please others first, but to please yourself. I am very critical of my work and enter the contest a lot. I have had one finalist and out of the tons they get here that enter that is ok and I was happy. Don't worry so much about the contest and be happy in your heart about your work. Bob gave great advice. The more you look at the WINNING photographs, the more you will learn. I am 53 years old and I am still learning...you just never ever stop learning. I for one, do give critique to photos when many people have said they liked it. I will point out something that maybe someone else overlooked. I critique only because I want people to learn and keep shooting, not because I think I am better. I have learned a great deal from this site. Don't give up! Keep looking at the winning photos and ask yourself how those compare to your shots. Composition, lighting and daring to be different is the quality I see most often in winning entries. I hope I helped a little bit.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Sakthik . |
Ariel Before posting your photos to the contest spend more time in judging your own work. Devide it into the following factors and judge it: 1. Focus and Sharpness. Once your photo qualifies all these factors I am sure it will fit into the Finalist list. To win the contest you need to make sure that your photo is creative and gives a new look. To win a grand prize, I dont think anyone could advice you on this. You never know on what criteria BP selects this. Remember, you may get 2 or 3 entries for finalist on the same category but Only ONE is going to win in that category no matter how good/stunning your other finalist entries are for that category. I have seen many winning shots in this site, no where same photographer is awarded more than once in the same category. If you need more finalists/winning shots, you need to work more on different categories. I hope it helps you. Cheers,
|
|
|
|
||
|
Craig m. Zacarelli |
About the rules of thirds... I *&$# Hate it! What do you do if... youre shooting a flower, thers NOTHING of ANY interest on either side or above it or below it.. if you place it to the left or right you have absolutly nothing in the other two thirds of the frame! To me, that looks totally rediculas...plus, dont forget, if you have a good background blur, whats the point of the thirds rule? Maybe its just me, I might be missing the point here but if you want to put the attention on the subject, who cares if theres nothing in the frame and the subject should be front and center... No?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Sylvia Rossler |
Hey Craig :O) I didn't make the rules !! It is like it is ! You don't cross a road when the light is red isn't it ? The're exeptions but if you look close to the winners of the last months, the most are applying those rules. You don't need to follow them, it is your own choice but then accept the consequences. I really don't want to offense anyone :O) Have a great weekend :O)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Willie L |
I know what your're missing... A PREMIUM GALLERY. Buy yourself a gallery and I guarantee you will get a win or 10.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Slim Brady |
Its just a contest, big deal, so what if you win. If you think your pictures are great, then you are the judge and the winner.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
WOW!!! Thank you everyone so much for all your responses! I would respond to them all - but with SO much help all I can say is I think everything everyone said is good and very helpful, except I'm not sure about these (but I thank them, too): Changing the lighting conditions. Why? I would figure people (at least I do) like bright pictures - not mainly dark ones with moonlight (the Mount Laguna Night one was really taken in the day, BTW, but I'm glad you like it!). Are you saying I should have more variety, Brock? You know, I've been planning to do some cool landscapes (with different types of lighting and exposures), once I get the chance. Is that you mean? Rule of thirds: I think Craig is right - would the rule of thirds work with my moon shot, for example? But you're right, too. About half (though not all) of the winning photos incorporate the rule of thirds. One of the eight things Sakthik mentioned was composition. I think this covers the rule of thirds, but only when appropriate. I think it's a good idea and I'll incorporate the rule of thirds more often, though. (In fact, I recently changed two hummingbird shots to include the rule of threes.) The final thing I'm not so sure about is the premium gallery. I don't think the judges are so stingy as to not to award someone a prize just to avoid giving them a free gallery. I think I've seen small galleries with (first place) winning photos or finalists, anyway. It would give me the chance to show off more of my work, however! So thanks, but I still think I'll stick with a free gallery until I win second place. Thanks again to all for all your excellent help, which I (mostly) plan on incorporating!!! Have a good weekend, everyone!!!
|
|
|
|
||
- Dr Silly Contact Dr Silly Dr Silly's Gallery |
Having a premium gallery WILL NOT get you a finalist. I never had anything but a premium gallery and have never had a finalist. I know people with a free gallery who do. But a premium gallery will display you photos better. The way to get true critic on your photos is to ask someone to give you true critic. But in general most people only say good things about you photos. Just bump a nose and have fun with your photography. Doc
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Thanks, Dr. Silly. By the way, you really gotta get that nose checked out.
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Dr Silly Contact Dr Silly Dr Silly's Gallery |
I had my nose checked out and they told me there is not a thing wrong with my nose. It's the rest of the face. My face is to small for my nose and I need a face transplant. :O)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Irene Troy |
Hi Ariel – I don’t enter contests simply because #1, I am not all that competitive; and # 2 (the main reason) I do not think that my photos are winning material – YET. Having stated all of this, I also took a look at your gallery and (don’t scream at me people!): IMHO, your images are not quite “there” YET. In some ways this should be seen as good news – you have room for improvement and learning. Others have already spoken to the issue of sharpness and lighting. Yes, people enjoy images that are clear and lit in a manner that showcases the subject the best; however, while lighting is somewhat subjective, I have noticed that many of the images I really admire (and there are thousands here of this type) are made in either the light of very early morning or late day. When the sun is low on the horizon the light can be amazing and result in amazing images. Your hummingbird shots, while nice, need a little work. If “oooo what’s that I see” had been my image I would have cloned out that piece of branch that cuts across the bird; In the garden is not great – sure it’s sharp, but you cannot really see the bird’s eye which is always the most important part of an animal image; “Blink” is a great image – however, (and believe me, I know I am being picky, but that is what you asked for) the colors are off just a bit. Too much green seems to throw off the entire image somewhat. You can take care of this using the color adjustment in PS or another editing software. “Bird Fight” is another good image that just misses greatness because of two things I notice: one is the depth of field which, IMHO, should be shallower so as to focus attention solely on the birds and that sharpness issue once again. “Airborne” and “You looking at me” both suffer from lack of sharpness. “You looking at me” is also somewhat too busy – perhaps if you could have isolated the one gull more it might work better. “Mountain View” is one of the few images in your gallery that, again IMHO, should not be there. It is really not representative of your full ability. The scene is nothing much and the exposure is nothing great. When making scenics try not to divide land and sky in half (half sky, half land). Also, I have found that scenics are vastly improved when shooting during the golden hours of early/late day. “Leaf Bug” is also not your best work. The bug is hard to see against the plant. Try using a larger aperture and zooming in closer. Also, if you are not already using a tripod – get one and use it as much as possible! Someone once told me that the simple act of using a tripod will vastly improve your images. First, it can help resolve the sharpness issue and second it makes you slow down and think about your image. Anyway, take everything I say with a grain of salt. I readily admit that many of my images are “not there yet” and I am still learning. Perhaps I can see the flaws in other’s work because I am so tuned into the faults in my own. At any rate, keep working and shooting images as much as you can. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t win. And, don’t believe the people who tell you that you have to either buy a gallery or take a class at BP to win! That’s BUNK! Just look at the winners who do not ever buy anything here. Just keep submitting, if that it what you wish and listen to what feels right to you. Irene
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jagadeesh Andrew Owens |
I started posting on this site as soon as I got my first digital camera. I then started posting and entering more prolifically when I got my first digital SLR. I thought all my photos were great, prize worthy, but then I had to step back and really look. What I thought was so great was the ability of my macro lens to make a bug look 10 feet tall and as sharp as hell. I had to realize that ANYBODY with the same lens could do this! I had to take that technology and apply it to my own creativity, composition, and artistic eye! It's not enough that you can get right in there with a macro lens, or that you can stop a hummingbird's wings midflight using a 1/8000 sec shutter speed! There has to be a new angle, a special element, to that tiny bug or wing stopped in midflight. Don't get me wrong, I'm still growing and learning, and a lot of my shots are not that great, and may be cliche. The hard thing about photography (in my humble opinion) is seeing something in a way that no one has seen it before, and then actually capturing it! Best of luck to you!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Thank you, Sipho, I think you're right. Dr. Silly, if you want a cheap face transplant, just go to your local costume store! I'm sure you'll find one to match your nose. Of course, then you'll need a bigger body to go with your face.
Now, what you said about using a tripod apply even when trying to shoot moving birds with a fast shutter speed? Seems it would unnecessarily hinder my agility. Now. "“oooo what’s that I see” had been my image I would have cloned out that piece of branch that cuts across the bird" What do you mean 'cloned'? I don't have photoshop, so that may be a problem. I do, however, have Picture It! 2002 and Picasa2. For "in the garden" (my first hummingbird shot), I would like it sharper still, but about the bird's eye - all this time I thought that light feather above it's eye WAS it's eye! WOW! Now for "blink". What do you mean the colors are a bit off? It was surrounded by sunlight leaves, so that's why it's green. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could correct the colors (make them warmer/cooler, add a slight tint?)? "Bird fight". Boy, I was so excited to get that picture! I was using full zoom, and there is some DOF, but the leaves were so close to the hummingbirds! The f/# could have been lower, but then I would have had to lower the ISO to 200 and slow the shutter a little - which would have made the wings more blurry (http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.php?photoID=2035377). "“Airborne” and “You looking at me” both suffer from lack of sharpness. “You looking at me” is also somewhat too busy – perhaps if you could have isolated the one gull more it might work better." Well, they were taken with the old hp, had held. I agree with you, though, and I always try to get better versions of those shots (sharper and only one bird per picture) every time I go to the lake. "Mountain view". I actually am pretty fond of this one (maybe because it was just about the most beautiful scenes I've seen in my life - I haven't traveled a lot). And I actually plan on trying more photography in early morning/late afternoon - I've just been kinda busy and haven't been able to go out photographing then yet. How do you suggest improving on this picture, aside from not using the hp and doing it when the sun's low in the sky? Use my wide angle lens? Have more mountain? More sky? Leaf bug. The first picture I took which I thought was good. I couldn't control the conditions like you suggest then (I only had an hp point and shoot). Next time I take a bug shot like this, though, I'll use more zoom and get more DOF. And I'll try to increase my tripod use, too. :-) Thanks again for all your help, everyone!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Hey, Irene and everyone else, could you give me your opinions of what could be improved with my other pictures, as well? Would the rule of thirds or zooming in more be better for the ladybug picture? Does my "Anna's Hummingbird" have all the right aspects to it? Can "Wus up?" be improved in some way? Is my Beach picture better than my mountain view picture in any ways? Is my worried fly picture just right? Should I change the way I take flower pictures? Thanks!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debbie Del Tejo |
Ariel, I don't know if you have taken any photography classes, but maybe one or two would not hurt if you have not done so. Anyone here can give you advice but it is up to you to like your photos...... Remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.......if I say I love one photo someone else might say I hate it. The same goes for life....some people like classical music while others like jazz....some like modern art and some say it is junk. I think a class with the right teacher and students would help you very much.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Peggy J. Maguire |
Ariel,work on your shapness,it will all come in time..Peggy
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Thanks for the advice, Debbie and Peggy. I think I'll follow it.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Irene Troy |
Hi Ariel – okay, you have heard from many different sources and I am going to add my two cents worth about taking classes. I have taken 5 classes here at BP and I have learned a great deal in each class. Before taking my first class I actually thought that my images were good. Perhaps it was a case of not knowing enough to know what I was seeing (if that makes any sense). I quickly learned what made a good image great and where I was falling short. Tearing apart each of your gallery images is really not that useful since you may never shoot the same type scene again. I urge you to consider an online class here – I have taken classes with Kerry Drager and Brenda Tharp and can highly recommend either of them. I am hoping to take a class with Jim Zuckerman soon – I love his work and he teaches several classes that would be good for my needs. I am fairly sure that most of the instructors here are about as good as you will find anywhere. Reading the lessons and doing the assignments gives you such an amazing opportunity to explore new principals and almost immediately get feedback on your own images and progress. Also, sharing your images with classmates and learning to critique both your own and other people’s images is invaluable. My ability to create good images has dramatically increased through class work, reading and simply persevering by creating many not so great images. I am still learning – which I hope will always be the case – but today I am more confident that I am creating an image that will accurately reflect what my eyes see. I have just sold a series of images to accompany an article I wrote – I am primarily a writer who is trying to be a photographer – and owe thanks to people like Brenda and Kerry for what I learned in their classes. You have to let yourself fail in order to finally succeed and you have to be able to know what success really is and that, IMHO, takes experience and knowledge.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Thank you, Irene, I'll will consider what you said. Maybe I'll take a class here or at a local college or something. ;- )
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||