Help I Need Your Votes (Again)

[majomull]

I just spent a very enjoyable 20 minutes zipping through all the pictures in the thread- You Sir Have Talent!! I love the spooky woods shots and that church tryptich is amazing. Keep putting up your shots for those of us who have snapped more pics of our thumbs than anything else.

[Penfold]

Thank you for the kind comments.

Last Tuesday saw the second Print Merit competition for which I entered these.

Author Plots the Untimely Demise of a Pushy Photographer (18/20 and the biggest laugh of the night for the title)


An Unguarded Moment (17/20)


A Light Snack (15/20)


I'm very happy with the scores for the first two considering I don't generally do 'people photography' but these comps are a great way to try something different and, providing you get the right judge, some very useful feedback and constructive criticism.

[Catch-up]

Nice scores, well deserved!

[Tonyblack]

Wonderful!

[Batty]

Great pics, Penfold!

[Who's Wee Dug]

Great photos Penners, Steve, he just can't get out of that role can he.

[michelanCello]

You entered our picture?
Well done with the scores, Penners!

[Penfold]

Sorry mC, I really should have asked your permission beforehand but I thought it too good an opportunity to miss, compared with my other options. I'm just glad it done well.

It's now the second half of the season and this kicks off with a projected image competition next Tuesday. These are my efforts, so fingers crossed;

Rattus Norvegicus (A.K.A. Ratty on the Riverbank)


Catching the Late Train


Mind Yer Fingers, I'm Starvin'!

[meerkat]

I've said it before (somewhere) and I'll say it again... You are a genius!!!! My vote goes for the Swan!

[Catch-up]

Beautiful pictures Penfold! That little rat reminds me of two the girls used to have as pets.

[Penfold]

I just got back from the camera club and done about as well as I expected although the entries I really liked the judge marked way down and the photos I didn't think much of got marked high. (So much for my opinions!)

Anyway, mine were in the middle scoring range (albeit the lower end) but I don't think that anyone was helped by the judge having to race through the pics due to the volume of entries; there was a cock up in the first round meaning that peoples pics were not included back then and they were allowed to re-enter to be judged this time around.

Rattus Norvegicus (A.K.A. Ratty on the Riverbank): 17/20
Catching the Late Train: 16/20
Mind Yer Fingers, I'm Starvin'!: 16/20

[michelanCello]

That's excellent, Penners! Congrats!

[Catch-up]

Well done! How are the points awarded?

[Penfold]

I have no idea as some of the judging seems to be unexplainable. The judges are different each time and unconnected with the club (although they do get paid for their services). Most have Royal Photographic Society accreditations and also have done courses for judging. The things most judges have in common, however, are looking for composition ("Rule of Thirds" in particular), subject matter, sharpness, and exposure. Some judges also like abstract photos whilst others detest them (the same with cars, aircraft, or wildlife) and the whole matter becomes more subjective than technical. For example, tonight's judge ignored 'blown out' images (e.g. extremely overexposed sections of sky in a sunset shot, or an overexposed swan where the details are lost on the feathers to be replaced by a bright white patch), whereas another judge would severely penalize such an image.

My solarized boat in the Sussex Regnum Competition springs to mind; it came last in my round against nine other 'normal' photos but, having said that, so did all the other artistic style photos entered in the other rounds. Interestingly, anything with a bird (feathered variety) or a landscape scored very highly.

I hope this answers your question, Susanne, but if I get the chance later this year I intend to do one of the judging courses myself so I can understand some of what is going on.

[Catch-up]

That's interesting, and it must be a little frustrating! I do love the rat picture. Even though he looks like he's up to something, he looks so sweet against the grass and those tiny little flowers.