Author Topic: critique for juried competition  (Read 1918 times)

gregor

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critique for juried competition
« on: July 16, 2009, 09:09:32 PM »
My local supplier has an annual juried competition for low fi photography - anything with a plastic lens or pinhole. I'm having a hard time narrowing my entry down. Critiques & comments would be greatly appreciated. 

As follows these are:

#1: fujipet w/nd filter & ointment on filter.
#2: Diana
#3: Diana
#4: holga
[edit - adding one more]
#5: Diana

Thanks in advance - I could really use the rolls of film & store gift card awarded ;-)

[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
« Last Edit: July 17, 2009, 12:05:18 AM by gregor »

gothamtomato

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2009, 09:44:58 PM »
I'm partial to the last one. But I'd also do some research, if you can, to check out the kinds of images that have won in the past, to see if they have a certain aesthetic they go for (will  only matter, I suppose, if the judges are the same every year).

But it might help to know if they prefer traditional, or contemorary, etc.

gregor

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2009, 10:01:05 PM »
I'd also do some research, if you can, to check out the kinds of images that have won in the past, to see if they have a certain aesthetic they go for (will  only matter, I suppose, if the judges are the same every year).

Quality art photography shots are what they are looking for.  Past winners have varied in subject matter and style.

tinm@n

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2009, 11:33:22 PM »
for me number 2 is strongest image,
1 and 4 seem a bit messy and less pleasing to my eye
3 is good too but much prefer 2
« Last Edit: July 16, 2009, 11:54:47 PM by tinm@n »

hookstrapped

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2009, 03:15:02 AM »
#2 or the last one

tijeras

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2009, 06:16:54 AM »
third one seems to be a timeless classic.
It's my pick of the litter.    :)

moominsean

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2009, 01:18:15 PM »
last for me. second would be second choice...
"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
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gregor

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2009, 06:24:35 PM »
hey everyone - thanks for the comments so far.  Please feel free to critique if you want - that never hurts (actually sometimes it does but in a good way).

I'm leaning toward 3 or 5, but all are still in consideration.  I have 2 weeks to decide....
« Last Edit: July 21, 2009, 03:20:11 AM by gregor »

Stu

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2009, 01:47:03 PM »
Numero Deux

db

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2009, 05:13:37 AM »
OK The pics hit me this way..

1 The fujipet shot has a lovely Alice in Wonderland whimsy about it, especially in the tones you've presented. But I'm not sure if that's enough to bring home the bacon

2 Curly stairs are always dynamite for a composition. They invite the viewer to follow them, then tease by dipping out of sight. In this case I reckon the top and left of the image is not working hard enough and I'd sacrifice the Diana neg edge and crop this image tighter

3 A nice landscape and I'd like to fish there maybe, but it doesn't have the Zing factor to make me put it on the wall. A bit 'safe', especially compared with your more experimental shots

4 I do like the repetition created by the multi exposure, although that also complicates the composition, when you may need strong initial impact of simple shapes to grab the judges eye. The stairs do that much better. And I keep feeling bugged about that figure, front left

5 The street scene is almost the winner by a long way. You've created fantastic mood and atmosphere with all the narrative potential street photography can generate. But the 'subject' my eye is drawn to is a dark shape that frustrates closer inspection. Can you do another scan to pull any small details out of that seated person's face or clothes, and then comp it in to this base exposure? Yes, I know that's a digital fix in a analogue pic... but you could otherwise try the same thing with some tight dodging or selective bleaching in the darkroom -if that helps justify the work  :)

Just my 5c worth- Goodluck with the comp.
db

gregor

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Re: critique for juried competition
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2009, 04:14:23 PM »
Don:

Thanks for the thoughtful critique. Each point touches on some aspect of the photo being addressed photo that is easily 'overlooked.'  So again, thanks for taking the time to write your comments.

#5 is where I've been leaning and I'll totally agree that the lack of detail in the central figure is a substantial flaw in the image. It's a lowlight shot on a winter's morning around 6 am - 4 seconds, handheld - and the detail on the negative will be hard to pull out, given both his dark clothes and dark complexion. 

I'll work on that, before going the PS route (although photoshop would be the easy way to do it) and post a jpg here.  I'm sure it will take several attempts to pull that out out: a good day's worth of work, but it will be worth it !