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Contest Worthy?

January 05, 2008, 08:56:59 AM

Hi All,
I know I've posted this is the past in the general section, but I (think) I plan on entering this in the WPPI 16x20 Portrait contest. I've never entered a contest before. I've tried to study the specs, and past winners, but my understanding of such things is still fairly limited.
If possible, I'd like to see how this would score (roughly). Another thing is, I have no title for this. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Cindy

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"I want to warn you, my photos will always be a bit more fantasy than reality."

Mike Hodgson

Reply #1 - January 05, 2008, 09:27:06 AM

When you run an action, sometimes tweaking needs to be done. You can do this by stopping the action in parts

#1 Man's eyes are overprocessed, hair on both needed erased back to have the details.
She's doing a great job acting, he looks too posed.
Catch lights dead center in the pupil, you could cloan it out and move it up a bit.
His hand, thumb poking her bust is in part.

Watch your darks, try to keep detail if there is some. In print, whites are 235-245 and darks are 10-20 below ten, It's black no details.

It's a work in progress it has lots of potential.

This image posted maybe a bad representation of the Original Printed Version, granted.

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Cindy Crabb

Reply #2 - January 06, 2008, 07:06:00 PM

Hi Mike,
Thank you very much, especially in the black and white spec area. I knew David Williams had told me that, but I had to dig it out again. I looked at the actual print, which is 20x24 in my sales area, and it's actually dead on to the rep here.
The only thing I can do at this point is go back to RAW, which I no longer have.

That being the case, I hope the panel doesn't mind me putting a few more up at a later date in the same regards. I had a crazy shooting schedule this weekend, and processing stacked up, so it might not be until next week before I can go through and find other possibilities.

Entering contest is a big thing on my mentors list this year, and I'm not always the best judge of my own files. (For professional reasons, it's not great that he looks at them just yet....long story)
Thanks again!
Cindy

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"I want to warn you, my photos will always be a bit more fantasy than reality."

Ed Farmer

Reply #3 - January 07, 2008, 09:38:03 AM

Cindy,

I actually think that this will score quite well at WPPI. It would do a little less well at PPA, unless they have changed since I was involved. I think that you can do something with his eyes, unless they do better in the actual print. In shrinking this image for posting here, you have lost a lot of data which may have affected the whites in both of thier eyes and his black jacket. If you are happy with the way that those two areas look in the print, I wouldn't worry about them based on comments here.

I expect that the position of his hand (and the crop there) may lower your score somewhat, but that is the type of thing that some judges will complain about and other won't care.

Your title on an image like this can make or break your score. Due to the expressions (on both on of them) I would go with comedy . . . but I don't have a suggestion for you!

Feel free to post any changes that you make.

Ed

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Ed Farmer
Mount Laurel, New Jersey

www.edfarmerphotography.com
www.photoartsforum.com

Ginnypenny

Reply #4 - January 07, 2008, 09:40:43 AM

Cindy, I am sorry I am not a great judge of what would do well in a contest. I like the image and can only comment that I believe it is overprocessed (my opinion only, and I am sorry, I know you have heard that before from me) but I bet your clients love this image. It is very trendy.

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Susie
www.charlesbarnardphotography.com
www.definitionimages.com

Cindy Crabb

Reply #5 - January 07, 2008, 09:47:15 AM

Good Morning Ed and Ginny, and thank you for your comments.
Let me see what I can do with this file, and I'll repost in this thread.
Thank you again. All this is very valuable to me!

I also agree about the title. It is a funny type photo, to me anyway. Anyone with any suggestions at all, please let em rip!

« Last Edit: January 07, 2008, 09:49:14 AM by Cindy Crabb »

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"I want to warn you, my photos will always be a bit more fantasy than reality."

Cindy Crabb

Reply #6 - January 07, 2008, 10:03:00 AM

Quick question Ed, in regards to the eyes. If I'm understanding correctly, I need to reduce the "whiteness", and find a better placement for the catchlights, correct?

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"I want to warn you, my photos will always be a bit more fantasy than reality."

Ed Farmer

Reply #7 - January 07, 2008, 11:45:55 AM

I am not that concerned about the catch lights. They seem to match the lighting. However, they are so white that they look over-processed.

Ed

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Ed Farmer
Mount Laurel, New Jersey

www.edfarmerphotography.com
www.photoartsforum.com

Mike Hodgson

Reply #8 - January 07, 2008, 02:15:00 PM

Hmm, would you like an eye enhancement tutorial?

Seems like I'm not taken seriously, really, yes, the whites are over done, you need to keep the details, but, they can be done nicely.

Anyway, in the mean time, I'll just sit back. :=) Camera