Try Try Try Again

I learned a ton from you guys last time, and I'd love feedback on my new favorite.  Thanks in advance.

Opps, I have two if you don't mind.  I can't make up my mind.  Depending on what you say, this will go into WPPI, PPA Summer judging.

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It is always a good idea to be inspired by images that scored well at the last judging to get a feel for what the jury is looking for. For a PPoA judging one could look at the "loan collection".  Here you will find a lot of images that score.

Leen

If you want to maintain your mental health and creativity don't become one of those photographers who enter competitions and "shoot for the judges".  That became a trend in the PP of A competitions and after a while everyone's work began to look the same- good mind you- but the same!

Mt advice is to stick to you style and make just a few modifications.  Mainly what the P.P.P.of A judging panels like to see is distractions.  I, personally, love you light and airy style but in a typical competitions you may lose points on the light traps- those bright green highlights coming from the background.  You also have to watch for continuity of lines when you pose the arms- sometimes the appear as "stumps" if an arm  intersects with the body or gown so the arm looks cut off. 

I love the way the girls you photograph participate in you efforts and come up with great expressions and playful poses- you are motivating them well!  When you are doing a sitting, don't disrupt your relationship or "flow' with the subject but watch the stylizations on some of your shots and "clean" up some of the things that may cost you points in competitions.

Also-  What I have noticed lately in P.P. of A results are some of the judges are more forgiving of some of the traditional points and going for more emotional and and spontaneous images.  WWPPI seems to go more in that direction as well.  I have never sent prints to WWPPI so this is just MY observation from what I see published in THE RANGEFINDER magazine.  I have submitted hundreds of prints to the P.P.of A, the P.P.O.C (Canada) and many other local associations.  I have always done well when I selected images which were naturally my style and not shot or altered to purposefully seem like I am "shooting for the judges".  I remember a time when the people who were constantly submitting work knew who was on the panel and would submit low key. high hey or soft focus images to impress some of the judges.  T^his made me nuts!

If can order a taped critique, if this service is still available, that is a great learning experience.  For now my advice is go with your gut. watch out for some of the pitfalls I mentioned and see what happens.

You don't seem to me like a one note or cookie cutter photographer so spread your wings and let the creativity rule!  You may be pleasantly surprised.

Ed (S)

Hello Cindy,

Well here you go with my piece of wisdom.

Can I ask if you used to like fairies well infact as you still do? The reason I ask this is your photos have the look and feel of a magical scene at the bottom of the garden where every little girl used to go to play with the fairies. If this is what you wanted to achieve with this then why not go the whole way with it. The introduction of a theme is something that judges want to see they want to see you are doing something for a reason and not just because it looks nice.

Look at your second photo now imagine it with something magical happening on the water, wow instantly the judges can say Cindy has gone for a fairy tale photo and that is why we have the magical light playing over the bride. This would also add to the childlike way she is playing with the water with her feet. For a competiton think what you want the judges to see and then make sure you have it.

Thanks for sharing

Cheers and Beers

Stew