Jay-qu Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 So does a user win because they get the most points, or does a particular photo win because it got the most points? Would the former be unfair if points accumulated from different photos?
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 The photographer who has taken the photo that scores most points, wins. So points accumulate per photo, not per photographer.
Mercedes Benzene Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 Oops. I thought it was the most points total per user. My bad.
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 Reviews of submissions In order of posting (so if you have posted out of order, the reviews will be out of order). I have attempted not to judge with my reviews. I am not a photographer but have tried to explain what I see and how I feel about the photo, and in some cases suggested what I believe can fix/change things. Everything positive is to be taken with extreme joy, and everything negative with a huge pinch of salt! BigDog: Wind on the LakeI love this photo because it has both a beautiful, haunting landscape and sky, and because the kid is looking down at something which must be more interesting to him than the stunning view. My only gripe would be that the compression is too hard so it pixellates, but this is not a technical contest.Killean: Ancient bridgeThis photo is too washed out (the ancient house in the backdrop is almsot completely gone) but yet you have managed to capture a sense of timelessness which is intriguing. Since I happened to be there when you took it I know what a difficult ligthing situation you had. There is a lack of focus in the picture, though, and if the title hadn't been "ancient bridge" I would never have noticed the remains of the stone bridge. Killean: Norwegian WaterfallThis is close to our summer house and you have managed to capture it with the washed-out fall colors (IIRC this was mid-October) and the majesty of the water grabs the viewer immediately. A hint of the large mountain behind it can be seen since there is virtually no sky, and the grey-green-yellow shades shows the seasonal fall-to-winter setting. A beautiful shot, very quieting in all it's activity. Killean: Rainbow over the fjordYou have managed to really capture some beautiful light here! And all the elements of a Norwegian fjord: The rounded, tall mountains, the sizable body of water, the old farm buildings, the scattered rays of sun through the broken sky, and even the glacier in the distance. This was AFAIK a "stop the car!" kind of shot and the only thing that detracts is the horizontal offset - it slants to the right. But that's a minor gripe - another excellent photo. ronthepon: Hungry dogYou can really feel the "wetness" the dog experiences...it looks forlorn and lost. But the photo does not convey any sense of urgency, we do not see the water raising and there is an apparent escape to the left, which on closer inspection turns out to also be submerged. I am a bit mxed about this photo because I don't really understand what it is trying to tell me, but something about the dog does get to me. In that sense it's a wonderful shot. :) Jay-qu: Naked SweetgumI like the dark color of the sky...it's as if you used a polarized filter although I'm pretty sure you didn't. :) The branches of the tree are rich and indeed naked, and stand beautifully against the dotted sky. I think the photo is a bit washed out, probably due to compression. Turtle's photos are gone so I can't review them. Too bad - I was going to vote for the kite shot. Chacmool: prickly-pear leaf in the shape of a heartWhat to say - a funny shot and a beautiful cactus. There are thorns in that rose. ;) I don't really have much to say about this - it's simple and nice. Janus: The Hawthorne bridge, Portland, ORAt first glance is not a shot of nature but of a cityscape. But then you realize the lone, naked tree and the silence of the river. I think you have created a haunting nightshot of the bridge, and I'd love to see a larger version of this with more detail on the bridge (it almost disappears into the cityscape). I bet this shot could have used a longer exposure to blur the river a bit, but as it is I think it's a beautiful shot.Mercedes Benzene: A Desolate ShieldThe first thing I thought was "Mars!". It looks like all the pictures we get from the Mars Rovers these days. If only we'd see some patches of green in them... :) I really like this picture for it's hues and shapes, and also the hint of clouds coming in. Great shot which has a sense of eternal silence to it. Orbsycli: Goat Rock Cave overlooking the Santa Cruz mountains and PacificThis is a stunning shot that has a dreamy feel. The camera is slightly tilted so the trees all lean to the right - it makes the mountan sides appear steeper but it's a nice effect. The dark cave neatly surrounds the vire as a natural frame, and creates a feeling of safety, perhaps. Jay-qu: If sol had a partnerA funny montage but you have forgot to add reflections of the partner... :) I think this shot vould have stood on it's own without the added flares, because you have captured a beatiful sky and a distant horizon, with a lot of ocean between the viewer and the horizon. The powerful sun really grabs me. monomer: Little SunrayA beautiful closeup of a flower! The narrow depth-of-field works fine, showing both some of the leaves and part of the inner flower. The other flowers form a sort of contrasting backdrop and are all in various stages of life, which adds a sublime message to the photo. Very nice. Buffy: Hot Spring, CaliforniaApart from being extremely small (too small for me to really inspect it) I think you have managed to capture the rich color of the water. It's like a secret potion lying in wait in the middle of dead rocks, lying in wait for a magician to find it. Jay-qu: Mt. FeathertopThis kind of shot is very hard to do well, and if you had a polarizing filter on this one I think you could have sold it as a postcard. The naked trees dotting the hillsides create a nice blanket, and the sheer colorlessness of the view is grabbing. I get an urge to go over to the other side to explore those hilltops...majestic view. Jay-qu: Dog FoodHoly smokes. The eyes on that cat! The little furball is just waiting in fear for someone to snatch it and eat it. It's even put on a bow tie for the event. This photo is another of those "not really nature" shots but it does show a beautiful domesticated animal. Nothing more to say, really. TheBigDog: Walking the DogYou accept a photo of the shadows of a farmer and his pig as evidence that your kid walked the dog??? :D Anyways...the kid grabbed the morning sun in an excellent way - the golden sunlight washes over the scene and shows the details in a beautiful way. It's a bit washed out but it has a serene feeling about it. One of those lucky snaps! TheBlackAlchemist: A Serene ShoreI don't really think it's that serene...it's a haunting shot of rolling waves and dark skies. The composition is nice and the over-exposure of the sky actually works fine since it gives the impression of brilliant light. TheBlackAlchemist: A Mystifying Murmuring BrookThis is a beautiful shot and it shows the water coming closer and closer. A longer exposure setting would have given a more flowing view of the water, but I still thing you've managed to capture the constant flow of the water in a nice way. Too bad the image is so distorted. TheBlackAlchemist: A Lovable LandscapeYes, this is lovable. A bit washed out, and here the overexposed sky does not work so well. I like the composition though - the road goes into nowhere and I get a "Lord of the Rings" feeling...you just want to take that road and see where it leads you. Intriguing. Gribbon: Your images are far too small for me to make up my mind about them. From what I see, the latter three are very intriguing and I'd love to have larger sized images to review. Sorry. CerebralEcstasy: (No title)A nice photo of a cat. :) But nothing special as far as I can see, but I like cats and this is a nice specimen. celtfaery: DigitalisThis could have been a stunning shot, but it is too blurred. Still, I think you have managed to capture the colors of the flowers well. With a shorter depth-of-focus you could have a nice, soft background which would have made the flowers stand out more. celtfaery: Tiger butterflyHere the focus ended up on the leaves rather than the butterfly. Maybe you could have used zoom to get closer to the butterfly, or used a portrait mode to focus on the butterfly and get a nice blurred background. celtfaery: Master of all he surveys...Strangely the kid from TBD's shot turns up in your photo as well, only this time he is enjoying the view rather than something else.;) I think this is a very nice shot, hinting at the vulnerability of the kid versus the forces of nature, yet he stands fearless on solid ground (enough philosophy already...). I like this photo a lot. And those waves! celtfaery: Niagara FallsI see a UFO on the left! This shot takes in too much at once, but it does provide some of the majesty of the Niagara falls. The foreground takes away some of the attention from the falls. but I like the inclusion of the people to the left - it provides a sense of scale. The rainbow is cool. Cedars: Pleasure Spiked with PainThis is detailed, very sharp, and beautiful. You have managed to capture a colorful and bright flower in the midst of spiky thorns. The composition is good, but everything seems equally bright. I would perhaps have tried to emphasise the flower somehow, but this is really very well done AFAIK. Cedars: Entering Pine RidgeStunning! The birds almost seem like they have been painted on with a brush - it's a magical picture of nature - the vivid motion of the birds frozen against the timelessness of the hills. Very well done. Cedars: Reintroduction SuccessIt's sad to see duck with a yellow label plastered onto it, but the mood of the picture is solemn. The white of the birds is nice agaisnt the colors in the background. The picture is too blurred though. Cedars: Compass Points NorthA fun shot of birds in flight. Here too I miss some sharpness, but the birds are easy to see and the shot is full of action. Nice how the two birds have opposite wing positions! Cedars: Towhee or Not TowheeAnother blurred shot, and a bit too small to evaluate. Unusual point of view (were you standing upright?). The bird appears to have something in it's beak but I can't spot it. Monomer: Praying MantisExcellent! Beautiful colors and very nice depth-of-field. The mantis is a little bit hard to make out, but somehow that's part of what I like with this picture... Chacmool: An inquisitive giraffeI have never seen a giraffe in my life so I don't know what it is that makes this one "inquisitive" but I'll take your word for it. A nice portrait shot of a giraffe. :) Mercedes Benzene: It looks like a duck. It quacks like a duck. It's a...Now here's a peaceful setting. The washed out colors give it a strange, "old postcard" kind of feel. The mysterious water spring is interesting. The picture is not very sharp but it is still very interesting. Jay-qu: Dying starNicely caught sunset, with the last rays of the setting sun lightening up the sky. With some flash you could probably have caught the foreground better, but still a pretty decent shot! Mercedes Benzene: Morphine Flows Through A Quiet WoodThese woods are lovely, dark and deep. Well, neither of the three, in fact, but a haunting image it is. Too pixelated on my monitor though, which takes away some of the charm. I wonder how this image would be in black and white! Monomer: Winter LeavesThe branches nicely frame the leaves which are pitted against a blue sky dotted with clouds. A nice view. Too blurred though! Monomer: Summer SunsetColorful and very nice - fire in the sky! Slightly blurred (I wonder if you compress your pics too much) but here it doesn't matter. It is a stunning view and well captured. Monomer: Rocks at Second ValleyBeautiful shot showing ages and eons of rock deposits. This place must be a favorite for geology students. Nice play of rocky colors against the blues of the water and sky. Racoon: Went FishingA nice shot of a forest river. The rapids are strong! I don't have much to say here...except that there is a striking similarity between how your woods look compared to ours. Must be the climate... :) Racoon: A beautiful MeadowQuiet and nice shot, but little going on. The solitary tree in front of the dense woods provides a nice perspective. Is this place usually frequented by sheep or horses? The grass is so low, it's like a football field! Racoon: Another beautiful MeadowPretty much the same comment as the previous one, but I like the first one better. Here there is too much featureless sky, and the tree blends in with the background so it doesn't stand out as much. Sanctus: Going into the mountains in autumnWow! What a nice perspective. Black and white is perfect for this setting, and conveys a bit of drama without becoming haunting. Very nice details and a bit of photo grain...excellent shot. Sanctus: Going into the mountains in autumn #2This is more haunting...a ghost place in the mountains, with mystical mist and a hiding sun. Intriguing shot. My only gripe is that the buildings are slightly too dark so they blend in a bit too much with the mountain. Mercedes Benzene: Hopewell RocksNice structures framed through trees seen from a view from above. The horizon is washed out and takes too much of my attention (maybe you could treat it in Photoshop) - a polarization filter would have saved it. The people add some life to the scene. Mercedes Benzene: A marshYour shadow shows at the bottom, some cropping might be a good idea. :) Also, the horizon tilts downwards towards the right. You have managed to capture a deep blue sky mirrored in the lake, and the tall grass is vivid and quite clear. I like how the trees look like padding between earth and sky. A very nice shot. TheBigDog 1
Queso Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 I'd like to vote for turtle's shot from the kite.
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 I'd like to vote for turtle's shot from the kite. Me too, but since he has retracted it he is not in the contest anymore. :)
Racoon Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 Awesome pics everybody! Where's the voting poll? Sorry, been away a few dayz...
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 Voting is here:http://hypography.com/forums/competitions/10484-february-photo-contest-votes.html
gribbon Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 Your images are far too small for me to make up my mind about them Unfortunately, my account wouldn't allow me to make the images any bigger, and your e-mail address didn't work...:)
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 Unfortunately, my account wouldn't allow me to make the images any bigger, and your e-mail address didn't work...:) Strange. It worked for the others I helped.
Mercedes Benzene Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 Amazing analysis Tormod. I appreciate being able to see what was liked/disliked about my photos as well as others. My favorite part: It's sad to see duck with a yellow label plastered onto it, Apprently there are no swans in Norway?:) :) Just kidding with you sir. Excellent job!
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 Apprently there are no swans in Norway?:weather_storm: Just kidding with you sir. Excellent job! Thanks mate! It took a couple hours, that's for sure. I did put "swan" first but then I figured it looked more like a duck...
gribbon Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 Strange. It worked for the others I helped. These image size restrictions are so annoying...I couldn't get the pictures to go below 200k unless I made them tiny....if you are ever interested in seeing the full 5-megapixel size ones, then try e-mailing me, and I can attach them...I've got a whole CD devoted to photos I took that look good...:weather_storm: Shame we were only allowed five....
Tormod Posted February 25, 2007 Author Report Posted February 25, 2007 These image size restrictions are so annoying...I couldn't get the pictures to go below 200k unless I made them tiny....if you are ever interested in seeing the full 5-megapixel size ones, then try e-mailing me, and I can attach them...I've got a whole CD devoted to photos I took that look good... Shame we were only allowed five....:lol: The image size restrictions are necessary since we are online. It is absolutely no problem for *anyone* to get a 1280x1024 photo at 72 pixels per inch down to a size lower than 200K. If necessary, go all the way down to 800x600 - it will still look great on a screen. You can use *free* software for this, available online (I posted some links in the first post). We'll have monthly photo contests from now on, so everyone needs to practice their "max 200Kb" photo chops. And the "Max 5" is reeeeally necessary or some people I know would post hundreds and hundreds. :weather_storm:
Cedars Posted February 25, 2007 Report Posted February 25, 2007 Thanks mate! It took a couple hours, that's for sure. I did put "swan" first but then I figured it looked more like a duck... :hihi: Kinda explains why we dont see you posting in the birding thread :) Thanks for the input on the pics.
gribbon Posted March 6, 2007 Report Posted March 6, 2007 It is absolutely no problem for *anyone* to get a 1280x1024 photo at 72 pixels per inch down to a size lower than 200K....You can use *free* software for this, available online (I posted some links in the first post). It might be for you, because you probably have a much faster computer than I do, but my computer is 7 years old, and I don't have the money to replace it. Furthermore, my computer has problems with imaging software. Fortunately, I seem to have found a way round it before I noticed this response...doesn't matter that much now... The image size restrictions are necessary since we are online Isn't it possible to hire out a few MB on an Internet storage site for things like this? I can't imagine the prices will be too high for a site like this to afford...that would allow for better pictures and a number of other possibilities..
Tormod Posted March 6, 2007 Author Report Posted March 6, 2007 Isn't it possible to hire out a few MB on an Internet storage site for things like this? I can't imagine the prices will be too high for a site like this to afford...that would allow for better pictures and a number of other possibilities.. We have all the space we need but not everyone here is on a fat connection. If 20 people submitted 5 1-megabyte photos, that would be 100 megabytes. Imagine sitting on a slow connection and browsing through those pics. It would take ages. It's also *absolutely* unnecessary to use a photo that is larger than 200K - if you use a digital camera, and if it came with even the lightest editor there is, you should be able to export photos from it. If not, use Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing or myImager.com - Your Everything Online Image Editor Closing this thread now as we have a new contest going on.
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