>>> vote for challenge 15 winner <<<

[Andy]

this week, i employed the services of a very fine photographer as guest assistant judge.

jim fuglestad (http://www.fuglestadphotography.com/)

i've known jim for a while and i highly value his skills and artistic talent. jim came up with half of the finalists, and i came up with half.



seemoon, wings
http://see-moon.smugmug.com/photos/5424867-L.jpg

jimf, you want motion? we got motion?

http://www.frostbytes.com/gallery-albums/june-2004/CRW_3625.sized.jpg

davidto, happy feet

http://davidrosenthal.smugmug.com/photos/5479637-M.jpg

ginger, summertime

http://gingersnap.smugmug.com/photos/5551316-L.jpg

tmlphoto, morning commute

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/5424582-L.jpg

lynnesite, charge!

http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/5568979-L.jpg

pathfinder, girl on a log

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/5569412-L.jpg

spockling, leap of faith
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/5583257-L.jpg

wxwax, kids in puddle

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/5582126-L.jpg

rutt, heading for home

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/5575220-L.jpg

[wxwax]

Hey Andy, summut's up with Jim's link.

[Andy]

Hey Andy, summut's up with Jim's link.

i fat-fingered it.

thanks.

[wxwax]

i fat-fingered it.

thanks.

:thumb Great work, Jim. An education, too. I learned a lot from just two images on Jim's Photographer's Statement (http://www.fuglestadphotography.com/photo_statement.html) page. On the bottom of the fourth paragraph he writes about shooting something as he wants to remember it, rather than how it was. Comparing the two photos is a revelation, for me at any rate.

[DavidTO]

These shots look great. Really great. Tough challenge, and awesome results.

Question for Andy:

is the limitation (which is not always observed by entrants) on picture size (medium for landscape, large for portrait) imposed for practical (download speed) reasons, or to even out the competition, i.e. remove any advantage a larger image might have over a smaller one?


I was just noticing that the size criteria aren't being followed all the time, and I wonder what we should do about it?

[Andy]

These shots look great. Really great. Tough challenge, and awesome results.

Question for Andy:

is the limitation (which is not always observed by entrants) on picture size (medium for landscape, large for portrait) imposed for practical (download speed) reasons, or to even out the competition, i.e. remove any advantage a larger image might have over a smaller one?


I was just noticing that the size criteria aren't being followed all the time, and I wonder what we should do about it?

the only limitation is 800 px max on the longest side, and file size 150kb or less.

are there violators i should swat some? tell! tell! -L for portrait orientation and -M for landscape orientation (on smugmug) is just a guide, -L is fine for all if you want.

[DavidTO]

the only limitation is 800 px max on the longest side, and file size 150kb or less.

are there violators i should swat some? tell! tell! -L for portrait orientation and -M for landscape orientation (on smugmug) is just a guide, -L is fine for all if you want.

Thanks for clarifying. I don't know how many pixels I'm getting with M or L, I was just doing what you said. Makes me think that I'll post M for the comments thread to save on the download time for all, but maybe post L for my submissions.

And really for me it's NOT about my submission or chances this time, but about creating an even playing field for all. I am very happy with my shot as a picture of my daughter, but personally as far as an expression of the theme, I think it is mediocre. Just my opinion about it.

[Andy]

Thanks for clarifying. I don't know how many pixels I'm getting with M or L, I was just doing what you said. Makes me think that I'll post M for the comments thread to save on the download time for all, but maybe post L for my submissions.

And really for me it's NOT about my submission or chances this time, but about creating an even playing field for all. I am very happy with my shot as a picture of my daughter, but personally as far as an expression of the theme, I think it is mediocre. Just my opinion about it.

sure, but don't underestimate the judging talent of your benevolent host and your fellow entrants :rofl

[DavidTO]

sure, but don't underestimate the judging talent of your benevolent host and your fellow entrants :rofl

I never do. Like Ginger said, I wouldn't want to have to narrow these down like you do, and as for the rest, diversity of opinions is what makes this so great.

[wxwax]

David, it looks like smugmug's 'L' size maxes out at 800 on the largest side. 800 is the max allowable for the contest. So that's why Andy is saying the 'L' size is OK for entries.

[Andy]

http://see-moon.smugmug.com/photos/5424867-S.jpg

everything's right here - the compo, the amount of movement, and the crisp focus on just the important part of the image. i really like this one a lot.

[Andy]

again, the elements (for me) are here: just the right amount of movement, a sharp focus part of the main subject, and a delicious main subject, too. i think the shot is a tad u.e. though, nothting that couldn't be fixed in ps with an easy levels or curves adjustment layer with a mask.

http://www.frostbytes.com/gallery-albums/june-2004/CRW_3625.sized.jpg

[Andy]

http://davidrosenthal.smugmug.com/photos/5479637-M.jpg

i would have just toned down the saturation on the grass by about 30% or so. it seems a bit too much to me. otherwise, i really dig this image, the expression on the subject is priceless, the movement is evident and there. great title, too.

[Andy]

now here, i like the bright saturated tennis balls, and the blown light coming in from the window. ginger this is a simple composition that was very difficult to photograph, i'm sure. congrats on a fine image, spot on for the challenge.

http://gingersnap.smugmug.com/photos/5551316-S.jpg

[Andy]

i think you'd have won if this was a landscape contest ... great shot. subtle movement, but good movement. the rich colors and big sun are the main theme here, though.

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/5424582-S.jpg

[Andy]

this certainly is a stunner. i like the shot. i'd love it if the horse were coming at me instead of going away, and if there were just a bit more movement in the hooves. congrats on a cool image, and lovely toned bw conversion.

http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/5568979-S.jpg

[Andy]

this is a lovely abstract-y kind of shot, and i really liked it. put 20 of these up on the wall of a gallery and they'd sell. i'm serious.

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/5569412-S.jpg

[Andy]

a fun image for sure... would like to see a bit more movement though, and also a bit more exposure on the underside of the the subject (face esp). finally, apply some noise reduction to the sky.

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/5583257-S.jpg

[Andy]

waxy i really like this one, it belongs in your sunday newspaper this july or august. you should submit it. great shot.

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/5582126-S.jpg

[Andy]

rutt, this is a cool action shot. more exposure on the face though, he's too dark imo. i like the composition / crop very much. for movement, it would be better if there was more motion blur imo. finally, i'd like to see more of his face...then it would really be dramatic to me.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/5575220-S.jpg

[ginger_55]

I understand movement, and I guess I will know quality of light when I see it, smile. (That was a bit of a cop out, Andy, LOL)

Thanks Andy, those are great comments, helpful and supportive.
So how are you doing up on dpreview? I am too wiped out to get up there.

Last I heard, you were in charge, as you were the previous winner, are you through with that? Are you competing yet?

ginger

[pathfinder]

this is a lovely abstract-y kind of shot, and i really liked it. put 20 of these up on the wall of a gallery and they'd sell. i'm serious.

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/5569412-S.jpgAndy, I'll tell you my little secret about this shot - I was down right at waterlevel setting up to shoot a time exposure of a waterfall going over a log - the camera was set on mirror lock up. the self timer was selected , and I was just placing the camera into the tripod when this lovely young lady in a tiny pink bikini decides to cross the log across the top of the waterfall going right by me!!- and here I am with my camera all locked up into long time exposures!!! SO I quickly yank it off the tripod, and fire one handheld time exposure with the mirror locked uphttp://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif I thought I was wasting my time!! - very frustrated! - but when I got the image on my computer, I thought hmmmmm.... motion - yeah, this will work for motion. I am glad you liked my grab shot Andy. I guess I learned that you should never give up and just keep on shooting no matter what.http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif

Later I got several frames of the teenagers jumping into the base of the falls like this one ..... This young man only finally committed after the girls had all jumped two or three times..... The young ladies all had grit!

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/5707968-L.jpg

[SeeMoon]

Thanks again Andy, for your time and effort to give all those comments! I was just about ready to practice shutterspeed with my new camera when I saw the picture of the soldier saying goodbye to his family with all the movement in it, remember? I was so inspired and am so glad it was chosen as a challenge subject; about every pic I took since then has some amount of movement in it! Too see what everybody else did was a really good learning experience for me as well! Thanks you all! :thumb

[SeeMoon]

Oh, and wxwax; everytime I look at "kids in a puddle" it makes me smile! What a happy picture.. :clap

[wxwax]

Thanks Andy, what a gentleman you are for giving feedback on the photos. :thumb

[wxwax]

Oh, and wxwax; everytime I look at "kids in a puddle" it makes me smile! What a happy picture.. :clap
:D Thanks SeeMoon, you're very kind! :1drink

[Andy]

I understand movement, and I guess I will know quality of light when I see it, smile. (That was a bit of a cop out, Andy, LOL)

Thanks Andy, those are great comments, helpful and supportive.
So how are you doing up on dpreview? I am too wiped out to get up there.

Last I heard, you were in charge, as you were the previous winner, are you through with that? Are you competing yet?

ginger

hi ginger - the way it works on the stf at dpreview is that the winner hosts the next challenge. so that's done (it was a great challenge - all about wide angle..) now i can compete again ;-)

thanks!

[Andy]

Andy, I'll tell you my little secret about this shot - I was down right at waterlevel setting up to shoot a time exposure of a waterfall going over a log - the camera was set on mirror lock up. the self timer was selected , and I was just placing the camera into the tripod when this lovely young lady in a tiny pink bikini decides to cross the log across the top of the waterfall going right by me!!- and here I am with my camera all locked up into long time exposures!!! SO I quickly yank it off the tripod, and fire one handheld time exposure with the mirror locked uphttp://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif I thought I was wasting my time!! - very frustrated! - but when I got the image on my computer, I thought hmmmmm.... motion - yeah, this will work for motion. I am glad you liked my grab shot Andy. I guess I learned that you should never give up and just keep on shooting no matter what.http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif

Later I got several frames of the teenagers jumping into the base of the falls like this one ..... This young man only finally committed after the girls had all jumped two or three times..... The young ladies all had grit!

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/5707968-S.jpg

heh heh - very cool, sometimes we get lucky, eh? but then, i believe you make your own luck by being in the right place, at the right time, and having the skills and "eye" to do what you did... congrats and i like the boy pic too.