17
I’ve just got home from Camera Club. I only got one gold this month… for this photo…
I got silver for the the other two, and instead of just showing you the photos, I thought I’d show you what the judges told me to do (I’ve just adjusted them in Photoshop to see if it made a difference). A lot of readers of my blog ask me why I bother because I seem to get slated quite a bit. But even though I don’t always agree with them, the criticism has made a massive difference to the quality of my photography over the last 6 months.
They told me that I should have cropped out the trees at the top so that the background only consisted of grass. They also felt that the photo was too flat. They didn’t find any fault with her face not facing the camera which is strange, because that’s the normal complaint.
So, in Photoshop, I’ve just cropped the photo a bit, and I’ve upped the contrast and brightness just a little.
And… I think they were right.
This is the other photo that I got silver for… they said the face was too dark and I should have used a fill-in flash. LOL, it was midday actually. And anyway, I’d actually reduced the curves on the original photo before I submitted it because I thought it was too light… go figure! I should have left it the way I’d taken it! I should maybe have submitted the photo with the action that I’d used for Weekly Winners for that matter… the face was much lighter!
As submitted….
And changed in Photoshop by adding a curves layer and increasing the curves very slightly…
Oh well, you live and learn!
Hmmm. I see the point on the trees being cut out, it makes a difference.
I would have given you gold on all of them though
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hmmm I have to admit that I think the edits are good. The one of the flower girl is a huge improvement- imho. I wish my camera club was like yours. The CC is helpful no matter how much it might sting at the time. I’m in the process of selecting two photographs for our competition in a couple of weeks.
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I like the last as you submitted it, though it seems I’m seeing a lot of brighter (on the edge of blown out, sometimes) work getting rave reviews.
I often find myself at odds with your clubs critiques, though I fully agree with cropping the trees out… they distract from your beautiful flower girl.
Beautiful gold shot
Wow, that photo you got gold for is spectacular
I must say tho that my favourite pic of the flowergirl was this one
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How could you miss with a setting like Hermanus!
Well done!
I love the first photo. Great action shot and the yellow kite stands out wonderfully. I do agree that the second photo looks better without the trees, but I also wouldn’t have thought of that. As for the third photo. Nothing wrong.
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Well done, I think getting constructive critique is a great thing and you have grown in leaps and bounds over the past year. You are very very good. I like the change in the second shot, those were good suggestions!
So interesting – I can learn so much from you sharing your experiences with us.
I must agree the first photo deserves a GOLD, and well done on that – the 2nd photo does look better cropped…and the last one looks better the way you first took it.
Keep sharing as we’re learning…
As my granddaughter says * Sharing is Caring *
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Well done on the gold for the first one. Second one – I agree – cropped, and brightened makes a huge difference. I still like your version of the third one. As Marcelle said – we are all learning from you and your CC!!
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They are all blimmin good as usual!! I think it must be hard to be criticised so much but am glad you are learning out of it
stunning shots…
Well done on the gold! It is actually great that you are able to learn something from these meetings. (Says she who is still too chicken sh*t to join a club…)
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I would get ripped to shreds because I don’t like to edit photos. If I can’t get it to come out “right” straight out of the camera, I’m not going to get it. Period.
And that is why it pains me to admit they were right. A little post-work really did make those photos kick a little more ass.
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Hi Jeanette, found your blog via Marcelle’s.
These photos are truly superb. Really beautiful!
I have a question on the cropped photo of the little girl: was it only cropped or did you alter the colour of it?
If you didn’t alter the colour (which I don’t think you did!) then I am amazed at how displaying only the grass made such a difference in the “apparent” shades of the photo.
Would be interested to know.
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Congrats Jeanette! This lady sees no faults! I think your photographs are stunning, as always!
well done on the gold.
i agree about the trees – they just didn’t add to the photo at all.
with the second pic, it may have been midday, but there’s no light in her eyes, and the original was dark.
at least you’re learning from your mistakes. camera club is a fountain of information. take from it what you can, and try to not feel offended with the negative comments. difficult as it may be.
It’s hard to take critisism, but when it’s constructive, you have to grin and bear it. I need to find something where I get more critisism. Your attitude is great, keep going, because that is the best way to improve.
Not that I think you need to improve – I think you are very talented!!
First shot – brilliant!!
I think the edits on the flower girl are great. Really draws you into the shot.
Last one – personally, I think the hat is a bit “heavy” and takes attention away from her face. I would have cropped it where the hat meets the strap (top right). Then give it a contrast boost and sharpen?
he he he… as if I know what I am talking about!! (NOT!!)
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