I belong to a camera club that has photo competitions each month. Generally there are three categories: pictorial, nature, and prints. I always find the judging and the judges comments amusing. Some judges give little feedback other than an in or out, others in a professorial style lecture give elaborate advise on the merits or problems of the photograph. I generally listen but take the advise with a grain of salt, in the end I have to make my own photographs. Each day I try to improve my techniques , it’s a personal challenge that I enjoy, might even say I’m addicted to.
At the last competition I got 1st place for a B&W print. Doesn’t make it a good print just that the judge liked it but I like it and to me that is what counts. I’m still deciding for myself what makes a good photograph. The color print of the acorns received a 4th place.
The B&W print was taken in Sedona Az. when I went out to visit a friend. I only got a couple of hours in Sedona and was fortunate there was a nice sky. The acorn photo was taken along a road I was walking, that’s the way I found it. I like the formation of the Snow Geese shot, taking photos of flying birds, or any action, is one of my favorite things. I photographed the Kingfisher from my kayak, I find them very spooky and hard to get close to. The mountain scene was next to my home taken early in the morning.
That’s about it for now. Thanks for looking.
I started editing photographs when I was 12 years old in the darkroom, more years ago than I like to admit. My Father taught me the basics of the camera and the development and editing process. I learned the zone system from a book. Although I use Photoshop and a digital camera today the basics are about the same. Sometimes knowing when to stop is the secret. The whole process is a personal one.
