SEA 2003 Prize List
SEA 2003 Judges Comments
SEA 2003 judges (Berkley White, Ken Howard,
and Monte Smith) submitted these comments.
We were impressed with the
quality of work and downright inspired by some of the images. Given
that this is a contest about photography
as an art
form, there is a lot of subjectivity involved. Because the images
were not of our own making, we were not influenced to give preference
to
images that may have involved a huge amount of effort in the making.
The winners
of some groupings really stood out from the group on the light table.
Other groupings required deliberation and acute criticism to separate
the excellent
from the best. It was our job to be picky, but the quality of images
made the job quite difficult, especially in the advanced categories.
When
we looked at slides on the light tables, unique colors and subjects
were first to command attention. After looking at each image in detail,
some of the more subtle images jumped up in ranking. Once the prime
group was identified, each was criticized based on sharpness, exposure,
composition,
negative space, and gut-level emotion. Then they were rank-ordered
based on the discussions of the merits of each.
Here are some suggestions
for entrants interested in improving their images for future contests.
Better
use of negative space
Negative space should add value to the image
rather than detract from it. Confusing or distracting negative space
is a major
reason images
didn't
make the top cut. Use of Vertical vs. Horizontal Format
This contest was no different from
others in that the use of the vertical format was common in the advanced
skill entries, but rare in the novice
and intermediate categories. Use of the vertical format can often
help giving an image more impact.
Camera Angle
Jim Church is often quoted about shooting low, close and
up. Shooting from a low angle, close to the subject and at an upward
angle most
often yields
images that have more impact than downward shooting angles. Unique vs.
Technique
Many images were unique in that they captured predatory or
mating behavior. While these subjects were strong, the composition
and lighting on many
reduced their potential. An image can't win on uniqueness alone.
Rare subjects are appreciated, but more weight was given to the impact,
quality and overall
excellence of the image (common subjects done uncommonly well). The
definition of unique or rare subjects also changes over time. For
example,
if you
had underwater photos of Great White Sharks or Pygmy Seahorses only
five years ago, you could have won photography contests or been published
in
National Geographic. Now such images are so common that they no longer
automatically get moved into the winner's circle.
Sharpness
Many images suffered from lack of sharpness. Some may have
been the unfortunate result of a poor dupe. Many strong images were
eliminated for this reason.
Check your viewfinder and your dupes. Bracket for focus when
working with extreme macro subjects. Composition
The strongest images had compositional elements that cycled the viewing
eye around the frame. Diagonal lines and off-center subjects were
the most powerful. Centered subjects have a bull's-eye effect and
trap
the viewer
in the middle. Some were cropped a little too tight on the subject
and stuffed an interesting element into an edge of the frame. These
images
aren't destined for fish identification books... they should be art.
Attention should be made to artfully frame the subject and avoid
cookie-cutter identification
shots and bull's-eye targets. Exposure
Most images had a well-exposed subject, but far too many lacked
shadows and depth and were literally washed with light as if they
were a product
shot. Shadows add depth and drama to the image. The negative space
(background) on many suffered from distracting highlights. The most
common of subjects
can be a winner if the lighting is well executed. Great care should
be used when making duplicate slides to insure good exposure.
Digital
Most competitions are still learning how to deal with the new
digital categories. Entrants should use great care when submitting
an image.
Good preparation
will insure that the image displays well on the various monitors,
projectors, and platforms used for judging. Set screen size and
resolution as described
by the entry guidelines to avoid automatic scaling which can soften
an image when displayed. Gently apply an unsharp mask to the image
at its
final size... not to the full size file or at high resolutions. Use
caution as too much sharpening will emphasize the grain and noise
in the image.
When saving the file, be sure to tag the file with the correct color
profile. This will help to keep your colors and tonal ranges as accurate
as possible
when viewed on different displays. Use a high quality setting when
saving a jpeg file and always work from your original when making
new jpeg versions
of the image.
Congratulations to everyone that entered... not only the winners.
There were many images that were very close. Keep up the great work! |
