Toronto Photography Meetup Group

hilarious!!

great shots though!! well worth the soaking I'd say

What are judges being objective about ? Are they concerned with sharp focus / rules / technical know how or are they looking at what is in the photograph, the content within the frame ? Photographs that make us think are at the top of my list otherwise they might simply just be representations of what is front of us (which at the base level, everything is). Not saying there's anything wrong with that as I've shot my share of barnboards.




from personal experience, if there's nothing to look at in the photograph, then no amount of technical prowess is going to impress them.

We all take photographs for many reasons and that's good otherwise it'd be a Group f/64 or Pictorialist world out there and that would suck imo.

two more things....

-great photograph (sorry to derail your thread). panoramic camera or crop ?

-portfolio reviews , if one can stomach the critique and chooses reviewers carefully, I believe , are more beneficial than contests. one on one time is crucial.

LOL good stuff.

Nice shots and loved the comic. And as said, the last one is great!

Speaking of challenges, I need to set one up. Not that it makes any sense

As someone who recently entered a few contests I'd like to take issue with what you wrote.

But I can't. If I am honest with myself then I agree. These contests DIDN'T really help me further my pursuit of photography. Putting them in a Constructive Criticism thread is 1000 times more helpful and would provide specific and immediate feedback. The contests didn't provide ANY constructive criticism. Looking at my winners I was able to see many photos I deemed more deserving than mine. And I was still under the impression that some of my non-winners were better than the winners...and at the end of the day the lack of meaningful prizes made me feel cheap and dirty. (OK I embellished the last point). But your point is valid. I guess I really only do it for the ego

Hi Phil,

did you ask for comments? Or was the option provided? Within the GTCCC, many of the clubs will ask the judges for comments, and its similar to getting a critique. I know that in my club, we hold regular critique sessions for our memebers, so they can get feedback on images they are considering for an upcoming contest.

Anyhow, I am really sorry to the OP, as I feel like this thread got hijacked. Your images are great!


David

Thanks OP for sharing your experience in such a creative manner. The frame by frame followed with comical expressions definitely brought me into your adventurous day minus the wetness haha.

Good stuff, keep them coming - perhaps a monthly series

David, That was my point. The critique process is what is rewarding and educational - not the contest. Wasn't trying to hijack the post - just responding to the thought that was put forward by you and the OP about contests. Cheers.

Luv yer honesty, Phil.

No it never occurred to me. I doubt/assumed it was something the jury would not have wanted to do. Perhaps due to the size of the submissions they'd have to be sifting through. It's more likely to be done on the scale of the contests you've described i.e,. those organised by clubs. Sio I guess it really depends on the contest itself. For example, there's an announcement on the board for a blogTO flickr contest. I doubt the judge's would want to be giving C&C on all of their submissions. But I see your point. If it is a contest run by a closeknit group like a club then there is the oportunity for feedback.

Yeah but it's my candour that always gets me in trouble.

I doubt the blokes running the BlgTO/99 cent contest will want to give Con Crit to entries. Good point though David, it never hurts to ask. I still think you're better off posting in a con crit bulletin board. At least they won't assume use of or rights over your photo.