CCC: Panel of Six Images

My third season, so my third panel.  I have so many ideas for panels, but the lack of ability to implement so many of them. I will work hard during the summer to over come some of these issues. These are not the images I was going to enter but a change of plan last week has had me looking back on my bee images from 2014 and 2015 (and one from 2016!).

The panel (on this occasion)  should have six images, all images should stand up on their own but also sit well together.  A better panel will tell a story, using the six images.  They should work from left to right, be of a similar orientation (or at least be an even number of portraits and landscape mix).

During my first season, having no experience with panels I entered these in 2015. With a little more experience in my second season, I did a special project for the panel - however, although connected they didn't tell a story 2016.

So this year, I have concentrated on the panel rather than the images.  I would be the first to admit some of these images are perhaps not my best but I have submitted a story using the six images.  I changed my mind last week when I was reminded the panel should tell a story, would some of these images stand up on their own - perhaps not, but I hope they work well as a panel.   Last season, my panel was the last to be rejected before they started on the scoring.  This year I would very much like a HC just on the panel (not necessarily the quality of images) - if my panel works then I can work on the story and quality of images for next year.  Is has to be about improvement, a little bit at a time.

The Honey Bee: From Larvae to Honey

Rejects:

Third out of 18 - very happy with that.  There were some outstanding panels on display tonight.  Sooooo..... need to start thinking now for next season lol!!

CCC: Season 3 - Mono Summary

Hot in the City: 10

Sunflower: 8.5

Remember: The Battle of Britain: 9

The Hive: 7.5

Centre Column: Sixth Book from the Bottom - AKA: Bollocks!: 10

Three: 10

Leaf detail: 8

In Need of Love: 8

Surprisingly I have come first. 71 out of 80. Just piped second place by 1.5 points.  Sadly that means advanced next season.  Not sure where I go from here with B&W.

CCC: Season 3 - Mono 4

My god, it seems to have taken forever to find two mono images for the final round.  I don't know why, but I do seem to struggle to see what works well in B&W.  Having tried several conversions, and several images that were not sharp enough when printed.

Leaf  Detail: Taken back in March 2016 when playing in the garden. It was printed on wood chip paper by Frame Lizard. I love the detail, but am aware, like all my macro shots it is not sharp throughout. Unedited.

Final: Shadows, highlights, contrast and clarity all used to bring out more detail.  The wood chip paper gives it an interesting look.

Judges comment: Lends itself to mono. Hairy leaf and you can see the texture but won't hold interest for very long. Score: 8



In Need of Love.  I can't find the raw file for this, placed within LR and then I moved them and LR (or me for that matter) can't seem to re point to the original files. So this is the JPG file, already processed.  I'm pretty sure the judge will have something to say about the lack of detail on the  left of the image.  Taken at an animal sanctuary, where all the animals need new homes, this little donkey just looked really sad. I'm not sure I have captured that, and as the judge won't know the background I'm not sure how it will be viewed. Printed on Permajet Oyster.

Judges comments: Like the composition. Sad little fellow. Lack of details of left - which is a third of the image. Score: 8

This is one I played with , when I took the images - high key detail of the eye.  I REALLY like this but don't yet feel confident enough to throw it at a judge.

April Birthday Gifts

Big Birthdays - deserve something special. Hand quilted cushion.

And when you are part of a group of very talented girls.... a cushion each makes such a wonderful gift!

Stitch markers for other friends. Loved making these. The brown beads are actually 'mood' beads so change colour when handled. A little surprise while doing their hooky.

RPS: Postcard

The Royal Photographic Society has chosen my image of the Milky Way to be part of a postcard set. A set of eight postcards, sent to volunteers for the RPS to say 'Thanks' for their time.  It's the small things that make me pleased I am pushing my love of photography.

Look out for another announcement soon for this images. There has been more good news!

CCC: Season 3 - PDI 5

Gerbera: Playing and experimenting. Using glitter paper as a background (A4 from Wilko), and a Gerbera from a bunch of Easter flowers. I was going for a high key look (as that's my thing at the moment) but actually once I started processing, decided that on this occasion it really wasn't working.

Final Edit: Shadow, Highlights, clarity, contrast, all the basic stuff. The detail is much better. I am happy with the colour contrast between the green and pink.  I can see this as a panel of several images. 

Judges Comments: Like the crop for this image. Liked the colours. They complement each other well. Held back on the colours, could have gone mad but haven't. Score: 9.5

Memorial through the trees:  This, I think, is a 'marmite' shot - and I would suggest that perhaps it won't score more than a 7.  All the usual basic adjustment - shadow, highlights etc.

Final Edit: It's just not what I would usually do.  It's really not the type of image you see at club.  

Judges Comments: Imaginative approach to the subject. Enjoy the detail. Lovely light. BUT does not work at all. The tree is far to dominant in the image. Score: 7

CPAGB

Credit from the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain.

Described as 'Good Club Photography' ......

A talk given at the club back in October 2016 regarding the distinctions we could aim for, along side the fact that one would be held in Croydon in April 2017, inspired me to think about upping my game.

Without thinking too much I applied after the talk, and pushed to the back of my mind. Being accepted to present my work was a little surprising but with four months to go - achievable.  With around three weeks before the deadline (!!) I started to sort some images.  The realisation that I was not even close to passing came very early on during this process. As I had already started the process I thought I would go anyway, it would be a lesson learnt on how these things work.

It became very apparent when the images started to appear that 'good' club photography was an understatement - many were above and beyond what I'd seen in our advance section during a normal club competition night.  By my third image I knew it was game over!! So I sat back and enjoyed the images, and tried hard to understand what 'type' of image they were after.

To pass the CREDIT level - you need to score 200 from 10 image (Maximum score 300). So you would be looking at an average of 20 marks for each image - with a possible maximum 30 points achievable.

Just Resting - 21

 

Needle and Threads - 18

 

Daisy - 15

Battle of Britain Memorial - 13

Milky Way - 20

Dandelion Head - 15

Rainbow of Pencils - 17

Sea Abstract - 16

Under the Pier - 17

Morning Calm - 14

Total 166. Way off the 200 target.  Things I have learnt.....

Don't sit behind a six foot tall man as I can't see the screen properly.
They are not after good photography they are after excellent and advanced photography.
Many people were on their second or third attempt to pass.

I'm going to take a year to gather some better images, then I'll look at booking an advisory day for them to rip the images apart!!