ACC Q3 DPI Competition 2012

Following the summer break the Ashford Camera Club is back in session. The digital projected image competition for quarter 3 is on 25th September. (I haven't been entering any prints so far this year).

The two images I have submitted are shown below. The judges comments will follow, unless they are really poor in which case I might remove this post!

General category:  Prospect Cottage

This is Derek Jarman's cottage in Dungeness, Kent. The model is Gill.

Score 9.5/10. The judge liked the composition including the low angle which brought in the strong colours of the flowers. The exposure of the black cottage was good and the interest in the sky helped add to the picture. The young lady, who appeared to be looking at something out of frame, was placed well.

Nature Category: Eagle Eye

This was taken at the English School of Falconry. The bird is a juvenile Bald Eagle and so is yet to gain the characteristic white plumage of a mature adult Bald Eagle.

Score 9.5/10. Good composition with the bird looking into the frame. The blurred background helped concentrate on the bird which showed sharp detail in the eye and feathers. The half point was lost on the overexposed beak. Annoyingly, I noticed this when reviewing my pictures for the competition but it was too late to resubmit! 

ACC Q3 DPI Competition

General - Spirit of Ecstasy. Taken at the Egham Royal Show 2010. Scored 9.5 points. The judge liked the composition and the amount of the car in view, particularly as it was suitably out of focus. Also, the colors with the blue bonnet of the Rolls and the reds reflected in the chrome (which is in fact my reflection).

Portrait - Enjoying a Beer. Taken in Mayrhofen. One of the few people portraits I have and it scored 9. Good points being the the out of focus background and composition although let down slightly but the loss of elbows and the base of the beer glass.

Nature - Grey Squirrel. Taken at Brompton Cemetery. Scored 10. Sharp detail in the squirrel, well placed in the photograph and a non distracting, out of focus, background.

ACC Q3 Print Competition

A successful evening at the third quarter, print competition. The judge held all three of my photos back for further consideration. Next week sees the third quarter digital projection competition. Should be interesting as the intermediate standard in the club is very good!

General - Abandoned Boat. Taken in Bideford, September 2011. Scored 9.5. Only let down by insufficient space around the boat. This was not a crop but the full picture so I should have stood further away to take it.

Portrait - Smile! Taken at ACC studio session. Scored 9.5. Let down by the reflection in the glasses. I did notice this but did not know how to remove it in photoshop.

Nature - Golden Pheasant. Taken in Kew Gardens. Scored 10.