.jpg)
.jpg)
Oh what a feeling it is when you set a goal and find yourself reaching it! I find that to be important in my personal life and my business!
My first big goal that was earning my Certified Professional Photographer status in 2011! That was huge for me and I learned so much in the process!
The next goal was entering print competitions. I had never entered any professional photo competitions and was hesitant to put my work out there to be judged by the best in the business with super high standards of excellence! I put it off for a couple of years and then this winter I decided it was TIME and I DID IT!
I started with the State level, went to District and then finally off to the “Superbowl of print competition” The International Print Competition through the Professional Photographers of America! If you “Merit” at the International level you actually earn credits toward your Master Photographer status and that is my next goal so this was extremely important to me!
You are allowed to submit 4 images in your “case” and I had 3 that I felt were ready so I added a 4th which is called “a case filler”. And guess what happened? ALL THREE Merited! Only about 35% of images Merit so I was so excited! “
Print competition has been such an amazing learning process! I’m always looking for ways to take my work to the next level. Preparing images for print, observing the judging process and receiving critiques on my images has done that for me. I love using what I have learned in print competition to improve the work I do for my clients!
Here are the standards by which they were judged! The images had to meet all 12 criteria to Merit! I’m THRILLED and ready to start thinking about next year and another chance to earn credits toward my Master Photographer title!
The Twelve elements listed below are in accordance to their importance.
1.) Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.
2.) Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.
3.) Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.
4.) Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.
5.) Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.
6.) Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.
7.) Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
8.) Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.
9.) Lighting —the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.
10.) Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.
11.) Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.
12.) Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.
I’m so thankful to all the professional photographers that guided me on this new journey! I could not have done it without the amazingly supportive print competition community!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
by admin