[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Well, I took advice from you guys, ignored some of it and entered four images.

Myself and Tobers both put ourselves forward for the advanced class. For those who don't know about these clubs what happens is that an external adjudicator comes along and critiques your work then gives it points out of 10. This was a digital images competition, first one this club has done I think and first one this judge had judged. He told us all before hand that he was a fan of monotone landscape prints.....oh well.....

Unfortunately for him he had 80+ images to critique in 1.45hrs. Not a simple task. I think this had an effect on his judgement....or at least that is my excuse.

Here are my images with his comments
This image was well received by audience. In fact, there was silence for a few seconds, follow by chuckles, followed by gufaws of laughter. The judge thought it was a well seen image that was a great piece of fun. He thought that taking photo's should be enjoyable. He, unfortunately, seemed to think that I happened to accidentaly be there when this chap walked past....... Score 8

I put this one in to see how they would react to an obviously photoshopped image. As Tobers said in the other thread, they didnt get it. The judge thought that the photographers were cut and pasted in place to look like they were taking images of each other. The reality being that they were all in the same locations and that I whited out the background to flip the idea so that the photographers become the subject, like hunter becoming hunted....oh well.....
Score 7.5

Next was the image that the photo club members voted the second best image at they saw in slide show at start of season. It's also one that most folk who have seen it, except for Tobers, have commented on. The judge thought it was a thoughtful, cleverly seen image. He liked the framing, the idea of stairs and reflected clock. In fact, he was pretty positive about all of it. Submitted one had perspective fixed
Score 8.5

Lastly the photo from earlier in week. This was tragic in my opinion. The judge commented that he liked the staid, geometric cut of the trees in background and their juxtaposition with the modern cyclist. He appeared to fail to notice the dog....or the fact it was a billboard. Even although DAWG was in the title he never saw it......but then neither did the chap sitting beside me....not sure what that tells me. Weirdly it was my highest scoring image
Score 9

So there you go. Happy that some of my images were liked and very hapy that the club enjoyed the **** artist shot. Unhappy that the judge failed to see the key element in one of the images, even although it was judged highest.


I think Tobers will be along to tell us how he got on as well. I think he was robbed on a couple as well.....still, its only a game

[onefivenine]

Horses for courses...

He'll soon be begging you to go round to calibrate his audiogram so he can feel popular beat combos in the colours they're meant to be heard.

That is, after he wins the next photo comp using his pinhole camera to take a photo of his cat's whisker.

Sounds like a laugh though. Only thing is I'd have to point out the dalmation afterwards.....

Altough if a room full of people didn't see it - then it isn't a key point in the image. Like those magic eye 'dot stereogram' pictures..... if no one tells you to cross your eyes - you won't see the dolphin/dinosaur/mona lisa.

Good on you for entering a club comp though!

[Tobers]

A very interesting evening with my first entries ever into this sort of competition. Much more nerve wracking than the AVForums comp as there is a guy critiquing your pics with a bunch of other people looking on.

I guess I was a bit disappointed with my scores, but there were some excellent pics there so it's all comparative. Lots of things to learn though like research who the judge is beforehand and find out what he likes!! In this case delicate monochrome images of which I had entered none!

By the way, none of the pics entered had borders like these.

This shot from Munich was commented on quite favourably. He said that if I had cropped out the two guys on the left and the lamppost it would have been a much stronger image. He's quite right actually - I've always been a bit uncomfortable with the balance of the pic and it looks much better cropped with the three people and the R. Score 8.

And the cropped version I should have entered...

I was disappointed that this one was not a higher scorer. It got the score they give to "distinctly average" rated pictures - a 7.5 (it seemed a score of 7 is "crap" and someone got a 6.5 which is totally utterly crap ).

I put this shot of my family in because I really like it. I knew it would get criticised for the hand at the lower edge, and it did. It also got the "shouldn't have really bothered entering it" score of 7.5.

This was my highest scorer. He actually suggested that I should have shoed away the two rear cows to leave a nice grouping of 3. Those who remember the fun I had getting chased by these cows will have a laugh at that. Still, it got me an 8.5.

All in all, a very interesting evening seeing how the judge goes about the process. He had far too many images to review though so was pressed for time. Some of the ones that got 9.5 and 10 were in my view pants, but that's the way it goes. Some of the top scorers were really extremely good though and well deserved.

Anyway, Gordon beat me (33 to 31.5) so on to the next round!!

Tobers

[milkmanchris]

Stay away from Camera/Photography clubs.

Many moons ago I was invited along as a 'guest' speaker, at that time I was making my living as a pro, and had just finished my first season working with a Premier League photo licence.

To cut a long story short, my work was torn to shreds critique wise, my chosen picture subject was rubbished as worthless, however I had the last laugh when I asked how many of the members had actually sold a picture, no hands.

Seems to me these 'clubs' are frequented by twitchers and hikers who carry cameras.

Thank the powers above for places like this, RIP Camera Societies and the like, and that's from a traditionalist like me.

Graham I really like the cyclist shot and saw the joins in the billboard straight away, also the road with the red route markings on it, was the judge blind.

Tobers the portrait is really, really good, just a little flat colour wise.

[tryingtimes]

Well done both. I thought the scores looked great until Tobers explaned that 6.5 was total crap!
Shame he was rushed, otherwise the billboard image would surely have been seen as even better.
Nice collection of images though.
Onwards and upwards

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Chris,

I think you are being slightly harsh. I can see why they might hammer a professional sports photograph, especially if it's someone who has never tried such a genre. Selling the images are not the reason that most folk take pictures at these things. I had considered putting in one of my stratocaster shots to see how it got on but decided against it, primarily as I couldn't see how it would be received. I think that these competitions are a game, a bit of fun.

Our club has some talented folk at it. It's also now getting pretty youngish and has a healthy mix of women and men. There is definately something to be "got" from attending, even if it's to get out the house and have a couple of pints afterwards

[milkmanchris]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

Chris,
even if it's to get out the house and have a couple of pints afterwards

You see had you said that you went for a few beers and had some pictures critiqued that would have made a world of difference.

Long live the pub

NB if the club hosted in a licensed premises, all the better

[stevegreen]

Well done both and Gordon I know how annoying it can be when a judge doesn't get your photo........you feel like shouting out don't you! But then again, maybe it's a case of making the point of the photograph stronger so they do get it. It's horses for courses though, some you win some you lose!

Originally Posted by milkmanchris

Stay away from Camera/Photography clubs.

Many moons ago I was invited along as a 'guest' speaker, at that time I was making my living as a pro, and had just finished my first season working with a Premier League photo licence.

To cut a long story short, my work was torn to shreds critique wise, my chosen picture subject was rubbished as worthless, however I had the last laugh when I asked how many of the members had actually sold a picture, no hands.

There is the difference between whats acceptable for news/sports pictures and whats acceptable from a photographic art point of view. Many memebrs of photography clubs are not in it to make money, merely to improve their photograpy skills in different areas of the practice and to socialise with others that share the same interest. Some are obviously able to take critique better than others.

Originally Posted by milkmanchris

Seems to me these 'clubs' are frequented by twitchers and hikers who carry cameras.

Thank the powers above for places like this, RIP Camera Societies and the like, and that's from a traditionalist like me.

Strange, many would say that camera clubs are traditionalist and to suggest that these clubs are frequented by 'twitchers and hikers that carry cameras' is a very sweeping an ill informed generalisation.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Well jut checked the website and scores are up...and I'm in second place behind a chap on 37points.....Tobers is 4th equal!

ding ding....round 2.

[milkmanchris]

Originally Posted by stevegreen

Strange, many would say that camera clubs are traditionalist and to suggest that these clubs are frequented by 'twitchers and hikers that carry cameras' is a very sweeping an ill informed generalisation.

Didn't want to get into a heavy debate, however in my experience the photographs on display at many of these events are landscapes and bird shots, in fact only a few weeks ago I walked around Selby Abbey where Selby Camera Club (my locals) had their latest display, and guess what, all landscapes and birds.

As I explained in my blog, I take pictures for the taking sake, it just so happens that the pictures I liked taking a few years ago, people wanted to buy.

It just seems very elitist to me, I guess its the same with all walks off life, horses for courses and all that, while at Selby Abbey I got talking to an old timer who still processes his film in the shed, and marks down anything digital on principal.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Chris,

I think that what you describe is exactly what Tobers and I feared about camera clubs. Our first two meetings at end of last year were sort of confirming that but then this year when we joined so did a whole raft of new folk. I think their ranks went up by about 30% and all these folk are digital by looks of things and want to try things out. Yes, there are still plenty of flower, landscape and bug photo's (which when done well can be pretty awesome) but there are also some cool shots too. Unfortunately alot of the new members don't appear to have uploaded any galleries so some of the cool new stuff I can't link to. However,

Here's a piece of cool pop art
http://www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk/...+competition+1

A superb reportage portrait
http://www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk/...d-Street+Child

A landscape/nightscape, but a great landscape that really looked amazing projected last night
http://www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk/...om+Outer+Space

Nice urban shot.
http://www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk/...+competition+1

What I thought was a great sports image
http://www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk/...+competition+1

lastly an abstract
http://www.guildfordphotosoc.org.uk/...+competition+1

Not sure why but some seem to be showing really zoomed on my laptop




I do know what you mean about it appearing elitist but the folk I've met seem to be really trying to knock that on the head.

[bodoman]

Originally Posted by Gordon @ Convergent AV

Well jut checked the website and scores are up...and I'm in second place behind a chap on 37points.....Tobers is 4th equal!

ding ding....round 2.

Doing well for a couple of twitcherswell done boys

[sim667]

Im always tempted to join a camera club, but am just really unsure what to expect, im also worried about my age (only 24) and how they'd all cope with my taste for the darker more evil things in life....

Im also worried they'd just take the **** out of my pics

anyway that street child photo, i swear i know that image from somewhere!

[Tobers]

4th equal doesn't sound too bad, especially as I think only your top 8 scores count and there is the opportunity to enter 16 pics.

Good fun though! It's worth going along to your local camera club if there is one nearby. Our lot let us attend 2-3 times for free to see how we liked it (and we still joined!!).

[ttdriver]

Originally Posted by sim667

Im always tempted to join a camera club, but am just really unsure what to expect, im also worried about my age (only 24) and how they'd all cope with my taste for the darker more evil things in life....

Im also worried they'd just take the **** out of my pics

anyway that street child photo, i swear i know that image from somewhere!

I also have the same concerns, I am 27 and looking to join my local "society"

Dave

[pixelpixel]

Gordon the billboard image is stunning, how many goes did it take?

For me its the way the dog is split that makes it that little bit better

I have a local camera club that is well only for local people who use film. Yep no digital images, they do allow stuff from digital to slide to be entered. After some flickr meets I think for me thats the way I will go for a year or so.

Hats off to the both of you and to any other person who goes to these clubs.