Attempting to a contest....

Hello guys,

The company I work for is holding a photo contest in order to conceive the 2006 calendar that will be given to every employes (we are 1500) next year. The theme is to discover the neighbourhood in which the office is located. I have to submit one single picture in two weeks and I have started to work on this yesterday.

Here are two attemps. So, I'd like to guys to criticise them and don't fear to be tough; the officials certainly will! :)

regards

Seb

Hey Seb,

I think the first one is the better of the two, the way the light hits the house, the colors, and the tree used as a natural frame.

The second one doesn't do anything for me, maybe just how everything is cut off, and I don't see what your focal point is.

I wish you good luck!

If the top door wasn't cut off in the second, I would like it better. The first one bothers my eyes for some reason. The lines, shapes, and different colors make the second one more interesting, in my opinion.

I really like the colors in the first shot, but that hot spot above the right door bothers me, as do the other small spots of light. I also like the colors and the comp of the second photo and I feel it is a bit stronger than the first. If it wasn't for the things that I mentioned about the first image, my vote would be for that one, but out of these two, I would have to go with the second shot. Just my 2 pennies.

I'd pick the first one. The colors are strong, and it appears very bold and nice.

Good shots,

Jared

Hey Seb,

The first one has really great potential. Artistically, I think its all there. There are, however, big technical problems. I recommend a reshoot if you are interested in submitting it. The blown out sections are just too numerous, and the shot may be passed over by a judge on a quick look without further study -- if he is a discriminating photographer that is. Try it again when the lighting isn't so harsh, or shoot it underexposed and then even out the lighting PP.

On a deeper level, I like the 2nd shot. I like how your composition balances out into four quadrants with each being unique in its own way. This is, however, more sophisticated and may be above common denominator consumption.

Jury selection can be tricky -- especially if you don't know what they will key off of.

Good luck with the choice,
Tim

Seb, I would also go with the first one in that in has a warm, neighborly type feel to it and may fit the theme more than the second which is very good, but as Tim said may go beyond what the judges are looking for. But, eliminating the hotspots either with editing or a reshoot should be done.
On another note. . .The theme of discovering the neighborhood may be better served by searching for something in the area that is best associated with it, for instance the town library, ora landmark statue or building of some kind. Something the neighborhood is most known for and then shooting it in great Seb style. It seems to me that if your just going to shoot some residential houses, you might want to do it in such a way as to include some of the street and maybe children playing. Just my thoughts on this. Good luck, and by all means pass us some more shots if you will.

Hello Seb
The first one has the potential. I do however think that all the shadows and blown out whites are unhelpful. Would you consider going back and concentrating on the entrances only? I think there is a good shot to be had there.
Tom

Hey guys,

Thanks for commenting. I knew that the lighting wasn't quite right when I shot these (it was too early in the afternoon) but I guess that this is one of these cases when you really want something to work and need to be told that it doesn't...

I did reshot both of these and shot some more with a rented Nikon 12-24mm DX lense yesterday in the evening. The lighting is much softer (and the lense works wonder for street work...). I'll post some of them soon.

best regards

Seb

Seb,

I won't bother critiquing these as that has been done. I looked again at the exam question and to me buildings without people do not represent the neighbourhood. However, if you work for a building firm then I would have to adjust the context of my interpritation.

I think Gary is right it needs people to show the neighbourhood or something extra that these pictures do not show.

However, I prefer the second out of the two if that helps but then I'm not the Judge as Old School Pointed out - its their mindset you need to get into.

hope my brian dump helps - Good luck, and let us see the pick you choose and let us know how you got on.

Roger R.