Help me choose...again! (pic heavy, sorry!)

Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
edited April 9, 2012 in Other Cool Shots
So here are my potential entries for the next portrait competition at my club. I am not intending to play safe this year (I won over 15 trophies in the competitions last year, including Photographer of the year) as I don't need to win particularly. I do want to enter a couple of decent shots, however, to stretch myself...to show what I can do. :)

So, here we go...I need 2 images. Animal portraits are acceptable, as are full body, or just head shots.

7048451759_a875745c24_b.jpg
5-4-2012 Annie on beanbag by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

7046064013_e772570a29_b.jpg
4-4-2012 Tim short lit and rim to hair mono by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

7044524315_8d858070af_b.jpg
30-3-2012 Ruby Beautiful B-W by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

6896330440_78db98a128_b.jpg
3-4-2012 Half of Andy mono by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

7044525207_a9360ee898_b.jpg
29-3-2012 Me snooted v2 mono by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

7030179271_aac705b916_b.jpg
30-3-2012 Ruby as Ladybird Ballerina v2 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

7. 7013787961_59c67110f8_b.jpg
24-3-2012 Burrowing Owl v2 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

8. 6865910786_ba7f3970e2_b.jpg
24-3-2012 Guinea Fowl by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

9. 6896856262_7b07d214f8_b.jpg
3-4-2012 Andy from the shadows mono by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

10. 7039264163_9851755370_b.jpg
29-3-2012 Me snooted v2 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

Thank you. :)

Which 2 images should I choose? 22 votes

1
9%
Gary752RyanS 2 votes
2
22%
ChrisJshawncDaddyOWhatSheSawZBlack 5 votes
3
13%
WhatSheSawbasfltgrandmaR 3 votes
4
4%
Spotzo 1 vote
5
27%
BendrDaddyOUnknownrainbowMLangtonGary752 6 votes
6
0%
7
22%
ChrisJBendrrainbowSpotzograndmaR 5 votes
8
0%
9
0%
10
0%

Comments

  • TonyCooperTonyCooper Registered Users Posts: 2,276 Major grins
    edited April 7, 2012
    I'll pass on picking one. I would be pleased to be the person submitting any of those
    of humans.

    I would skip "Ruby as Ladybird" because my first-glance impression is that poor
    Ruby is an amputee. The arm on the right (as we view it) looks like a stump
    until I notice how the sleeve blends in with the dress. Also, I don't like that
    white object in her armpit. No offense intended to the delightful model, though.

    The owl doesn't impress me. We have some truly gifted nature photographers
    in my camera clubs, so this owl photo - compared to others I've seen - is
    rather run-of-the-mill. Similar lack of interest in the guinea fowl. (Nasty, loud
    birds they are.)

    The black and white semi-shadowed images are all good, and this forum is
    the only place I see this type of shot done well (except in magazines).
    Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
    http://tonycooper.smugmug.com/
  • MLangtonMLangton Registered Users Posts: 140 Major grins
    edited April 7, 2012
    5
    TonyCooper wrote: »
    I would skip "Ruby as Ladybird" because my first-glance impression is that poor Ruby is an amputee. The arm on the right (as we view it) looks like a stump until I notice how the sleeve blends in with the dress.

    I picked that up immediately also. I had to do a double take.
    More photo, less shop.

    http://mlangton.smugmug.com
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited April 7, 2012
    TonyCooper wrote: »
    I'll pass on picking one. I would be pleased to be the person submitting any of those
    of humans.

    I would skip "Ruby as Ladybird" because my first-glance impression is that poor
    Ruby is an amputee. The arm on the right (as we view it) looks like a stump
    until I notice how the sleeve blends in with the dress. Also, I don't like that
    white object in her armpit. No offense intended to the delightful model, though.

    The owl doesn't impress me. We have some truly gifted nature photographers
    in my camera clubs, so this owl photo - compared to others I've seen - is
    rather run-of-the-mill. Similar lack of interest in the guinea fowl. (Nasty, loud
    birds they are.)

    The black and white semi-shadowed images are all good, and this forum is
    the only place I see this type of shot done well (except in magazines).
    MLangton wrote: »
    I picked that up immediately also. I had to do a double take.

    Thanks for that, folks. I see what you mean about the arm...the only way around that is that Ruby would actually be there on the night (she's a member of the camera club) and therefore they can see that she has 2 arms! :D

    But I am more tempted by the 1/2 face B&W shots, for sure. But I would only enter one of those, of course. :)

    Cheers
  • MLangtonMLangton Registered Users Posts: 140 Major grins
    edited April 7, 2012
    5
    You do great work... If I had to pick, it would be #5. Nothing technical... Just like that one the best.
    More photo, less shop.

    http://mlangton.smugmug.com
  • Gary752Gary752 Registered Users Posts: 934 Major grins
    edited April 7, 2012
    5
    I would pick #5 & #10 if they were mine. I really like the detail of the skin in those. Let us know how you do in the competition!

    GaryB
    GaryB
    “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited April 8, 2012
    MLangton wrote: »
    You do great work... If I had to pick, it would be #5. Nothing technical... Just like that one the best.
    BroPhoto wrote: »
    I would pick #5 & #10 if they were mine. I really like the detail of the skin in those. Let us know how you do in the competition!

    GaryB


    Thanks guys. I couldn't pick 5 AND 10, though as they're the same picture, just mono and colour. :)

    But 5 is towards the top o the list. :)
  • SpotzoSpotzo Registered Users Posts: 66 Big grins
    edited April 8, 2012
    7
    I like the #4 half-portrait, and #7, the owl.
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited April 8, 2012
    Spotzo wrote: »
    I like the #4 half-portrait, and #7, the owl.

    Thank you. Appreciate your time. :)
  • DaddyODaddyO Registered Users Posts: 4,466 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2012
    5
    Nice work on these thumb.gif

    Image 2 I like as is and find it has a lot of visual strength, character and a natural frankness to it. Neatly composed shot and the lighting doesn't looked forced and comes off to me as simple, natural quality light.

    Image 5 I also had to go with though I was continually going back to the others done using the same method just to make sure of picking 5. Image 9 was right behind 5 as I liked his slight pose angle and his gentle, honestly pondering appearance.

    With image 5 I had to try a slight CCW rotation of 3.5 degrees and a bit of a crop to give the model a much more stronger presence in the frame. I thought that doing so did in fact give the work added strength for me.

    Good luck with what ever you finally select to go with :D Again nice effort seen in all.
    Michael
  • Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited April 9, 2012
    DaddyO wrote: »
    Nice work on these thumb.gif

    Image 2 I like as is and find it has a lot of visual strength, character and a natural frankness to it. Neatly composed shot and the lighting doesn't looked forced and comes off to me as simple, natural quality light.

    Image 5 I also had to go with though I was continually going back to the others done using the same method just to make sure of picking 5. Image 9 was right behind 5 as I liked his slight pose angle and his gentle, honestly pondering appearance.

    With image 5 I had to try a slight CCW rotation of 3.5 degrees and a bit of a crop to give the model a much more stronger presence in the frame. I thought that doing so did in fact give the work added strength for me.

    Good luck with what ever you finally select to go with :D Again nice effort seen in all.

    Thanks. I am obviously pleased with all these...I have a soft spot for #2. I find it hard to be objective with #5 since it's me in the picture! But I do like it. :)

    #9 I like for the contemplatative look...Andy was in that sort of mood anyway, and it showed in the image. :)
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