Weekly Competition #100 - SELF-PORTRAIT Competition
| Title | Weekly Competition #100 - SELF-PORTRAIT |
|---|---|
| Judge | Lilly | Closing Date | 07/06/2009 | Opting Out | If you'd like to enter but not keen on creating and judging the following competition you have the option to opt out. If you're selected as the winning photo simply create a report saying that you'd like Admin to take over and we'll do the rest. |
| Description | |
Time to get your tripods and remotes out, this has been done before way back in the early days of this competition, but I thought it would be nice to have an update for the special 100th. Be as imaginative as you like and if you are short on ideas just check out Flickr for inspiration.Lilly |
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Competition Entries
Photographs uploaded to the Weekly Competition #100 - SELF-PORTRAIT competition.
Posted 08/06/2009 - 10:38
Link
Competition No 100 – Self-Portrait
I do apologise putting you through this theme, but I think it does tell us a lot about ourselves as photographers, by the way we approach snapping ourselves, but also we learn a lot in the process of how to handle others when we photograph them. In addition, I am just dead nosey as to what we all look like! I am knocked out by how many creative & varied entries there were it was a difficult process indeed to judge.
Hefty1:
This is a very honest SP and it tells us a lot about this man Hefty, which I like. The wide landscape crop is good, but feel you have cropped a bit too much off, i.e. your knee and head which makes the grass on bottom looks a bit out of balance.
Molejones:
This is a classic mono SP that a lot of us have played at! At first viewing I was drawn to the background, which looks interesting and tells me something about the man and his environment. However, it worries me why I was drawn to the backgound and not the main subject and I think it is because you have too many harsh highlights in your face and hands and it seems as though you have over sharpened somewhat?
Tony-O:
Oh my, this is a little weird & striking, a plastic Photoshop filter I think, Tony you look you have a severe case of bunged up nostrils! I do appreciate the colour toning which is very creative and well done. However, you know the only thing that puts me off is that central glow under your hat; it sort of dissects the image too much.
Dr Mhuni:
This is good, a very subtle and natural entry, my eyes immediately focus on the subjects eyes and then wanders off into the distance to wonder where he is, using the fish eye mirror is refreshingly different, nice warm lighting on an interesting face.
Bluejohn:
"Describes me perfectly" ? Me thinks - very shy...all I can see is one walking boot, but it describes your interests perfectly and is quirky! I do feel it is a little dark and flat, I took it into PS and in Levels the right hand slider needed bring right over to the middle to lift it, which improved it enormously. Whatever I may leave out in photoshop I always check levels and curves in all images.
Judith Ann:
This is delightful and works so well in mono, very creative of you to use multiple exposure, a facility we have on our cameras, well applied. This could be improved even more by a less tight crop under your chin and I think just a part of your hand is distracting. The exposure you applied on the two faces I think should be reversed, making the full face darker and stronger, but well done you
Heidi:
Full marks to you Heidi for making good use of the camera capabilities to achieve this; to me it says an etching impression of you and is very artistic and enchanting. The left blank space is a minor distraction but is there and this distracts my eye too much.
John Riley:
This is a very natural self-portrait with great detail in the face and pin sharp where it counts. My only concern is the bit of CA & burnt out detail on the wheel, which is shame. I love the reflections in your glasses & the concentration on your face.
Alteropa:
This is very contemporary and the most anonymous of all, perhaps there are hidden meanings to self portrayal that I do not see, I like the idea and nice tonal range but does not tell me much about you.
Mr Mellow:
Ah, Mr Mellow (aka David Bailey!) very traditional, conservative and well executed. Very sharp and background thrown nicely out of focus, nicely cropped too, but very safe.
Strawberryberet:
Yes, the colour of you hair is striking, but there is a lot to do to this to make it technically good. If it was mine, I would have, first of all mirrored the image so Pentax read correctly; had PENTAX logo all visible; greater DOF so your hair and camera which is the main subject in focus & thrown the background out of focus.
Prieni:
I laughed like a drain when I saw this! Very imaginative and says a lot about your SOH and you, with that backdrop of travel paraphernalia, well made!
Beakynet:
This has a B movie feel about it, I do like it, but wish you had tried it in mono; it does look good in mono, as I did try myself. However a couple of things detract from it and that is the middle line splitting your visage and that blank white space on the right.
Nathenever82:
A very classic studio shot, well executed, great eye contact and neutral backdrop, but a safe approach also, technically good but needs a little more to keep me interested.
Aiki:
This is true and honest, I like this very much, mono suits you well and allows the viewer to totally focus on you. The focusing on your eyes is superb, they sparkle. Only quibble is burnt out highlights on your hand on the mug, I would have cropped that slightly off from left hand side, if you has spotted this and corrected I would have placed you higher. I have learnt a hard lesson with burnt out highlights at great cost in the past!
Hyram:
Oh dear, too annonymous for me Hyram, could even be a mannekin, why so shy and I see no life! Nice and sharp and colourful but sorry does not give much away!
GilesBysh:
Please mirror your image in PS, so text PENTAX reads correctly. An innovative idea that has great potential, needs more punch in the contrast and I wd have cropped out some of those distracting marks bottom right or cropped closer.
GlynM;
Very honest and one that bares pate! The colour balance seems very warm and unnatural and lighting too ordinary, I don’t really like it.
Malo1961:
Well, you know me too well, I am a sucker for a classic, stylish portrait and this is it. The subtle blue tint to the specs is special and deliciously enticing. Perfectly exposed and executed etc. spot on my man, nothing to comment on other than………… THE WINNER! Congratulations.
Richie-bob:
Great mono portrait, excellent lighting well thought out, this has mono impact with great eye contact and framing and I like the title which is also important as I have become more aware of in competitions. An intriguing portrait with eyes that draws me in. Lovely.
Womble:
Sargetia? Please tell me what this is, looks fascinating. A bit Harry Potterish and cute & tells me your love of books, but the mono conversion is not really dynamic enough, your face seems soft and lacking in tonal range which should be the opposite. Did you try and dodge a little too much?
Isdky:
Too much black for my taste, I would have cropped more off top and sides. There is a lot of lost detail at the top of your head. I think it would have had more impact if you had had some additional subtle lighting from above, perhaps even coloured red, but another creative flash approach indeed.
Haworth:
This subtle portrait has the bonus of a story attached and that makes it interesting, the choice of clothing adds a twist. Nicely portrayed, the sharp focusing on just the eyes and lighting on the face is all that is needed, I think I would have been tempted to crop the wooden rail out below and the hands seem a little grey.
Darkmunk:
Very creative approach as we come to expect of you and a lot of prep work. I do love the flash lighting in the car, but the blur is a little OTT for me. If done a little less it would not be so distracting from the figure in the car, just a bit out of balance in composition as it is, even cropping some from left and top would balance it better, but a great idea.
Rob:
A very clever idea, I bet you wife loved this! An informative and original idea, great title too. Unfortunately, the central figures head and face is not in focus which kind of irritates me, as is the K20D book, whereas the chairs and your boots are. Well done though.
The 100th Competition Results
1st – Malo1961
2nd – Richie-bob
3rd – Aiki
Highly Commended – Dr Mhuni & Prieni
My predilection for mono has nothing to do with the results I can assure you; they were just the strongest portraits in my eyes!
Well done to you all for such knockout final submissions.
Over to you Martin …
I do apologise putting you through this theme, but I think it does tell us a lot about ourselves as photographers, by the way we approach snapping ourselves, but also we learn a lot in the process of how to handle others when we photograph them. In addition, I am just dead nosey as to what we all look like! I am knocked out by how many creative & varied entries there were it was a difficult process indeed to judge.
Hefty1:
This is a very honest SP and it tells us a lot about this man Hefty, which I like. The wide landscape crop is good, but feel you have cropped a bit too much off, i.e. your knee and head which makes the grass on bottom looks a bit out of balance.
Molejones:
This is a classic mono SP that a lot of us have played at! At first viewing I was drawn to the background, which looks interesting and tells me something about the man and his environment. However, it worries me why I was drawn to the backgound and not the main subject and I think it is because you have too many harsh highlights in your face and hands and it seems as though you have over sharpened somewhat?
Tony-O:
Oh my, this is a little weird & striking, a plastic Photoshop filter I think, Tony you look you have a severe case of bunged up nostrils! I do appreciate the colour toning which is very creative and well done. However, you know the only thing that puts me off is that central glow under your hat; it sort of dissects the image too much.
Dr Mhuni:
This is good, a very subtle and natural entry, my eyes immediately focus on the subjects eyes and then wanders off into the distance to wonder where he is, using the fish eye mirror is refreshingly different, nice warm lighting on an interesting face.
Bluejohn:
"Describes me perfectly" ? Me thinks - very shy...all I can see is one walking boot, but it describes your interests perfectly and is quirky! I do feel it is a little dark and flat, I took it into PS and in Levels the right hand slider needed bring right over to the middle to lift it, which improved it enormously. Whatever I may leave out in photoshop I always check levels and curves in all images.
Judith Ann:
This is delightful and works so well in mono, very creative of you to use multiple exposure, a facility we have on our cameras, well applied. This could be improved even more by a less tight crop under your chin and I think just a part of your hand is distracting. The exposure you applied on the two faces I think should be reversed, making the full face darker and stronger, but well done you
Heidi:
Full marks to you Heidi for making good use of the camera capabilities to achieve this; to me it says an etching impression of you and is very artistic and enchanting. The left blank space is a minor distraction but is there and this distracts my eye too much.
John Riley:
This is a very natural self-portrait with great detail in the face and pin sharp where it counts. My only concern is the bit of CA & burnt out detail on the wheel, which is shame. I love the reflections in your glasses & the concentration on your face.
Alteropa:
This is very contemporary and the most anonymous of all, perhaps there are hidden meanings to self portrayal that I do not see, I like the idea and nice tonal range but does not tell me much about you.
Mr Mellow:
Ah, Mr Mellow (aka David Bailey!) very traditional, conservative and well executed. Very sharp and background thrown nicely out of focus, nicely cropped too, but very safe.
Strawberryberet:
Yes, the colour of you hair is striking, but there is a lot to do to this to make it technically good. If it was mine, I would have, first of all mirrored the image so Pentax read correctly; had PENTAX logo all visible; greater DOF so your hair and camera which is the main subject in focus & thrown the background out of focus.
Prieni:
I laughed like a drain when I saw this! Very imaginative and says a lot about your SOH and you, with that backdrop of travel paraphernalia, well made!
Beakynet:
This has a B movie feel about it, I do like it, but wish you had tried it in mono; it does look good in mono, as I did try myself. However a couple of things detract from it and that is the middle line splitting your visage and that blank white space on the right.
Nathenever82:
A very classic studio shot, well executed, great eye contact and neutral backdrop, but a safe approach also, technically good but needs a little more to keep me interested.
Aiki:
This is true and honest, I like this very much, mono suits you well and allows the viewer to totally focus on you. The focusing on your eyes is superb, they sparkle. Only quibble is burnt out highlights on your hand on the mug, I would have cropped that slightly off from left hand side, if you has spotted this and corrected I would have placed you higher. I have learnt a hard lesson with burnt out highlights at great cost in the past!
Hyram:
Oh dear, too annonymous for me Hyram, could even be a mannekin, why so shy and I see no life! Nice and sharp and colourful but sorry does not give much away!
GilesBysh:
Please mirror your image in PS, so text PENTAX reads correctly. An innovative idea that has great potential, needs more punch in the contrast and I wd have cropped out some of those distracting marks bottom right or cropped closer.
GlynM;
Very honest and one that bares pate! The colour balance seems very warm and unnatural and lighting too ordinary, I don’t really like it.
Malo1961:
Well, you know me too well, I am a sucker for a classic, stylish portrait and this is it. The subtle blue tint to the specs is special and deliciously enticing. Perfectly exposed and executed etc. spot on my man, nothing to comment on other than………… THE WINNER! Congratulations.
Richie-bob:
Great mono portrait, excellent lighting well thought out, this has mono impact with great eye contact and framing and I like the title which is also important as I have become more aware of in competitions. An intriguing portrait with eyes that draws me in. Lovely.
Womble:
Sargetia? Please tell me what this is, looks fascinating. A bit Harry Potterish and cute & tells me your love of books, but the mono conversion is not really dynamic enough, your face seems soft and lacking in tonal range which should be the opposite. Did you try and dodge a little too much?
Isdky:
Too much black for my taste, I would have cropped more off top and sides. There is a lot of lost detail at the top of your head. I think it would have had more impact if you had had some additional subtle lighting from above, perhaps even coloured red, but another creative flash approach indeed.
Haworth:
This subtle portrait has the bonus of a story attached and that makes it interesting, the choice of clothing adds a twist. Nicely portrayed, the sharp focusing on just the eyes and lighting on the face is all that is needed, I think I would have been tempted to crop the wooden rail out below and the hands seem a little grey.
Darkmunk:
Very creative approach as we come to expect of you and a lot of prep work. I do love the flash lighting in the car, but the blur is a little OTT for me. If done a little less it would not be so distracting from the figure in the car, just a bit out of balance in composition as it is, even cropping some from left and top would balance it better, but a great idea.
Rob:
A very clever idea, I bet you wife loved this! An informative and original idea, great title too. Unfortunately, the central figures head and face is not in focus which kind of irritates me, as is the K20D book, whereas the chairs and your boots are. Well done though.
The 100th Competition Results
1st – Malo1961
2nd – Richie-bob
3rd – Aiki
Highly Commended – Dr Mhuni & Prieni
My predilection for mono has nothing to do with the results I can assure you; they were just the strongest portraits in my eyes!
Well done to you all for such knockout final submissions.
Over to you Martin …
Posted 08/06/2009 - 11:07
Link
Little,weird, striking with a permanent glow under the hat.
Thats me alright.Well done Lilly,enjoyed that description.Congratulation's to Martin and Richie-Bob,and Aiki.
I liked Darkmunk,Prieni and Aiki's pics,but it was interesting to see the others as well.Tony.
Thats me alright.Well done Lilly,enjoyed that description.Congratulation's to Martin and Richie-Bob,and Aiki.
I liked Darkmunk,Prieni and Aiki's pics,but it was interesting to see the others as well.Tony.
K7,DA*50-135, 35mmLTD Macro, 21mm Ltd, Voightlaender 58mm 1.4 NOKTON SL,Ricoh GRD,GRX, Zeiss 100mm f2 Makro Planar.Zeiss Ikon ZM,Zeiss f1.5 C Sonnar.
It ain't no sin to take off your skin,and dance around in your bones.Tom Waits.
It ain't no sin to take off your skin,and dance around in your bones.Tom Waits.
Posted 08/06/2009 - 11:57
Link
Congratulations to Malo! Serves you right, now your mugshot will be seen by all the readers of PU magazine!
I would have put my money on Darkmunk as I really liked the idea. I think I have to try that sometime. Definitely the special price for effort.
Lilly, well done with the judging on this, deserving winners and runners up. Lots of excellent entries.
Prieni
I would have put my money on Darkmunk as I really liked the idea. I think I have to try that sometime. Definitely the special price for effort.
Lilly, well done with the judging on this, deserving winners and runners up. Lots of excellent entries.
Prieni
How inappropriate to call this planet earth when it is quite clearly Ocean. - Arthur C. Clarke
Prieni's PPG page
Prieni's PPG page
Posted 08/06/2009 - 13:04
Link
Congratulations to Martin, Richie-Bob and Aiki and thank you to Lilly for the judging.
Glad to have maintained my anonymity and not given much away
It was either this one or no entry
Glad to have maintained my anonymity and not given much away
It was either this one or no entry
Hyram
Bodies: K20D (2), K10D, Super A, ME Super, Auto 110 SLR, X70, Optio P70
Pentax Glass: DA* 300, DA* 60-250, DA* 50-135, DA* 16-50, DA 70 Ltd, FA 31 Ltd, DA 35 Ltd, DA 18-55 (2), DA 12-24, DA 10-17, M 200, A 35-70, M 40, M 28, Converter-A 2X-S, 1.4X-S, AF 1.7, Pentax-110 50, Pentax-110 24
Other Glass: Sigma 105 macro, Sigma-A APO 75-300
Flash: Metz 58 AF-1 P, Pentax AF160FC ringflash, Pentax AF280T
Bodies: K20D (2), K10D, Super A, ME Super, Auto 110 SLR, X70, Optio P70
Pentax Glass: DA* 300, DA* 60-250, DA* 50-135, DA* 16-50, DA 70 Ltd, FA 31 Ltd, DA 35 Ltd, DA 18-55 (2), DA 12-24, DA 10-17, M 200, A 35-70, M 40, M 28, Converter-A 2X-S, 1.4X-S, AF 1.7, Pentax-110 50, Pentax-110 24
Other Glass: Sigma 105 macro, Sigma-A APO 75-300
Flash: Metz 58 AF-1 P, Pentax AF160FC ringflash, Pentax AF280T
Posted 08/06/2009 - 13:08
Link
I am wordless.
Never expected so high place !
As to my pic:
Was aware of the highlights Didnt want to crop more, was afraid of loosing a sensible ratio of the sides (and compos with that). Had some variants with better compos but these were unsharp Working with layers would have helped. Found no time. So I have paied the price But I do not see any higher place I could reach. I´ve got more than being worth of.
Thanks Lilly !
I wasnt planning to participate at all. But last day was like on burning coals. Until I posted at last
The funniest was Prieni, for sure. (People at work as well). Darkmunk has a great idea – I wonder how you managed. Boldest Tony-O, I would say Martin – stright as always
The pics tell about character quite well I suppose. So its really interesting subject and all pics very interesting.
Never expected so high place !
As to my pic:
Was aware of the highlights Didnt want to crop more, was afraid of loosing a sensible ratio of the sides (and compos with that). Had some variants with better compos but these were unsharp Working with layers would have helped. Found no time. So I have paied the price But I do not see any higher place I could reach. I´ve got more than being worth of.
Thanks Lilly !
I wasnt planning to participate at all. But last day was like on burning coals. Until I posted at last
The funniest was Prieni, for sure. (People at work as well). Darkmunk has a great idea – I wonder how you managed. Boldest Tony-O, I would say Martin – stright as always
The pics tell about character quite well I suppose. So its really interesting subject and all pics very interesting.
Posted 08/06/2009 - 14:10
Link
Great judging Lilly and congratulations to Martin - that'll teach you for entering!
Some realy great entries this week and my personal favourites were Rob's and Bluejohn's but I can appreciate how tough Lilly's job was in having to choose just one winner.
Some realy great entries this week and my personal favourites were Rob's and Bluejohn's but I can appreciate how tough Lilly's job was in having to choose just one winner.
Joining the Q
Posted 08/06/2009 - 14:18
Link
Gongrats to Martin....You are Famous NOW!!!
Hey Rob...I would have loved to see you on the podum too...that was awesome!!!
I loved Heidi's...Tonys...
Martin I sure am looking foward to 101....I wonder what it will be?????
Hey Rob...I would have loved to see you on the podum too...that was awesome!!!
I loved Heidi's...Tonys...
Martin I sure am looking foward to 101....I wonder what it will be?????
Posted 08/06/2009 - 14:24
Link
Great set of pictures, congrats to all. Such a range, must have been difficult to judge. Nathan's classic portrait shot was excellent, Prieni made me laugh, Darkmonk's would have had me giving birth to kittens and Rob's was cleverly thought out.
As to mine... Sargetia is a Romanian archaeological journal (most of the books on that set of shelves are in Romanian). And yes, I did dodge it too much. One of those photos that if I could have had the focus from one picture, the lighting from a second and the composition from a third I would have got want I wanted!
Well done Lilly, and now over the Martin.
As to mine... Sargetia is a Romanian archaeological journal (most of the books on that set of shelves are in Romanian). And yes, I did dodge it too much. One of those photos that if I could have had the focus from one picture, the lighting from a second and the composition from a third I would have got want I wanted!
Well done Lilly, and now over the Martin.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
Posted 08/06/2009 - 17:48
Link
hefty1 wrote:
Great judging Lilly and congratulations to Martin - that'll teach you for entering!
Yeah,yeah, yeahhh......what on earth was I thinking Great judging Lilly and congratulations to Martin - that'll teach you for entering!
I'll guess I never learn.
Thanks Lilly, for honouring me with this first place. Number 100 felt special, as I participated in so many of these rounds. That was the main reason I entered. Now.....what have I done TBH I thought there were some very strong candidates for the end title. And didn't expect/hope to hit the top three. (and then you say I know you so well....:shock
Anyway...thanks for the nice words and presenting my mug in a lot of homes. I'll guess it will make a good fly killer
This weeks theme will be posted in about a half hour from now.
Martin.
Posted 08/06/2009 - 20:29
Link
''Yeah,yeah, yeahhh......what on earth was I thinking
I'll guess I never learn. ''
''Anyway...thanks for the nice words and presenting my mug in a lot of homes. I'll guess it will make a good fly killer ''
Welcome back Martin,you know you like it here.
As far as being a fly killer,your winning entry shows you dressed as a member of a S.W.A.T. team. Interesting theme presented for the next week.
Tony.
I'll guess I never learn. ''
''Anyway...thanks for the nice words and presenting my mug in a lot of homes. I'll guess it will make a good fly killer ''
Welcome back Martin,you know you like it here.
As far as being a fly killer,your winning entry shows you dressed as a member of a S.W.A.T. team. Interesting theme presented for the next week.
Tony.
K7,DA*50-135, 35mmLTD Macro, 21mm Ltd, Voightlaender 58mm 1.4 NOKTON SL,Ricoh GRD,GRX, Zeiss 100mm f2 Makro Planar.Zeiss Ikon ZM,Zeiss f1.5 C Sonnar.
It ain't no sin to take off your skin,and dance around in your bones.Tom Waits.
It ain't no sin to take off your skin,and dance around in your bones.Tom Waits.
Posted 11/06/2009 - 14:52
Link
We certainly ended up with a great collection of pictures. Congratulations to Martin, and good judging from Lilly. I think Darkmunk's was my favourite.
I'm glad I was able to amuse people with my entry. I just have to remember that trying to get it all in focus by having a small aperture only works if I don't move during the longer exposure required . And while my other half did find it funny, she wasn't nearly as amused by the time it took. Apparently I could have been doing something more useful, like cleaning the kitchen...
Robert.
I'm glad I was able to amuse people with my entry. I just have to remember that trying to get it all in focus by having a small aperture only works if I don't move during the longer exposure required . And while my other half did find it funny, she wasn't nearly as amused by the time it took. Apparently I could have been doing something more useful, like cleaning the kitchen...
Robert.
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24415 posts
24 years
Tyldesley,
Manchester
I will then get this submitted to PU Magazine, which should be in time for the July issue.
Thanks!