Weekly Competition #195 - JAPAN!!! Competition

Hmmmm....looks like I won the competition but can't find any comments or podium places listed
Thanks for the win ArsenaAl and look forward to seeing your comments and my fellow podium places!

I will set a new competition shortly, as soon as I can think of one!

Hello! Thus, the time has come .. I must say I am a bit surprised by a small amount of work .. in my daily life I am constantly confronted with Japan, in one form or another. I have a Toyota sports car, the camera ......., Audio Denon .. her brother's Honda motorcycle .. we go to sushi bars, doing karate and judo, and a lot more around me is connected with this country. And very few of these things I saw in the contest .. But still need to sum up!



I apologize, but I write only about those jobs that I liked! I'm the boss and me all you can ..
DOTONBORI DUDE by aliengrove-Excellent, excellent work! Live and direct .. And it very accurately captures the essence of modern Japanese youth and their culture. And she is encouraging the belief that they are right!

KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES by sandinista-This is the only picture from the theme that I really was waiting for! Motorcycles and cars, this is what I like and what Japan has achieved perfection. But this image shows the original approach to the seemingly well-worn theme .. Very good composition and DOF, tone gradation of artistry. And drops of water .. Bravo!

MAIKO DAY OUT by haworth-Another great shot. It very well the characteristic of the land of the rising sun mix of ancient traditions and cutting-edge technologies. Very good capture a moment and technically literate shot!


RAKU by gartmore-also a very good job! Very high quality, good composition and association are unmistakable. Immediately imagine a meal Samurai! I like it!

HANDMADE ASIAN HAT... by judith ann-good light and colors!
very fittingly on .. But it may be worthwhile to work on the composition, I would have placed his hat in the bottom right corner of the large black square .. for example ..


So, .... drums ... fanfare .... and the Oscar awarded to the work ..DOTONBORI DUDE by aliengrove!!! The first and the best!

2nd place-KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES by sandinista! (in my own way-as a rider .. besides, I really like your nickname! just do not tell anyone!)

3rd place-MAIKO DAY OUT by haworth! feminine beauty-the terrible power!
I heartily congratulate the winners! and I ask forgiveness from all the others for a very short comment and for to.chto not mention all! and people of Japan wish speedy exit from this difficult situation! Regards, Arsen Alaberdov

Congratulations to aliengrove.

I was going to photograph some saki glasses but the fine weather got in the way

Well done Jon, Sandinista & Haworth! A commendable theme Arsen - our best wishes to the people affected. Well judged.

Congratulationg aliengrove, a worthy winner shot. I like the dynamic of this shot.

Hmmm, it seems that this little work was already too much for you. You didn't even provide feedback for those few entries. You have to make your mind up, too little or too much?

Could it be because you didn't specify that? "All that you associate with Japan" it said on the label. We didn't know that what you really meant was "All I associate with Japan."

True, we cannot force you to provide feedback. It would be helpful, though, if you could loose a few words about why you didn't like the particular entries. It's mostly more helpful than a pat on the back and some praise.

Good choice of winners and good judging (on the ones you chose to be worthy)

Prieni

Could it be because you didn't specify that? "All that you associate with Japan" it said on the label. We didn't know that what you really meant was "All I associate with Japan."

And you like that I have listed-1. Cars. 2. Motorcycles. 3 ...... ?? I wanted to make it work fantasy.
As for other works, is there a prerequisite that I should appreciate all the work?? I specifically mentioned the winner, which I did .. at the same time I pointed to those works that well liked. and wrote that this I have foundrespectively, in the other photos I have not found .. I again apologize if someone is hurt! and no friendly shoulder-patting, I do not unfortunately all too far from me!
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Cheers for the third place and a hearty congrats to aliengrove for his accurate portrayal of Japanese urban youth, and a well done to sandanista for the stylish shot of the Kawasaki.

Congrats Sandanista and Haworth!

Would have been nice to see feedback on all the entries....

Well done Jon, had you down as the potential winner, and thanks for the second place Arsen, well done haworth and to all who entered

No no, don't get me wrong. You took what I think is the right approach. Your choice of what entries to comment on, though, seemed to me like an implication that you only commented on what you connect to Japan.
Yes, you should appreciate every entry whether you like it or not. There may be the occasional fun entry but mostly people submit entries that they think reflect the theme. They might have a different view than you but that doesn't mean that your view or their view is any better than the other. And thus every entry should be respected.

By all means be honest in your assessment, you don't have to praise shots you don't like. If you don't like them then think a moment why you don't like it and try to put that in words. Easy, really.

I don't think that anyone is hurt at all. It might be a wee bit disappointing for some.

I would not have written anything had you not complained about too little work. And then you only commented on five of the 19 entries. That is what sparked my reaction.

No bad feelings at all, just something for consideration the next time round.

Prieni

Well done Aliengrove on a deserved win. Jim that elusive first place is so close, a great entry.

Well done to all entries!

Minimal judging but a quick decision, thanks arsenAL.

I not said what I did not find that I need, I said in my life I am faced with a very wide variety of Japanese and was expecting to see the same variety in the pictures! and may even be something I never expected to see .. And about the comments, I just do not think my views above the views of those people who provided work-and that is why only commented on those that fought in my mind for victory... and certainly it has nothing to do with disrespect to anyone or so, more laziness!

Congratulations AG and the other photos selected for comment.

Personally I thought there was quite a lot else to appreciate among the unmentioned; eg: VonBatCat's hinomaru take and Prieni's 'miniature'.

Interesting competition - I agree with the winning shot and well done to Jon and the other "mentions"

A little perplexed not to get even simple crits for the other entries as they all add to the sum total of our understanding of what makes/breaks a "good" photo.

Tony

:shockear Mr Judge:

I must admit that I do believe that Prieni has a strong and valid point. It is with effort and time that one enters a competition. It is a opportunity for both the judge and the photographer to have a learning experience. This two way experience can only happen if the judge takes the time to share his thoughts on each photo that has been entered. If you felt that a certain photo was off topic...then why not express to the competitor why you felt it did not apply to your topic? Criticism explained, can help one to make a better choice next time.

If you were to be a judge again, and you had not cared for my entry before....and did not provide me with a reason.... How can I improve? It would only leave me feeling that it there is little point in entering your competition again.

I do think that negative or corrective feedback is just as important as the positive. When I first began entering the competitions....I received tons of criticism...poor lighting...too soft...burnt out spots... and so on. I worked hard to improve.....I listened and I learned. That is why you should take the time to comment on each and every photo that was in your Comp. It is also very polite to acknowledge the efforts of your fellow photographers. It is VERY disappointing to check the results of last weeks comp, and have nothing to said about your entry.

At least, with my hat photo, you gave me someway that I might improve my picture...everyone whom entered deserve some feedback too

Having shared that, allow me to turn my attention to the winner and congrats to each of you.

Regards; JA

Dear Judith! All what you said is true only for a beginner .. If you are a photographer with the experience and the prevailing own view of the world, then listen to the opinions of others and most importantly follow it may even be harmful! the more that 5 people can express their views totally different, you'll hear all?

I do not think dr.Orloff or VonBatСat novices and they heard why I liked their work immediately begin to take pictures in a different way! However, women can not refuse, for you personally, I give my opinion on other works ...

Thank you your reply Arsen.

I must say that I disagree with your assumption that an experience photographer would not try something "different", on the advice of another.

Is there any photographer that has no room for improvement...even if it is "just an other's opinion"...are you not interested in hearing how someone else might view and interpret your piece of work?

Putting all that aside...I thought it was part of the rules for judging, that you comment on all the photos entered.

I do hope that if you have this honour of judging again, that you will comment and share your thoughts on all photos entered.

Kindly, JA

SAKURA by dr.orloff
very competent, quality as always, shot and even sakura is one of the main symbols of Japan .. Was the picture contender for 3rd place, until there were more interesting work. Maybe not enough originality, in my opinion ..

GO TAKOU O INORIMASU! by frogherder
and here in my opinion not enough technology and the ability to build composition .. Maybe not worth it to take such a big plan that you can see all the inflorescence or vice versa, to find some flowers .. and not to place the main object exactly in the center .. but the flowers are very beautiful and the association gives the correct ...

CRAFTED IN JAPAN by stephanie0812
very good shot, and the technique and composition! very much, but apart from the inscriptions on the plates, I have no association with Japan does not cause .. could make visible the inscription on the guitar, it is more likely togo.chto Japanese firm .. or not?

JAPANESE GARDEN by johnriley
just a very good job .. but I think the composition is not quite correct, gazebo located exactly on the center, right edge takes foliage and left empty .. the right side as it outweighs .. I would have shifted the point of capture to the left ..

JAPANESE STEEL by alexfilipov
Another high-quality picture .. but he does not cling, even though I love knives .. possible cost to place the knife not parallel to the camera lens.

SUNLIGHT TROUGH MAPLE LEAVES by garyjohn
hmmm....I do not know what to say .. obviously I do not understand this picture. chaotic composition and the sunlight is not visible. good story, worth more carefully over it to work ..

ANOTHER JAPANESE GARDEN by prieni
good job,Good quality, good fit the theme, interesting plot, the correct choice of depth of field ..

ZEN-TIME by dodge69
I like the idea .. but the execution just falls short of ideas. placement of branches in the foreground of course plays well to a depth of images, gives the amount. but the branches are too many and I think they distract, destroy composition.

END OF WINTER by stevepresto
good story but blew hard light. plus I would have arranged the flowers just above ..

BYGONE ERA by tozza27
the plot of something that I really wanted to see it! composition in my opinion is too easy .. but the main question-what was the use of such exposure parameters? the story did not require a fully open aperture, and judging by the light exposure was enough! I would increase the shutter speed and aperture closed-shot would have been more sharp

LAND OF THE RISING SUN by gunner
maybe worth to wait until the sun sits a bit below, or change the camera settings, blurred spot in the sun does not look very good ... except the name and I do not see Japanese motifs.

JAPANESE DOLLS by geordie01
jolly good shot, and absolutely appropriate topic. may be worthwhile to leave a little more space around the edges, dolls cramped ...

MIKAN JAPAN by vonbatcat
VonBatCat in this contest rested? I saw you have a much stronger work!

TEA CUPS by trixie
a good story on the topic! but the light ... seems to flash on the forehead, not the best solution when shooting still life .. and the question-why not EXIF???

this just everything! Thank you for your attention! Your Arsenal!

Many thanks for taking the time to comment on all entries.

Very best kind regards VonBatCat (suitably rested now )

A HUGE THANKs YOU OUR JUDGE


WONDERFULLY DONE.....

Regards;

JA

Thanks for that. I enjoyed reading your comments.