Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Decisions Made

Last night I had a wonderful time with creative, artistic people. Two old friends, one lady I'd met before and 1 new man and myself had a very enjoyable evening in a small internet cafe in a little town not far from where I live. More about that over here. As I said in a post on I Was Born2Cree8, they helped me out with the final choices for my entries in the fair. We named some of the photos, thinking names were needed as they were in Salmon Arm Fair last year, but I checked the rules today and they're not needed at the IPE.

I am very grateful to each and every person who took the time to view and comment on my photos and which they think could win the competition. Your input is appreciated and valued.

Botanical:

B1 had received 13 votes over the past couple weeks that these photos have been here for you to look at. My concern with it was, when looking closely at the larger view, I thought the focus (focal point) was out of focus (The Water Hyacinths are fuzzy), though the leaves are all in a nice, clear focus. I had begun to think maybe it was my imagination, lol, then last night that was one of the comments made about it.

B4 & B5 were very highly praised, but B7 was the final choice. Points made about it were:
- it's 3 dimensional
- the background is out of focus bringing attention to the main focal point, the flowers, which are in sharp focus.
- brings to mind paintings by Van Gogh
- simplicity itself
- the colors are dramatic and striking


B7


Pictoral /Scenic:

P/S 4 & P/S 5:
I was doing my best to listen and take down some notes while everyone was talking, including me, haha. I see now that I wrote down these numbers and I remember even the gal and guy that work there were loving these ones, but I didn't write any of the points that were made and today don't remember any of them... darn. If the photos needed titles, we would call them:
P/S4 - Hidden Treasure
P/S5 - Promised Land

P/S4

P/S5


Animal(s):

For this category I need 3 photos; 1 Open, 1 Novice, 1 Advanced... and we came up with 5 last night as not everyone could agree on the same ones. Liz mentioned "painterly quality" on a couple of them, Dave had gone home to bed by this time, Camille didn't talk a lot but smiled and shook his head yes over several of them, and Graig gave most of the comments as he's into photography and drawing among other artistic avenues.

A1 - Graig really liked this one and said the fence posts frame the horses. Liz voted against it as she felt the buildings in the background were too distracting; not sure what Camille thought of it.

A5- Everyone liked this one a lot. The deer is licking salt off the highway; I took this through the windshield of my truck and as you can see the deer was undisturbed. Gotta love a zoom lens. "Spring Through The Windshield" may have been a good name as it was taken late one afternoon in May (and if you hit them they can and often do spring right through your windshield). The only comment I have written down is:
- evokes the most emotion (Liz & Graig).

A9- Reba On A Sunday Walk. This one was liked by all at the table, though I'm not so sure it's all that great. Some comments were:
- 3 dimensional
- great contrast of colors; dark subject with light background
- painterly quality

A11- Liz really liked this one, Graig & Camille like it too quite a bit but not as much as Liz.
- "magic" water- color & texture
- animals in focus
-painter quality

#4 - one that I took on my Sunday drive and added to the choices later than the rest. Liz wasn't impressed as anyone can take a photo of a horse, big deal (I don't know how to spell the word she used, so that's the closest I can come to her meaning). She also felt that there was too much background color and that was distracting, Graig thought the background colors enhance the horse and made it more interesting. Graig and Camille both really liked it due to the muscle definition showing on this horse. If it needed a name I would call this one "Equine Applied Force: Definition".

A1

A5

A9

A11

#4


I have to make my final decision on the animals by tomorrow at the latest... I have to get them printed, buy mats, mat them, then take them to the fair on Monday, so time is running short here.

Edit: I've eliminated A1 as much as I like it, due to the shadows the tree is putting on the horses, especially the head of the far horse. Now I'm to the point of thinking "what do I want to enter?" "which do I want hanging on my wall afterwards?" "what would make good Christmas gifts?" hoping to find an answer that will keep me from "eanie, meanie, miny, moe...." haha.

2nd Edit: Okay... I`ve made the final cut. It was not easy, because I like them all, but I`m dropping the cows (A11).

1. ADVANCED - For experienced photographers and
others who want more critical judging than given in
the Novice class. Willing to submit a minimum size of
8 x 10 inches.

2. NOVICE - For less experienced photographers than
advanced, and those who have done well in the Open
classes in the past, and who wish to have more critical
judging of their work than is offered in the Open classes.
Willing to submit a minimum size of 5 x 7 inches.

3. OPEN - Open to everyone, particularly beginners and
those who just enjoy taking pictures; minimum size of
3 1/2 x 5 inches accepted so no enlargements
necessary.

Animal(s), domestic or wild, colour:
- Advanced: A5
- Novice:
#4
- Open: A9

Botanical, plants, all types, colour:
- Novice: B7

Pictorial/Scenic- landscape, seascape, mountains aerials, colour:
- Advanced:
P/S4
- Novice: P/S5

It is a big relief to finally have all this finished. Decisions are not one of my strong points, as you may have noticed. Now I can get them printed up (all will be 8x14 except A9 will be 5x7) tomorrow, and then take them to the store where I buy mats, and then starts the next decision process... what color mats look the best with each photo. Then mat them up, add my name and other required into to the back of each one... and submit them on Monday and wait. (Waiting... yet another of my less than strong suits).

Monday, August 20, 2007

New Pictures

Okay.... I wasn't happy with the animal photos I had below, so I drove around today with my camera and here are some of the new ones. What do you think of these??

#1
Pretty Boy


#2
Power of Love

#3
Powerful Thoughts

#4
Equine Applied Force

#5
Reflecting On Life In The Pond

#6
Reflections in Time

#7
Reflecting On Life

Open to names for the photos as well as which ones you think could win.
I need 3 animals photos to fill my entries.


Thank you for your help... it is much appreciated.


Sunday, August 19, 2007

Fall Fairs 2007

Hi, and welcome to my decision making process. Some of you helped me last year, and some are new to this.... all are valued greatly. Last year I entered into the Salmon Arm Fair and this year I had planned to enter there again, as well as in the Armstrong Fair, but I went to their web sites and realized that there is an overlap in dates the photos have to be there (at Armstrong until September 3, have to be at Salmon Arm by August 24). So I think I'll just exhibit in Armstrong this year as it is much closer so less driving to and fro. The Armstrong Fair (Interior Provincial Exhibition or IPE) is a rather large fair, so far as I know it's the second largest in BC, second only to the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) in Vancouver.

I need your help to decide which photos to enter, so if you could tell me which you like best... and why... it would really help a lot. I appreciate your help very much.

Below, in this dark gold color, is posted information from the website of the Armstrong Fair, the Interior Provincial Exhibition.



(I've bolded items pertaining specifically to my interests)

SECTIONS: How do you decide which section to enter?

1. ADVANCED - For experienced photographers and
others who want more critical judging than given in
the Novice class. Willing to submit a minimum size of
8 x 10 inches.

2. NOVICE - For less experienced photographers than
advanced, and those who have done well in the Open
classes in the past, and who wish to have more critical
judging of their work than is offered in the Open classes.
Willing to submit a minimum size of 5 x 7 inches.

3. OPEN - Open to everyone, particularly beginners and
those who just enjoy taking pictures; minimum size of
3 1/2 x 5 inches accepted so no enlargements
necessary.


PHOTOGRAPHS SECTION
(These are the same for Novice and Advanced, just use different class numbers)

-Animal(s), domestic or wild, colour
-Botanical, plants, all types, colour
-Pictorial/Scenic- landscape, seascape, mountains
aerials, colour
- Portrait, single person, colour.
-Portrait, group (2 or more persons), colour.
Animal(s) domestic or wild, black & white
-Botanical, plants, all types, black & white
-Pictorial/Scenic- landscape, seascape, mountains
aerials, black & white
-Portrait, single person, black & white
-Portrait, group (2 or more persons), black & white
-Sports/Action, all types, black & white or colour
-Experimental/digitally enhanced/composites, black &
white or colour.
Please note: digital photographs size increased to 81/2 x
11 inches

OPEN SECTION CLASSES:
Note Classes 25, - 27, are rotating THEME classes.
THEME FOR 2007; ANIMALS, DOMESTIC OR WILD. The
Theme subject(s) should be predominant in the
photograph.
25. Snapshot, ANIMALS, DOMESTIC OR WILD by an
ADULT, black & white or colour
26. Snapshot, ANIMALS, DOMESTIC OR WILD by a
TEEN, black & white or colour. (Please put age of
photographer when photograph was taken on back of
entry).
27. Snapshot, ANIMALS, DOMESTIC OR WILD) by a
CHILD, black & white or colour, (Please put age of
photographer when photo taken on back of entry).
28. Panoramic Format, - Snapshot, ANY SUBJECT black
& white or colour
29. Snapshot Theme Photograph:” Patterns” this class is
Open to Adults only.
30. Snapshot Theme Photograph:” Patterns” this class is
Open to TEENS only.
31. Snapshot Theme Photograph:” Patterns” this class is
Open to CHILDREN only.
32. Computer Calendar: Design a 2008 computer calendar
using a picture or pictures for each month. The theme
for this year’s calendar is “HORSES’ as this is the
theme for the I.P.E. in 2007 ”A Salute to the Light
Horse”

It's a good thing I just read the rules, 2 of which I share here:
-Any one exhibitor may enter a total of six (6)
photographic prints.
-No more than one (1) print may be entered in the
same class.

The total of 6 makes a difference to how I was going to play this game. {rethinking, rethinking....}


Okay.... here are the categories I'm going to enter (this process is not easy for me...hhhmmmm):

-Pictorial/Scenic- landscape, seascape, mountains
aerials, colour (ADVANCED AND NOVICE)

-Animal(s), domestic or wild, colour (ADVANCED AND NOVICE)

-Botanical, plants, all types, colour (NOVICE)

25. Snapshot, ANIMALS, DOMESTIC OR WILD by an
ADULT, black & white or colour


I have to have my entries in and paid for by this Friday, July 20 (I'd thought it was Monday July 23, so good thing I read that today) so this is cutting it close. The good thing however, is that I don't have to have the actual photos in until:

Exhibits received:
Monday, August 27th, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and
Tuesday, August 28th from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Of course, I have to have minimum a week to get them printed, matted and ready to go. But that gives us a bit of time to choose the photos... and in the meantime I can also take more.

July 21 - I've now made some choices. I had to stop looking through my photo files as there is just too much in there that I love for the Pictorial/Scenic. I have an idea or two that I want to try for Animals yet, so I will be adding them in as soon as I take them, if they work out. Hopefully this will be very soon. I think I know which one I like best for Botanical, but there are some others I wish I could enter too, so I'll give you several to choose from and see if your thoughts are the same as mine.

I'll keep you all posted on the votes and on my choices. Basically, keep checking back.

After these choices are made, I might post a bunch of the others I have so you can see them. Maybe make this blog a regular for my photo displays.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Votes to Date

I thank each and all of you that have viewed my photos and given me your feedback. It is really very much appreciated. I just tallied the votes that are in at this time. Voting is not closed yet, but will be in a few days.

Botanical:
B1 - 13
B2 - 0
B3 - 2
B4 - 4
B5 - 3
B6 - 0
B7 - 4
B8 - 2

Animal(s):
A1 - 2
A2 - 1
A3 - 2
A4 - 5
A5 - 4
A6 - 1
A7 - 2
A8 - 0
A9 - 3
A10 - 3
A11 - 2
A12 - 2
A13 - 1
A14 - 0
A15 - 2
A16 - 9
A17 - 3
A18 - 2
A19 - 0
A20 - 1

Pictoral/Scenic:
P/S1 - 0
P/S2 - 5
P/S3 - 0
P/S4 - 11
P/S5 - 3
P/S6 - 2
P/S7- 1
P/S8 - 5
P/S9 - 3
P/S10 - 2
P/S11 - 6
P/S12 - 2
P/S13 - 3
P/S14 - 1
P/S15 - 0
P/S16 - 4
P/S17 - 0
P/S18 - 4
P/S19 - 2
P/S20 - 0
P/S21 - 10
P/S22 - 3
P/S23 - 3
P/S24 - 0
P/S25 - 0


This will be updated after the voting has been closed next week.

Monday, July 23, 2007

-Botanical, plants, all types


B1
B2

B3

B4

B5

B6

B7

B8


Animal(s), Domestic or Wild

A1
A2

A3

A4

A4 Cropped as suggested by Criz Lai.
I'm not sure if cropping is allowed, but know that other things
like color manipulation is not allowed. I'll have to check
the rule book before getting them printed.
A5
A5 Cropped, just to see if it looks any better.


A6

A7

A8

A9

A10

A11
A12

A13

A14

A15

Animal(s), Domestic or Wild

I was out looking for some interesting horse shots. I didn't quite get the one I had in mind, but I think I got something more interesting than the basic whole horse shot. What do you think? Any winners here? This years theme for the IPE is "Horse Power" (or something like that).

A16

A17

A18

A19


A20

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Pictorial/Scenic

These first ones were taken in the Kootenays on my holiday in May. I had such a good time and am so very glad I went. I had to put it all on my credit card, not something I usually do without first having the money to pay it off... but hey, sometimes a girl just has to do what a girl has to do, lol. I stayed with a really wonderful friend, so really the biggest expense was the fuel for my truck and being mostly highway miles, well I can't complain at all.

To see a larger view, just click on of the photos.


P/S 1

P/S 2

P/S 3

P/S 4

P/S 5

P/S 6

P/S 7

P/S 8

P/S 9

P/S 10

P/S 11