February 2007 Photo Competition ......... Discussion thread

I agree with Hornbeam i think the rules of the photo competition should read no enhancement to be done by using photoshop or paint shop..
but as for fixing contrast red eyes etc well that should be allowed and cropping and plain borders.. as everyone has basic photograph facilities either with their camera or with their internet provider..who wants to enter a photo with red eyes ?? Then its fair to all as everyone can do those minor adjustments..using the paint shop software to enhance colours etc should definately be a no no as some people dont own it !!!

 

Hornbeam has never used his software on his photos for the competition or round Gc he doesnt need too as he is an excellent photographer..He was just getting clarity on the rules ????? if he makes a minor adjustment with his camera then thats not enhancing .. :eek: :eek: Hornbeam has only had his paint shop software since september and he submitted many fab photos well before then ..and he certainly wouldnt stoop so low to enhance his photos ..as its just a fun competition..

 

Yes it is - or was - a fun competition. Now it isn't.

 

well to put my little two penneth in, I dont really mind or have never minded any members using their software or anything on their cameras that has red eye reduction as my camera is set to take that eye reduction off in any event.
its just a free fun competition and all members should have a choice whether they use their software or not thats just my view, hope i dont upset anyone by saying this.

 

I don't understand why it is so hard to take a good photo without the need to externally process it ? If I take a grainy one or a poorly lit one, I take another rather than turn to photoshop. The skill should be displayed pre-processing. Not saying you can't use Pshop but for the sake of peace and harmony if you do a good job of external processing you can't tell anyway. I certainly couldn't tell a fiddled picture, unless you over do it of course. I can't help thinking it's a bit of a non arguement really, thems the rules (which I think are fair) and I can't see them interfering with my 'point and shoot' entries. Also I certainly vote based on the 'subject and feel' of an entry rather than its photographic quality, so grainy doesn't spoil it for me. You can always adjust the photo to your satisfaction and then display it in the gallery for others to enjoy in the normal way ?

A second competion for 'pictures' is a far better compromise as it is understood that people will adjust the attributes of the original source to a greater or lesser extent.

Totally untouched, only a border and a title added. Lots of attempts to capture the right amount of clouds and revealed colours. Like I say, I can't see them interfering with my 'point and shoot' entries.



I wouldn't want to see the enjoyment of the competition spoilt by taking exception to rules, which don't really change the way we should have been conducting ourselves for the purposes of competing anyway.

 

Thank you everyone for the lovely cmments on my almond blossom. I shall remove the double border when I am more awake. It was not done intentionally ... I had put the little black border there and then couldn't remove it. I thnk I will have to redo the picture but, as I said, when I am more awake.

The tree is a joy to have and I shall post a picture of it in full bloom later this month.

 

Beautiful Almond Blossom LoL. Will we be admiring your nuts later this year ? :D

 

Yes - gorgeous pic LOL. BM - :D Love the crocus pic too Rosa - very clean and sharp.

As Ive said before, I leave the mucking about with my photos to the Creative Comp Art thread - I think folk can see the difference :D

 

I agree with BM - it is a non argument. If you correct a photo after taking it with something like Microsoft Photo Editor which comes as standard with MS Windows - you can correct contrast, colour etc. And no eagle eyed moderator will ever know. And it is not cheating!

There is a world of difference between correcting faults and enhancing. Take a photo of snow and your camera will produce it as grey. Correct it and it will be white. Enhance it and it will be sky-blue-pink

That - in a nutshell - is the difference between correcting and enhancing.

Try MS Photo Editor and with one click you can ditch the fuzzy grey shots and give your photos a natural (not un-natural) appearance. It is BASIC photography.

Red eye on cameras works by firing a series of pre-flashes to reduce the size of the eyes'pupils - then the main flash goes off. Try that on an animal and it will react to the first flashes and turn away before your main flash captures him.

 

True of children as well :rolleyes: I am going for a camera which is better in low light as I have at least 10GBs of blured faces from waiting for the shutter to go. When you need to snap you need to snap !

 

Yes BM, a camera that is better in low light is a good idea. You may still find that you get "digital noise" in your photos - a speckled, grainy appearance. That can be reduced afterwards too.

 

Aha - so now I know! I have four guinea pigs - and love trying to capture their portraits - I will have to try and find the red-eye facility and turn it off!

The only time I have used PSP was in mucking about with a couple of pictures - serious distortion stuff! I have yet to work out how to subtily enhance/correct images (think must have a good look at the computer/photography sections of the forum!)

I think it would be a real shame for anyone to drop out of the competition - though do agree there have to be rules. I thoroughly enjoyed the first competition - the photography was inspiring, and look forward to February's! I love the spider's web shot Marley Farley. If it wasn't dark outside right now (and below -5), I'd be out there, looking for some of my own! :D

 

thanks marge, took hbs advice i got close up to the crocus and i took my time to focus the camera then clicked slowly and bingo it worked.