How Good is my Photo..?? Discussion.. Any tips, Criticisms or Ideas Please..!!

p.s @wiseowl have you visited the judges home page?

 

I think there are only two that are worthy winners and I agree with Apple Blossom's comments about Specsavers.

Out of interest Woo, any chance you would tell us which photo's you preferred?

 

Agree

Which ones did you think were the worthy winners Sheal?

 

In no particular order, the Goslings and the Fort. What did you pick @Apple Blossom ?

 

How ironic is that ..... the Goslings, the Fort and the Swollen Thigh Beetle..but I'm not sure if its been planted on using some editing process!

 

Well we both can't be wrong! I think the beetle is genuine and also think the photo is over exposed.

 

Ahhh that's what's wrong with it.... obviously you have a more trained eye than me Shame we can't take a look at the one's that didn't get through!

 

That would be good, it'd boost our confidence.

 

The owl, the ducks, and the beetle maybe.

 

I thought the shot of the owl was very grainy so discarded it.

I wasn't sure whether the birds were ducklings or goslings, but I think you're right NG looking at the length of their necks. I was going on colouring.

 

To be honest, I haven't paid too much attention to them, as none of them are outstanding as you say. I purely went by a quick glance. I agree that the beetle flower may be overexposed, but my monitor isn't calibrated, so couldn't really comment. It does look like it though at the front of the flower.
The owl would be better if it was coming towards the camera, but I like the way in which it is lit, and the colour.
As for the ducks, it is in the title .
The owl was probably shot using a high ISO, and then had noise reduction applied. That's how it looks to me, but I could be wrong.

 

I hadn't looked at the title.

 

It's interesting how we all see images differently, whether we like them or not and if we think the shots are well taken or not. I hadn't thought on your choice at all Woo.

Looking at the entrants for the 2014 competition I can't say I was that impressed although the first shot 'Winter Wildfowl' did catch my eye. What was the shot of the sunflowers all about? Described by the judge as "super use of differential focus", I think he needs an eye test! There was very little of this picture in focus and somebody should have hit the delete button before it got to the final voting.

 

I do slightly agree with you @wiseowl... with the image 'The modern worlds meets the old' as I had to study this one a little bit... but then I was undecided as to whether it has been mostly created on something similar to photoshoot, which in fairness and me being very new to it all... is a good image. When I looked at them all, I just looked at what I thought was the best natural images. In 6 months time when I am up and running with Elements you might want to ask me this question again

I've decided to take more time on 2014 for some reason

1: Wildfowl.... I think the white lines in the cloud distract the eye, a warming picture tho!
2: Lizzard.... Needs more colour very bland
3: Ladybird... I actually quiet like this one... mmm lunch
4: Orchid... Think this could have been a much better shot... too much foreground for me!
5: Wood Anemone.... Doesn't say anything to me and GC friends take better photos
6: Sunflowers.... No comment as I think @Sheal has covered that one
7: Margate Rays... looks like a spaceship is about to land, b/w? maybe colour would have been better?
8:Aylesford... I like the reflections in this shot... sort of photo you see on a calendar
9: Stars ... I like how the aperture has been set
10: Samphire... is a joke
11: Clematis... quiet nice... but again I've seen better photos from our GC friends
12: The seagull is lost in the boats behind and its very cluttered... shocking

@NorthantsGeezer I actually liked the owl photo, but I thought the background was too distracting. Maybe if it had been cropped a little bit my eye would have focused more on the subject... maybe

@Sheal I just love your comments ....they make me have a good giggle and as we both said the judges need to go to spec savers... but then you might tell me to go too after the above comments