Chit Chat for the February '09 photo contest

[patticake]

Chit-Chat for the Feb. Photo contest.

[fred]

Thanks Patti for starting up the threads

Just to let you all know that the Judging and the awards for the January photo comp will be done as soon as possible.
sorry for any inconvenience

[patticake]

You're welcome... I wasn't sure if I should or not, but took a shot at it. I'm so glad you're back.

[Stelios]

so i entered again this month. i tried to take a more artistic approach. Not fully satisfied from the outcome. I am thinking reading a good photography book or taking some photography lessons. I really like taking photos of the plants almost every day and compare their progress through time I am sure, overtime i'll improve.

[hulaorchid]

Fred. I'm a first timer to the contest! Not sure of the divisions though. Hope I am alright with what I posted.

[kmarch]

For the month of February we're going to try simplifying the entry process.

When you enter a photo in the February competition you need indicate only your skill level (novice, intermediate, open).

You no longer need to indicate a category such as species, floral art, or special effects. You need only indicate your skill level.

When the secret judge, whomever he or she may be for any given month, judges the entries, they will automatically consider all entries that qualify for any given category. For example, the judge will automatically consider all species orchids for the Best Species Photo category.

I've posted this info here in the thread reserved for entries only so that as many members as possible can be informed of this minor change. If you have questions please contact a forum moderator or post your question here in this thread.

[kmarch]

Hulaorchid, descriptions of the various skill levels can be found here: http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/pho...html#post92766
If you're still not sure what level you are, please take a moment and describe your photographic experience and we'll let you know which level is probably best for you to enter in.

The primary purpose of the photo competition is enjoyment: enjoyment of our orchids and the enjoyment of photographing them. We have dozens of members who enter who are all at slightly different skill levels, therefore we want to be encouraging with the competition as we all participate together!

[kninum]

Since I have earned two novice and two special effects awards....I would assume that would put me in the Intermediate level....
Is this correct?

[fred]

One needs to have won 3 awards to move up to the next category.
You need three Novice awards to move up a level. (to Intermediate)

Special Effects is another section.

With your pics, I think you wont have to wait long!

[kninum]

okay novice it is! i just wanted to be sure to be fair

[fred]

thats ok kninum
if you don't ask you will never know

[lmartiny]

So "hit or miss" still falls into the Novice category?

[fred]

A geek entering in the photo comp has to win 3 awards in the Novice or Intermediate Category before they can move up to the next level

Win 3 of The Best Photo 'Novice' Awards means the next entered photo can be posted in the 'Intermediate' category.

Win 3 of The Best Photo 'Intermediate' Awards means the next photo entered can be posted in the 'Open' category

Species, Floral Display and Special Effects are separate categories.
Those awards do not count to 'Novice', 'Intermediate' or 'Open' categories.

[kninum]

LoL...."hit or miss".......even the best photographers miss plenty.....

it's embarrassing how many shots i take just to get one or two nice ones

[labney]

I want to tell everyone what a great job you all do on pictures. I must be doing something wrong. I had to minimize my picture so it would upload and when it uploaded it looked awful. Is there a secret or do all of you have expensive camera's? I have a casio and a kodak with a 10X zoom I don't have high speed internet is that why my pictures look awful?..just need a few hints.

Lisa

[fred]

Lisa
the link here might help you with learning
Taking and Processing Photographs - Orchid Forum Orchid Care

what I do is take more that one shot of the subject and pick the best photo for the contest.

if your taking close ups a mini tripod will also help heaps
even with a mini tripod I take a few shots and chose what I think it the best picture

my pictures used to be awful I was given advice by our resident photography expert Anton with his guidance my photography improved in leaps and bounds

one thing that helps is practice

I use a digital camera a Cannon Power Shot A540 6 mega pixels

[labney]

Thanks Fred I will check the link out.

[Stelios]

novice level then and special effects

[BillC]

Hi Stelios, are you sure that a guy is not wandering about in the matrix shouting "Where the hell am I? Let me out of here"

Bill

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by BillC

Hi Stelios, are you sure that a guy is not wandering about in the matrix shouting "Where the hell am I? Let me out of here"

Bill

No Bill, that would be me!

Al

[Stelios]

Originally Posted by BillC

Hi Stelios, are you sure that a guy is not wandering about in the matrix shouting "Where the hell am I? Let me out of here"

Bill

LOL

I think someone in the matrix would see it as a normal flower, it takes someone outside the matrix to see the code