2020 April Entries

Topic: OPEN Judge: Maria Downey Plano. TX

(Double Click on any image below to start slide show)

BASIC LEVEL ENTRIES

: FIRST PLACE 9.0 I greatly enjoy the beauty of the swirls in this image. I would crop down from the top somewhat to move the water line higher in the image to help my attention stay on the wonderful patterns in the water. I feel this image could even be cropped just a little at the left also. See suggestion.

: Water Magic-Judges Suggestion

: SECOND PLACE 8.0 I like how the photographer shows the kayaks bunched together, and I especially enjoy the reflections in the lower left part of this image. I also feel the slight vignette helps to draw my attention to the center of the image. I feel that it would improve the image to straighten the white railings to vertical, and also to crop in on the right to just behind where kayakers would sit. I believe this would add more emphasis to the reflections and also to the arrangement of the kayaks. See suggestion.

: Kayaks for hire-judges Suggestion

: THIRD PLACE 7.9 I like the color and light in this image and unusual viewpoint. To my eye this image has some blur in the center of the lower petals, which I consider detracts a little from the beauty of the image.

: HM 7.5 Good capture of the moment, since one cannot give directions to wildlife. I feel this image could be sharper.

: 7.0 In this image I enjoy the light on the boys’ faces, and the lovely skies. I believe cropping out the boy on the left, to keep the viewer’s attention on the two main subjects, would enhance this image. I also find that the white pole rather distracts me, because light colors always seem to draw one’s eye. See suggestion.

: Pirate-Birthday Judges Suggestion

: 7.0 I like the different viewpoint in this image with good exposure and focus. I feel the crop on the right is a bit too tight. I believe this image could be improved by cropping out the light area at the bottom of the image, so the viewer’s eye can concentrate more on the light area in the middle of the image.

: 7.0 I like the powerful placement of the horizon between the flags, and the good color and sharp focus. I believe this image could benefit from being cropped, so the flagpole is on the left thirds. I feel this would provide more impact to the POW MIA flag, because the flags will then dwarf the houses in the background. See suggestion.

: Flagging snow-judges Suggestion

: 7.0 I enjoy the sharp focus in this image and the inclusion of the water drop on the lily pad in the foreground. I find the colors a bit washed out for my taste, but that might be the photographer’s choice. I believe the highlights are a bit burned out. I would clone out the small bit of leaf at the top of the image on the right. See suggestion.

: Lounging lily- judges Suggestion

: 6.5 I like the strong colors of the balloon with good exposure, and detail of the occupants of the basket to show scale. I believe this image might benefit from a small amount of cropping to place to balloon more on the thirds. See suggestion.

: Ride the Wind-judges Suggestion

: 6.5 Since this image is titled “The King” I would like to see the rocks in the upper part of this image cropped, to place the lion higher up, so he can look down in a “kingly” manner. See suggestion.

: The King-Judges Suggestion

: 6.5 I consider the exposure in this image is good considering the high contrast light. I would like to see more detail of the laurel wreath on the tomb on the right of the image, which I feel is an important part of the story. I would clone out the detail of the laurel wreath directly behind the soldier’s head and gun barrel, since it feels a little distracting to me. I also wonder if the photographer has considered bringing out more detail in the soldier’s jacket using the shadow/highlight tool in Photoshop. See suggestion.

: Protecting the tomb-Judges Suggestion

ADVANCED LEVEL ENTRIES

: FIRST PLACE 9.50 This image is made for me by the lift of the wheel off the road, and the green light, which I feel portrays the excitement as the car begins its drag-racing circuit. I feel this image has great exposure and point of focus.

: SECOND PLACE 9.3 I love the composition, and the colors here. The inclusion of the wing tip with the red color in the top left corner feels so right to me. I find this image a little soft in focus, but I do not think it detracts from the impact this image has for me.

: THIRD PLACE 9.0 I consider this image to have such lovely color and detail with the water drops and petals tack-sharp. I also like the inclusion of green leaves on the edge of the flower, which echo the green at the base of some of the petals

: HM 8.5 This image appears to me to have been given a painterly treatment, which I enjoy. I also appreciate the colors of the orange/red plants in the foreground whose tones are echoed by the umbrellas, and I like the details in the sky.

: 8.0 I love the blues and golds in this image. I feel the photographer has made a good exposure, despite some inevitable burned out highlights in lights and reflections, but which to me do not detract from this image. I believe that cloning out the details at the bottom right of the image would eliminate distractions from the nose of the main subject airplane. See suggestion.

: Golden Warrior-judges Suggestions

: 7.0 I admire the colors and sharp details in this image. My eye is bothered by those shells, which are partially cut. I believe this image would benefit from being cropped to include just whole shells. See Suggestions

: Study n Shells-judges Suggestions

: 8.0 I really like the composition in this image. The barren branches on the right give me the feeling of being in the desert. I also appreciate the light on the Aermotor windmill blades.

: 7.5 The maker of this image has given me a lovely capture of stalking, with one paw raised, with tenseness throughout the body. I would just like to see the line of barbed wire at the bottom of the image eliminated.

: 7.5 I enjoy the lovely rainbows in this image and the dip in the landscape below them. I also feel the light green meadow at the bottom of the image is a good feature.

: 7.5 For me, the title of this image describes the image well, as the streetcar is among several cars on a busy street. I feel the exposure and focus are good.

: 7.0 I like the blues and greens in this image, which give a restful feeling. The inclusion of the old building adds a timeless element to me. The only change I would have liked to see in this image is for the head of the horse behind the foremost horse to not be partially obscured

: 7.0 I can appreciate the atmosphere that the photographer shows me of great weather, the guns, chairs and clay thrower, all waiting for the shooters. I feel there is rather a lot of space in the center part of this image. I would rather have seen a different viewpoint, perhaps lower and closer to the guns, to give more emphasis to the equipment on the table. I feel this would also bring the elements in the image closer together.

MASTER LEVEL ENTRIES

: FIRST PLACE 10.0 I enjoy the composition in this image with the cliffs descending to the sea, and a colorful and varied sky. I am interested to see the clouds hanging so low on the mountains, and I especially like the way the sunlight hits the cliffs in the foreground. What absolutely makes this image work for me too is the little waterfall. It is such a small element in this image, but it links the cliffs and the sea and the moisture-laden clouds above, which all make this a delightfully cohesive image.

: SECOND PLACE 9.5 I love the colors and the flow of the clouds sweeping round towards the horizon. I would suggest a small crop in from the right because, to me, there is no information in that part of the image, which could enhance the composition. This image is an example, to me, of how breaking the rule about not putting the horizon in the middle of an image, works superbly. I would lighten the detail in the foreground because I love the free-flowing line of the green hedge, which complements the freeform shape of the clouds. See suggestion.

: Evening-judges Suggestion

: THIRD PLACE 9.0 This strikes me as an interesting and well thought out composition. The swirls of the background are echoed by the painting on the girl’s back, and continued by the delicate gesture of her left hand. I find this a great pose, and a great smile. I might suggest lightening her face, since the title suggests that the photographer wanted to make a comment about her glasses with this image. I would also put a catch light in her eye nearest the camera, and also “heal” the blemish on her back! See suggestion, and also the ‘close up’ screen shot to actually see the catch light.

: Closeup of girl with glasses-judges Suggestion

: HM 8.7 I really enjoy the patterning in the sea, and the beautiful reflections of the Fort in the water. I also like how the American flag on its pole echoes the tall structures in the distance. I would only suggest as an improvement that this image does not need quite as much sky. There is no information there to add to the beauty of the image, and by cropping in from the top I believe that making this image even more of a panorama would add more impact. See suggestion.

: Fort Gorges Harbor Defense-judges Suggestion

: 8.5 The maker of this image has made a composition that I find pleasing, with the brightly colored cushions being echoed by the flowers on the extreme right. The image looks sharp and well exposed. I would suggest cloning out the bit of rusted metal on the bottom left hand corner of the image. I also feel this crop is a bit too tight on the right hand edge of the image.

: 8.0 I like the composition in this image, and especially the choice of the old barn with the Texas star on it. Even though the light in the image is flat because of the storm clouds, I believe the image could benefit from being lightened. I consider that this would bring out the lush green color in the grass, and I would also suggest boosting the blue in the bluebonnets. See suggestion.

: Stormy spring day-judges Suggestion

: 8.0 I feel this is a very pleasing study of spring flowers with the Dallas skyline in the distance, and a well-captured interesting sky.

: 8.0 In viewing this image I am struck by the gentle but powerful curve of the support, which is almost on the diagonal. I like the colors and the details and above all the composition. My eye is a bit troubled by what looks to be almost staining on the left hand part of the whole image.

: 7.5 I find some interesting shapes and lines in this image, and the red seating area in the foreground is striking to me. For my taste, I would straighten the buildings, which are leaning backwards in the background, and crop out the black boxy item on the left. I believe this would give more emphasis to the lines and shapes.

: 7.5 The most interesting part of this image to me is the shape of the bridge supports, which echo the shape of the bluff behind it. This is a somewhat distant shot, and I wish the image was shot from closer in to add more impact. That might not have been possible. I would also like to see this image lighter.

: 7.0 I like the repetition of the houses with very distinctive colors. I am bothered that the line of laundry leads my eye out of the image too soon, since light colors attract one’s attention.

: 7.0 For me, this image is an example where a building which leans backwards works well, especially because of the title the photographer has chosen. I like the light on the tower that blends smoothly between the light and dark on the rounded surface, contrasted with the sharp difference of light and dark on the building in front of it. I also like the detail in the sky. I am just a bit troubled by the color fringing which is particularly noticeable at the top of the Light. I also seem to see a slightly muddy area around the top of the Light, which does not seem natural to me.

: 7.0 I believe the photographer wants me to observe the line of goods cars on the railway track with the majestic landscape behind it. I feel the clouds, which are taking up more than half of the image, top to bottom, too heavily weight this image. I would suggest cropping out some clouds and making this image even more of a panoramic to emphasize the long line of rail cars and provide more impact.

: 7.0 I like seeing the sun dipping at the horizon even though the highlight is blown out. It contrasts well with the shape of the yacht sailing across the burnished sea. I believe this image could gain more impact by small amount of cropping to make the yacht bigger in the image. See suggestion.

: Sunset Sail-judges Suggestion

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