AOL Community Photo Challenge - March into Spring {Advanced}

ADVANCED CATEGORY - MARCH INTO SPRING

(Deadline: The evening of Friday, March 7th)

This week's challenge is MARCH INTO SPRING...Is spring popping up in your neighborhood? Daffodils and crocuses popping up through the snow? However spring is arriving (or did in the past, if you're still snowbound), share it with us!

Please follow the posted Guidelines. If you have any questions, please email me (Vicki - CmishVicki). Marie is on vacation (or will be soon!) and may not be able to get back to you with any answers.

As always, there are 2 categories. Pick the one you feel you belong in. Post your photo on your blog. Then, come back here and leave your permalink in the comment area. Be sure to leave the link to your entry, not your entire blog...and be sure to post in the correct category.

Again, as always, winners from the last challenge will judge the beginner category.

Tags: blogplugs, photography, challenge, spring, March

AOL Community Photo Challenge - March into Spring {Beginner}

BEGINNER CATEGORY - MARCH INTO SPRING

(Deadline: The evening of Friday, March 7th)

This week's challenge is MARCH INTO SPRING...Is spring popping up in your neighborhood? Daffodils and crocuses popping up through the snow? However spring is arriving (or did in the past, if you're still snowbound), share it with us!

Please follow the posted Guidelines. If you have any questions, please email me (Vicki - CmishVicki). Marie is on vacation (or will be soon!) and may not be able to get back to you with any answers.

As always, there are 2 categories. Pick the one you feel you belong in. Post your photo on your blog. Then, come back here and leave your permalink in the comment area. Be sure to leave the link to your entry, not your entire blog...and be sure to post in the correct category.

Again, as always, winners from the last challenge will judge the beginner category.

Tags: blogplugs, photography, challenge, spring, March

Creative Challenge EXTRA•Photo Animation

Creative Challenge EXTRA•Photo Animation



Creative Challenge EXTRA is going to be different this time...Ü
Notice the grin?????????

You will  have a month to work on it because it will take time.  You WILL NOT post yet.  I will post again, in a month for all entries....
Ü


You will need a photo editing program, such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Picasa(is free, Google it), PSP.......whatever you have.
For some of you this could be any easy thing to do....but I don't want to make it too easy....Ü
I want this to be an exploring new horizons project.
So pick a photo, find ANOTHER effect or technique you would like to learn.  Try it, learn it & do it.  Once you have the final project done, make a tutorial on it & explain step by step how you were able to do this.  Provide as much info on it as you can so if someone would like to try it, they can....This is also a sharing project...Ü

Cause....Sharing is caring.....Ü

My project is Photo Animation using Photoshop/ImageReady
Here is the video I found & used for my entry.
click here for video-Photographs & Memories


REMEMBER**** DO NOT POST ON HERE YET
I will do another entry in about a month, where you will post your entries. This should give you plenty of time to learn something NEW & either create a tutorial or find a video for it. 

Tags: Challenge, creative, blogplugs, tutorials, photo animation, exploring

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"Prize-winning Photographs"

In photography we are all beginners....all looking to expand of abilities.
When people want to know how to improve their photography, I suggest viewing other photographer's work & ask yourself why do you like that image....what is so appealing about it.

I have sent some participants their personal scores & comments about their image from the advanced judges.


Here are my suggestions....view each entry & analyze each photo & score them with our 9 point system(suggested by Rob).  You will begin to see what we are looking for in an image & why Betty keeps winning.  Ü

    

Betty has been shooting for the past 3 years(longer, I am sure)....she always asks questions, looks to other photographers for advice, and belongs to critique groups online. 
You need to also look at her photos from the beginning of her journal.  Click Here: Check out "Someday My Garden Will Bloom" and they have...Ü
You will see how her photos have progressively improved over the years.  She has become an outstanding photographer.

A small imperfection in a photo could loose points, in my case, I received Honorable Mention, missed placement b/c my matte was too small.  An 8 X10 photo in a 11X14 frame. 

Again,
Keep in mind when shooting or selecting a photo for the challenge;
1. The theme of this challenge
2. Presentation
3. ***Composition ***
4. Interest
5. Quality


Check out
4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photography

 also
Photo composition rules


Tags: Prize winning Photographs, blogplugs

WINTER BLUES-BEGINNERS winner

We had 5 out of 6 judges vote this time & out of the 5 everyone picked different favorites.  Because the votes were so scattered, in our next challenge, our (winner) judges will have to use the 9 point system.  It will make it much easier.  Follow THE GUIDELINE FOR JUDGES

We have only one winner in the Beginners Category. 

First Place goes to Julie from My Photo Journey



Congratulations to all the winners....& thank you to all the judges!!

Our Judges for next Beginner's challenge are Betty, Greg, Kat & Julie.  All four can compete in the advanced category only.

Tags: winners, winter challenge, blogplugs

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Important Ü

ADVANCED Group ONLY
If anyone wants their scores & comments on their challenge entries, e-mail me & I will send your private critique.  Rob has kindly wrote a few words about each image along with the scores.  Even Vicki has expressed her thoughts about each image entered.  As for me I just scored each photo, so if you would like your scores, drop me an e-mail, I will send you your scores.

Next Challenge will be totally run by Vicki .....Rob will assist in the ADVANCED group judging, again.  On March 6, I will be leaving for Italy.  My first trip EVER!  Been trying not to get nervous about it, but I am excited....VEEEEEEERY!  So, as long as nothing happens, like sickness or anything.......I will be gone from March 6th & return on the 15th. 
I wasn't going to bring a computer, but I can, I guess, not sure if it's necessary, I don't know if I can get Internet access everywhere, anyway....I am not a traveler...Ü  I just don't know these things.

WINTER BLUES-ADVANCED winners

We have 3 winners in the Advance category.  I am still waiting for the judges to submit their choices for the Beginners.

FIRST PLACE-Betty from My Day My Interests



Rob said this about Betty's image
" well-composed, nicely cropped, beautiful color, tack sharp"


Greg & Kat tied for second place

Greg from Phototrek



Kat from In My Dreams I can Fly

Tags: WinterBlues challenge, winners, blogplugs

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