What am I doing wrong on these!

Tuner571 · 07-08-2008, 06:17 PM

Well, I submitted these photos to the PPG and all of them were declined which really surprised me. I know its tough to get photos in, but I thought at least one would make it. Anyway, I was wondering if you guys could tell me what I can improve on since they dont seem to be as good as I was hoping.

Cory

SpecialK · 07-08-2008, 07:49 PM

I like them, particularly #1 for the tree and diagonal path of water.

I don't enter contests so I can't tell you how to influence a jury.

One man's "wow" is another man's "eh...".

cupic · 07-09-2008, 01:09 AM

The first ones a stunner so maybe Pentax is looking for a different take/angle,possible to have filtered light to set a different mood?

Its tuff but rewarding when its accepted

cheers

TaoMaas · 07-09-2008, 05:19 AM

If anything, maybe it's that these images lack impact. They tend to whisper to the viewer rather than shout. That doesn't make them bad pics, but it might put them at a disadvantage in the PPG system where folks tend to pop in and vote quickly on pics, ya know?

Tuner571 · 07-09-2008, 05:25 AM

Thanks for the input everyone, its really appreciated. I guess I'll just try some different angles and lighting next time and see what I can come up with.

Cory

*rparmar* · 07-09-2008, 06:27 AM

Perhaps the fact you entered all of them counted against even the best? If the first alone was entered it might stand out more against entries from other people. Because it really is a lovely composition with great tonal richness.

Zewrak · 07-09-2008, 07:00 AM

I would imagine that it is because it does not look like water. If you had a bit shorter exposure, it would still look like water. I think people are getting tired of the "smoke" effect.

In my eyes the third one is the best. Except compositionwise, you'd want it mirrored

.

*Peter Zack* · 07-09-2008, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by rparmar

Perhaps the fact you entered all of them counted against even the best? If the first alone was entered it might stand out more against entries from other people. Because it really is a lovely composition with great tonal richness.

I agree, I might have considered only one at a time. Each here is different but I bet many shots are voted on without enlarging after seeing the first one in a series.

Btw the first and last are worthy IMO.

Tuner571 · 07-09-2008, 08:30 AM

Thank you for all the kind words everyone, next time I'll take your advice and submit them one at a time.

Thanks again,
Cory

Gooshin · 07-09-2008, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Tuner571

what am i doing wrong on these!

you are doing nothing wrong

its just that they are very pretty pictures of a waterfall, ones you see someone post atleast once a day, somewhere, out there, and after awhile they all blur into one.

now if you had a dancing elephant in in perfect composition with the waterfall, that would have been awesome!

*rparmar* · 07-09-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Gooshin

its just that they are very pretty pictures of a waterfall, ones you see someone post atleast once a day, somewhere, out there, and after awhile they all blur into one.

There is something to this, of course. The only way to get around this phenomenon is to only take pictures of events and people, since they are never the same twice. But then again I get tired of endless street shots of supposedly normal people doing normal things. Is there truly an answer to photographic ennui?

Nonetheless I think the first image is an exemplary example of its class.