Originally posted by Alayos92 Thanks Tony for your response. I understand how difficult it can be to evaluate a photo well and objectively.
But I do not understand the contempt for a type of camera and objectives for not being high-end, trying to justify it with not very accurate comments ...
Hi Alayos
I looked at your image and immediately saw the problem.
Your entry falls right into "Artistic" Category and there are very, very few artistic images in the PEG.
If you look at the images accepted into PEG almost all show tack sharp focus on the subject and either massive depth of field OR creamy bokeh on the background.
Most PEG images have bright contrasty colors and if the sky is visible, then very detailed cloud formations or bright blue skies.
PEG entries do not have any visible noise. For any entry, noise in the image is the kiss of death.
My personal opinion is that the PEG is for images that make you think "Wow, that was taken with a very good camera" rather than images which make you think "Wow that was taken by a very good photographer".
It is a gallery to showcase the best of Pentax, not the best of Pentax Forum Members. I have even heard of judges rejecting an entry because it was taken with a Pentax kit lens "which is just not sharp enough for the PEG".
I don't think you will ever manage to get an image accepted unless it is taken with a really good lens mounted onto a Pentax DSLR. Images shot with a Pentax Q, K-01, or Pentax Optio have zero chance of acceptance.
On top of all of that, you will need to post process your images. At a minimum you will probably need to finely adjust white balance and exposure, recover blown out highlights and details from dark areas, boost clarity, remove noise and subtly sharpen the image. Make sure you have good dynamic range and clean colors. Finally correct any distortions and be sure to remove any chromatic aberrations. Beware though of over-processing. The image must look quite natural.
Finally, if your image is well composed and shows good creativity, then you may have a chance of acceptance.
Bear in mind that Technique and Composition are scored on a scale of 1 to 6 and you need 4.51 to pass.
With 10 judges (which rated your image) you need a score of 45.1 or, realistically, 46 to qualify for acceptance. (Each judge can only allocate a whole number score.)
Unless you come up with a fantastic entry no judge will score you a 6. They will rate your image as 3, or 4, or 5. If 5 judges give you 4 you are out. You need 6 judges to give you 5 and the remaining 4 judges to give you 4 to get to the magic 46 score. That's a tough ask for any image, never mind a strange artistic sepia image which some judges just don't understand to begin with. Its the same for composition and you can work out creativity for yourself. You also need to consider judging bias. If a judge is not sure what to score an entry he/she will likely give it a 4 on the basis that 4 will not reject the entry outright if the other judges like it. In reality 4's are a rejection score, not a passing score. The final problem is that you need to make the 46 cut off for technique and composition and the 26 cut off for creativity. It does not matter if your total score is above 118 (46+46+26), unless all three factors meet the cut-off your entry is rejected.
Lets switch now to the judges perspective. Your image comes up on screen and he/she immediately forms a first impression of it. Its very different to the norm but it doesn't exactly make you excited. Its not a "wow what a fantastic photograph!" kind of picture. Its a landscape with a bridge and a tree. Does the sepia coloring do anything to make it special? Not really. Would it have been better in black and white? Maybe. Or in full color? Probably.
Now the judge has to score technique somewhere between 1 and 6. Its definitely not a 6. There is noise. The bridge is kind of grungy. The focus is soft except for the water drops, but they distract from the image. Hmm? Score technique as 3 - that's midway between 1 and 6. Kind of average. Its a fair score.
Composition is next, also between 1 and 6. It would have been better if the bridge formed leading lines from the right lower corner of the image and some of the extra stuff was cropped off the right hand side. Score composition as 3.
Now score creativity. OK, trying for an impressionist style with the scene distorted by the water drops. The idea is creative but it really needed more water drops running down in streaks. Still not sold on the sepia color. Be generous and give a 3.
Result: The image is sadly not accepted for the PEG. Please note that these are fictitious comments to illustrate the typical process. I think your image, printed large, would look good hanging on a wall.
So you see Alayos it is very difficult for the judges to accept ANY entry into the PEG. Everything is actually stacked against acceptance so that only really exceptional images get through the process. Its not personal its just the way the system has been set up to filter out everything that is not really outstanding. That system makes it tough on anyone who doesn't own a Pentax DSLR with a good range of premium quality prime lenses and a good few hours spare to post process the image. It doesn't hurt for the entrant to be a very experienced photographer with a trained eye for composition as well.
I hope this helps you.
Kind regards
Tony