Considering entering competition

[sartracker]

I'm considering entering some of my landscape photos for competition for merit points. Never entered anything before and don't know what they might look for in a photograph. I know it has to be 16x20 and all the technical things but was hoping I might get some feedback on if this photo or some of the others on my flickr account might work. I have 3 others in mind but can only post one on here and don't know how to link back to the other photos.
Thanks for any suggestions.

href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sartracker/5469176780/" title="SunriseTree by sartracker87301, on Flickr">
Exif data

Camera Canon EOS 60D
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 65 mm
ISO Speed 1250
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
Image Width 4012
Image Height 3100

[EOBeav]

Absolutely. Love that sky.

[SwissJon]

Agreed.. I love the sky, it's a pity the outline of the tree was lost in the trees on the background.. I'd really like to have seen it silhouetted against that sky.

[sartracker]

Thank you both! Yes, it would have been nice to have the whole tree up against the sky but I tried up and down and different angles and couldn't find a spot where it was, too many cedar bushes right behind it. I liked the way the light played on the lower branches in front, helps the tree pop out.
Did you happen to look at any of my other photos on Flickr? Another one I'm considering is called Moki Steps.
Not sure if the judges go strictly by artistic rules or if breaking a few is okay. Guess I'll find out.
Thanks again!

[SwissJon]

Unfortunately the judges will go by artistic merit of the photo, not the probems involved in taking it.. The lower part of the tree is lost against the ceders, and while you can just about make it out, it's a bit of a mess. The sky is fantastic with the bare tree against it, but I'm not sure that'll be enough, the lower half of your picture lets it down. If the Ceders hadn't been there, this would have been fantastic.. Don't you own a chainsaw?

Yes, I've looked at your Flickr.. You need to learn to post links

Flickr: sartracker87301's Photostream

You have some better photos on there, it's a pity you don't have this sky for them I think, with a bit of cropping the one entitled BigTesuqueSunset2 has potential, as does SunsetTree. Moki steps is ok, but you can see the edge of your NDGrad filter. You could probably sort that out in PP, and I'd be tempted to boost the contrast or do some creative D&B as I feel the steps, which are the subject, are lost a little. I like the photo Creekbedzoomout.. Is that a real photo or did you merge two pictures? It could probably be improved in PP also.

If it were me, I'd be looking to get that, and one of the ones I mentioned, up to standard.. Like I said, the one you chose could have been fantastic, it was just let down by your lack of chainsaw technique (Something that happens to me all the time! )

[BigFuzzy]

Agreed the sky is great.. but the rest of the image leaves a lot to be desired for me. The bottom half of the image is a jumbled mess of branches and wood and busy detail..

Foreground should something that draws interest, and in this image my eyes are only drawn past it to the sky as there's no definable point of interest in any of the foreground (for me). So, because this, I feel that 50% of your image is simply not eye-drawing (to me, clearly EOBeav loves it).

Additionally, the image has a huge amount of noise, so it may show up when printed. Additionally, the sharpening you did has created some "halos" around many of the branches which may also show up once printed larger. So maybe run it through a noise reducer?

Not knowing what the level of the competition is, I can't comment on whether or not you can enter it. Sorry if I sound harsh, but I am trying to be as constructive as possible.

[EOBeav]

The best way to get good at something is to surround yourself by people who are already good at it. Enter the competition, take whatever lumps you need to, and move on. You're guaranteed to learn something in the process.

[sartracker]

Thanks! I appreciate all the critique. When you ask your family you always get a "I love it".

This particular set of photos are from a workshop I went to and it was fantastic. We did do a lot of critiquing in the class sessions and the lack of a chainsaw or pruning shears was brought up many times.

I haven't taken any of the photos into PS yet. I did use LR to bump clarity, sharpness and things like that. We were challenged to try different things, including different perspectives like lying on the ground - that's how I took the Moki Steps. Straight on you wouldn't have seen any of the steps. I didn't have a ND filter, maybe it's from the lens or the hood.

The creek bed was taken standing over a dried up creek bed pointing the camera at a small rock. 1 sec. exp. and I zoomed the lens out during the exposure which gave it the effect you see. No PP. It was interesting, when I used the same exp. but zoomed the lens in, the rock came up and make a little hill. I also tried panning up and down and across on different things.

The sunset photos were taken at about 10,000 ft. in a forest of Aspen trees and snow. It was beautiful although I could have used some snowshoes! The sunset was really gorgeous and I took lots of shots. I always take shots of just the sky when I'm out, esp. sunrise, sunset and clouds, to use in photos where the sky is blown out or it doesn't' have any interesting features. NM has beautiful skies, particularly at sunset. I haven't replaced any skies yet but I'll find out if the competition allows that.

Rick, It's a State competition and I think I will submit a few because I'm not getting any younger (going to be even older next week) and I'd rather get lumps than nothing so I can improve. Also, I need to print some of my photos.I don't do that enough. Studio work gets printed but not the landscapes. Al, there IS a lot of noise in the picture I posted here. I didn't realize it until I looked at it in a larger size.

You're not kidding Jon! I need to learn a lot of computer things, linking is one. Also, I've deleted my metadata from a previous trip to SW Utah about 10 times and it won't go away! It's driving me crazy. I have learned to backup everything at least twice, lost a whole hard drive about 5 years ago. Oh well, I'll learn (I hope)! Just bought a couple of new books on computers and photography, just have to find time to read them.

Thanks again for all the critique. Have a great weekend and hope you all get lots of great photos if you go out shooting. I've looked at all of your photos and I'm in awe! Kitty

[Krusty79]

I agree about the previous comments about the foreground detracting from the shot. Too bad, because I like that sky a lot also. I do like your Big Tesuque creek image better.