DSLR Speed Challenge #62 -- "Decisive Moment"

Title: Marry Me?

EOS 40D with 24-105 f/4L @ 84mm
No flash fired
1/250 at f/6.3, ISO-400
Spot Meter

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

first entry!!
Canon Rebel XTi
ISO 1600
1/50 sec.
f/5.6
focal length 88mm

During a performance of Suessical

Anticipation

24-70@ 27mm
1/320 @ f 2.8
ISO 200

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

OK, this was tough. I'm sure every judge of a contest everywhere says that, but it is tough picking a winner when a photo will have some advantage but then other images surpass it in different ways.

My main judging criteria, even over the technical aspects, was if the photographer captured a MOMENT in time that would not have been the same either a few seconds before or a few seconds behind. A lot of the sports entries had this -- a decisive spot where the action was happening. Surprisingly even some of the kids photos had this in just as much abundance... the pinata almost won. It had good timing but it didn't hold any mystery.

That was the second criteria -- did the photo have some intrigue so it left me with a question of what, where, when, or why? Was this moment something that would be hard to capture even if you stood there for another hour waiting for it again? This is where many photos fell short. I thought looking at them that if the photographer kept at this location, they could keep getting a similar shot. So it was hard to pass this criteria if it looks like you could get the photo another day if you put the same people in front of the camera.

Some photos had a great look between the people -- the baby eating the cake almost won... for being a snapshot that we all might get, it did have a great decisive moment with the parents smiling and the kid giving a look to the mom. Same with "Potato World" ... with the background and the appearance that the photographer knows the main subject, it would be hard to pick as the overall winner, but the lady's look on the left is great.

Anyway, to the winner... for combining an elusive, decisive moment, mystery, and that something extra that makes you want to look at the photo and see what happened before or after ---

FLO!

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Hoff.I am stunned.
First off, to have been in the company of those who entered.

Second, to have actually understood the concept.lol.you are a good teacher.

Thank you for the time you took for the comments. It taught me alot .

Congrats Flo !!!

[EDIT] I wanted to add Kudos to Hoff for his breakdown on both the criteria and the elements that made a winner. Well Done!

The military shot was a very nice moment and really had emotion; I did feel that the frames to either side, though, would have been similar. Thanks for entering it! That is the kind of thing that is nice to see from the news.

Congrats Flo.

Very nice critique Hoff. I was having a hard time judging myself and was happy I was not in your shoes. I was excited to see each entry and study the shot to see how well it fit the Decisive Moment theme.

YEA FLO!

My wife picked Flo's over mine! Great shot.

johndevane wrote in post #6071335
My wife picked Flo's over mine! Great shot.

LOL.thats wrong:p

Thanks Geno.

WAY TO GO FLO. Great shot...