SMWYG Year 4: Return of the Photographer ADMIN THREAD

Oh wow... I can't believe it! I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face since I read I was one of the winners though. Considering the quality of the work submitted by everyone, I'm truly honored. Thanks, judges, and congrats to the other winners and HMs!
(still grinning )

Well done all!~

Congrats to all. And i'm truly honored to be selected as one of the placement winners. Thanks judges.

Congrats winners and HM's -- Great bunch of photos from all who entered!

congrats everyone

Congrats one and all!!!!

Okay, I have a question... are we allowed to have watermarks on our submissions? In the past we could and it was a risk for your entry based on the judges, however it was permitted.

I put nothing on the web anymore without branding attached to it and this is no exception for me.

Once an image wins the month and is included in the calendar, then sure... a full-res version without watermark is fine. But to ask us to submit, what is often for many of us, one of our "top-notch" photos to the web, without any branding or protection is ludicrous in my opinion.

Please let me know and I will certainly abide by the rules. If that means that I can't participate, then I guess that means I won't participate. If it affects me in judging, so be it. But to ask photographers to HAVE to contribute naked photos to the web for this, is wrong.

Todd Lambert wrote in post #11243190
Okay, I have a question... are we allowed to have watermarks on our submissions? In the past we could and it was a risk for your entry based on the judges, however it was permitted.

I put nothing on the web anymore without branding attached to it and this is no exception for me.

Once an image wins the month and is included in the calendar, then sure... a full-res version without watermark is fine. But to ask us to submit, what is often for many of us, one of our "top-notch" photos to the web, without any branding or protection is ludicrous in my opinion.

Please let me know and I will certainly abide by the rules. If that means that I can't participate, then I guess that means I won't participate. If it affects me in judging, so be it. But to ask photographers to HAVE to contribute naked photos to the web for this, is wrong.

Todd, we understand your concern. I do not recall that we've ever allowed them, however. Now that being said, we've discussed this and would be okay with a non-identifying watermark. We would not want it to be plastered over the middle of the image, however.

How does that sound?

Hmmm, ok. I had thought it was allowed in the past, it was just advised that it could impact you in judging.

I'm okay with the consequences of judging as I feel that my images should be able to transcend that if I've done my job correctly.

It's not so much them having "a watermark", as it is them having "my watermark". I've changed my business and methods since last years contest and I do not allow anything I do to go to the web without branding attached.

Anyways, I'm going to have to pull my entry out of the running and not participate this year if they're forbidden.

Thanks for the clarification, Chris, I appreciate it.

Sorry Todd. That is the way it's always been (no watermark).

We felt that by allowing a generic "copyright" it would discourage photo theft without influencing the judging.

Totally understand if you don't feel you can participate.

No worries, good luck everyone, and thanks Lisa!

These are my thoughts on your images. Remember, they are my thoughts alone. Am I right? Am I wrong. Probably both. This is a compilation of my take on the image you asked me to judge. Take it for what it’s worth. Agree. Disagree. I’m good with both. My hope is that my words help you grow as a photographer. Looking at your images with a critical eye helps me grow. And for that I thank you!

General comment: You’ve got to WOW us to be selected. Know that images near and dear to your own heart might not carry the same meaning for us. Don’t take it personally. I entered an image into a contest a couple of months ago that I’ve got hanging in my office at work. I get TONS of compliments. People comment on it all the time and tell me how much they love it. How’d it do in the contest (State Fair)? My WORST result ever! LOL!

REITERATION OF PERMIE’S NOTE: Forum photo size allows for 1024 on the long size. It is MUCH easier to judge a larger photo so use your max size if your sharing site allows it. Wow, we’re sounding like a broken record from last year. But seriously folks, you are shooting yourself in the foot when you don’t display it as big as the forum allows. We need to be able to see your images well. Help us.


1. Jason C "Last to Fall":
I like this. It’s the kind of shot I would try. My impressions: The leaf is a little blown in some areas. “Blown” might be too strong. But I’d like to see some local edits taking the brightness down on the leaf just a bit. While I like what you were going for here, the subject matter wasn’t strong enough to make it to the top this week.

2. 35mmNewbie: (waterfall)
See reiteration above. It’s extremely difficult to see the true impact of this image in such a small size. I like the lines in this shot. The blown spots kind of detract from it for me, however. I can live with some extreme highlights – but this not this much. The negative space on the lower left is intriguing. However, I can see just enough detail of something there that it’s a bit distracting. I’d burn that corner a bit.

3. Mrsmacdeezy: (flower)
Nice Dahlia. The colors are beautiful. I like your composition. Some of the detail is getting lost in the reds causing your to lose some of the beauty of the lines. In a shot like this, it’s important that the bits of background peaking through either have no impact or bring interest. They should not detract. Yours kind of detract. The upper right is black. The lower areas are really light. The black corner is a distraction for me.

4. Cotmweasel: (guitar)
I like this one a lot. I very nearly selected it this time. What’s happening on the upper left part of the curve? We lost some light then got it back strongly. I might suggest cropping the negative space up top just a bit. I really want to know what this is! It reminds me of a guitar.

5. Pward1980: (train)
I’m a sucker for a nice train shot! This one had a couple of issues that kept it from being in the upper tier for me. The sky is off. The clouds that should be white are not. The horizon seemed a bit off to me as well. Personally, I think the tree on the left does not add to the image. The foreground on the right is the same. I think a bit more crop would help this image I’d also like to see a bit more detail on the front of the engine. It’s a bit like a person’s eyes. You want to be able to see them.

6. Harleypugs "being a baby is hard work"
LOVE this shot! (and baby shots aren’t generally an area of interest to me) I’d like to see a bit more light in the face/eyes. As it stands, the light draws my eye elsewhere and baby’s eyes don’t seem as vibrant as they should. Love the composition on this. Nice job.

7. Kilvas (squirrel)
First the positive: I like the lines in this a lot. And it’s a kind of squirrel we don’t see here so that intrigues me. Now the constructive: The squirrel’s face is too dark. I would think you could do some judicious editing and bring it up a bit without harming the image. Where’s the rest of his tail? Seeing the entire tail is pretty important in a squirrel picture. It’s so much a part of how we see them.


8. Flo (grass)
I really like this one, Flo. The colors are really nice as are the lines. It just didn’t quite “grab” me as much as it needed to. I wonder if a slower shutter speed (thus showing some motion) would put this one in that next level?

9. Focal Princess "Fall Color"
Love this shot. In fact I picked it as my HM this week. The focus on the onions (I think they’re onions) is great – but the bokeh is PERFECT! It’s blurred nicely – but still gives great context – a person shopping from a local vendor at the market. I think you could sell this one. Or at least entice someone to hang it at their market. Seriously. Excellent job! (One small suggestion: crop a bit of the blurred greens off of the far left and a bit off the top – they don’t add to the image). And I have to mention the colors – WOW! Greens, purple, red, orange, brown – you’ve got it all! Nice job.

10. Harm "Chilean Escape"
This is a beautiful shot. I love the processing. A few suggestions: The light in the lower right is really distracting. Maybe crop it or tone it down? I’m wondering if a different crop would make this stronger (maybe not). It’s a bullseye – and generally that’s not a good idea – personal taste – it might work here). Also, the CA in the lights is really strong. I think it would clean up pretty easily.

11. Airfrogusmc "Fall wet & red"
Beautiful colors. Nice DoF. Subject just wasn’t strong enough.

12. BarbW "Back in the day".
Beautiful image. There seems to be a bit of haloing around the roof. I’m guessing there was a reason for it, but I wish the front bumper wasn’t cut off.

13. Reyno "Along Sleep Hollow Trail"
This is a really interesting shot. Even without the title it tells a story. Nice job. A couple of suggestions: The face is not the focus – it’s a bit soft and dark. The focus is on the big poofy thing on her bottom. It’s the brightest part of the image and it appears that the focus is there. You want us to focus on her eyes. While that’s almost always the case, it’s ABSOLUTELY the case here. Look at the story they’re telling!

14. Geno CA "More Bondo Please"
Really interesting subject! I’m not sure I’m thrilled with the composition, but it’s interesting. The buildings are trying their best to get out of your image – so much so that they’re leaning backward! Gotta fix that, in my opinion.

15. Macroshot "Taking a Ride"
I like your compositon. And I like the colors. But the processing doesn’t work at all for me. The outlines of people just doesn’t work. The image is quite pixilated in places. Not sure what’s causing that.

16. thatkatmatt "A Mother's Love"
Great image. Normally I’m not a fan of noisy images, but this really works. Two things I’d like to see: focus on the eye instead of the cheek & tone down the child’s face just a smidge. It’s a bit too bright compared to the rest of the image. Look at that side of mom’s face. It doesn’t quite match up.

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I’m really excited about the first week’s images. It was a real pleasure studying each of them. Thank you all so much for your efforts.

Congratulations winners and HMs!!

Congrats to the week's winning images and the HM's. Good luck to everyone in week 2.

T.D. wrote in post #11243447
4. Cotmweasel: (guitar)
I like this one a lot. I very nearly selected it this time. What’s happening on the upper left part of the curve? We lost some light then got it back strongly. I might suggest cropping the negative space up top just a bit. I really want to know what this is! It reminds me of a guitar.

not sure what caused the light spot up there. likely had something to do with the angle of the flash. I'll look into cropping it a bit. It's an epiphone les paul (less good picture http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157605544064800/ ) so yes, it is in fact a guitar. Thanks for the comments

Todd, I'll add my comments here regarding watermarking..........​...I;m always in awe of your shots around this forum, but in all honesty anyone with a grasp of PS will have that watermark off or cropped in a matter of minutes..........simpl​e

I used to watermark but know it wont really stop anyone determined to use your shots, if it online its likely to be used