Re: Challenge 67 - "Countrylife Calendar"
Hi All,
Apologies for the Delay in the Judging, SWMBO has had me Gardening!!!
Before I start, I would just like to take this opportunity to mention the Thread I started a couple of Months ago, Called "Is the Forum Challenge past it's Sell By Date"
I think that one or two Members were a Tad irritated by the Thread and perhaps thought I wanted to change the Challenge in some way, I would just like to say that nothing could be further from the Truth, I wanted the Challenge to remain exactly as it was, and thankfully still is. It was certainly never my intention to get any of the Rules changed, I think they are perfect as they are.
As I mentioned in that thread, I really like the Challenge as does my Wife Sue and it brings her in to the Hobby too, which I think is a good thing.
It is very pleasing to note that the last few Challenges have been well supported so Thanks to all for that.
However, if the thread did upset anyone, then I sincerely apologise.
Now for the Judging
Tesarver - Life in Eastern Pa.
Definitely has a Rustic feel to it. I like the processing and love the cloud formations in the sky. The washing on the line adds a certain sort of charm too. 16/20
DianaS - King Pin
Definitely what the Judge had in mind in regard to Countrylife Images
I really like this picture, great colour throughout, Head and Eye are as sharp as a tack and lovely detail in the chest feathers. Tail going out of focus and background well out of focus, all just right to me. 19.5/20
Secondintime - Ploughman
Certainly an image you could expect to see on a Countrylife Calendar. Tractor is well positioned on the thirds and with plenty of room to move into, nice cloud formations too. Sadly let down a bit for me as the image seems to have a bit of a blue cast to it, or is there a bit of haze in the air, not quite sure. 16/20
JimmyR - My Family
Again a good depiction of Countrylife, I like the way the Ewe and two Lambs are looking at the Camera. I wonder if it could be slightly under saturated though and maybe the long low building on the Right and the single Sheep would be better cropped off? 16/20
Wayne Els - Weeds wait for no man.
Not sure if this is Countryside enough for inclusion in a Countrylife Calendar to be honest, it could be a Greenhouse in a City Garden, so not quite what the Judge was looking for on this occasion. The man is nice and sharp as are the weeds he is tackling which are the subject of the Picture, I don't think the tyre helps though nor the Kneeling Aid in the greenhouse. 12/20
Hereford EOS - Isolated in Elan Valley.
Certainly could be the type of image for a Countrylife Calendar. It's probably the time of year but again it looks a little flat in colour to me. I think I would have liked the roof of the building on the right up to the edge of the trees cropped out, and the bridge off the bottom removed, this would put the house more on the thirds which I think would be more pleasing. 17/20
Thudr Strck - I do love to be beside the Sea.
Not what I would expect to see on a Countrylife Calendar but maybe that's just me! I quite like the foreground and the Milky water effect, but it doesn't look super sharp to me. The horizon looks a tad out of level and the sky has no detail in it at all, at least on my Monitor it doesn't and that lets the image down a bit. 16/20
CharlesCaz - A River runs through it.
Definitely got what the Judge intended. I like the processing of the image, great sky and cloud formations. A good lead in with the River, nice and sharp front to back. Good well balanced picture. 18/20
Columbarius - Cottage on River Avon.
Nice view which people would expect to see on a Countrylife Calendar. Sadly the Cottage which is integral to the subject is a bit too hidden. I like the way the River is leading into the Picture and how you made a feature of the Grass/Reeds in the Foreground, nice colour depths and sky. 17/20
Alun 100 - By the Gate.
Again, Animals would be a subject for a Countrylife Calendar so what the Judge wanted.
Sadly, the Gate, although in the Image title spoils the picture somewhat as do the "Udder" cows in the background. Colours and Sharpness look ok to me. 14/20
ChrisJ - Sheep awaiting Feeding Time.
A good combination of Countryside images, Sheep and an old Viaduct. It looks as if you have the Focus on the viaduct, I would have preferred the sheep to have been sharper. Nice colours of grass and sky. I think you could have cropped a bit off the foreground and brought the sheep a bit closer to the viewer, I also would have liked the wire cloned out. 16/20
Coryman - Me and My Mum.
Definitely got in the Head of the Judge with this one. A lovely picture, well postioned, no distractions, good colour depth, focus just right, everything looks good to me. Just a shame about the Coloured tags in the ears, not sure if they could have been cloned out or not. 19/20
Andy A - Lets go this way.
Lots of good things about the picture but am just not sure a Road would feature in a Countrylife Calendar though. I really like the tree position on the Left with it's overhanging branches framing the image and the daffodills at the base and on the verges, Good colour and Light and a great Sky. 17/20
Well that's the lot, I hope I haven't offended anyone with the Judging.
3rd Place - 18/20 - CharlezCaz with A River runs through it.
2nd Place - 19/20 - Coryman with Me and my Mum
1st Place - 19.5/20 - DianaS with KingPin.
So, finally, Thanks to everyone who entered and over to Diana for the next Challenge.
Regards Paul
Hi All,
Apologies for the Delay in the Judging, SWMBO has had me Gardening!!!
Before I start, I would just like to take this opportunity to mention the Thread I started a couple of Months ago, Called "Is the Forum Challenge past it's Sell By Date"
I think that one or two Members were a Tad irritated by the Thread and perhaps thought I wanted to change the Challenge in some way, I would just like to say that nothing could be further from the Truth, I wanted the Challenge to remain exactly as it was, and thankfully still is. It was certainly never my intention to get any of the Rules changed, I think they are perfect as they are.
As I mentioned in that thread, I really like the Challenge as does my Wife Sue and it brings her in to the Hobby too, which I think is a good thing.
It is very pleasing to note that the last few Challenges have been well supported so Thanks to all for that.
However, if the thread did upset anyone, then I sincerely apologise.
Now for the Judging
Tesarver - Life in Eastern Pa.
Definitely has a Rustic feel to it. I like the processing and love the cloud formations in the sky. The washing on the line adds a certain sort of charm too. 16/20
DianaS - King Pin
Definitely what the Judge had in mind in regard to Countrylife Images
I really like this picture, great colour throughout, Head and Eye are as sharp as a tack and lovely detail in the chest feathers. Tail going out of focus and background well out of focus, all just right to me. 19.5/20
Secondintime - Ploughman
Certainly an image you could expect to see on a Countrylife Calendar. Tractor is well positioned on the thirds and with plenty of room to move into, nice cloud formations too. Sadly let down a bit for me as the image seems to have a bit of a blue cast to it, or is there a bit of haze in the air, not quite sure. 16/20
JimmyR - My Family
Again a good depiction of Countrylife, I like the way the Ewe and two Lambs are looking at the Camera. I wonder if it could be slightly under saturated though and maybe the long low building on the Right and the single Sheep would be better cropped off? 16/20
Wayne Els - Weeds wait for no man.
Not sure if this is Countryside enough for inclusion in a Countrylife Calendar to be honest, it could be a Greenhouse in a City Garden, so not quite what the Judge was looking for on this occasion. The man is nice and sharp as are the weeds he is tackling which are the subject of the Picture, I don't think the tyre helps though nor the Kneeling Aid in the greenhouse. 12/20
Hereford EOS - Isolated in Elan Valley.
Certainly could be the type of image for a Countrylife Calendar. It's probably the time of year but again it looks a little flat in colour to me. I think I would have liked the roof of the building on the right up to the edge of the trees cropped out, and the bridge off the bottom removed, this would put the house more on the thirds which I think would be more pleasing. 17/20
Thudr Strck - I do love to be beside the Sea.
Not what I would expect to see on a Countrylife Calendar but maybe that's just me! I quite like the foreground and the Milky water effect, but it doesn't look super sharp to me. The horizon looks a tad out of level and the sky has no detail in it at all, at least on my Monitor it doesn't and that lets the image down a bit. 16/20
CharlesCaz - A River runs through it.
Definitely got what the Judge intended. I like the processing of the image, great sky and cloud formations. A good lead in with the River, nice and sharp front to back. Good well balanced picture. 18/20
Columbarius - Cottage on River Avon.
Nice view which people would expect to see on a Countrylife Calendar. Sadly the Cottage which is integral to the subject is a bit too hidden. I like the way the River is leading into the Picture and how you made a feature of the Grass/Reeds in the Foreground, nice colour depths and sky. 17/20
Alun 100 - By the Gate.
Again, Animals would be a subject for a Countrylife Calendar so what the Judge wanted.
Sadly, the Gate, although in the Image title spoils the picture somewhat as do the "Udder" cows in the background. Colours and Sharpness look ok to me. 14/20
ChrisJ - Sheep awaiting Feeding Time.
A good combination of Countryside images, Sheep and an old Viaduct. It looks as if you have the Focus on the viaduct, I would have preferred the sheep to have been sharper. Nice colours of grass and sky. I think you could have cropped a bit off the foreground and brought the sheep a bit closer to the viewer, I also would have liked the wire cloned out. 16/20
Coryman - Me and My Mum.
Definitely got in the Head of the Judge with this one. A lovely picture, well postioned, no distractions, good colour depth, focus just right, everything looks good to me. Just a shame about the Coloured tags in the ears, not sure if they could have been cloned out or not. 19/20
Andy A - Lets go this way.
Lots of good things about the picture but am just not sure a Road would feature in a Countrylife Calendar though. I really like the tree position on the Left with it's overhanging branches framing the image and the daffodills at the base and on the verges, Good colour and Light and a great Sky. 17/20
Well that's the lot, I hope I haven't offended anyone with the Judging.
3rd Place - 18/20 - CharlezCaz with A River runs through it.
2nd Place - 19/20 - Coryman with Me and my Mum
1st Place - 19.5/20 - DianaS with KingPin.
So, finally, Thanks to everyone who entered and over to Diana for the next Challenge.
Regards Paul
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