Dr. Alex Mustard posted an interesting article on Wetpixel discussing the ins and outs to u/w photo competition. He explains that one of the best ways to choose photo contest pics for entry in a photo contest is to tile your best 20 shots, and try to take all the emotion out of it. When choosing have others look at your work to give critiquing and comments. Personally, I like to show my work on a variety of photo management sites, such as, Smugmug.com and Photonet.com, in their critiquing category or ask a friend who I value their opinion to look at my work. However, you really need to have objective opinions of someone who knows underwater photography. Pick the photos with the "WOW" factor, for impact. Photos that have some or all of the six elements of a "striking shot." For example, a wreck is mundane but put a model with a light or an interesting fish/coral in the foreground, and WOW. But I would say that even those pictures are getting somewhat trite. He does stress on the obvious . . . technical excellence, tack sharp, great lighting, etc. And, he too, talks about a great subject but technically flawed can ruin the shot! Here's the link to read for yourself,
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=5475.
And, this leads me into advertising the June Hups workshop, conducted by Dennis and I, for producing striking images. Three books I highly recommend are "Understanding Exposure" and "Learning to See Creatively" by Bryan Peterson, and I am now reading Martin Edge's new fourth edition, "The Underwater Photographer." I have marked specific chapters, made copies to take with me on trips. I am looking forward to applying some new techniques, learned in all three books, on my future dive trips, especially the one planned in November, to Lembah Straits.
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