Preparing for PPA Print competions part 2

So I worked on at least two images.  I am not happy with how they came out.  The meat in the bowl is not tack sharp if I am going for the overall scene being the subject.  Also, that white bowl,  very distracting.  I need to work on more prints anyways.  I need at least three for State. So more work ahead.  At least you can see what the finished product looks like.  Well... back to the drawing board!

Preparing for PPA Competion Part 1

I've finally decided to start preparing for PPA competition.  The challenging thing is,  many of the images entered are either landscape or portraits.  I do not see many food images that make the loan collection.  But I would love to challenge myself to do the competition with my food photography and see where it takes me.

First stop is the State PPA affiliated association.  Their competition is in September.  So I would get my feet wet there and learn as much as I can.  (BTW if you are a print judge or will be on in the upcoming Southwest or IPC, please DO NOT READ ON).



Are we LAPPA, SWPPA, and PPA judge free now?


Ok, good.  So I am starting this with my set up,  or how in the end I had the set up:

Here's an animated gif of my thought process.  You can watch me take away light as things went on. (I know, gifs are annoying,  but at least I did not post all 40ish images one at a time! :D )

Not sure if I am thrilled with the outcome of the images.  I may play with one of them and think about entering it.  OR I might just try to start over with a new idea.  We'll see.   Now to throw in the 12 elements of a merit image and see how I feel about yesterday:

12 Elements of a merit image:

1.) Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.  Hmm... I hope it invokes a feeling for wanting Italian for lunch after they are done judging. 

2.) Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.
Haven't looked up close at these images yet.  I'm not sure if they are tack sharp enough yet.  The images in the gif are sooc (straight out of the camera).  So I know already they are a wee bit on the red side.

3.) Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.
Well,  this is challenging with food photography.  But how many photographers try to tell a story with food before it's cooked?  

4.) Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.
While I am still developing my style,  I have come to enjoy just tunneling the light to my subject leaving lots of dark areas.  I've always gone the contrasty route.  As you can see with my diagram,  I was trying to manipulate the light.  The food is backlit, which is standard with food photography.  I hope that I show that I can control the light. 

5.) Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.
This is hard.  Not sure how close I came to composition.  I'm pretty sure IF I were to enter an image in from this set,  that I may lose points on this one. 

6.) Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.
Looking forward to talking to my photographer friends on how to do this.  I want to make sure I do it right.  Makes me thankful I'm part of a local guild. 

7.) Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
This is where the white bowl may make me lose points.  I tried to pick all my colors carefully.  My husband was bothered by the monotony   but I think it was important to chose all tan so that the colors flowed.  Now to make sure my color is balanced.  I did initially did a custom color balance,  but then I moved my set and forgot to do it again.  

8.) Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.
Hoping the whole scene will collectively serve as the center of interest. 

9.) Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.
See what I wrote about style.  I love working with light! 

10.) Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.
It's food!! :D  Tried to make sure the props were not too crazy, and that they all flowed together in telling the story.

11.) Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.
Hmmm... I hope I nailed at least some technique.  Goal is to hit it all. 

12.) Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.
Tried to tell the story of ravioli in the making.  

I should have an image chosen and worked on in the next 48 hours.  I will keep you all posted on what I will do.  Again,  I am not too pleased with these images and may not send one of these to our state competition   At least Southwest is not till April and I have time to do some more mastery.