manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

I'm attaching pictures I entered last year in the TN Valley Fair here in Knoxville. When I entered them, I had my expectations of what might do well, etc. Some of what I expected came to pass, some did not. See if you can guess which placed. This is difficult without knowing ANY of the competition and being a sort of COVID year, there weren't as many entries making it easier to place.

Please feel free to critique these as much as you want. I seldom get more than the typical, "nice picture" or "you must have a great camera". What I always desire and almost never get is criticism.

The first were the tulips that were entered in the "Plant world, flowers" group.
The second was the night shot with the Christmas lights. This was entered into the nightscape group.
The third was of my son in an alley at night and was entered into the "architecture" group.
The fourth was the dog jumping. Entered into "Animal domestic".
The fifth was the B&W profile of Mr. Lincoln. This was entered into "Congressional Medal of Honor, black and white" group.
The sixth was the raising of the large flag. This was entered into the "Congressional Medal of Honor, color" group.
The seventh was the two scouts in the cemetery. This was entered into the "Congressional Medal of Honor, patriotic" group.
The eighth was the blonde girl. This was entered into "Portrait of teenage or older".
The ninth was of the pitcher (playing vintage baseball). This was entered in the "B&W or toned, candid" group.
The tenth was the waterfall. Entered into the "Waterscape" group.
The eleventh and last was the portrait of Mr. Lincoln. This was entered into the "B&W or toned, portrait of a person" group.

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NMGal Loc: NE NM

A very good series. For me, number 4 does not seem real. It seems artificial. Love the tulips and Mr. Lincoln.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thanks for taking a look. The dog jumping was very real. I entered another this year, the same dog I think. They have been having a Dog Daze in August for several years (this year was my second time to go to it). they have dogs jump from a dock into a pool. The 2 competitions are for height and for distance. Some are amazing and some don't do the jump, but all is fun to watch. I've attached another shot of the same competition. It gives a little more perspective.

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Dannj

No too crazy about the dog or the portrait of the girl. Otherwise, you get a prize if I’m judging👍

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thanks. I'll post the actual results later.

eric

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

To me, your best shots are the boy in the alley, the scouts raising the flag, and the man throwing a ball. While I like both of the Lincoln shots, the white areas are distracting. If you had repositioned the frontal shot to eliminate the white sky I would have liked it better. Again on the profile shot, I like the face a lot but too much bright white. I like the waterfall shot also but it is an in-between shot -- by that I mean it is neither a silhouette nor a shot where there is good detail. I would like to see it one way or the other. A small flash to just give a little better detail to the subjects or reduce exposure enough to have the subjects go totally black for a true silhouette would have been my choice. The three shots I liked best all tell a story. The boy in the alley gives a strong indication of someone being alone and maybe rejected by society, the scouts shot has great color and is very strong in telling a story, and the man throwing a ball is my favorite of all. It is perfect in depth of field, shows a great expression of concentration on the man's face, and takes the viewer back to an older day of baseball. If you notice how the lack of white sky makes the ball player more viewable -- that is what I would like to have seen on the Lincoln shot. I don't care for the teenager shot. It is too close and looks overcooked. This is a teen -- it should have been softer, and less harsh. The dog shot, while interesting with the sign is just too busy for me -- I don't like the power lines or the busy background. While the flower shot is nice, it is very common. Also, you lose the stem and the flower looks detached. It is often a practice in photography to include an odd number of elements. A third flower would have worked better. With just two flowers, one's eyes go back and forth between just two elements and there is no real focus. I have a few dozen flower shots against a black background. The couple walking down the lane of lighted trees is very nice but I would have liked it better if you had moved up to about where the historical sign is and let them get a little further along. The bright white sign on the left and the bright square on the pavement in the lower left-hand corner draw my eyes there rather than keeping on the couple. These are just my opinions and my thoughts are no better or worse than what others may say. Photography like any art form is totally subjective and my favorites may be the least favorites of others. You do have some really nice shots here so good luck with your competition entries.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

A wonderful set! I really like the tulip.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Same, also liked the old guy throwing the ball...

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

What a great critique! I really appreciate you taking the time and telling what and why about your opinions. The boy in the alley (my son, he'll like the "rejected" comment). When I went to the alley which is a popular place for photography, there was a restaurant worker on break where he is. I asked if they minded whether I took a picture with them there and they were fine with it. By the time I got set up, they had gone back to work. So, I told my son to be the proxy.

While the frontal shot of Mr. Lincoln didn't get very far, the profile did better. Actually, the white is an old flag, but not really discernable being a B&W shot. I thought the white was a counter balance for so much black.

The waterfall, yes I get what you are saying about either illuminating the subjects or making them complete silhouette. While I couldn't have illuminated them, I could have done the silhouette. That was on a hike, didn't know the subjects, just took a quick shot.

I liked the pitcher as well, but it didn't do well in the contest (did not place), but the person in the picture saw it, wanted it and now has it. Mr. Lincoln was at the vintage baseball game for reference.

The girl didn't do well in the contest, but as I looked at the winners, I easily understand. Among other things, there isn't enough context or should be more in the picture, maybe not looking directly at the camera either would have been better.

The dog does have a busy surrounding, but it placed well. This year I have entered another with less distracting background. I'll soon know if it was liked as much as this one was.

Yes, the flower shot is sort of classic shot and yes, it would have been better to have had 3 stems. It placed well.

The couple walking in the lit trees. I hadn't thought about the square on the ground, but it is somewhat distracting. Regardless and maybe because it is a local place well known by those who judged, it placed well.

The scouts raising the flag placed 1st and best of show. While I didn't think it was so strong, the fair entered it in the state fair (with my permission) and it took best of show there as well, but I really don't know how many entries there were, probably not that many. The state fair was only taking winners from other fairs and the word got out late that they were doing it, so probably not so many entries.

Thanks again for taking the time. This type of critique is what I need to make better decisions during future shots.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thanks, that was a 1st place.

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

While I liked him too, he didn't place at all.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Fantastic set of images!!!

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Thank you.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Wow, great image !!!
And great jump!!

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

So here is how the pictures placed:

Tulips - 1st place
Couple at night - 1st place
Boy in alley at night - 1st place
Dog jumping - 1st place
Profile B&W of Mr. Lincoln - 1st place
Scouts raising the flag - 1st place, best of show, and best of show at state fair
Portrait of girl - did not place
Pitcher - did not place
Waterfall - 1st place
Mr. Lincoln portrait - did not place

Thank you for all the comments, I really appreciate it. I wish I could hear comments by judges but you all are almost the same except you can't see the competition.