Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Actually - you are judging your own photos - perhaps too harshly? Some competition titles can produce very different interpretations.
Dare I suggest a project for you? "A Visitor's Pictorial Guide to Crewkerne" or "Where the Cider Apples Grow" ?

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Well I never! I do live in Merriott just outside Crewkerne.

What will this book teach me "A Visitor's Pictorial Guide to Crewkerne" or "Where the Cider Apples Grow" ?

I have got a Guide of Crewkerne with all the historical properties and shops that are here but it doesn't teach me anything about photography or am I missing the point.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

I do feel sorry that BigAl,s lovely picture of a beautiful colt on which he only asked for opinions on it as he is going to enter it into a competition should end up with some folk acting like VERY childish school children who wish to have the last say about something that was not about the contents of the post.. Please grow up and stop acting like 4 year olds and respect the contents of the post....

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Hi Heather - I'll continue the conversation in a PM

Nightski

This is a lovely, lovely shot. The foal is beautifully lit and you caught it at a very optimal moment as far as movement goes. I like where the horizon is in relationship to the subject. Also, the cattle bring the eye back to the foal as they seem to be looking at the foal. The way you have shot this the cattle add a nice balance to the image without becoming a distraction. I hope it does well for you. Just remember, if you love it that is all that counts.

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

Thank you Nightski!

BigAl Loc: Lincs UK

Thanks for looking and commenting. I have tried altering to some of the suggestions put forward but I have decided to stick with my original shot. Obviously I'm pleased with the shot, but more so than usual as I tend the fill the shot with the subject. This is more airy with bags of space, so its a less is more shot that I hope will offer a bit of originality for the judges.
Thanks for your kind words Alan

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Sometimes these guides can lean towards being documentary rather than pictorial. You now have the interesting possibility of finding more photogenic ways to portray what is in those guides. See them as a pointer to possibilities that you might not have ever discovered on your own. And don't assume that the guides include all of the possibilities.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Your shot is beautiful. You were able to capture the foal in a very unique way that is very pleasing. I find no fault with your composition. If you did want to "bring the foal" up a bit to be more "front and center" (not in the center but up closer) and do use Lightroom this is easy to do with the Transform tool, not in cropping. What does bother me, for some reason, is the flatness of the tones in the image. The download does look better but the overall tones are still flat. A way to understand the concept of tones in a print is to think of different colors but all in the same percentage, so, for example, every color would be at, say, 70%. Our eyes like contrast in what we see and that is why we try to achieve an image with differing tones, colors, blacks, whites, shadows and lights. I'm wondering if a bit of added contrast might help some? And, perhaps, bringing down the luminance in the sky, which would make it a little darker? Small corrections only. The judges will love the shot but, if they are good judges, they will also notice the lack of contrast in the shot and might grade it down because of this. So, do consider creating a bit of contrast to create more of a difference in the overall tones of the image. I wish you well with your competition.

BigAl Loc: Lincs UK

[quote=via the lens]Your shot is beautiful. You were able to capture the foal in a very unique way that is very pleasing. etc.
Thanks for looking and for the tips that I will play about with for future reference. I have had to submit to beat the deadline so the shot will have to take its chances on this occasion.
I have just had a look at your posts and web site, absolutely stunning.

Many thanks again Alan

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Thanks, Alan, I hope you do well in the competition...what is not to love about a young frisky foal loving life?