March 2021 Digital Winners – Assigned Category – Still Life

March 2021 Digital Winners – Assigned Category – Still Life

First Place

Minimalism     Larry Pollock

“I was looking for the essence of a simple still-life image. Minimalism is one of my favorite things to create. Using 5 studio lights, various light modifiers and some bounce cards, I was able to achieve the look I wanted. I shoot my camera tethered to my laptop so I can see each image in detail as I adjust the lighting to suit. Plenty of test shots to hone in the final image. This image was a 2 image Focus Stack as the top flower was much further away from the camera sensor than the lower part of the vase.”

Camera: Fuji X-T4, 1/250sec f/16, ISO 160
Lights: 3 Godox AD 400s, on AD100, 1 Einstein E640. Wireless trigger

 

Second Place

Pears and Grapes     Larry Pollock

 

Two Thirds

Rainy Afternoon     Dave Church

 

Juiced    Debbie Jallit

 

Five Honorable Mentions

Just For Love    Cynthia Briseno

 

Cameras     Jim Ingraham

 

Fairy Bells     Julie Padgett

 

Lemon Zinger     Suzi Pratt

 

Very Still Life     Nomeca Hartwell

 

Still Life With Still Life     Susan Sheets

 

 

 

Wed. March 3rd, 7pm, Is Competition Night!

Wed. March 3rd, 7pm, Is Competition Night!

Please join us on Zoom for our March, (already!), competition meeting.

We’ll be viewing STILL LIFES in the Assigned category and we will have the opportunity to see all those other creative captures right in the comfort of our own homes.  The deadline for entering images to Dave Church is MIDNIGHT tonight so get cracking and see you soon!

photo by Debbie Jallit

Competition Updates!

HI EVERYONE!

 
I wanted to share some small changes and flesh out some guidelines for our Altered Reality and Open categories.
 
Right off the bat in an effort to align ourselves a bit better with the 4C’s regional rules and structure our Open category will now be called Traditional.
 
Our three categories are now Traditional, Altered Reality and Assigned.
 
So what goes where you may be asking…?
 
Traditional is well… Traditional. These are images that look like something you would easily recognize as a thing or something you could actually see. Though you might use a longer exposure, or a gently used texture or even composite in a flock of birds these would be recognizable to us all as a more traditional photograph. If you can answer YES to both of the following questions it is Traditional. If NO is the answer even to one of them put it in Altered Reality.
1. Is the content real, or does it appear to be real?  In other words, does it look like something a photographer might have captured on film?
 2. Is it processed for a realistic look?
Altered Reality is well…..Altered or non traditional.  Here you would see images and composites which have heavier use of textures, overlays or maybe skewed perspectives or added elements.
 
I’ll explain light painting separately as they are a little special and awkward to explain!
Light ‘wand’ painting images which only show the process of captured light would go in Altered Reality.  A light  ‘wand’ painting image which is set in a park that is well lit or has a well defined person or subject in it would go in Traditional.  Images that are light painted,  those which use a light source to “paint” another object, would go in Traditional.   
As you can see it all depends on the image and honestly it is a bit arbitrary.  Some images will straddle the line.  Keep in mind that getting your photo in the right category gives you a better chance of competing with similar images which is always advantageous.  Just do your best –  If two judges agree, they can move an image to a different category if they want to. A reminder too that Dave Church our projectionist doesn’t make these calls – only judges. 
 
Just two other things to share:
 
1. Monthly Assigned Images can be anything at all…..as long as they fit the assignment. :0)
 
2. 4C’s has adopted the following rule which we will also adopt concerning textures and brushes. 
The 4Cs allows use of textures and brushes from any source if they do not have specific objects or shapes in them.” 
 
Reminder – If you are making composites, sky replacements and the like you need to use images taken by you.
 
Well I’m sure that cleared everything up!  Take a little time to think about it, ask questions if you like and get snapping on your STILL LIFE images for March they can take a bit of fussing. 
~Susan Sheets, President
February 2021 Digital Winners – Assigned Category – Curves

February 2021 Digital Winners – Assigned Category – Curves

Two First Places

Still Life With Bamboo     Jim Ingraham

This image was conceived and set up with the assigned subject of ‘Curves’ in mind. Studio set up with three studio flash heads all in softboxes. Two were on either side and slightly behind the subject (bamboo and a rose). One was behind and above the subject. There was also a flash with a spot grid and red filter to light the backdrop.

The camera was a Nikon D850 with 24-70 mm Tamron lens set at 65mm. The aperture was f16 with a ISO 500 aperture. Shutter speed 1/160 though not relevant to the image as it was flash.

 

Snow Blanket     Susan Sheets

This image was shot on my patio after a recent snow event. I pressed my foot along the edge into the snow to create the scallops.  After a bit more melting, to me, it looked like fringe on a blanket. Shot with my iPhone 8Plus.

 

Second Place

Musical Curves     Larry Pollock

 

Two Third Places

Gnome Home     Cynthia Briseno

Snowy road Curves    Ozzie Cummins

 

Two Honorable Mentions

Abstract in Green     Dale George

Slinky     Judy Cox