Top Ten Tips to evaluate your photos

Two wolves at Yellowstone

Photo caption: “When twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star, remember that you have a friend though she may wander far.”
unknown

How to self critique your photograph, may be one of the most important evaluations that you can do. This can be especially important if you are photographing for others. You need to refine your eye to do a critical analysis of your photograph.

1. Begin before processing: Remember to take many pictures. And if possible from different angles and heights. Check the framing, composition and lighting. Process the picture that has the necessary material in the raw form to make an exceptional photograph.

2. Process your photograph: Use your best skills in processing a photograph. Photographer's have style. What is yours? Is it based in the tonality of the picture, light, contrast and composition? Is the photograph telling telling your audience to say wow? Just from the implementation of your style.

The way to develop style is to look at the photographs of those that are considered best. Look for their style, but do not be a mimic.

Could you recreate the styles you like? And more importantly can you use what you learn from others as an embarking point to develop your own unique work.

3. Does your photograph have depth: Photographs are two dimensions portraying three dimensions. If your photograph looks flat you automatically lose your audience.

Refine your understanding of composition by thinking in spacial terms. Good photography leads the eye through the photograph. The deeper a person can look into a photograph is directly related to the appeal of the photograph to the viewer.

Simple principles of geometry can add greatly to the feeling of depth.

4. Does your photograph tell a story: Not all good photographs tell a story. Nevertheless, if your photograph does it will help peak the interest level in your photograph.

The story need not be elaborate, but does the photograph tell you something or make you think.

5. Does you photograph have meaning: Photography is much like writing in this sense. You have to define your audience. Who is your audience?

Are you playing to a larger universal audience or more of a personal audience? Does your photograph have meaning to your audience?

6. Does your photograph capture the senses: By default photography is a visual medium. But good photography can and does engage other senses.

How does the photograph make you feel? What other senses are engaged: taste, hearing, touch. Does your photograph speak to other senses?

7. Is your photograph half baked: Did you take your photograph out of the processing oven too soon?

Enlarge your photograph and look at the small details. Are these the best they can be? If not correct your photograph. I usually magnify my photo to about 800 percent and pour over the details looking for flaws.

8. Can you be unbiased in your appraisal: Everyone is subjective including me. Realize you are not looking through the perfect prism when you evaluate your photographs.

Put your photographs up in social sharing sites like Flickr. On these sites people are generally complementary about your photographs, so a measure of best photos could be the number of views and invites you may get.

Sometimes harsh criticism is hard to find. Any you do get should be valued and looked into carefully.

9. Review your photographs again at a later date: Take a fresh look at some of your older photographs. How can they be improved?

Consider reprocessing or even deleting to have the best photographs represent your work.

10. Continually review the work of others: Study the work of others often. Surf the net and see what surfaces to the top.

See what others think are great and try to understand how it was done. Photography is a school that you never graduate it is a continual learning process.

Ten Top Tips for Winning Photo Contests

Title: Angel Awakening
caption: If one looks closely enough, one can see angels in every piece of art. ~Adeline Cullen Ray


The above photographic montage will be entered in a contest in July. I have based my decision on this entry on the ten tips below. I am already thinking this will be a winner.

Can you win photo contests? I would think so. I have had winning entries in over 50 percent of the contests that I have entered, both locally and internationally. So are there secret keys to success? Yes, so please don't share these tips it is our secret.

This is what I do with every contest.

1. Read all the rules carefully: Be sure what you are getting yourself into. Some contest are just a sham to have your copyright. So be careful. Once you have read the rules comply. And, make sure you use the exact format the contest requires.

2. Look at the past winners: Here you can find exactly what the contest is interested in. Do you have photos of similar quality? Study the past winners for compositional elements, color, subject, and representation. Then study again. These people were not winners of a lottery. They fulfilled the expectations of the judges. And, if a contest put out by a company, or organization: How does your photo play thematically into the message or mission of the contest sponsor?

3. Look at the judges: Not always but often the judges are listed. Now, you need to search and seek out their photographs. Study their photographs carefully. Find in their photographs salient traits and style. Study carefully and you will unearth their taste. Study their bio and their writings. The more you know about who is judging you the better you will be in choosing the photograph to enter. If they write about light, composition or other photo attributes: Then these are the secret keys in unlocking their interest your submission. I would not say mimic their style, but I would say try to present what they would appreciate in a photograph.

4. Go through your photographs carefully: Set up folders of candidate photos based on you would think the judge would pick. Pick perhaps a hundred. Put all your candidates in a folder called "winners." Yes, you need to think positively. Pick out the top ten and put in another folder called "the winners."

5. Get appraisals from others: Now this is the real test. Invite some friends over for evening of photo appraisal. Go over everything you learned in researching tips two and three. Ask them to play the role of judge and show them the folder called "winners." Ask them to pick out the top ten that makes the grade. Once done, compare with your own top ten picks. How many choices were the same? Now, you should have a good idea of which photos to use in the competition.

6. Decide if you should start from scratch: Now decide if your photos really have the mustard to compete. Be honest. If the photos are not competitive you have a camera and editing tools. Armed with what you know it is time for a photo outing and get what you need.

7. Examine your selections: Put your selected photographs back into your editing program. Enlarge you photograph and check every small detail of the photograph. Decide if it can be improved. Attention to detail is an important key. You should offer the most technically correct photograph that you can. Perhaps you have learned a new technique of improvement since you last edited your photograph that you can now apply.

8. Title and caption: Taking the knowledge you have learned in tips two and three, carefully decide on a title and caption. Sometimes the decision of a title and caption for me can take longer than actually editing the photo itself. Do not take the importance of this lightly.

9. The unavoidable bell curve: Realize you are trying to push you photograph to the very best end of the bell curve. If you have followed these tips you are getting to the good end. Ninety percent of the photos submitted will be rejected quickly. You should now have a photo in the top ten percent. One little tip, is to submit early. It may be okay to submit your taxes at the last moment, but photo contests are a very different matter.

10. Be a winner: You are a winner if you followed these steps. You have improved your chances of winning the photo contest dramatically. So sit back and wait for the notification. Don't be disappointed if you lose. Look at the winner and his photos. Congratulate them in your mind. My experience is being a winner 50 percent of the time. Try again and know you are going to succeed.

Ten Top Reasons Photographs Say WOW

Beyond all the rules of photographic is the intangible WOW. WOW happens at lightening speed in the viewer's mind. They know WOW and perhaps they can not explain why they were WOWed.

So how can the photographer achieve WOW in the viewer's mind? To reach this intangible are some tangible hints.

1. The medium is the message: Marshall McLuhan theorizes on the effect of media on the mind. In the Wikipedia explanation is a good start in understanding the relationship of the viewer's mind in response to media. And of course photography is a medium.

2. Tonal quality: Tonal quality can add sensual undertones. These can be over stated or under stated. And, I suppose this relates to style. Even in Black and White photography the tones of transition can have a deep effect on the viewer mind. In color photography, I try to achieve a pleasing smoothness to acquire that eye candy feel. Other photographers delve into harsher tone transitions. The real point is to offer something unique that is not found in snap photography. Tonal quality is an evolving process for me, and it has been part of the evolution of my style.

3. Style: Style is the fingerprint that an artistic photographer places on his photograph. Style can be achieved from the compositional elements, the post processing techniques and even the camera settings, or the kind of camera a photographer uses.

All of these elements really have a bearing on style. And each good photographer develops his unique approach. Many photographers try to emulate work.

Imitation may be the best flattery, but learning from others then evoking your own style should be your goal. Style is a process that grows with the photographer. As I look through my photographs, I definitely see a progression. I have posted most of my work on Flickr and a time line of development can be noticed.

4. Atmosphere: What photographs are likely to send a viewer into orbit?

I have found that atmosphere can be a deciding quality. A foggy scenes taken in the woods, a mountain landscape or a river scene adds immensely to the visual appeal of the viewer. I look for these atmospheric events to add accent to my photographs. I know when nature interacts it positively affects the WOW.

5. Interaction: When people or animals interact in your photographs you tell a story.

You have one frame to tell a story. Your subject can interact with others or even the viewer. A one frame story does not have to be the whole story. If it leaves something unsaid the better. Letting the viewers interact with their own musings is the ultimate in making a photograph interactive.

6. A sense of mystery: We always enjoy the imponderables. If our photographs can inspire a viewer to reflect we will hook the viewer.

I really can just can't tell you how to do a photograph with a sense of mystery. I can give you a hint. It is all in how the photograph leads the eye. If you can lead the eye into a deeper more provoking space you may achieve the sense of mystery.

7. A sense of disbelief: In good novels an author who can suspend the sense of disbelief can consume the reader.

The same is true for the artistic photographer. No photograph is an exact representation of reality, even snap shots. Reality is changed from three dimensions to two. Colors light and contrast are different from what reality presents. How effectively a photographer makes this transition depends on his ability to suspend the viewer's sense of disbelief.

8. Thematic Photography: Thematic photography helps a photographer develop his specialty and evoke style.

Thematic photography can broadly span the photography a person does. Nature, politics, sports, journalism and even wedding photography can promote certain styles.

Personally, I present two themes in my photography. I find it interesting that each have evolved separately. My style in nature photography is different than my race car photography. Themes help build a photographer's evolution in creating style and his own personal WOW factor.

9. Conceptual Photography: The idea here is to covey a concept.

As a nature photographer I am constantly emphasizing the importance of nature. Photographs are subliminal messages.

Other photographers have other messages in the photographs. I do not always agree with their message, but I appreciate the style and delivery. Every time you can inspire a viewer to think you are tapping into the WOW factor.

10. Originality: Perhaps you have gleamed from my last nine points an emphasis on originality.

If your photographs fall into a general commonality with others you are not exploiting the WOW factor.

Photoshop tutorials tend to lend to that commonality. And while I do suggest you explore these, you might try striking out on your own plowing new ground of creativeness. After all, only if you are different will you truly tap into the WOW factor of your viewers.

Top Ten Steps: Making a YouTube Slideshow

As a photographer who wants to gain exposure, you might have overlooked the idea of placing videos on YouTube. Here are ten easy steps to make a video slide show on YouTube. Above is my best example of what works best in a slide show.

1. Download Picasa. Picasa is not only an excellent way to organize your photos, it makes making slide shows a breeze.

2. Create an album. This is easy to do, and it does not move your files from their folders. To start just select file at the top of the page then click new album and name your album.

3. Select your pictures. This is very easy. Just right click the photos and the pop up menu will have add to album. Click on the album name and instantly the photo is added to your album.

4. Know how many pictures equals the running time of your video. You can use this as a rough guide. 147 pictures will give you a running time just under ten minutes. To keep your visitors interested I would recommend a running time of no longer than five and half minutes. Just remember YouTube only allows a maximum ten minute run time. For a five minute run time I would suggest around 80 pictures.

5. Arrange your pictures. Remember that pictures can tell a story. Order your pictures in an arrangement that makes interesting transitions.

6. Let Picasa do its magic. Once your pictures are arranged just press the create a slide show. I usually stick with the standard options for this, except I find the pan and zoom transition more entertaining. Now you just have to wait for the movie to be made.

7. Get a YouTube account and upload your video. While uploading, I add in the title and description and tags etc. I set to private, until I am ready to go live. And that happens after I complete the next steps.

8. Add music. Once your video is uploaded and processed on YouTube, you can now add music. Just click the audio swap button and check the box, "Only show songs of similar length to my video." Then preview the songs that are suitable for your slide show video.

9. Go back to edit and make your video public. I wait until the audio is live.

10. Share the fun. I have set up a blog to feature my race track videos, you can also share through the variety of social network sites. And be sure to tell your friends. This is a fun way to promote your photography.

Top Ten Great Links For Photographers

1. Photocritic: This site by Haje, is one of the most informative sites for photographers on the Net. I have purposefully linked to an article about contrast. Contrast to me is one of the most important elements in presenting a photograph. Here Haje tells you how to adjust the contrast to really give your photo some bang. I would not stop here with reading. He covers a variety of photographic subjects and I am an avid reader.

2. Srobist: There is one over riding rule about photograph and it is all about light. I try to work with the light around me from the sun, ambient light and finding the best perspective found in natural light. The strobist takes you into the world of strobe lighting. With many how to's and examples of results all photographers can learn from the Strobist's fine tutorials.

3. Photopreneur: This all around site tackles many quandaries for photographers. Most of the articles are about monetizing your photographs. I always appreciate the advice I find on this excellent site. The helpful hints I find here are priceless.

4. Digital Shot: This blog has a variety of contributors that offer all kinds of information on photography and processing. You will find lots of information about free photo editing programs for those who constantly try to reach the creative edge.

5. fotohacker: A variety of photographic advice and yes hacks. Learn what others do to help make the picture taking easier, more professional and creative. Good read for camera geeks.

6. Photoshop User TV: I like this video presentation, because it gives you time to absorb the content on some very excellent tutorials. This show does have a lot of promotional content that mostly I am not interested in, but the tutorials are top of the line.

7. Make TV: Now, most of this site is just a distraction, but interesting so. It is like visiting the 12 dimension of all things visual. If you want to know the cutting edge, walk on this thin line of perception of things to come. Or are they really here? Am I behind the curve? In the mists of all this are some ideas you can really use.

8. Earth Bound Light: I picked earth bound light for its tips of the week. Be sure to hit the previous buttons so you can find the content that interests you. I like this because I am sometimes more illiterate about camera technical knowledge than I should be. Here are easy to read articles that will help you understand some of the technical aspects of the camera, lens and filters that you use.

9. TZPlanet: This eZine has interesting content. It is more of a variety magazine and offers some relaxing reads and links to beautiful pictures by excellent photographers.

10. Beyond the Obvious: Paul presents his thoughts on life and photography. What I like about this blog is he brings home the idea of being personable about his photography. I really like his stories behind the photograph that gives insight to the viewer about the shot. A lesson can be learned for all of us photographers. It is important to connect not only visually but with words.

Ten Top Cures For Photo Block

If you are not out photographing you are not refining your craft. I am amazed at the many used DSLRs out there with a very small number of shutter clicks. In a day I usually do more shots than some people put on their camera in two years. So if you are one of those who has a camera gathering dust, here are some suggestions.

1. Always take your camera with you. Having your camera handy will make you more apt to use it. And, you just might run across that 100,000 dollar shot.

2. Look at the clouds. In photography the sky is not the limit. When you find those beautiful cloudscapes look for a place to take a picture.

3. Go to Parks, Zoos, Events. I am always finding new places to shoot, and returning to places I have shot before. Not only will you have an enjoyable trip you may get some of those awe inspiring pictures.

4. Listen to the Birds. Now, this might seem crazy, but when I hear those birds sing I just have to get out with my camera and spot birds and take pictures.

5. Post a picture a day. No matter what photo sharing network you belong to make it a habit to post a picture every day. For every photo I post I take a hundred. I can take a hundred pictures in less than hour. If I am at an event it is not unusual for me to take 500 pictures in an hour. One of those is likely to inspire me to process the photo. Have a shutter and click it.

6. Take your camera to work. I know some may not be allowed to take pictures at work. But if you can do. And, on the way to from work and at lunch you might find some exciting photo opportunities.

7. Compose pictures in your head. No matter where you are or what you are doing think about how you would compose a shot. If you do not have a camera with you, compose away. And, remember always to have your camera with you.

8. Pick a theme for the day. I am a photo opportunist and shoot whatever I find. Sometimes however I go out in the day and think lets do some macros, or river shots. I use these as guides but this does not limit the subject matter that I might find interesting.

9. Take a ride out in the country. There is nothing like exploring new places. Take that road that you have never been down before. Do some serious exploring, and if you can get lost. I personally find new and interesting sights while lost.

10. Go out on bad weather days. Snow, rain, fog, all make great photo shots. Don't be a sunny day shooter. All days are prime days to take photos.

Ten Top Burma Signs To Your Gallery

When I was young I always enjoyed seeing Burma Shaving Signs on the way to a destination. On the Internet highway you can use the same technique to draw people and perhaps customers to your Art and Photography. Here are Ten ideas using my site as an example. These ideas may not be new to you, but just be a reminder of things you can do:

1. Sign post ahead: Develop many portals through the internet that lead to your site. Here is an example of one portal I use. I have about ten more on different blogging platforms to increase the reach to my customer base. And yes, Photo Top Ten is one.

2. Always explore new places to place your signs. Social Networking is great to focus on the clients who may use your work. Twitter may prove to be a great resource.

3. Always explore the content of others on as many sites as possible. Be diverse and make sincere comments on their posts. Be sure to leave a link to your site. You may draw traffic from the owner and those that visit their blog or site. Sincere and honest comments are the best. If you do not have something good to say don't say it. An example. I leave 4 or 5 comments a day as the last thing I do before I go to bed.

4. Take an active part in the sites of others. Creating sign posts to you gallery and leaving good content will help you built respect among potential customers.

5. Get exposure in the local print media such as local Newspapers. Having exposure there may help potential clients find you.

6. Welcome when others want to blog about your site. Particularly when it may lead to other potential clients you may not have targeted.

7. Be active in local forums let people know about you. They may even feature your pictures in a picture of the day section.

8. Use meme sites such as Stumble Upon to direct others to some of your best work. Be sure to look at the work of others and give thumbs up to their sites. This has been so valuable to me I installed their tool bar.

9. Use tools like Google Touch Graph to get a visual read on your linking progress and discover new sites that you may develop more sign posts.

10. Whenever you explore and surf, think sign post and put your burma sign there along the way.

Top Ten Reasons to Give Up Photography

At times this has been so true for me.

1. You have looked at your income for the last month. You made a grand total of 24 cents. You think next month you might be able to afford a cup of coffee at McDonalds.

2. You are looking at that new lens you want which costs 700 dollars.

3. The last income you made the previous month was 50 dollars because of a copyright infringement settlement. You think that will show them.

4. You have two cars that are not going anywhere. Both need repair. To get one on the road will cost over 800 dollars. You wonder what locations I can reach by city bus.

5. A publisher contacts you. They really love your work. Unfortunately, they have no money to offer you for publication. They tell you it will be good publicly.

6. You won that Photo Contest last year. Nearly four thousands dollars in prizes. Some things you can't use. Now, the tax form comes. You thank God you didn't win more.

7. You did enjoy a good T bone steak. Now you think hot dogs, beans and rice are just dandy and should be everyone's special Sunday Dinner.

8. You go in a gallery and ask them if they would like to see your work. They say they only handle artists. You think I am an artist and walk out the door.

9. Someone tells you your photography is really great. Then asks. "What kind of camera do you use?" You begin to wonder what type of typewriter Hemingway used.

10. You drop your camera. The repair bill is going to be over two hundred dollars. You think forget the McDonald's coffee you are going to save up for repairs starting with that 24 cents.

Top Ten Ways to Sell Your Art and Photography

1. Flickr: I am amazed by the number of publishers and other users of photography that find my site and go to the trouble to send me a Flickr mail. Through Flickr my images have found their way on magazine covers, book covers, wine labels and in movie productions.

2. Zazzle: Zazzle provides countless ways to earn money through photo and art products. The best part Zazzle is free. I sell art in my own store. I also use Zazzle to make products that I market at galleries and events. I also love their associates program in which you can offer products sold by others. Major pluses are fast shipping, superior quality and a pleasing gallery.

3. Blurb: I use Blurb for on demand printing. I really enjoy the quality of their books. Not only do I sell in their market place, I have found it useful to sell at events and personalized books for individuals and organizations.

4. RedBubble: An Australian Company that specializes in quality. I have used RedBubble to make special framed pictures for others who may live thousands of miles away. They also offer contests for their limited edition publications. And, the prizes offered are superb. Take it from a winner, I have had one of my photos placed in the In The Moment publication and received a 100 dollar gift certificate. Its free.

5. Imagekind: Imagekind offers a smooth interface with the Flickr API to put your photography up for sale and they offer excellent quality. You can do a limited number free.

6. Your Custom Gallery: The advantages of having a custom gallery are too great to list. You can offer prints cheaper and have a greater return for your investment than through third party sellers. My gallery was designed by Violetphorg web designers and is based on the Flickr API.

7. QOOP: I use mainly for their superior quality linen calendars. These large quality calendars offer a great presentation for your art and photography. I sell out every December and generally get requests for more.

8. Local Galleries: It is important to get your art before the public and local galleries. I reduce my time consumption for this by hiring an agent who makes all the arrangements. After all, I would rather be doing my art and photography.

9. Magazines and Advertisements: This has generally been one of my best sources for income from photography. Generally publishers contact me after seeing my photos on Flickr. Since this has been a good source of income, I am looking for ways to expand my exposure outiside of the Flickr framework.

10. Events: I know many photographers that develop certain niches. Wedding photography has been a staple for many photographers. Yet, there are countless ways to reach the personal interests of potential clients. I photograph at Dirt Track Racing events, and it has been a valuable resource for earning income and having fun.