Comp #112 - Painkillers - Vote Here!

[moccasin]

Time to vote again ...

The topic is PAINKILLERS.

I managed to scrape up XX entries - didn't realize this would be such a hard topic - or is everyone bored with these comps now that we have done so many??

As always, please consider the following before placing your vote:

#1 - Is it on topic?
#2 - Technical aspects
#3 - The WOW! factor

This will be an open poll.

Here's our entries:

#1 - Really Bad Pain Killer


#2 - It's Miller Time


#3 - Love: The Ultimate Pain Killer


#4 - To Some


#5 - Relief in a Pill Bottle


That's it, Folks! Have fun!

Good Luck to all the entrants!

Cheers,
Sue

[moccasin]

Ooops! Forgot to check the Open Poll option ... guess it's a closed poll now

Cheers,
Sue

[moccasin]

Well, I can see we are all wildly thrilled about this comp ... only 3 votes so far and not one comment ...

Is it time to discontinue these weekly comps???

Cheers,
Sue

[debsn2paintn]

Sue, I don't know about other people but I have just been busy...the end of the school year, birthdays, and holidays. I plan to do a crit, but it will be tomorrow if I get a chance.

Thanks for putting this together!

[Windbreaker]

Guess I will have a shot at this (pun intended). I would like to start by saying that none have the wow factor. All are on topic and so that brings us to technical aspects, so that is all I will address.
1. Way too harsh, but it does look a little like it could have been in one of the early day's catalogues.
2. Of the lot I find this one most pleasing to my eye and it covers most of the areas we think of as pain killers. Good focus and DOF, presents the subject well.
3. Cute. I find the lighter part of the shot not being on the focal point a major distractor. It's like the interaction of the the two is an afterthought.
4. Not sure I get this, if it is a cross I find it say to busy to present the concept of cross well. I think a plain wood or metal cross would have been a great idea.
5. Way too soft focus and most of it is out of focus.

My vote goes to #2 on technical merit.

[Currabubula]

Sue thanks for organising this.

As for discontinuing the weekly comps - they are something that I am always interested to look at.

However, I rarely enter a photo, probably a confidence thing, some of the entries are so clever, but on the other hand some are pretty ordinary. Maybe others feel the same way and think they are not good enough to enter or are a little shy or feel embarrassed when they don't get a vote or get a criticism.

The first time I entered a photo, got no votes and several comments I felt crushed. But now as I have seen the photos each week and read the comments I feel more confident and realise that the comments are constructive criticisms. That's why I always look to see what the Comp subject is but just have not got myself organised in time to enter or the subject has not interested me.

I usually cast a vote but hardly ever record a comment. Guess some of us are just apathetic!!
Jeanne

[Kallistos]

Was going to upload this one, but figured I wouldn't since you've all seen it before! Didn't get time to take anything new either this week.

Well done for the entries, I think it was a toughie!

[debsn2paintn]

I totally agree with Chuck... funny pun

1. Is a different look, but I find it too much, too much contrast and the stripes on the towel don't help.

2. Looks really good and I like the color combination!

3. Very cute, but the highlights on the dog are blown out, and the lighting just isn't great, and the guys face seems to be a little soft.

4. At a glance I didn't realize this was a cross, it's a great idea, but as is... is just kind of boring. I wonder if a little sprig of a plant would have helped.

5. I think there is too much room at the bottom, it's a little too tilted for me. And the focus seems to be on the lid rather then on the pills...which leads my eye away from the photo!

This is my opinion, and I'm sure other's will have a different opinion! But it's all good! I just want to say that you never know what other people see and think, and just because you don't win or get any votes doesn't mean you shouldn't enter...it's all about learning! I have entered many many comps and didn't win one until recently, and I have been in comps and didn't get any votes! Just enter, listen...and learn! And it's not easy for most of us to be so critical, I would rather say "it's nice"!

Charlie- that's a pretty good photo! I thought for sure you would enter this one!

[mlgkats]

my vote goes for #3love may not always be the answer but it is good enough for me since i try to stay away from every thing else.

[Stormluvr]

Wonderful entries!
I liked #2 because of the clarity, colors and layout.

I was going to enter this one...



...but, since I had to modify it to remove the names, I guess it would technically be a manip.

Sue, I love these comps and always look forward to them but it's been hectic in my part of the world lately.

[Dreamin]

You gotta play to win! But winning isn't all you get from these. When you get a critique, good or bad, you always learn something, and hopefully, your skills improve! The more you enter, the easier it is to take the constructive criticism and grow from it!! So come on all you shy photographers,…….get your feet wet!! I was so shy, I was a member for 2 years before I did more than lurk....but I really enjoy this fun group!

Oh, boy. I am going to open my mouth and stick my foot in, and I am not drinking, either....

A friend of mine is over at flickr (can I say that here???) and she wants me to join her groups. I have observed over there, and she has posted several hundred photos.....and she always gets this kind of response:
"Oh, nice! You get my Great Photo award and are invited to join my group."
That is the extent of their comments, as a whole. No matter how good or bad I think the photo is. Once I told her I thought the effect of her photo was not a good one, it was too harsh for a portrait, IMHO. She quit sending me her photos.....so, I guess if all you want is someone to kiss your butt, then maybe that is the place to go.....But I think one could post a crappy photo of a pile of crap and still get the OOOOOHs and AAAAhhhhhhs from some of them. Now don't get me wrong, there are some amazing photos in the flickr forum, but they don't give the feedback that is necessary for some of us to improve!! That is what I feel I get from this forum, plus the camaraderie !! Sorry, I said more than I should have.....

[JBarrett]

Hey gang! Been ages since I've been here. This might be the first sign of a regular return, but it's hard to say. My activity in various online forums seems to ebb and flow. Anyway, on to the matter at hand...

1 - Not sure why, but this feels manipulated (or maybe just over-manipulated for this venue). Color in the label is uber strong compared to the glass, which feels colorless. The shadow of the glass competes with the glass itself, making it tough to read clearly.

2 - Technically the best of the bunch. Lighting could use a little more punch, though. For me that's what's keeping this one from the WOW factor.

3 - Cute, but I agree w/ Wendy on how the blown out white is a distraction. On a larger note, the subject doesn't readily bring the "pain killer" theme to mind, partly 'cause the guy is wincing. If he had a happier expression on his face, the connection might be more apparent, and give the photo greater appeal.

4 - Agree w/ Wendy again...the cross is too obscured by the other decorative bits to make this a clear connection. The monochromatic nature of the item isn't helping much, either. Lighting is also a little flat, and the crop could be better to center the subject (if that was the desire).

5 - Like the subject, like the angle, kinda like the composition, but it's out of focus, and the image feels rather dim overall.

Them's my thoughts on this batch. As usual, YMMV. As for the life of the comp, I think it's worth keeping it going. People come and go, and levels of activity ebb and flow. Things will pick back up. Not sure how much I'll be able to contribute (or host, as I did on occasion in the past), but we'll see.

[moccasin]

Justin! How wonderful to see you again!

Thanks for all the crits and responses, folks ...

Cheers,
Sue

[debsn2paintn]

Natalie- Well said!

[damar]

Quick C&C
#1: Looks manipulated
#2: Good exposure, evenly lit
#3: Really cute, but the blown hilights are distracting
#4: Needs something to balance the composition
#5: I cannot find the area of focus and don't know if that was intentional.