Photo Competition - February

[BertRoot]

If you use Firefox you can get the EXIF data off a photo using the Firefox extension FXIF which allows you to copy the data as well to be pasted into documents or forum posts.

[the.insane]

Exif will only apply if using a DSLR mate, if you are we can talk you through it, its very easy.

Exif is all the details of your photograph settings. ISO, Lens, Aperture....etc

i got a decent exif on my kodak DX3600, nowhere near an SLR

[peterc4]

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This is an age old debate that will never be resolved. Re-Touching of photographic images has gone on since the birth of the camera. Ive seen many 1940`s B&W images that have been re-touched with colour for example, however since the appearance of digital photgraphy it seems to have gotten worse. Wet darkroom techniques of dodging and burning to enhance contrast etc were a commonplace procedure.
The whole debate is down to personal taste, i for one embrace digital editing to a point. You can go too far with it i agree, but in this the modern age, i can assure you that any images you see day to day be it in a magazine, advertising poster, on tv etc etc, have all had some sort of digital re-touching in the likes of PS.
HDR images for example look soo cool and i love them, but they cant be done effectivly without some help from a piece of software.
Ive been lucky in the past and have been a regular supplier of motorsport images to a big magazine and can tell you that 100% of all the images ive had published were enhanced with PS. Does that make me a bad photographer? personally i dont think so.

The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong, it is simply a matter of personal preference and this compo on here is for fun at the end of the day.

Gaz __________________ The older i get, the faster i was !

nice lecture, yes it is only for fun, but it also has RULES
overuse of photoshop is not allowed, full stop

[BigBadGaz]

nice lecture, yes it is only for fun, but it also has RULES
overuse of photoshop is not allowed, full stop

Not a lecture dude, just my tupence worth

[BertRoot]

i got a decent exif on my kodak DX3600, nowhere near an SLR

You get exif on my wifes K800i camera phone as well.

[DB]

No shit, i thought it was just DSLR's

[DB]

I guess im not getting peters vote then fuckin hell

[{{909}}]

Exif will only apply if using a DSLR mate, if you are we can talk you through it, its very easy.

Exif is all the details of your photograph settings. ISO, Lens, Aperture....etc

even camera phones have exif date mate, although things like focal lengths aren't always comparable, since cropped sensor DSLRs will give a different reading to full frame DSLR, or compacts.

To view it, just right click one of your pictures and goto properties > summery.

Regarding photoshop, I'm just back from my local photo club and heavily photoshopped images were in the monthly compo (in which i was robbed) and I've seen similar stuff in national top level contests. If you can use Pshop as a tool to enhance your shots, you are free too, as we have all said before, a bad shot is a bad shot regardless. Photoshop isn't a magic wand that creates beautiful photography at the click of a few icons.
In the judging this month, when the heavily shopped image came up, the judge instantly said "ooh I dont really like this sort of thing" so using it risks you being instantly unfavoured by the judge, just as we do on here.

[Mr Olympia]

You get exif on my wifes K800i camera phone as well.

I think he meant that without a DSLR, knowing the EXIF is useless as you cannot apply the same info into settings on a non-dslr..unless your point and shoot has such settings available.

[DB]

Mr Olympia, could you please confirm whether or not the shots in question are useable in the comp. If not then fine, i'll add another tonight. If they are ok at least it will stop the whining.

[DB]

I think he meant that without a DSLR, knowing the EXIF is useless as you cannot apply the same info into settings on a non-dslr..unless your point and shoot has such settings available.

Bang on, dont suppose the exif is much point on a point and click

[Mr Olympia]

Also...regarding the debate about the use of photoshop on comp entries:

I will be allowing ALL submissions this month as it's a bit late for anyone to re-submit an entry, plus it's Freestyle.

From next month onwards....if I feel that a photo has been 'overdone' in photoshop (or similar) I will NOT allow it through. The decision will be mine and I don't want anyone to be offended if their photo isn't allowed. I'll remove the photo in question and explain why I've removed it.

That said, I want this comp to remain fun, entertaining and popular as it always has been. It's not a serious event, there are no 'prizes' but with this decision, I hope it will encourage others who have not yet taken part, to enter a photo whether it's on a DSLR or a point & shoot..or even a mobile phone.

Finally, when voting....if you feel a photo has been 'photoshopped to death'....don't vote for it, choose another entry.

[Mr Olympia]

Mr Olympia, could you please confirm whether or not the shots in question are useable in the comp. If not then fine, i'll add another tonight. If they are ok at least it will stop the whining.

See my previous post m8.

[[wingnut]]

Sorry it's late, had a hectic few days (see my other post tonight) But better late than never here's my entry.. Not my first choice of subject but the champagne bottle was only opened a few hours ago.



I reckon i took about 50 attempts to get something I liked.
Good luck to everyone this month reckon it's going to be a close one..

[neo2810]

Great effort all... I reckon there are no single absolute stand outs this month. I personally have at least 6 or 7 shots which will be pondered over long and hard before one takes my vote.

PS: God save Photoshop!

[BigBadGaz]

Well since this is all a bit of fun, here's my entry for this month. To hell with thousands of pounds worth of gear and beautiful landscapes and unnecessary pomp, feast your eyes on this bad boy!

Christ! god only knows what he must wipe his @ss with
The subject of your image that is ofc

[Bilbo_baggin]

Sorry it's late, had a hectic few days (see my other post tonight) But better late than never here's my entry..

You celebrate big occasions with strawberries?




Paul.

[dpSparhawk]

I remember a while back suggesting that all EXIF data be kept if possible. The problem with this is that some programs used to convert RAW to JPG or even just to crop the image, strip the EXIF out.

I understand that:

Not everyone can afford Photoshop
Does not know where to obtain it on long term testing purposes
Is unwilling to go down the route of long term testing purposes.

So, this makes it very difficult to enforce a MUST have EXIF data available rule. Plus, EXIF doesn't prove it's not photoshopped anyway. I use PS even when just doing a crop. As soon as that's done, it adds the creation software of Photoshop to the EXIF data. Doesn't mean I've shopped it to death. Mind you, if I did, I'd probably destroy the image as I'm not a very good PS'er.

I'm content with all of the shots entered this month. There are some beauties from you guys.


On a lighter note. I was discussing this months comp with a friend and we were having a chat about what shots could be done and we came up with some other amusing ideas. I was almost going to change my entry but it's too late now

So, some of those ideas mostly being a "play on words"

Free Style - Local college, hair stylists in training giving a Free Style
Freeze Tile - Ceramic tile with a macro shot of frost on it.
Freeze Tie L - A Tie, frozen in the shape on an L
Freeze Stile - A stile with the mornings dew frozen onto it.
Priest isle - A priest walking down an Isle in a church. The excuse of "oh, I thought you said Priest Isle" feigning a look of horror.
Threes Tie L - 3 Ties in an L shape

[BigBadGaz]

Ive added some details about my (1st) entry here in the original post. Also details of the steps i used in the glorious PS

Gaz

[dpSparhawk]

If you use Firefox you can get the EXIF data off a photo using the Firefox extension FXIF which allows you to copy the data as well to be pasted into documents or forum posts.

Thanks for this Bert. A fantastic little plugin. Installed it and it works perfectly.