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Mozziephotography

Mozziephotography

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"Images have to be pin sharp!" said one of the judges. A comment also made by the presenter, John Craven. Thoughts?
 
One of the winning dozen has a badger as a focal point (presumably sharp) with large completely out focus bluebells in the foreground to left and right. I wouldn't have chosen that image myself and it seems to go against the "everything must be pin sharp" statements.
 
I noticed a few similarly questionable focus/dof decisions in the ones shown last night. I've seen many far better on here.
 
For me the only image appearing "pin sharp" was the pair of foxes ... however it was probably just an expression rather than a criteria for the competition.
 
I suspect it was a way to suggest a little self-culling before submitting, and possibly also a tool to deflect the thousands of grumpy "my picture was better than wot you chose" types.
 
Thought the images were a bit boring this year! :rolleyes:
 
"It's all about the image" - as is often said but seldom remembered

I'm not sure what "pin sharp" means these days

I see more and more digitally sharpened images, (I have been as guilty as the next in digitally sharpening images)........... and many are not pleasant!! ...... they verge from reality - they are digitally sharpened far too much.......... in fact some cameras add "sharpening" automatically without your help

also some lenses are "sharper" than others - intentionally or a product of their construction - and many are better for it - I now appreciate how the lens renders the image more than I ever did

maybe the older you get and the more you shoot the more that you feel that "pin sharp" is only a small part of photography and in many instances is not really important - intentional "in focus" (or OOF), is more important IMHO than "pin sharp"

I am surprised that they, (Countryfile judges - experienced nature photographers??) use such a term

The images they have presented are too small to judge "pin sharpness" - I don't think that they know what they are talking about and generally the collection they have posted is not, IMHO, inspirationally ....... far better images have been posted "on here"

Just my views
 
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I think the resulting 12 images are chosen for the amount of calendars that are sold, in other words the images are for cuteness ,rather than capturing wildlife. When they were going through the images it came to a Jumping Spider and it was mentioned that the majority or people dont like spiders, no matter how it was photographed, so it was quickly swiped "no", and i would imagine the rest of macro shots with it. They stated that they would like more landscape, but i think only 1 made the final 12, or 2 if you could the cracking wave shot.
 
What's the theme this year? All the images seem to be the same as all the years before and the image that made the cut are the same old cute fluffy animals as all the previous years except the wave image.

I'm not sure why they have themes.
 
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Thanks for all the comments. It does appear to be a collection of "mass appeal" images. You need a mouse or squirrel or badger etc, to pull in the punters and get them to part with their cash. Definitely needs a rethink, someone to come up with a new approach that will still have that wide audience appeal. Not every image that was chosen would make a good front cover.
 
I haven't seen this year's but they never show a farming image.
Farming is an integral part of the countryside.
 
I watched that slot on Countryfile and when they presented the final 12 I was underwhelmed. Though the swimming badger caught my eye.

In regard to themes, I can see why they do that but for the past few years the "subject" has been oh so vague and open to interpretation at every level....by....
The photographer
The initial culling panel
The final judging panel of three

But as mentioned above the final judging (I doubt the culling panel as much so?) has to take into account the wider & commercial appeal of the images and that IMO is where the theme meeting breaks down and comes across to me as irrelevant/not met 100%
 
I did not see the program but I have just had a quick look at the website and I liked all 12.
I think that they would all have got lots of likes on here, plus a few comments about the rule of thirds of course :)
 
Suvv said:
I did not see the program but I have just had a quick look at the website and I liked all 12.
I think that they would all have got lots of likes on here, plus a few comments about the rule of thirds of course :)
Click to expand...
I think that you needed to watch the program to understand my thoughts on the selection process.
 
Box Brownie said:
I watched that slot on Countryfile and when they presented the final 12 I was underwhelmed. Though the swimming badger caught my eye.

In regard to themes, I can see why they do that but for the past few years the "subject" has been oh so vague and open to interpretation at every level....by....
The photographer
The initial culling panel
The final judging panel of three

But as mentioned above the final judging (I doubt the culling panel as much so?) has to take into account the wider & commercial appeal of the images and that IMO is where the theme meeting breaks down and comes across to me as irrelevant/not met 100%
Click to expand...


I think last year's theme was "Beauty and the Beast". This was very confusing, even for one of the judges (Simon King, IIRC) whose seemed to think it referred to the problems we are causing to nature and wildlife.

But apart from that the themes are so bland and uncontroversial there might as well not be one. The purpose of the competition is to sell calendars, and | don't really have a problem with that.
 
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