Archive for the ‘Critiques’ Category

Utica Camera Club April 2008 Competition

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

The April 2008 Utica Camera Club Competition was judged by Utica area photographer Steve Marsh. Steve is known in some circles as one of the area’s most winning photographers. He has countless first place wins and memorable photographs to his credit.

First Place • Open Color

Cheri Sassman

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Steve Marsh’s Comment:

” I usually do not pick flowers, but this one is abstract. It contains rainbows and water glistening. It has swerve splash lines of movement. It’s a dramatic image; I like the lines that travel through the image the most. It has vibrancy, life-flow and a dreamlike feel. This image is different and unique. ”

First Place • Open Black and White

Jeanette Liddle

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Steve Marsh’s Comment:

” In spite of being very dark with low light, the shot detail goes all the way back. The darks and lights are very nicely exposed. The composition is nicely done. This shot has a story. I would put it on my computer and stare at it.”

First Place Assigned Topic

Mary Hunt-Miller

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Steve Marsh’s Comment:

” Can I buy this one? It’s incredible. I had to get up and look closely. I really like the way the detail is lost on top of the mountain. All lines point to the figure. It’s a very nice image.

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated. Leave a reply below.

Utica Camera Club March 2008 Competition

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Here are the results from the monthly competition at the March meeting of the Utica Camera Club.

This month’s judge, Joshua Jenks, is a Boonville New York native. He graduated with a BFA degree from SUNY Purchase where he focused on Printmaking and Photography. His work has been displayed at the Jim Kempner Fine Art Gallery in Chelsea where the work of artists Chuck Close, Andy Warhol and Diane Arbus has also been exhibited.

Jenks recently received an internship with photographer Andrea Blanchwhose whose work has been featured in such magazines as Vogue and Rolling Stone. His show entitled ” Leche con Carne ” is available for viewing at http://joshua-jenks.com.

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Joshua Jenks

The photograph below is from Joshua Jenks’s exhibit

” Leche con Carne ” © 2008
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First Place Assigned Topic • Cheri E. Sassman • ” Illuminated ” © 2008

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Comment by Joshua Jenks, ” This image stands out because it is very dark with a very little light coming in. I like the minimalist look. I also like the brightness of the yellow and red from the light as it leads the eye through out the picture. Very organic. Very much about colors and movement. ”

First Place Open Color • Janice Coffin • ” Left Out in the Cold ” © 2008

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Comment by Joshua Jenks, ” This was a tough choice. I checked the focus, colors, printing, and mounting. I especially liked the idea of this photo. It reminds me of beautiful decay. The part that is jutting out of shadow leads you into the rest of the picture. The rust plays on the snow. This is a strong but subtle image. ”

First Place Open Black and White • Tim Fahey

” Girard at the Café ” © 2008

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Comment by Joshua Jenks, ” This is different from a color image in the elements. A strong image has to have the deepest blacks with nice white highlights. This image is not flushed out. It has an interesting composition in that the portrait is not the main focus. What is around him is what describes him. The way the light worked with everything especially the door and the chair is really nice. ”

Your comments in agreement or disagreement are always appreciated.

Utica Camera Club February 2008 Competition

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

This month’s competition was critiqued by Larry Pacilio.

Larry Pacilio began his photographic career in the 1960’s as an undergraduate photojournalism student at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. Graduate studies were pursued with Minor White at MIT’s Creative Photography Lab.

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Pacilio’s career as a photojournalist began shooting for PBS News Boston working at WGBH-TV on a variety of local and nationally distributed news and documentary programs. He relocated to New York in the mid-70’s and began a lengthy freelance photojournalistic career with agency representation by Katherine Young, Black Star and Magnum Photos.

Over the course of 25 years his photos have appeared nationally and internationally in publications such as Newsweek, The New York Times, Paris Match, Stern, Geo, The Times of London, The International Herald Tribune, Architecture, Progressive Architecture, Home, The Sunday New York Times Magazine, and other notable publications. Throughout this period he exhibited widely at museums and galleries. Notably, his collection of documentary images funded by a New York State Council on the Arts grant, East Utica, 1973-1974 was the first one person show of photography hung at Utica’s Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute. His images are held in numerous public and private collections.

Pacilio currently resides in Utica and has been employed as the Director of Publications and Photography at Utica College since 2000.

1st Place • Assigned • ” A Mother’s Love ” • Jessica Eiss

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I showed some prejudice toward black & white, and I chose images that expressed the issue of time and moment. Henri Cartier-Bresson said of the decisive moment, “…out of chaos things come together. There was the picture and then things go into chaos again.” This photo is telling in terms of personality. The more communicative a photos is, then the stronger it is. The photograph’s vantage point tipped the issue for me. People tend to see things at eye level. In this case, playing with vantage point strengthens the composition.

1st Place • Open Color • ” Irish Horizon ” Janice Coffin

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When an observer looks at color photos, he/she wants to feel the strength of the colors. In spite of that fact, I chose this image with the subtle colors because of the elegance of the composition. It is simple & elegant.

1st Place • Open Black & White • ” Joy ” • Mary Hunt-Miller

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I was looking for print quality, and this image is extremely well made. This picture is a decisive moment in time. The strength of moment really shows the personality of these two guys. The photograph depicts a wonderful moment.

Special thanks to Larry Pacilio for his insightful comments. Please feel free to add your own observations via the reply area below.

Utica Camera Club Announces January 2008 Winners

Friday, February 1st, 2008

The January 2008 Utica Camera Club competition was judged by Connie Bocko.

Ms. Bocko is the head of the Visual and Performing Arts Dept at Waterville CSD She has taught art, and both digital and film photography on the high school level. She has conducted workshops in Photoshop, graphic design and web design for Model Schools, the Leather Stocking Conference and the New York State School Board Association. Her undergraduate degree is in teaching art with a concentration in Photography.

Class website address: http://www.watervilleschools.org/digitalphoto
When asked about the photography offered to her for criticism, Ms. Bocko responded,

” I am impressed with the high caliber of work, design and creativity evidenced in the work your group is doing. I could have spent more time easily fully enjoying the wonderful work! It was a treat, and a challenge to critique such photographs. ”

Following are the winning photographs in the three major categories and Connie Bocko’s critique:

Assigned Topic Prints- Tell Me a Story

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1st place–Field of Patriotism by Janice Coffin

The judge said that she knew this photograph had a good chance of being picked when she first saw it. She thought it was a powerful image with a lot of mystery. It has a strong contrast between the sky and dark trees but both retain their details. She liked the golden look of the crosses and the timeliness of the message.

Open Color Prints

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1st place–Lambs Ear by Alison Sinnott

The judge said that this photo brings out the painter in her. The print is technically correct with multiple details and textures. She liked the “gazillion” colors in the leaf, and called the photo different and unusual.

Black & White Prints

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1st place–A Void Remains by Mary Hunt-Miller

The judge said that this photo has everything. It’s technically perfect. It exhibits great design and contrast. The details are great. There is no loss of details in the shadows or highlights. Ms Bocko pointed out the three tiers of tone. Everything causes the rotation of the eye around the outside of the photo. It is a complex visual statement.

Your comments are always appreciated. Add comments and criticisms below in the reply box.

Awesome Annie’s 2008 Nikon Calendar Review

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

Well….gentle reader….whether you’ve been waiting for this or not, here’s the second annual Awesome Annie Nikon calendar review. Generally, Awesome Annie was not impressed with this year’s calendar scoring it a 4 out of a possible 10.

Her favorite months were March, May and June.

Her least favorite months were October and November.

Feel free to add your comments and reactions below. If you’re feeling left out in 2008, this is your chance to voice your opinion.

JANUARY

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“Eech ( sounds a little like yick ) I can’t say anything about this one.”

FEBRUARY

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” Oh dear..look at that. Where do they get these ? Oh - India ”

MARCH

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” Oh…hmm well - Versace. Actually I like this one. It might be a little obscene. ”

APRIL

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” No thrill ”
MAY

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“Oh wow ! I like that. The fish……”

JUNE

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“Awesome. I like this one too. I feel sorry for the horses. Look at the mud. Isn’t it great ? Look at the muscles.”

JULY

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” This looks fake to me.”

AUGUST

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” No thrill. I don’t understand why people take pictures like this.”

SEPTEMBER

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” Oh my God. Bird flu - that’s all I can think. Where did they find these colors ? The sky colors don’t look real. ”

OCTOBER

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” Looks like a fever dream. Look at those trees ! ”

NOVEMBER

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” For pity’s sake. I’m glad I didn’t open this calendar up at home. I might have taken the gas pipe ! ”

DECEMBER

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” I really can’t say anything about this one. Part of the problem I have with these photos is that I try to make sense out of each picture. Why do they think someone wants to see that trumpet ?”

COVER PHOTO

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“It looks like a Salvador Dali painting.”

People’s Choice Awards - Bagg’s Square Photo Show

Monday, May 7th, 2007

Here are the winners from the May 5th voting for the People’s Choice Awards at the 2007 Bagg’s Square Festival. There were several ties including a tie for first place.mishalanie.jpg

First Place ( Tie ) • Eric Mishalanie ” On the Right Track ”

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First Place ( Tie ) • Tim Fahey ” Varick Street ”

The following top ten photographers are listed in order based on the number of votes received:

Mother Elisabeth Czwikla ” Leo ”

Jan Coffin ” Quack ”

Cheri Sassman ” Bailey Lake ”

Mother Elisabeth Czwikla ” Fisher of Men ”

Trudi Kaples ” Gaggle of Geese ”

Robert Sossen ” Trinity ”

Tommy Mason ” Hidden Talent ”

Barbara Swartwout ” Youthful Curiousity ”

Mary Hunt Miller ” Water Interrupted at Pixley Falls ”

Congratulations to all who entered this great inaugural show.

” Why Didn’t My Work Make The Show ? “

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007

” Why didn’t my work get accepted at the KAC Show ? “

This is a popular question lately, and, while there is no absolute answer, there certainly are some reasons why a photographer’s work may not get accepted for exhibition.

Following is a partial list. Everyone’s comments are welcome. Please post your opinion. We need to establish a dialogue.

Reason 1

POOR TECHNICAL EXECUTION

The photograph is unintentionally out of focus, blurry, or poorly exposed. The operative word here is unintentionally - an accomplished photographer may present an out of focus, blurry, poorly exposed photograph. Actually, an accomplished photographer will often break the rules to his/her advantage. A photographer should only break traditional technical rules of quality after the rules of conventional photography are thoroughly understood.

Reason 2

SUBSTANDARD PRINT QUALITY

Even before the popularity of personal photographic printers, print quality was a major presentation issue. Now with ink jet, dye sublimation and other forms of personal printer technology available, photographers have many more options for presenting terrible prints of dynamic photographs. The print is the vehicle that takes the image to the show. Don’t submit prints that aren’t as perfect as they can be. Colors should be normal and neutral. Prints with raster lines ( stripes in the print ) should never be exhibited - unless they are part of the overall artistic intent. Prints should be free of mechanical defects such as bubbles, scratches and folds. Make a great print of your image ! And, while we’re on the topic, mats should be clean and cleanly cut so that they enhance the quality of the photograph.

Reason 3

THE SUBJECT IS TOO SPECIFIC TO YOUR LIFE

So it’s a great photo of your grandson or a rare photo of a purple breasted rock hawk. When your photo is hanging on the wall by itself, it needs to stand on its own merit and speak to a wide audience. It can’t be a photo of your baby. It needs to be a photo of your baby that metaphorically reminds every viewer of their baby, neice, nephew, grandbaby, or themselves when they were a baby. Photographs of rare animals, that only you know are rare, rarely get accepted. If the photograph needs an explanation by you - leave it home.

Reason 4

THE JUDGE DOESN’T LIKE IT

Plain and simple - some judges like people and some don’t. Some judges like black and white photos while some like color photos. Some like waterfalls and some like tool boxes covered in rust. The judge’s decision is subjective and based on his/her opinion of what is good. Don’t take it personally. As long as you like the photo, and it isn’t handicapped by obvious flaws as mentioned above, then it’s worth entering.

Reason 5

TOO EDGY (NOT EDGY ENOUGH) FOR THE VENUE

Sponsors and venues develop reputations as show sites for experimental or conservative photography. This preference can be compounded by the judge’s particular taste, but the judge is chosen by the gallery or sponsor so usually there is not a contradiction of viewpoint.

Comments are requested - Voice your opinion.

2007 Kirkland Photo Show Critique by GR Farley

Monday, March 5th, 2007

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Gale R. Farley has been a highly respected member of the Central NY photo community for many years. He holds a B.S. in Photography from Sam Houston State University and an M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He has been a teacher and professional photographer in this community for twenty-six years and currently teaches at Herkimer County Community College where he helps to prepare a new generation of professional photographers, as well as to help a wide variety of students attain a higher level of visual literacy.

According to Farley, ” I believe that photography has the power to help people explore, understand and enjoy their world and their place in it to a much fuller extent than if they had not investigated photography beyond the everyday snapshot. By teaching photography, I help people see things they would have not noticed, experience more from other visual media, and by practicing it, express their unique connection to life, their own creativity and humanity. ”

Following are Gale R. Farley’s selections and critical comments from the Kirkland Art Center Photography Show. Thank you to Gale Farley, Annette J. Clarke, the Director of the Kirkland Art Center, and Niel Chowdhury of Cazenovia College who juried this exhibit.

Your comments are requested regarding this critique. Comments are also requested regarding the KAC Show or photographs that you feel deserve mention from the show that are not mentioned here. Use the “Leave a Reply” box that is located at the end of the critique.

The works that follow are presented in the order of merit:

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“Sand Pattern, (Death Valley)” © Nancy Oudheusden www.viewfindphoto.com/

The strong light and shadow creates a three-dimensional feeling in these forms that reveals the strong undulating pattern created by the sand. The nature of the light also creates a surface alive with tactile texture, not like soft sand, but more like granite that was molten and cooled flowing into these ambiguous organic shapes. These shapes could be the fingers of a stone sculpture or an aerial photograph of a barren rocky landscape. Careful composition and strong print quality also contribute to the success of this image.
The photograph is compelling in its movement and formal elements and open to many rewarding interpretations.

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“Distressed Patriotism” © D Shadowman

This color photograph has what I call a “sense of place.” Athough I have never been there, I can feel its nature in the image and wonder what was its purpose before it was abandoned. We can see the refrigerator is from another era, adding to the idea that time has stopped in this place. Below the surface reality of this picture is a substructure of inter-related rectangles and squares of red, white, blue, and black. It is not a far stretch to invoke the term “Mondrian like.” The composition is crucial to the success of this image and is well handled by the placement of the brightest rectangle with the red fabric in a key position within the frame. The muted primary colors also contribute to the mood and mystery of this photograph. Even though the photograph is composed of red, white, and blue it is for me a stretch to give it any political, national, or patriotic connotation.

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“Behind Bars” © John Vriersema

This photograph is a good example of the figure used not to shock or titillate, but presented in its pure natural state as a form and surface on which light and shadow may work to exemplify the beauty of human form. The comparison and contrast between the hard-edged shadows, textured wood and the soft, smooth, rounded figure are formal elements that always interest the eye. The shadows create a dramatic geometric pattern and as they wrap over the figure, they create movement and an interplay of light and shadow not unlike what we experience in the previously discussed “Sand Patterns” of the Oudheusden piece. Although the photograph is crafted in the well established tradition of twentieth century nudes like those of Edward Weston, Paul Strand, and Imogene Cunningham, I do not feel it is clichéd or trite. The print quality is well handled to support the image. This photograph is overall a classic nude study, well printed, and composed to explore the formal elements of art and the beauty of the human form.

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“Three Girls, Mashhad Iran” © Roset Khosropour

In this engaging photography we see the faces of three beautiful young girls looking back at the photographer and us, with some wary shyness and also delightfully flattered in the attention being paid to them. We see in their eyes the beauty, innocence, and promise of every child. This is a photograph that speaks to a universal humanity. The interest here is not about the nationality or difference in dress, but in a moment of unpretentious human interaction that reminds us all we are part of a greater human family. The composition is wonderfully effective as it creates an asymmetrical balance between the larger child and the two smaller figures. The three heads form an inverted triangle that holds us firmly in the photographs and brings us into the compelling eyes of the central figure.

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“Shadow Invaders” © Jan Coffin

This photograph is interesting on many levels. First it is a fabrication of unseen figures casting shadows to interact with markings made by the photographer on what appears to be a concrete surface. They have the playful quality of a Keith Haring piece and also the mystery of what could be glyphs left by some forgotten people on stone walls or boulders that mark some ritual or event. The figures move diagonally rising from lower left to upper right in the frame. Their postures suggest a dance of some kind as their limbs create a visual rhythm.

For a complete list of accepted artists and their entries click this link: kirkland-photo-show-07.pdf

Your comments are requested. Use the ” Leave a Reply” box below.

February 2007 Photo Critique

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

Scroll to the Top of the Site to Access Index Links Located on the Right Side of Page

Continuing the concept of on line photo critiques….

This month’s critical remarks are provided by Christine Miller. Christine holds an MFA in photography from SUNY New Paltz, and she has taught art for nearly 15 years at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY. Her teaching philosophy is admirable “I do what I do because I feel passionate about visual communication, regardless of the medium, and I enjoy sharing that enthusiasm with my students.”

Acting as the January judge at the monthly meeting of the Utica Camera Club, Christine’s choices and comments are provided below. In general, Christine commented that she looks for three elements when she judges: technique, aesthetic elements, and communication. Tonalities are part of an image as much as the shapes within it. Color also becomes another design element.

Special thanks to Christine Miller and Cheri Sassman, who provided her images, for their contributions to this on going critique experiment. Christine Miller’s comments appear under each photograph.

Your comments are requested and encouraged. Please use the Comment Button at the bottom of the page.

Click on Image to Enlarge. All images copyright Cheri E. Sassman • All rights reserved

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Please comment on these photographs or this critique using the Comment Button below.

January 2007 Photo Critique

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007

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As an experiment, two photographs have been posted with a critique. Following the critique is a an area in which you may post your comments. It is my intention to give the photographic community a chance to refine the subjective definition of what makes a good photograph a good photograph.

Your comments regarding the photographs and the critique are invited and encouraged.

Photograph A ©M.Elisabeth 2006
Photograph A: In Ice

Photograph B ©M.Elisabeth 2006
Photograph B: Sealed in Ice

Critique:

These images represent an excellent example of photographs that present different views of a shared topic. Both photographs are enjoyable to view from the perspective of decorative art.

The B&W conversion enhances the quality of photo “A.” Composition and the out of focus background (bokeh) also contribute to the image’s overall strength.

Just as the B&W conversion strengthens photo “A,” the muted colors of photo “B” lend to its overall impact. The twisted dark branches lead to the encapsulated head giving the photograph an unnerving aura. The fact that the photo is troubling does not flaw it. Any photograph that is capable of eliciting emotion from the viewer is a success.

Photo “B” is the manifestation of a bad dream staged within a harsh environment. Photo “A” promises better days to come.

Guy Danella • January 2007