Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Critique Assignment Themes

Submit your ideas for our monthly assignment themes. Simply add your idea as a comment to this entry.

We'll chose from the themes submitted and publish the schedule of critique assignment themes for the rest of the year so you have plenty of time to work on the future assignments.

March's critique assignment theme is: "The Personalities of Trees".

Web Resources of the Month for February

Here's the two web resources that we discussed during our February meeting:

Social bookmarking site:
http://del.icio.us/

The Radiant Vista photography community:
http://www.radiantvista.com/

Let us know about your favorite web resources at our next meeting!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Agenda for Meeting on February 21, 2008

Here's the agenda for our upcoming meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2008:

7:00 - 7:15 : Announcements, Introduction of new members/guests, Member News

7:15 - 8:15 :
DVD Showing (on the big screen) - "Extraordinary Visions" by well-known photographer, Dewitt Jones

8:15 - 8:30:
Web Sites of the Month - we'll visit member-recommended web site resources

8:30 - 9:00:
Formal critiques. Topic: Year in Review - Bring your best three images from 2007

Location: Merrill Gardens in San Marcos. Map and directions available on our club website.

New Critique Process

About the new formalized critique process:
The critiques will be provided this month by Lucy Durfee and Carol Watson. Critique images will be projected on a screen via a digital projector. To have your digital images included in the critique:
  1. Select your 2 images based on the Topic for the month (see agenda).
  2. Resize your images to 800 pixels wide on the long side.
  3. Save as a jpg file and name your file so that it begins with your initials.
  4. Email your images as attachments to this address: hcphotoclub@gmail.com
  5. Deadline to submit images for critique is the Tuesday prior to our meeting date.
We'll be looking for some of our more advanced photographers to serve as volunteer critics for next month's meeting.

Critique Criteria:
Based on PPA judging criteria.

Twelve elements have been defined as necessary for the success of an art piece or image. Any image,
art piece or photograph will reveal some measure of all twelve elements, while a visually
superior example will reveal obvious consideration of each one. They are:

1. Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images
evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion.

2. Creativity is the external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to
convey an idea, message or thought.

3. Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a
specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light
to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are
appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.

4. Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements
together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in
the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.

5. Print Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used
should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.

6. Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to
stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest.
Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves
as the center of interest.

7. Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are
defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.

8. Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.

9. Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together,
effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always
harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.

10. Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing.
Sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting and correct color all speak to the qualities of the physical print.

11. Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, film choice,
paper selection and more are part of the technique applied to an image.

12. Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.

Welcome to the Hill Country Photography Club Web Journal

Check back here for meeting agendas, meeting notes and event information as they develop. This web journal provides members the chance to post comments, questions and photographs!