Saturday, February 13, 2010

Agenda for meeting on February 18, 2010

Here's the agenda for our upcoming meeting on Thursday, February 18th, 2010

7:00 - 7:20 : Announcements, Introduction of new members/guests, Member News

7:20- 8:10: Knowledge Share - Carol Watson - 12 Ways to Challenge Yourself

8:10 - 9:00: Image Reviews - Topic: Before and After. Don't forget to send your 2 pairs of review images (jpg 800 pixels wide) by Tuesday, Feb. 16th via email to: hcphotoclub@gmail.com.

NOTE: We have a new image review process:
When we display your image we'll ask you to select one of these reviews:
  1. Critique - You have specific questions you'd like to ask about your image and you want feedback from the other photographers at the meeting. Come prepared with your questions.
  2. Show and Tell - You'd simply like to share information about this image with us such as technique or location.
More about the new image review process here:
http://hillcountryphotographyclub.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-image-review-process.html

Meeting Location: Horizon Bay (formerly Merrill Gardens) in San Marcos. Map and directions available on our club website.

REMEMBER to bring your 2010 memberships dues to the meeting if you haven't paid yet!

New Image Review Process

About the new image review process:

When we display your image we'll ask you to select one of these reviews:
  1. Critique - You have specific questions you'd like to ask about your image and you want feedback from the other photographers at the meeting.
  2. Show and Tell - You'd simply like to share information about this image with us such as technique or location.
Images submitted for review will be projected on a screen via a digital projector. To have your digital images included in the review:
  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.
  6. If you want critique comments, please come prepared with questions you'd like answered. Look at the PPA criteria below for ideas on things you might want us to provide feedback on for your image. For example: What do you think about the composition? Should I have cropped it? What do you think about the lighting?
We'll look to our more advanced photographers to serve as volunteer critics for the meetings.

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.