What Photo Should I Enter In Adorama's YBS2013?

What Photo Should I Enter In Adorama’s YBS2013?

Time for a fun page

Art • March 2014 • Views: 1,557

Earlier today, Lawhawk noted that Adorama was having a contest where you’re to enter your best image from last year. Since the voting is Facebook “Likes” based, my taste in photography has a snowballs chance at the devil’s prom ;)

But on the other hand, as it has been noted, you can not win if you do not play the game. So after sorting through my 2013 work I’ve set aside 7 images I think are the best of the year. For the fun of it, I figured I’d post them here and see what the lizards thought was best as a rather more rational sample than that of Facebook.

So in no particular order are my favorites of 2013. Which do you think I should enter?

Photography Contest

Recent Pages by wlewisiii (William Lewis):
March Favorites Thunderstorm Front Take the Picture When You See It Almost Winter With a Rolleicord III A Vacation Day Along the Mississippi

Jump to bottom

17 comments

Amory Blaine Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:49:20pm

Between my wife and I, we are torn between #2 and #3.

blueraven Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:37:53pm

I like 2 and 3 as well…but push/shove #3

All are great!

Charles Johnson Tue, Mar 11, 2014 1:07:23pm

I like #3 the best. The tracks through the tall grass are evocative.

lawhawk Tue, Mar 11, 2014 1:18:32pm

I’d go with #3 as well. The path leads the eye up to the woods and the house, all while breaking with the rule of thirds convention.

Good luck with your submission!

I’m still trying to figure out which one (or ones) to enter. There’s a handful of photos from Yosemite that I think are worthy, but it’s a landscape that has been done over and over. Not sure what I did offers up something new or different.

William Barnett-Lewis Tue, Mar 11, 2014 1:42:20pm

Thank you folks. Sometimes it’s hard to step back far by yourself.

I appreciate everyone’s time and suggestions.

William Barnett-Lewis Tue, Mar 11, 2014 3:03:28pm

Ok, entered #3. :D

Kid A Tue, Mar 11, 2014 3:43:16pm

#3 is without a doubt your cleanest picture. Enter it.

CuriousLurker Tue, Mar 11, 2014 3:46:23pm

re: #6 William Barnett-Lewis

Ok, entered #3. :D

Darn, I’m too late! #3 was my runner-up, but #2 was my favorite because it tells a story and has a human presence even though the person is unseen.

It engages me and makes me want to know more. Where did the owner of the glass go? When will s/he be back? What was s/he reading? Is that a pen on the chair with the glasses—i.e. was s/he doing a newspaper crossword puzzle? What caused the interruption?

I think it’s also strong from a technical/compositional POV—the rule of thirds is there, the leg of the whatchamacallit provides a strong leading line directly to the chair, and the other leg provides a nice frame for the coffeepot.

It looks like it might be just a tad bit overexposed, but that could be intentional since it feels like early morning light, some of which may be shining directly into the lens. It’s a little hard to tell (especially in B&W) whether the whitish part in the upper middle is sunlight streaming through the trees, steam from the coffeepot, or smoke from the fire.

CuriousLurker Tue, Mar 11, 2014 3:47:38pm

re: #5 William Barnett-Lewis

Thank you folks. Sometimes it’s hard to step back far by yourself.

I appreciate everyone’s time and suggestions.

I’m curious now: Which was your favorite and why?

Political Atheist Tue, Mar 11, 2014 5:33:17pm

I should recuse myself, I’m entering the contest as well. LOL. I’d go with #3. I think that’s the most emotional and intriguing. I’m submitting (I think) When The Fire looked Back

Although this one almost got the nod…
Gaviota Pier Sunset

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather lose out to my friend. Good luck!!!

jaunte Tue, Mar 11, 2014 5:42:43pm

#3, there’s definitely a story there.

Stanley Sea Tue, Mar 11, 2014 6:01:25pm

Three!

William Barnett-Lewis Tue, Mar 11, 2014 6:04:58pm

re: #9 CuriousLurker

I’m curious now: Which was your favorite and why?

My two favorites are actually one and two. The first for it’s abstraction of the steam tractor’s steering worm gear and the second for many of the reasons given by CL. That it was one of the few good moments of that camping trip gives it a personal emotional boost that’s hard to get past, however.

I like number three a whole lot as well but to me it feels like I’m imitating David Plowden or Andrew Wyeth too much. Obviously from the reaction here it’s stronger than my impression of being to derivative made me think.

William Barnett-Lewis Tue, Mar 11, 2014 6:07:07pm

re: #10 Political Atheist

I should recuse myself, I’m entering the contest as well. LOL. I’d go with #3. I think that’s the most emotional and intriguing. I’m submitting (I think) When The Fire looked Back

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather lose out to my friend. Good luck!!!

Both are excellent shots. I love the fire one especially since I don’t own the gear to be able to duplicate it (shutter speed max is too slow). Very eye appealing, excellent composition for a fleeting image and a very strong entry indeed.