The First Challenge - "Shadows" Starts September 9

Two Trees

By E Colby Munger

This is embarrassing. I have had to post one of my own pictures for this posting. We are kicking off our first challenge this year and I need to get this posting out right away. The topic is "Shadows."

Shadows are called luminous edges when distinguishing them from edges caused by forms. The human eyes generally ignores shadows because we rarely trip over them when walking. In pictures both forms and shadows become important to the result and are both significant elements in composition. So join us in this challenge. Become sensitive to the shadows and enter images where shadows help make the picture.

Here is the critical information:

• Challenge Subject – Shadows
• Up to 3 Pictures to be taken between September 9 and October 13, 2008
• Challenge Review Date – October 20, 2008
• Submission Due Date – October 13, 2008
• Email Images to: challenge@digitalphotoclub.us
• Recognition Categories
  - 5 Star – Excellence Category – Images judged to be superior in every way
  - 4 Star – Merit Category – Images judged to be highly effective but some room for improvement
• 4 and 5 star images will be posted in a special challenge web gallery on the club website
  - If you don't want your pictures in the club website gallery put the phrase "Don't publish my pictures on the club website" in your submission email.
  

How Challenges Work

A "challenge" provides an opportunity to focus on specific subjects or photographic goals that will hopefully provide a learning experience for participants. The pictures must be taken after the announcement of the challenge. In "showcases" each member gets to show off some of their best and share what they learned from the experience. In a "challenge" we ask a reviewer skilled in photography and art to provide positive feedback and pointers to each submitter so they and other members can learn from the review.

Though not a competition, this year, we are asking our reviewers to categorize noteworthy pictures by distinguishing those images that have merit or are excellent based on the reviewer's judgement. Those images that are meritorious are highly effective but could be improved in some in some way. Those judged excellent are deemed outstanding in every way. All images that are placed in one of these categories will be posted on the website in a challenge gallery to recognize the member's achievement.

Submission Procedures:

• Three JPEG image files (any size or resize to 1024pixels maximum on a side to keep the file size reasonable)
• Rename the files with your name and a sequence number (i.e., john-smith-1, john-smith-2, john-smith-3)
• Email files to challenge@digitalphotoclub.us by Monday October 13th (Don't be late)
• If you don't want your pictures in the club website gallery put the phrase "Don't publish my pictures on the club website" in your submission email.

A Warning About Web Galleries

I have repeated this warning from a previous blog posting. Images posted on web galleries are subject to being copied and used inappropriately by others and without the photographer's permission. After discussion we have taken some steps to ameliorate this problem by using an Adobe Flash gallery and downsizing the pictures to 800 pixels on a side before posting. These measures are only an inconvenience to pirates. The fact is anyone with the will can digitally scrape an image off a screen. I can say that I have personally decided that posting my own images at small scale. To me it is worth the benefits from sharing. Everyone should make their own decision about the risk versus the reward and decide whether to post or not.

I am excited to see your entries. The pictures in the first showcase knocked my socks off. Thanks.

Colby