OcUK Photo Comp - Season Ten : Round One - "Water" RESULTS

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OcUK Photo Comp - Season Ten : Round One - "Water" RESULTS

WINNER: adamau5


20110226-1d4jptfm6566j2w2a5trm564a3.jpg



Total scores for the round

Code:
Photographer    Tech    Theme  Impact  Total
--------------------------------------------
adamau5		23	23	22	68
Shadowness	22	23	22	67
The Blue	22	22	23	67
benjo		22	19	21	62
slothmeister	20	21	21	62
Wedge		21	18	22	61
Mr Jones	20	20	20	60
SteveOBHave	20	20	20	60
robertgilbert86	19	20	18	57
GSXRMovistar	19	18	20	57
cokecan72	19	19	16	54
nozz		17	18	19	54
Voxination	18	19	16	53
UberTiger	17	19	17	53
mhk1058		18	18	16	52
Vipernet	18	18	16	52
lolage		17	18	17	52
Rojin		18	16	17	51
prUnE		17	18	16	51
sillyswede	17	17	17	51
Namistai	17	16	18	51
Russinating	20	14	16	50
clintham	17	17	16	50
DJ Switch	16	16	18	50
bigredshark	18	15	16	49
Phate		15	16	16	47
lucklessloser	16	15	15	46
Zogger		14	17	15	46
whitecrook	15	14	14	43
laiman		15	14	13	42
explicit4u	13	16	13	42
orbspeed1	13	16	13	42
ScT Feeling	13	16	13	42
feriso		13	15	12	40
bam0		12	12	12	36
bigjimmyauk	10	13	11	34
yhack		10	11	10	31

Technical marks

Code:
Photographer    Tech    Theme  Impact  Total
-------------------------------------------
adamau5		23	23	22	68
Shadowness	22	23	22	67
The Blue	22	22	23	67
benjo		22	19	21	62
Wedge		21	18	22	61
slothmeister	20	21	21	62
Mr Jones	20	20	20	60
SteveOBHave	20	20	20	60
Russinating	20	14	16	50
robertgilbert86	19	20	18	57
cokecan72	19	19	16	54
GSXRMovistar	19	18	20	57
Voxination	18	19	16	53
mhk1058		18	18	16	52
Vipernet	18	18	16	52
Rojin		18	16	17	51
bigredshark	18	15	16	49
UberTiger	17	19	17	53
nozz		17	18	19	54
lolage		17	18	17	52
prUnE		17	18	16	51
sillyswede	17	17	17	51
clintham	17	17	16	50
Namistai	17	16	18	51
DJ Switch	16	16	18	50
lucklessloser	16	15	15	46
Phate		15	16	16	47
whitecrook	15	14	14	43
laiman		15	14	13	42
Zogger		14	17	15	46
explicit4u	13	16	13	42
orbspeed1	13	16	13	42
ScT Feeling	13	16	13	42
feriso		13	15	12	40
bam0		12	12	12	36
bigjimmyauk	10	13	11	34
yhack		10	11	10	31

Theme marks

Code:
Photographer    Tech    Theme  Impact  Total
---------------------------------------------
adamau5		23	23	22	68
Shadowness	22	23	22	67
The Blue	22	22	23	67
slothmeister	20	21	21	62
Mr Jones	20	20	20	60
SteveOBHave	20	20	20	60
robertgilbert86	19	20	18	57
benjo		22	19	21	62
cokecan72	19	19	16	54
Voxination	18	19	16	53
UberTiger	17	19	17	53
Wedge		21	18	22	61
GSXRMovistar	19	18	20	57
mhk1058		18	18	16	52
Vipernet	18	18	16	52
nozz		17	18	19	54
lolage		17	18	17	52
prUnE		17	18	16	51
sillyswede	17	17	17	51
clintham	17	17	16	50
Zogger		14	17	15	46
Rojin		18	16	17	51
Namistai	17	16	18	51
DJ Switch	16	16	18	50
Phate		15	16	16	47
explicit4u	13	16	13	42
orbspeed1	13	16	13	42
ScT Feeling	13	16	13	42
bigredshark	18	15	16	49
lucklessloser	16	15	15	46
feriso		13	15	12	40
Russinating	20	14	16	50
whitecrook	15	14	14	43
laiman		15	14	13	42
bigjimmyauk	10	13	11	34
bam0		12	12	12	36
yhack		10	11	10	31

Impact marks

Code:
Photographer    Tech    Theme  Impact  Total
--------------------------------------------
The Blue	22	22	23	67
adamau5		23	23	22	68
Shadowness	22	23	22	67
Wedge		21	18	22	61
benjo		22	19	21	62
slothmeister	20	21	21	62
Mr Jones	20	20	20	60
SteveOBHave	20	20	20	60
GSXRMovistar	19	18	20	57
nozz		17	18	19	54
robertgilbert86	19	20	18	57
Namistai	17	16	18	51
DJ Switch	16	16	18	50
Rojin		18	16	17	51
UberTiger	17	19	17	53
lolage		17	18	17	52
sillyswede	17	17	17	51
Russinating	20	14	16	50
cokecan72	19	19	16	54
Voxination	18	19	16	53
mhk1058		18	18	16	52
Vipernet	18	18	16	52
bigredshark	18	15	16	49
prUnE		17	18	16	51
clintham	17	17	16	50
Phate		15	16	16	47
lucklessloser	16	15	15	46
Zogger		14	17	15	46
whitecrook	15	14	14	43
laiman		15	14	13	42
explicit4u	13	16	13	42
orbspeed1	13	16	13	42
ScT Feeling	13	16	13	42
feriso		13	15	12	40
bam0		12	12	12	36
bigjimmyauk	10	13	11	34
yhack		10	11	10	31

Results are sorted in four different ways:
1. Total scores: Total, Technical, Theme
2. Technical scores: Technical, Theme, Impact
3. Theme scores: Theme, Technical, Impact
4. Impact scores: Impact, Technical, Theme
OcUK Photo competition results site http://ocukphotocomp.growse.com/

Congratulations adamau5!
Please forward the new theme to me by email. (hotmail address in trust)
 
adamau5
Well shot and framed, and I like the blue (though some might not…). Very effective overall.

A very creative image with lots of impact creating a nice narrative. How did she become frozen in ice?

An awesomely creative shot, great work.

bam0
I can’t say this has that much impact for me, I'm afraid - it's not really of anything in particular. Needs a bit of a re-think.

The focus of the image is lost against the background. Tighter composition and a different viewpoint would help here.

It is just scraping the theme and overall the composure isn’t great leaving a very cluttered image.

Benjo
The weighting to the image is weird at first, but I actually quite like it. Aside from that, it's a great location and well shot. Good stuff.

A very tranquil scene but the 50/50 split feels wrong. Less sky and more of the debris in the water would be interesting as your CPL is cutting through the reflections nicely.

Beautiful composition and processing a really striking picture, I like the fact you can flip it and still see the same image.

Bigjimmyauk
As a first go at water-drops it's an OK image, but it doesn't grab me. The tap in the background is spoiling it and the image feels very flat.

You have frozen the drop well and it's on theme but overall the rest of the image lacks interest and impact. Try shooting with a coloured card behind or getting outdoors in natural light.

The drop has been captured well but the setting is lacking and brings the over all image down.

Bigredshark
I'm not really sure where you're going with this. It's an interesting scene and a good high-key, but I'm just not sure it has much impact for me.

Like where you are heading but don't feel it works currently. The grout detail is a distraction and the composition should be central to maximise the graphic elements.

It has water in but I am not sure if its hugely on theme an interestingly unique idea.

Clintham
I'm not sold on the background, and you could have done with cleaning your shower head. The idea's there, but it could just do with a bit more work.

Good composition, detail is sharp and drops frozen in time. Not quite sold on the B&W conversion.

For me the choice of subject is not appealing, but it is well shot.

cokecan72
Good long exposure shot, but I'm just not sure the image really grabs me - it's not something I'd come back to.

You have captured a lovely silky texture in the water and the ambient light adds a nice glow overall. It's just not very interesting.

The flow of water looks smooth and silky with loads of motion captured but the overall image is a bit bland.

DJ Switch
The darkness and vignette gives this image a slightly sinister vibe, which I don't think it benefits from.

It seems really underexposed and looking at your settings you have lots of headroom to expose another stop without a problem.

It could be a whole lot nicer if it wasn’t so underexposed and the heavy vignette detracts from what looks a happy moment.

explicit4u
Another OK-ish water-drop shot that could do with some thought into making the backdrop and composition better. The image is also very dark.

Although the drop is sharp and frozen in time the whole image is underexposed and needs a boost in post production.

Again the water drop has been well caught but the setting really lets the shot down.

Feriso
Interesting idea, but the image falls a bit short, I think. Some post-processing (I'm thinking contrast and shadows to bring out things like the bubbles in the ice) would benefit it quite a bit.

Some after shot image cloning to remove the dust spot is needed. I'm not sure the B&W works as the ice merges with the background.

I can imagine what you were going for with the whole water and ice thing, but I really don’t see that this has worked out its far to flat.

GSXRMovistar
Nice idea and well executed. I like it.

I like the diagonal composition but feel that the DOF needs to increased so it's tack sharp throughout.

My only critism would be that it should be sharp across the whole image.

Laiman
I get the feeling this is one of those things I'm missing something with? The image doesn't do anything for me, and I find the inclusion of the red ice at the top a bit out-of-place. It could also do with a bit of work in post.

Some good thought and preparation here but I'm not sure the composition / viewing angle works. Feel like the red space invaders are the focus but are not the main subject.

A really nice idea, but I think the composition isn’t doing it justice.

Lolage
We don't normally see splashes from the top, and I think (with the colouring) that it works very nicely. Very attractive image, though it's a slight shame about the bubbles.

The colours are quite eerie and I think lime squash for some reason. On theme but if you get closer to eye level the drop will have more definition.

It’s a different take on the splash image and I like it, the greens really add to its attraction.

Lucklessloser
The drip on the leaf is nice, and I'd like to see it a bit closer, but the rose feels out of place and its inclusion detracts from the image. Overall, it could also do with some post-processing to bring out the contrast and colours - it's flat and dark at the minute.

Crying out for some more exposure here and the focus looks to have missed the water drop.

The droplet really feels outnumbered and overall the image needs some punch.

mhk1058
Nice splash and a well thought-out and controled backdrop.

A great shot where you have not only captured the moment but thought about the background as well.

A really nice droplet shot.

Mr Jones
Beautiful. My only thought it that I might have been tempted by a landscape shot, but perhaps it's fine as it is.

A simple idea which is good but you need to nail that exposure to give it some punch.

Simple and nice, but I feel that seeing the rim of the glass would be a minor improvement.

Namistai
There's nothing as versatile as a DVD (geddit??!). Nice shot.

A classic image that never fails to impress.

Nice colours well captured.

Nozz
Interesting concept, but the processing and the lack of any context makes it actually feel like it's been rendered.

A great surreal image but I think it would have benefited from more DOF.

Is it a render? Really doesn’t feel like a picture but is very surreal.

orbspeed1
Having none of the foreground visible really doesn't do anything for me - not sure if that was intentional or not. Doesn’t grab me as a particularly well thought-out image.

It seems less about the water and all about the sun & sky I'm afraid.

The lens flare and over exposure of the sky has ruined the shot and removed any foreground detail.

Phate
Yeah, a nicely executed shot, but I think you've gone a bit far with the vignette for my liking.

I don't think the lens flare is working for you and the droplets have lost their impact as a result.

The heavy vignette has reduced the overall impact of the droplets.

prune
I like it. Good composition and interest and nice processing.

Strong and graphic, it's simple but it has enough to work.

Crisp simple and effective.

robertgilbert86
Interesting idea. At first I wasn't too keen, but on a second round of viewing it's grown on me, and I re-wrote this comment. You could have made slightly more of the sky, though.

An interesting image indeed. I'm hoping you didn't use Photoshop and instead shot this through a frozen sheet of ice.

A nice interesting idea I think you could have gone a bit further with the visual affect.

Rojin
Well timed capture and the reflection and sun behind the wings add an interesting element. That said, it doesn't quite nail the theme element for me - the water's a bit secondary.

You have caught the moment well here. A lower viewpoint and eye contact would make it a great shot.

Other than having the sea in its not really a stand out for the theme.

Russinating
A visually striking image, but I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking at. With that in mind, it loses some impact.

Not sure that the image reflects the theme here. It's an interesting idea though.

To me it looks like a cover to an NIN album.

ScT Feeling
The highlights in the water are quite clipped here, which is a pity. I think it needs a different perspective / composition to make it a more interesting scene.

A bubbling brook is a great choice but I think you need to be careful of the waters reflections. A CPL filter would improve this scene.

The reflection across the water has really lost the detail in the shot, a polarizing filter could reduce this and maybe open up the composition for some more impact.

Shadowness
Very dramatic shot and well timed for the splash. Well processed. Nothing to fault here, really.

A wonderful shot and right on theme.

A superb choice for theme and well captured.

Sillyswede
That's a really nice idea and a good execution.

Lovely colours in those bubbles and the DOF works really well.

Simple and effective.

Slothmeister
Stunning scene and a great shot. The processing is also very nice, but it's let down by the blob in the sky! That's not a difficult thing to remove in post …

A great shot, well done. I'd love to see something similar with a 10 second exposure to get that ocean silky smooth.

Awesome scene, well captured but you need to process out what looks to be a dust spot.

SteveOBHave
Unless the window is really bowed like that (and if it is, I'd be getting out of the house pretty sharpish), then the wide-angle perspective doesn't sit comfortably with me. I'd probably have chosen to correct that in post. Nice idea for the shot, though.

You won't win any awards with this but it is funny and the best seat in the house.

Its not a striking scene, but is the most intriguing shot yet I must know more is it on a boat or in a building?

The Blue
Very nice image and nicely processed, though I can't help but feel it's a bit of a pity about the tree! I might have chosen to move over a few meters (if that was an option).

A lovely landscape shot but water is not the main focus point.

A superb shot well captured, I feel that water is a little secondary.

UberTiger
It's an alright shot, but it's not particularly captivating. Perhaps a closer shot on the boarder might have been better?

I don't think he's going to catch that wave. A nice image but lots of noise.

It is very a noisy shot and overall lacks that moment of capture.

Vipernet
Well that's different! Whilst you've obviously gone quite far with the processing, I think it's fine as a bit of a statement. I definitely wouldn't want to see all your shots like this, though …

It's good seeing people take a different approach and I like the HDR idea. Overcooked and surreal it is, but your composition works well.

It is over processed and heavily HDR but it works.

Voxination
It’s a good shot, but it's not grabbing me. Perhaps it's just the interest of the scene that's a bit lacking. Maybe a different perspective would have helped?

A lovely scene but I'd clone out that pesky branch leading into the water from the bank. Nice shot.

It’s a nice choice for theme, but I think it is the time of year that is making the whole image feel bleak.

Wedge
Beautiful shot. My only thought would be that I'd straighten the bottom and crop it to give the same amount of black as at the top.

A great shot where I can see you have planned very well.

Really nice maybe just a tighter crop.

Whitecrook
Interesting shot, and for once I actually quite like the use of the border - so thumbs up for that. That said, we can't really see much of the water tower (I assume it is, as we can’t really see), and the subject doesn't have a lot of impact for me.

Almost abstract in shape and then it dawns on me what it is. A good find although I'm not sure of the framing.

It looks a really intrersting design for a water tower, but a lot of it is hidden from view.

Yhack
It's not a particularly inspiring shot technically or artistically. Does nothing for me, I'm afraid.

Underexposed and needing a more interesting composition. Try mixing it up a bit with the viewing angle.

Overall it is really lacking any feel of inspiration.

Zogger
Quite a nice idea, actually. I definitely didn’t think of this one when I was going over the theme in my head - though perhaps it's one of the most obvious. The reflections in the glass detract from it a bit, as does the darkening to the right.

It almost has a painterly feel to the scene and it's a good idea. I find the reflections distracting so try closing off the facing windows.

An interesting take on the theme but for me it feels to still, some how I want to see the water streaming down the window.
 
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Thanks guys, really chuffed. There were some really nice shots and I particularly liked rojins and Mr Jones - cracking photos.

Thinking cap is on for the theme, I have a couple of ideas but haven't settled yet.
 
Well done fella.

In response to the questions about the scene - it is actually just a photo with no manipulation - It's on a houseboat in India - they're not the most modern of things so they are a bit bent and twisted - I'm not sure the bowing of the window you are referring to is a result of the lens...

houseboat.jpg
 
Congratulations to adamau5! There were quite a few very good entries this round, which made the judging quite tricky - and is reflected in the scores now I look!
 
Well done adamu5 great shot , to answer judges mine was a photo during our visit to science and tech Museum in Shanghai .
IMG_3031.jpg
 
Congrats adamau5.

Apart from the technical failings of my entry it seems I got the wrong idea on how to interpret the theme. Before I try again I'd appreciate anyone who could provide a bit more insight into how the theme should be understood?

I mean my image had a fair chunk of wood covered in ice, icicles, melted portions and the spray from water that was dripping on to it. Reading the judges comments and looking again at my picture I can appreciate how I could take taken the shot differently to show better what I was going for. But I don't understand how my shot "is just scraping the theme" so would any advice on how I avoid getting it wrong again would be great.
 
Congrats adamau5.

Apart from the technical failings of my entry it seems I got the wrong idea on how to interpret the theme. Before I try again I'd appreciate anyone who could provide a bit more insight into how the theme should be understood?

I mean my image had a fair chunk of wood covered in ice, icicles, melted portions and the spray from water that was dripping on to it. Reading the judges comments and looking again at my picture I can appreciate how I could take taken the shot differently to show better what I was going for. But I don't understand how my shot "is just scraping the theme" so would any advice on how I avoid getting it wrong again would be great.

For me the splash appeared to be the subject for the theme, but with the composition this hasn't been captured well and is lost amid the cluttered backdrop. A macro of its impact on the iced surface would have made for a better shot and theme choice.
 
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bam0, I think what they mean is that your image probably says 'ice' or 'winter' and possibly a few other things aswell more than it does 'water'. Don't take it personally, and remember we're all individuals, hence we will interpret things differently (we've been in this discussion before on here). There might be a lot of water in your image but does it shout out 'water'?
 
For me the splash appeared to be the subject for the theme, but with the composition this hasn't been captured well and is lost amid the cluttered backdrop. A macro of its impact on the iced surface would have made for a better shot and theme choice.

Thanks for expanding on that, it's helpful.
 
bam0, I think what they mean is that your image probably says 'ice' or 'winter' and possibly a few other things aswell more than it does 'water'. Don't take it personally, and remember we're all individuals, hence we will interpret things differently (we've been in this discussion before on here). There might be a lot of water in your image but does it shout out 'water'?
Thanks, I don't take it personally and I hope my last post didn't come across that way. I see what you mean regarding how it might be interpreted, and I think I got caught up with the physical representation of water (in it's forms) rather than appreciating how to say "water" through the image.
 
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