This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (10-16 Jul ‘11)

We finished up the Independence assignment this week over in the forums. We saw a lot of different ways to interpret independence, and because of the holidays, we also saw a lot of fireworks shots this week. However, the shots that really stood out to our judges were ones that evoked a feeling of independence, and in all of our choices, it turned out to include a human element.
Our winner this week was unmnorth’s self portrait. As he describes it “As a photographer, independence means self portrait! As an athlete, running is independence” and that description really stood out to our judges, along with the photograph. The dramatic dark sky contrasting with the cement steps (along with the subject along a diagonal line) really pulls your eye into the scene.

Our first runner up was droidgirl’s Freedom. As she said in her description, “Independence is – freedom from pants”. One judge described this photo in a single word: “Awesome”. It seems to tell a rather unique, if not somewhat funny story, and the vintage / aged sort of tones in the photo really work well here.

And last, but not least was heartmysony’s “Baby’s steps to independence”. They grow up quick enough, and the way that the baby is moving away from the camera really suggests that she’s trying to find hew own way. It’s a really cute photo that also emphasises that idea of independence.

Well done everyone!
We started our newest assignment this week, focusing on Cinematic Widescreen. This assignment presents you with a triple challenge. First, there is the technical requirement that your photos be cropped in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Second, there is the conceptual challenge of trying to pick a scene that looks like it could have come from a film. Finally, there is the extra challenge of suggesting a title for the movie you have in mind. And if that’s not enough, a quick rundown of our usual assignment rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 6-20 July 2011. Second, your post must include the words “Cinematic Widescreen” and the date the picture was taken. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s helpful if you can include some of the main points, such as camera, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc.
For those lucky enough to be in the northern hemisphere and enjoying summer right now, “Leisure” is almost certainly on their minds, and that’s why it’s our next assignment. We want to know what defines leisure for you. Keep in mind, you need to put some work into your leisure assignment and think about the rules of composition and lighting and not just take a snapshot. Above all, try to make it interesting. We all know how deadly dull looking at someone’s vacation and family snaps can be, so give us a reason to look at your images.
Where Do You Go to See Beautiful Photos?: In a post this weekend on the blog about getting out of a photography rut, there was talk about looking at the work of others to find things that inspire you. This topic also came up in the forums recently. So where do you go to see pictures that inspire you? Come check out the list on the forums and add your own suggestions too.Whom to Please?: One forum member asked about the different reactions that you get when you show different people your photos, and that brought up the question of who should you please when you’re trying to take photos? Should it be you? Your audience, someone else? Come share your thoughts and join the discussion over on the forums.Wedding Dress Code: This is a thread that’s been around on the forums for a little while, but it still asks a good question: what is appropriate to wear as a wedding photographer? Come share your thoughts with us on the forums.

The Digital Photography Book

In this book, author Scott Kelby tackles the most important side of of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today s top digital pros use (and it s easier than you d think). This isn t a book of theory - full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic tricks of the trade to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button. Another thing that makes this book different is that each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you ll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. So if you re tired of taking shots that look OK, and if youre tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, Why don t my shots look like that? then this is the book for you.

Price: $24.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Digital Photographer of the Year 2011

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Imagine Publishing and Samsung are joining forces to launch the fifth annual Digital Photographer of the Year (DPOTY) awards.  The format of the awards for 2011 will see a brand new competition category launched in each issue of Digital Photographer Magazine. There will be six photographic categories in total, including Landscapes, Portraits, Action/Sports, Wildlife/Nature, B&W and Creative Expression. Each category winner will receive a Samsung NX100 and two lenses. The runners up for every category will each receive a Samsung WB700 camera. The overall winner will scoop a Samsung NX11 plus a 20-50mm, 16mm pancake, an 85mm lens and a flashgun. For all the details on how to enter, look out for Digital Photographer issue 111 on sale now or check out the website below.

Website: Digital Photographer

DPOTY Press Release

Digital Photographer of the Year awards 2011 launches

The hugely popular Digital Photographer of the Year Awards is back for 2011 – sponsored by photography giant, Samsung

Imagine Publishing and Samsung are joining forces to launch the fifth annual Digital Photographer of the Year awards, with amazing new prizes and exciting new categories. Following on from last year’s sensational success, Digital Photographer magazine anticipates record a number of submissions for the competition in 2011, with each category winner receiving a Samsung NX100 and two lenses. The runners up for every category will each receive a Samsung WB700 camera. The overall winner will scoop a Samsung NX11 plus a 20-50mm, 16mm pancake, an 85mm lens and a flashgun.

Rosie Tanner, Editor of Digital Photographer, is anticipating another successful competition: “Last year we were blown away by the quality and quantity of images submitted, so this year I have no doubt our readers are going to go all out to submit some outstanding work. This competition is an amazing opportunity for enthusiast photographers to prove to the rest of the photographic community what they can do.”

Since its launch back in 2007, the DPOTY awards has seen year-on-year success and is now widely recognised by the photography industry as one of the top photographic competitions of its kind. The judging panel for the 2011 awards features some of the country’s top photographic professionals including big names such as pro landscape photographer, David Clapp, Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year overall winner Ben Osborne and Landscape Photographer of the Year winner, Antony Spencer.

The call for entries opens on the 14 July, which coincides with the on-sale date of Digital Photographer issue 111. The format of the awards for 2011 will see a brand new competition category launched in each issue of the magazine. There will be six photographic categories in total – each designed to push the creativity of photographers. The categories are:

The Big Picture – Landscapes
Strike a Pose – Portraits
Capture the Action – Action / Sports
Call of the Wild – Wildlife/nature
Shades of Grey – Black & White
Creative expression – Creative/image editing/HDR

Rosie Tanner added, “This year it’s even easier to enter the competition thanks to the easy upload option on our website. Users can upload their entries at the touch of a button, so there is no excuse not to enter and show us what you’re capable of!”

Nick White, Head of Samsung’s Digital Imaging division, said: “Samsung is proud to be supporting Digital Photographer of the Year for the second consecutive year.  Last year we saw some incredible photos and the winning images were truly inspirational. I am looking forward to being on the judging panel for the 2011 Digital Photographer of the Year awards and celebrating the best photography in this year’s competition. Samsung would like to thank the readers of Digital Photographer for entering their images last year and we look forward to seeing their terrific work this year.”

For all the details on how to enter, look out for Digital Photographer issue 111 on sale 14 July 2011 or head online to http://www.DPhotographer.co.uk.

Imagine Publishing is one of the UK’s fastest-growing consumer specialist publishers. Formed in May 2005, Imagine now publishes 20 regular print magazines, 30 digital apps on the iPad/iPhone, and 28 websites in the videogames, computing, entertainment, motoring and photography markets. An Imagine magazine is purchased every ten seconds.

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