My Grouper

I didn't expect to win the recent 'RED' competition on Wetpixel, however, I did expect to place little better than 31st. The results are in order, right? In any case, I was a bit perplexed as to why another Coral Hind shot placed 3rd? What does this photo have that mine lacks?

3rd place: http://wetpixel.com/competition/index.php?...try&id=2357

Mine:

Some you win and some you loose, what's important is how you play the game!

You never know what people like the best, don't forget your always biased towards your own shot, it's like watching the auditions of American Idol, some people think they can sing like and find it hard to believe when they are told they cannot.

Keep on shooting and keep on entering, but don't keep on posting post like this when you don't win.

Kriptap, If my question comes off as a complaint, then you've misunderstood my intention. I really am ASKING what people think, so I can IMPROVE in the future. To further your analogy of American Idol, I can tolerate it if Simon tells me that I have no stage presence and I'm missing all my high notes. But if you just tell me the other guy is better and don't tell me what I did wrong, I might feel even worse. JMHO.

Okay no problem, look at the winners photo of a Red Hawkfish:

http://wetpixel.com/competition/index.php?...try&id=2362

Now look at another entry of the same which came last (no offence intended here ilanbt):

http://wetpixel.com/competition/index.php?...try&id=2401

The composure of the winner, the uncluttered background of two colors which compliment each other, red and black. The angle of the fish, the sharp eye almost looking at the camera, the way most of the red background is on the left of the image and that blank black to the right, it separates the image and makes the main subject standout easily. For me all makes for a very pleasing image to view.

So back to your image, I liked it but the shrimp does not stand out so many might not have even seen it, second they are not a hard fish to photograph, the background is cluttered and the angle of the fish is not really pleasing to the eye. The other one you can see all the fish in this case, nice blue background, the colors jump out a little more and the fish is on the move in this case.

This is only my option and I'm sure others will not agree, that's why you have to keep on trying and entering, also it is not my intention to belittle any image just point out why for me I liked the other better.

Hope this helps.

I agree with Patrick, I think that your image is a bit soft in the shrimp area and the background is distracting, take a look at how much sharper the grouper that got 3rd place is and how it stands out from the relatively even background. I think that's why it got the votes...

Again, as Patrick I am not saying that your image is bad, it is a nice capture! I am just trying to point out why the other got more votes.

At least to my eye, your image does not look sharp. It looks like a crop from a larger photo. This is one of the most important factors when entering competitions; your images need to be tack sharp. As the others have pointed out the background is cluttered and uninteresting.

This is one of the most important factors when entering competitions; your images need to be tack sharp.

Lionfish is right, if it was meant to be sharp, it HAS to be sharp, no excuses. I'm sure lionfish would also agree that "appropriately sharp" would be another tip.

What I mean is don't be scared of out of focus/or movement showing up in pics, as some movement/blur can enhance the treatment of a subject - but it needs to be done for effect, not just as a lack of good technique.

Thanks for your insight guys. This IS what I'm looking for. I think a second probem that I'm having is choosing which pictures to enter into contests. While I think CARLO's hawkfish was an obvious #1 , I do tend to vote very differently than the pool in most weeks. I suppose, not only does my photography need to improve, my selection needs to become a little more mainstream as well. The rationale behind your analysis helps me here too.

Regarding my shot....YES, it was cropped. The original was horizontal. I wanted to emphasize the details of the face a little more, and thought vertical might do the trick. In hindsight....well....

I too, would've liked to get a little more detail/sharpness in the shrimp. Dunno if I should blame myself, my non-DSL camera, the grouper (which kept swimming away), or the pesky shrimp which kept jumping around unpredictably. On second thought, 'Yes', I want to blame the shrimp.

The 'uncluttered background' is a tough one. Of course, a photographer can always change the shooting angle or a setting, but ultimately, the background is what it is, right? I should probably add, I'm not a proponent of the SOLID, ONE COLOR, PHOTOSHOP backgrounds that I'm seeing more and more of. I like to see a picture in some context. Any suggestions here?

FWIW, here's the original (resized only)

I'm not sure this would have been easy to crop due to the fact that you do not have the whole fish to start with. Really tight cropping of just the shrimp next to the eye, with the whole frame filled with the colour of the grouper may have presented a more interesting shot if the focus / resolution could handle it.

What everyone said above is spot on I will add a couple things, in regard to the shrimp you would need to tighten up on the shrimp making that the subject and the fish the background, or tighten up on the fishes face making that the main subject - either way you would have more impact and of course I mean uncropped shots for best quality. Also you are shooting down which is generally a no no. Your image looks ok but a lower angle would have gotten a better score. Whether or not you could get that angle doesn't matter other photos got it and that is what your up against. Reading lots of books will help you edit your own by understanding the better shoots.