Page 53 - Capture magazine May-Jul 21

JUDGES’ ADVICE
ABOVE: Shot by Liz Barker, Top 10 (Architecture).
■ Whenconsideringwhichimagestoincludeinyour portfolio, it is often best to choose images that can stand on their own. A lot of entrants have entered a series of photographs that have been taken sequentially of the same subject. Unless these images support a specific narrative, often two of the images let down the star image of the portfolio.
ARCHITECTURE
■ The successful portfolios demonstrate an understanding of both photographic craft and architectural intent. Falling back on easily found two dimensional patterns or fashionable Photoshop technique doesn’t provide any valuable insight into the subject matter itself.
■ Many entries failed to show the whole building which is crucial in architectural photos.
■ Watch your proportions, symmetry, and the geometric relationship between all the elements as they tend to come under greater scrutiny in this category. When you’re preparing your entries, try spinning them around 180 degrees to get a clearer sense of visual weight and compositional balance in your final image.
ART
■ Take what you know, what you have seen, and make it your own. Authorship is all a photographer has. An artistic voice needs to find a consistent note, have an intent, and say something we haven’t seen before.
■ The portfolios that worked were the ones where an idea or concept was present.
■ Special attention is given to imagery that judges have not seen before. Therefore, innovation and original ideas of the artist will be rewarded most. Creativity is the creation of the new.
BLACK & WHITE
■ If you’re given three entries in a competition, give three different photos, or at least the same subject in different light. Three different frames of the same thing is lazy.
■ Black and white images are about tonality, contrast, and impact. Images which stood out had immediate visual impact and expert craftmanship in their composition and execution.
■ ChiaroscuroistheartformIlookforinablackand white image, and the most successful images use strong contrasts between light and dark affecting the whole composition. I’m looking for a photographer’s signature style throughout each of their frames.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers relies on some of the world’s best photographers and industry experts to help judge the region’s most amazing emerging talent. We’re extremely grateful to the 37 individuals on the 2021 judging panel.
ADVICE FROM THE JUDGES
Our judges were asked to provide their tops tips for anyone planning on entering in 2022. Here’s what they had to say.
ANIMAL
■ Whenphotographinganimals,focusoncapturing
their essence. I know that sounds vague, but
whether it’s in their eyes, colour, texture, or shape,
you will be able to create an image that goes beyond
just traditional animal photography and connects
with your audience. Instead of just taking a picture
of an animal, try and capture its soul. DOCUMENTARY
■ Unique animal portraits get noticed – either of subjects photographed in a way we haven’t seen before, or behaving in a way we haven’t seen before, or even of subjects we haven’t seen before. The images which captured my eye in this category achieved this and were engaging, and had distraction-free backgrounds.
■ For a series to rise above the rest, you need a great story or issue, a successful visual narrative comprised of a variety of images to not only represent the story, but also to remain visually stimulating and engaging, and you need to find real moments that capture action, emotion, mood, and that give a unique or surprising view into that story.
[capture] may_jul.21
capturemag.com.au
65