Friday, September 5, 2008

It's Only Fair

Thank you all so very, very much for your plentiful and extremely helpful feedback! You all are, quite simply, the best!
I ended up tallying the results of everyone's feedback, combined those results with my personal preferences and then stared at the photos right up until the very last minute - seriously, it was the last minute. The first printer i called said they couldn't have prints ready in time, the second said i absolutely needed to have the pictures in to them by close of business that Thursday. Of course, to complicate matters, i also had to work Thursday night. With five minutes left before i had to leave for work, i still hadn't decided; so i sent five or six of my favorites to the studio to be printed. i hoped that, when enlarged, i would possibly find some imperfection, etc. that would help me narrow down the three finalsists.
Yeah, it didn't help, they still looked good, even enlarged. i still couldn't choose. To maximize opportunities for recognition (ie. prizes), i opted to submit only one picture per lot (you can't win more than one prize per lot). This forced me to choose between some of my favorite pictures.
In the final tally, Mesa Arch ended up being the "audience" favorite with Havasu Falls close behind.
Mesa Arch

Havasu Falls

And while i really like the picture of Mesa Arch, i seemed to remember having seen at least one or two in last year's fair, thus i wasn't sure what kind of originality points it would score with the judges. So i went with the photo of Havasu Falls which really is one of my most favorite pictures.
I also really like the panoramic image of Navajo Falls, and submitted it as well.

And finally, since my only real "professional" photography experience comes from the wedding field, i felt it somewhat necessary to choose a wedding-related photograph, and the close-up of Kira in front of Multonmah Falls is one of my favorites. (I also really liked the vertical panaroma of Kira and the Falls, but felt the people on the bridge were too distracting).

Anyway, i hate to say it, but it looks like most of you were right; my favorite picture of Havasu Falls didn't win anything and there were no other pictures of Mesa Arch, so the Mesa Arch picture may have done better.

And the kind of disappointing thing was that the picture that won was from Antelope Canyon, and i kinda think my old Antelope Canyon pics were slightly better.




Since no one from the "audience" had really chosen this bridal picture of Kira as one of their favorites, i was somewhat surprised to see this...

That's fourth place, which isn't too shabby!
And we were very surprised to see this in the panoramic section...

That's first place, can you believe it?! There were definitely some great pictures over in the panoramic section, so i was both pleased and surprised my photo did so well.
Anyway, thank you all again for you help. While i may not have chosen the same photo you did, i definitely considered and appreciated everyone's feedback. Maybe next year i can get the pictures submitted before the last second.

9 comments:

princess jen said...

Yay for my honey!! Good job. I'm so proud of you!!! You worked hard and after much hounding from me, finally got your pictures in and you did wonderfully. I can't wait to see what you submit next year! (and it was awesome of your mom & Sam to come to the fair just to see your photos and awards!)

Barbers4 said...

Congratulations, Alan. Well deserved. And thanks for the update. I was too curious to see which you had settled on. It feels pretty good, huh?

Barbers4 said...

p.s. I looked at the Mesa and Havasu photos at the top again, and they are both really fabulous. I know you didn't enter the Mesa shot, but that category must have had some stiff competition for you not to have placed. It is a great shot!

Kira said...

Wow I am so glad one of your photos won 1st place! That is so awesome! I am jealous! I wish I could take pictures that awesome! I am so happy my photo helped you out too. All the pictures you took for my engagment/ wedding were so beautiful! I get so many compliments on them all the time. I will certainly refer you to anyone looking for a great photographer!

Kari said...

That's great Alan! I'm so proud of you! I still think your landscapes are fantastic. And look at you with that panorama! I didn't even really look at it before(because I'm stupid), but it looks like a Thomas Kincaid painting, but like, WAY better!

Super Daysh said...

You rock! To be honest, I can't say that I am all that surprised that you won that many awards- your pics are so dang good! I'm just glad you entered them in this contest and that other people confirmed our high oppinions of your skills-maybe you will be just as flattered when we say you rock - cause obviously we aren't that far off. :) Congrats Alan!

Mythreesons said...

Good job Alan! I love, love that panoramic picture... it was a well deserved ribbon. I'm totally stumped that your Falls didn't win anything because that's probably one of my favorites... it must have been very stiff competition. Your landscapes really are amazing and I'm looking forward to a slew of them for Christmas.... hint, hint. That would be a very cheap (you don't have to frame them) gift that I would cherish and love, love... Congratulations!

Thoughtful Runner said...

Congratulations are in order! Way to go....and one of these days, I will actually get around to submitting a few pictures for the Fair, as well. Why is there always too many things to do on "The List!"
It looks like we may have a REALLY good idea for a Christmas present one of these days!

Malik Imran Awan said...
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