good 'nuff? (pic)

[milkmaid]

Working on putting together some photos to enter for the local fair. At the moment I'm trying to decide if this one's good enough/interesting enough/etc to bother with blowing it up to 8x10 at Walmart and entering it.

Any comments?

 

[msscamp]

I can't help you with that one, hon, except to say that I have absolute faith in your judgement! If you have a good feeling about her, go for it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. ;-)

 

[dj]

MM face shots or forward postions seem to be favored for the ribbons. But it is a nice shot of mom and calf. The judges might like it cause it's different. This year seems to be alot of blk and wht with colorized subjects, ie a blk and wht of grass with a lady bug in full color or a blk and wht bush with a butterfly in color on it.

 

[Jogeephus]

I like it. It has a paternal story to it, or several the more I look at it. But I don't know what the judges like - just know what I like and I LIKE IT!

 

[Alice]

The judges might like it cause it's different. /quote]

I agree...I know that I love seeing front views of calves with their mamas, or without their mamas...but when I saw this, it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling right off the git go. It's kind of like seeing a mother and child walking down the street together holding hands and really enjoying being with each other...keeping in step with each other.

Go for it, MM...whether it places or not, I think it really sends a great message!

Alice

 

[Frankie]

I like. Different perspective.

 

[3MR]

My opinion is make it B/W, then enter it.

 

[milkmaid]

Thanks for the opinions, folks. Really appreciate it. :) I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a try -- just means an extra trip to town to pick up the print. :P (I can order it online at Walmart, but have to drive to pick it up.)

I agree with ya'll that I usually like the forward-facing pictures better; this one was just a quick snap with the digital that I took without serious forethought, passed over it when I downloaded the pictures, and later went back to it. More I looked at it the more I liked it -- but then I know I'm biased anyways. :lol:

3MR - I changed it to black and white - what do you think now? better in black and white?

 

[Alice]

I normally favor black and white, but I really like the one in color.

Alice (not 3mr, I know, but thought I'd throw that out there)

 

[VanC]

Any picture of cattle is fine by me. Can't speak for the judges, though. Personally, I like the color better. If not too expensive, maybe you could print one of each and then decide which you like best. Good luck!

 

[John in WI]

The subjects are well centered and the background gives it an overall great balance. The purple ground cover gives a good opportunity to display the photo in color. Just my opinion.

 

[Jogeephus]

I showed this to my wife. She loved it. Said same thing I thought, "has a story". Possibly life through the eyes of a calf - the twin. Maybe stopped to chase a butterfly or something and had to catch up. :lol: I like color better, but that kills the idea of the world through the eyes of a calf doesn't it. Aren't they color blind? Who cares, either way its good.

 

[Cabo]

Milkmaid, I like the color one best, seems to make the features of the calf come out more. Great job. :clap:

 

[IluvABbeef]

MM: I like both of the pics, but what I like best was the level you took it, from that of a calf's perspective, like Alice said.

The b/w photo made it look almost original, or sort of homely. To me, anyway.

But the color pic is probably the best, because of all the colors in the background, the purple alfalfa flowers, the blue hills in the background...real calf heaven (oh yeah, can't forget cow too...) It also shows abit of juxtaposition (something like that, there's an artist's/photographer's word for it, but I can't remeber exactly what...), the b/w with color.

Anywho, great pics milkmaid. They're quite different from what I've seen of pictures of cattle, but cute, in a way.

 

[cfpinz]

Normally I like B/W photos, but the color one catches my eye this time.

Cool Pic :clap:

cfpinz

 

[3MR]

I still thinkn the B/W coudl be better than the color, but I would adjust the contrast and saturation so it doesnt have so much of the washed out look.

This was just real quick, but maybe something like this.

 

[sidney411]

too dark, you lose the calf too much.

 

[3MR]

I just did that real quick with a couple of seconds. If she plays with the grey scale in photoshop you can get contrast where you want with out making what you dont want to dark. Adjusting the grey scale will prevent the washed out look from computer generated B/W.

How about this. I adjusted the midtones just a bit from the B/W MM originally posted.

I hope you dont mind me playing with your picture MilkMaid.

 

[Pooog1]

I really like it. I think its quite cute! ;-)

 

[Bucky]

I think the color version is great milkmaid -definately worth entering.

Do you know how to crop? I would try cropping using the rule of thirds if you have enough background left. Divide your photograph into thirds horizontally and vertically and place your subject where the lines intersect, it is supposed to create a more powerful compostion. You have a bullseye composition meaning your subject is right in the middle, which is where we naturally want to put everything ;-) The reason I am telling you this is that I heard a fair photography judge once complaining how most entries subjects are right in the middle :D

Also try Costco for your prints if there is one nearby and you are a member, they do an EXCELLENT job and are wholesale.

Enjoyed the pic-

Just my opinion, please don't be offended,
Mandy
http://mcarthur.smugmug.com