As mentioned earlier, there is no golden rule to win a competition like this, however here are a few tips and thoughts to consider.

One of the most common mistakes is either not to read the rules and criteria, or to ignore them. So lets talk about the criteria then:

1.) Relevance to the theme

Ask yourself if the image you enter fits the category described in the first place. If you enter in the Portraiture category, then it should not be a picture of a temple with no people. As better as your image fits naturally in that category, as more likely the judges accept it as such. There is still plenty of room for you to play with.

2.) Technical Execution

The most common problem we see here, is poorly executed post production. Keep the integrity of the image and the story in mind. Over saturated colors, over sharpened, badly applied dodging and burning… the list goes on. Photoshop is part of your workflow, but there is a fine line of getting the best out of your pictures and “overdo” it. 

The other common problem is blown highlights or generally an exposure that does the image not justice. In the same category would camera shake and back focusing be found. We have such precise gear today, there is no excuse for a badly executed image. If it does not life up to your highest demands, then chances are smaller your image will make it to the final round.

This said, bear in mind that an image can be grainy, “overexposed”, out of focus or could come with any other technical “flaws”. As long there is an intend visible and it helps to tell the story… even better. It does not mean because an image is blur its not technical perfect. 

3.) Originality & Impact

An image has only a couple of seconds to convince a judge to look at it longer. If it lacks impact, chances are it gets lost amongst the thousands. Keep in mind that there are many images and somehow yours has to stand out in a good way. Which leads us to originality. Entering an image from Angkor Wat is of course appreciated, but chances are yours is not the only one. Famous places have been seen over and over again by a photo editor.

If you enter with an image from a famous location or attraction (and please do so), show us something different or something that wows.

4. Compositions

There are many rules and helping tips for better compositions out there. To follow them or break them with intend can lead to an image with more context and impact. The composition should support and magnify the story you are showing. The obvious may not always be the best. Keep in mind that your way to compose& frame the image will lead the viewers eyes.

5. Content & Evocative Quality of an Image

This is a though one, but let me describe like this: Some images evoke feelings, others not. Some images have a life, others don’t. When ever an image has a “soul” it is able to make a connection with the viewer. It makes us think, angry, smile, laugh or cry. It will trigger something that reaches further then the obvious graphical shell. Its where the technical quality ends and the story telling starts.

I hope above will help you to look at your images with new eyes and will help your editing & selection process

Felix Hug

We have been asked if subscribers of Asian Geographic’s Passport Magazine can enter the Asian Geographic Photo Competition for free. Unfortunately this is not the case, but the good news is, that we are working on a unique Travel Photography Competition for Passport and this forthcoming contest will be free to all existing and new Passport subscribers. It is currently planned for launch in Spring 2010.

We have been asked a few questions on things like HDR, filters and composits, So here’s the official extract from the rules again.

“Digital manipulation of images:

Images taken with either a digital or a film camera will be accepted. You may use digital manipulation to optimise an image but you are not permitted to add or remove key elements of the composition. Composite or montage images, from more than one original image, are not eligible. “

In other words…

The rules do leave some freedom and that was our intend when we created them. Time has moved forward and the Digital Workflow has become a daily reality. There is no such thing as “straight out of the camera” anymore. You may “grade” your images black and white or sepia or in other dual tones.

You may use dodging and burning technics. This is all fine. With filter technics and HDR things start to blur a bit. Going back to the same RAW file and using highlights and dark areas to get the ‘perfect” picture is fine. We don’t really want HDR images and creations from several images though.

Keep  the “story” and content of your images always in mind. Its far more important then the Photoshop technics you use to enhance the images. 

Whatever technics you use in Photoshop, they should not alter the content and should be used to enhance the original image rather then creating a new one.

If you do push it to the edge of the rules, thats fine with us, but you also have to be prepared for the chance that you entry might fall of a cliff

I hope that helps in answering questions around Photoshop.  Feel free to leave a comment if you have any further questions.

This competition offers 3 open categories to enter your images.

1. Faces of Earth

2. Faces of Asia

3. Faces of the Wild

Some of you may have been a bit confused of where to enter your images, so let me go through this in a bit more detail here:

1. “Faces of Earth”

sums up all those great images of Landscapes, Seascapes and other scenic images. Architectural pictures would go here, as well as Monuments. Images that show the viewer unmistakably where he is, as well as that newly discovered place, you just came across. 

It could be the Taj Mahal or Ankor Wat, The Amazing beaches of Borocay or the Aerial picture of the Maldives. The jungle of Borneo in the morning mist, or the mountain range of the Himalayas.

Whatever the choice is: Wow us with stunning views and the feel of “I wanna be there”. Although humans or other living creatures may and sometimes should be present to give context, mood or scale, they will most likely not be the main subjects in this pictures.

Ask yourself in those cases if the images fit better in category 2 or 3.

2. “Faces of Asia”

Thats where the judges like to see those amazing Portraitures and People shots. Bear in mind though, that a portraiture does not have to be a close tight shot.

There is the classical portraiture, as well as the environmental portraiture. It can go as far as capturing the intimate moment of people in their surrounding. Whatever your choice is: People and their story are the “main act” in this shots.

If you should get stuck, think about the great imagery of Olivier Follmy or Steve Mc Curry here to name some reference.

3. “Faces of the Wild”

This is a bit more straight forward. You could say its the above category, but the focus is on the animals.

Frans Lanting springs to my mind as a perfect example of reference.

Dear Travel & Photography Enthusiasts,
 
The experience of travel has inspired mankind since the beginning of explorations. To capture such experiences with images is one of the most exciting past times for many of us.
 
But how exciting are these images to others? A competition is always a good way to find out. As we all know, judging images is not a precise science, so at times we are lost and are asking ourselves: “What the heck are these judges actually looking for? Do they have the slightest idea themselves? Or are they just throwing darts at the wall, while having their eyes closed? (And of course the eyes are always closed on MY images!)”
 
Let me say this: Dart throwing may sound tempting, but there are actual criteria to make an image last longer in our heads and give them a real shot to win this competition, or just winning over any person out there looking at them longer then two seconds to begin with.
 
This blog is designed to give you a little peek into the judges’ heads and to explain some of the criteria used to sort out the better images.
 
Anyhow, feel free to ask me a question via the comments link below.

I look forward to the conversation!

www.eyesonasia.net