Calendar Photos --Potential Submissions for Display and Critiques for 2014

[F, Calla & Luca]

*********** PLEASE!,, if you submit multiple shots number them so we don't have to keep going back and counting.
<>This discussion is for photos you might consider submitting for the calendars 2014. Every year Adina requests submissions for DK calendars, as most of you know. There are usually Goldendoodle, Labradoodle and sometimes other calendars such as a potpourri of multiple doodles on a page or puppies. I'm guessing this announcement will occur around September 1. The calendars go on sale in Cafe Press, or at least they have in the past.

Here's a link to this year's calendars.

http://www.cafepress.com/doodlekisses/9432415

Each year the quality of the photos has gotten better and the competition stiffer. You must follow the rules in terms of size and pixels or Adina will deep six the photos right away. If your photo is not selected it doesn't mean it wasn't good and you get to enjoy the images you took anyway. Choosing the final photos is done by Adina. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/page/calendar-photo-requirements

 If you don't want people to critique your photos you should let us know explicitly each time you post but I can't guarantee it won't happen. I do know some people prefer not to get feedback of this sort. Of course you don't have to submit pictures you post here and you can submit pictures you haven't posted here. I am hoping people will be honest and supply constructive criticism. We know all doodles are cute and gorgeous but not all photos of them are perfect. So help each other in a kind but critical way. We can all ignore each others advice. 

This discussion is just for display and not the submission itself. The rules for that have been clear too.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/we-are-now-accepting-photo...

If you read these links and the replies you will know more than you ever wanted to know and have most of your questions answered.

We have had tons of discussions of this sort in this group. Here are a few.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/calendar-submissions-2012?...

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/Photographygroup/forum/topics/cal...

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/Photographygroup/forum/topics/aug...

Don't go too crazy and forget to feed your dogs, plot against the competition, or fly consultants in from far away : ) Remember, folks this is supposed to be fun.

None of the above may be true for this year and Jack Doodle is representing me in any lawsuits, or so I hope.

[Carol and Banjo]

Wow....F, once again, Thanks!   Thanks for all you do here in the Photography Group.   Any newbies will benefit greatly from the links you've here....and even some of us oldies.

I haven't submitted in a couple of years but may submit this one taken last Feb.    Critique always welcome!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the thanks Carol : ) I love this portrait of Banjo for the scene, color and composition. I would adore it if I could see his eyes. Although the hair obscures the one eye I can't really see the other either. The editing gurus could probably help with that.

[Adina P]

Lovely, but that's all I will say.  I do have to comment on one calendar-technical thing I like about this.  See how there is space below his feet?  I really love that because it means his feet wouldn't get chopped off by coils.  But obviously that is a minor issue.  A bad photo with lots of space doesn't make it good.  And an amazing photo with chopped off feet could still be good =)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Adina, is the basic formula, as outlined above, pretty accurate?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Carol, I LOVE everything about this photo. SUBMIT!!

[DJ & Chance]

Great composition and lovely colors. people say that pet portraits need to catch the eyes, which is hard with floppy headed doodles. if that is true, then figuring out a way to brighten the eyes could help.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Carol, I love this portrait of Banjo.  It's so beautifully soft!  I don't know if you edited it, but the blue of the water echoing the blue of the sky is perfect.  Doodle hair blowing in the breeze --so natural. The other eye could be brightened a bit, and that would be lovely.

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This background is totally incredible and I really like this picture of sweet Banjo....I do wish I could see those eyes a little better though.

[GBK]

Carol, that background is Dreamy!  And I love the wind blowing on Banjo, great shot :)  The tip of his leash is showing right next to his left foot, a quick clone out should be easy.  Great job!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I super-dee-duper love this photo. :-) I agree with F about the eyes but other than that it's perfect!

[Sue]

Excellent Carol!! Could you add a bit of fill light? Clicking on it is the view you really want to see.

[Carol and Banjo]

Thanks for all your comments.   The only fixes I did to this one was to boost the saturation a wee bit and remove his harness.   I wondered if anyone would notice the rather "patchy" job I did of that....it glares out at me!  So I went back to another shot that was almost identical to see if I could do a better job of removing the harness and noticed how very NOT IN FOCUS this shot actually is!   UGH!   i.e.   Will not enlarge into a nice photo.    : (     Oh well, back to the drawing board!