August- September Assignment Calendar Photos

[F, Calla & Luca]

Back by popular demand we are doing calendar photos this month. This should give us plenty of time to get photos, critique them,  and in general try to help each other in this tough competition : ) I am copying some of Adina's past guidelines so you will have an idea of what's acceptable, assuming they will remain the same. I will also track down some of the back and forth we had about what's she looking for as far as content when I get a chance. Please only post photos that meet the minimal guidelines. We should all try to be honest in our comments. Sometimes I think we try to be nice , always a good thing, but avoid helpful criticism , which can also be a good thing. In this instance helpful criticism is to be encouraged I think.

Update: Adina's Guidelines

Update: 2011 Calendar Submission announcement

Update:  This assignment is going to continue for the month of September

For those of you asking about cameras and editing, this was taken with my Nikon D90, and I did barely any editing. See, no snow on Calla's nose

The original:

My submission, later cropped a bit more for the 2011 labradoodle calendar cover:

 

Update: Here are some more discussions that may give you more ideas of what Adina prefers. You have to wade through them.

1)

2)

3)

4)

***** If you crop, and you should only do this judiciously, the photos need a MINIMUM of 1800 x 2300 pixels when Adina submits them. It's better to leave a margin for error, Adina can fiddle with the size if she loves your picture and needs to crop a little.

[Linda and "Toby"]

What a great photo! An excellent example of an acceptable way to break the rules about having objects in the background. In this particular case, it adds interest to the photo. I hope you submit this one, Diane!

[sandy b]

Diane, I really like this. It's colorful and different. IMO calendar photo.

[Ann Kendig]

Great photo.  I would lover to see it in the calendar. The only thing I see not in favor of this photo is Dakota does not fill the photo.  Most of photos selected in the past for the calendars the doodle fills much more if not most of the photo.  I assume with your camera you would plenty of pixels to be able to crop.  I know it would take out some of the boat but I think it would work.  

(I know in the guidelines it recommends not cropping but Ann and I have cropped every past  calendar submission and still left room for Adina to crop since we are shooting at 12mega pixels. Just make sure pixel size is 2400x1800 or greater or file size 4mp or more.)

Did you ever upgrade to the latest Olympus or some other camera?  Mike

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I think the exception is the calendar cover.  it would be a fantastic cover IMO.

[Diane Margetts]

Good call . . . I will mull the photo over a bit. 'Ya know how you "visualize" a photo but you can't get your Doodle to work with you????? In my mind, I wanted Dakota in the boat--ideally at sunset--BUT, as it was, "the planets didn't align" for me! He also seems just a bit more serious than I am accustomed to seeing him . . .

 

On the camera . . . No, not yet. This year has pretty much sucked. Started with a broken wrist; then getting laid off; starting my own business; then not laid off . . . I have not even had the time or energy to concentrate on shooting photos let alone upgrading BUT it is on my radar. I'm watching the prices on the E-5. Some used should be starting to crop up. I'm pretty sure that what I want to invest in but it's still very $$$.

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

Ooh I like this!

[Camilla and Darwin]

A couple more I might consider. Oh how I wish I had a DSLR.  I realize that good shots can be taken with a point and shoot... but I just love how special photos look when taken with a nice camera. Anyways, I realize these are basically just simple snapshots... but they are a little closer to the traditional full face straight ahead look the calendar seems to have. Thoughts? Any warmer?

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I love the one in the leaves! 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I do too...I think it's the colors with his coat.  I wouldn't worry about not having a DSLR...your photos are better than the ones I've been taking WITH a DSLR.

[Carol and Banjo]

Camilla - You take wonderful photos!   I love the 2nd shot and of course the last one is stunning!!!!!

[Diane Margetts]

Agree with the leaves==beautiful!

[Mike, Cedar and Reno]

The one on the leaves is a good one!