Design Competition

Adirondack Life is a local magazine in the Adirondack area.  Being a native to this area I thought it might be interesting to submit some photography work for this contest.  The qualifications are the following:

http://www.adirondacklifemag.com/blogs/photo-contest/photo-contest-guidelines-2/
Submissions: Black-and-white and color prints (no larger than 8″x10″) and high-resolution digital images (300 dpi or higher) may be submitted. Digital images should be 8 bit (NOT 16 bit) saved on CD or uploaded on our website as tiff, jpeg or psd files. Please name each file with your name and a number from 1 to 5 (i.e., JohnSmith1.jpg). Images submitted by CD must include a color or black-and-white printout (full-size or thumbnails); physical printouts are not required for images submitted online.

Mounted or framed prints, slides, color negatives and photo books are not accepted.

All photos must be taken in the Adirondack Park. Each entrant may submit up to 5 photographs total. Categories may include People, Recreation, Landscape, Wildlife, Macro, Alternative Process and Black and White. Other creative categories are encouraged. There is no entry fee. THE BACK OF EACH PHOTO MUST BE LABELED WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S NAME, ADDRESS AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE IMAGE. Unlabeled prints will not be accepted. Professional photographers’ submissions will not be considered.

Mailing: Entries will NOT be returned. Enclose an inventory list of numbered images—including locations where images were taken. SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT AN INVENTORY LIST WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Include a stamped, self-addressed postcard for acknowledging receipt of your material.

Judging: Entries will be judged according to the overall quality of the photograph, with special attention paid to composition, exposure, focus, color and general interest.

Deadline: All submissions must be sent to Adirondack Life Photography Contest, Box 410, Jay, NY 12941 and postmarked no later than December 1, 2013. Winners will be announced in Adirondack Life‘s April 2014 issue.

Prizes, Awards and Usage: A grand prize of free admission to the signature fall workshop sponsored by the Adirondack Photography Institute in 2014 will be awarded for the best image. First, second and third prizes will be awarded to traditional color entries, black-and-white and/or wildlife photos. The judges may also select images for honorable mention or special categories. Winners will receive a commemorative pottery bowl or mug. Winners agree to have images published in print and online. Winning images may be used with full credit for promotion of subsequent contests.

ADIRONDACK LIFE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MATERIAL LOST, DAMAGED OR MISDIRECTED IN THE MAIL.

The concept of my submission is Photo manipulation.  The first photo I am submitting is something I tried earlier this week of a friend of mine.  I set up a tripod on a terribly windy day that we stopped by her camp on the Sacandaga Lake and I created a long exposure shot by leaving the shutter open on my camera.  I was looking for a blurred, misty result on the otherwise very wavy surf.  I think I might have had more success if I'd lived near an ocean but I really loved the color's in this photo.  To make this shot successful I actually took two shots and created a composite--one of my friend and the background entirely in focus and the other with a ten second long exposure.  The reason I used two shots was because I knew that my friend and even the tripod could not be trusted to remain still for those ten seconds because of the amount of wind that day.  For this shot I placed one shot directly on the other and gently erased the background until the parts of the image I wanted in focus--were and the others, weren't using the eraser tool in photoshop.  I took these shot's as the sun was setting in the opposite direction to achieve the soft, blue light that enveloped the sky.  My target audience I suppose, would be people interested in local life around lakes in the Adirondack Park.  If this were to be used in a magazine it would have to do personally with the person in the photo and what they are to this place and what this place means to them.  These photo's a guess are more artsy than documentary but they have to do with nature, people and art.  The beauty of this area is that you can be near a body of water to achieve the look of the first photos or honesty drive ten minutes in the other direction to find a cornfield for a completely different look.

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Flash Sketches-Unplugged

I have been having an extremely difficulty with this project...because I used to be really good at sketching, drawing and painting.  Somewhere along the last four years I seemed to have lost any and all ability to be creative and therefore anything I begin with becomes a crumbled piece of paper on the floor.  If I do happen to draw something that gets my point across, I then become overwhelmed with the massive amount of digital enhancement that is then able to transform my image.  I have been extremely frustrated and therefore have only a few sketches to show what I am trying to go for.  I want to express an "Unplugged," skit.  People connected to only material items who then change to connect with each other.

The first image shows a women surrounded by technology.  She's got a tv, cell phone, xbox, lap top and stereo system.  The second image shows (what should be) the same woman getting in touch with herself through Yoga with no distractions around her.  My other sketches depicted a man and woman simultaneously trying to connect to the internet while in each others presence before we see an alternative sketch where they are trying to connect with each other--unplugged.  Please--any and all tips or critique's are welcome.  My frustration is becoming the better part of me for this project.

Taking Time

I think a huge problem in our society is instant gratification.  The problem with First World societies has to do with the fact that everything we could want or need is so easily attainable or can ship between seven to eight business days.  People want convenience and brand names and something I worry about is our fluent with easy technologies-next generation.  Kids today are growing up with everything handed to them and communication skills that stop at the end of their IPhones.   I was a part time waitress at one point and can recall a scenario consisting of a table of eight that literally scared me.  There were three adults and five children—all of which were seated with eyes glued to their cell phones.  If one of the adults tried to get the attention of a particular child (all of whom were about twelve and under) they were met with bratty whining and disrespectful responses.  The adults would give up after a time, losing to the battle of a game on a cell phone, I’m betting not for the first time.  Five kids sat through that whole lunch, and did not interact with each other.  I was disgusted with the situation and saddened by the parents handling of it.  However, when I thought about it later I wondered if I could have done any better.  When you are raising a child in the day and age, how do you keep the latest popular technology from dictating their life?  And if you do figure out a way, are they going to be less adept to how their generation will one day run the world?  We are a spoiled, bratty society that I wish were more compassionate, social (and I do not mean social media)  and active.  I am guilty of all of these things as much as the next person.  Especially since photography is my niche—I spend hours upon hours a day dependent on computers and cell phones…but I sometimes wish I weren’t. 

For my Flash project, I think I’d like to do a short called “Taking Time.”  I’d like to somehow show people amidst this technology dependent society doing timeless things that we’ve been doing for years.  I think I’d like to actually see kids outside playing and interacting or baking cookies with a parent.  I remember a time when a neighbor a quarter mile away would walk to my house and knock to see if I was home and if I could come out and play.  I think people need to remember how to be simple.  I’d maybe show people sitting around a campfire or playing fetch with their dog—who is unleashed (because God forbid you let your dog of its leash in my town).  I’d like to show people taking the time from their busy lives and actually enjoying being alive and surrounded by all the things that down involve wasting minutes or hours staring at a screen.  Maybe one of these days I’ll even put down my camera and just enjoy, instead of “document,” which is what we’ve all learned how to do, relentlessly via blogs, twitter or facebook.