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Smithsonian Spotlight: Picture Perfect
Watch the full episode to go behind the scenes, and into the minds of the judges, at the Smithsonian magazine photo contest. See what it takes to win a photo contest, from the lens of the photographers to the scrutinizing eyes of the judges. (23:00)
Produced by: Smithsonian Channel
Related
Dazzling Displays: 8th Annual Photo Contest Winners
Out of more than 50,000 photographs submitted, editors – and readers – picked seven showstoppers
August 2011 |
By Jesse Rhodes
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Shooting Stars: Tamir Ben Kalifa(1:57) |
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Shooting Stars: Tomeu Coll(01:35) |
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Shooting Stars: Robin Maddock(02:26) |
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Shooting Stars: Pilar Belmonte(00:56) |
Comments (7)
Thanks for featuring my polaroid transfer of St. Louis' own Eat Rite Diner in the manipulated category. I am truly inspired by all the photos in this show.
Posted by Jane Linders on December 26,2011 | 03:54 PM
I thought this contest was for undergraduates and other students? Apparently, I read something wrong.
Posted by Connie on November 30,2011 | 08:48 AM
Thank you for your feedback Bill Welborn! Those fully-clad women are Mennonites in their usual garb. They were on a Smoky Mountain tour and I just happened on them climbing up on the scenic overlook wall. It was not posed, they had no idea that I took the photo, it was taken with a point and shoot camera, and was not altered in any way. I am thrilled and honored to have it chosen as the Americana winner since I am the artist that snapped it!
All of the images in this year's contest were intriguing, interesting, creative, and very eclectic. Thank goodness that we don't all have the same styles or likes and dislikes. That is what makes the world go 'round!!
Debra Vanderlaan
www.CelebrateLifeGallery.com
Posted by Debra Vanderlaan on June 28,2011 | 10:13 AM
When chosen as a finalist, I had to hand in the original file. The judges then can see if anything has been altered. And for the altered category, what's been altered. even the smallest alterations will show. You will not be able to retain your status as a finalist, if you cant deliver a high resolution original file.
Posted by Lotte Pedersen on June 6,2011 | 12:44 AM
I'm so sad that this video is not allowed to see in Hungary.
Zoltán Balogh,one of the featured photographers in the video...
Posted by Zoltán Balogh on April 8,2011 | 11:52 AM
Excuse me. I did not prefer the backs of those fully clad ?women. What does that mean. Sorry, it was only a so-so photo. What can I tell you. But thank you for all that excitement and ! oh gosh, (you know what I mean) all the winners are me.
Thank you,
Bill
Posted by Bill Welborn on March 30,2011 | 10:25 AM
Just watched this interesting video about the process of choosing a winning shot. My question is over what you consider altered and what is not. For example the last shots that the texan took of the old rusty car were beautiful only because the colors were enhanced and the pictures were not a real representation of how the car looks like. Same with the pictures taken in Vietnam or China with the blue filter. They convey a completely different mood than if they were not enhanced with a color. And still they are in the nature or travel category. The winning picture of the head's guy circled by newspaper ( which I also voted for)stands out mostly because it has been turned into black and white. Even light can be manipulated with a skilled photoshop user and made to look like it was an original shot. Motion can also be selectively used by photoshop and make a picture interesting without making it seem like altered. In view of the technological advances of digital photography and photoshoping,what is your criteria for what is altered and what is not?
Posted by Nahed on March 27,2011 | 12:05 AM