October Photo Challenge ‘SMILE’ winners
November 11, 2009 by Philip
Filed under Philip Dunn's PhotoActive Blog
Photo F - erabasson
WINNER with 39% votes
No shooting details available
That mischievous smile says it all. This picture is a delight to look at. A lovely candid, happy photograph. Even the colourful, out-of-focus background adds to the fun. So do the drips of water running down the surface of the mirror.
So, success first time for our new forum member. A great shot and a well-deserved win. Congratulations 
Photo A – Phil Wong
SECOND 29% votes
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
Shutter Speed: 1/125sec
Aperture f2.8
ISO 320
You’ve just got to laugh when you look at this picture. The clue of the pink flower in the girl’s hair and her pink dress suggest that the girls are bridesmaids and that the picture was taken at a wedding. It’s precisely this sort of image that will bring back happy memories of the special wedding day for many years to come. Good wedding photography should always include a few candid shots.
However – Phil I’m really pleased you did not win because I would have had to disqualify you. I’ve just noticed that this picture was taken back in 2008 and one of the main aims of the Monthly Challenge is to encourage you to get out and take pictures and follow the theme of the month.
Anyway, well done for a cracking picture, Phil. I look forward to your next entry – taken in the current month please.
Photo C – Wrinklearthur
Joint 4th place
Camera EOS Rebel XTi
Shooting Mode: Manual Exposure
Shutter Speed 1/60sec
Aperture: f10
Metering Mode: Centre-Weighted Average
ISO: 200
I just find this picture a joy. Childhood and happiness – things we are supposed to feel guilty about these days. Do you realise that because of mass paranoia generated by the ‘fear culture’ of Britain there is a whole generation of childhood that has not been recorded? To hell with that nonsense – this is a lovely, lively innocent picture of PEOPLE – it’s just that they are young ones.
The moment is caught to perfection. The problem I have is with the composition. I feel there’s just too much distance between the main character and the two boys on the left. For that reason I think it would have been better cropped to concentrate all attention to the little girl. Then it could be argued that some of the instantaneous atmosphere would be lost.
Regarding exposure for this sort of action – Wrinklearthur was using Manual Mode – it is best to keep the shutter speed up to, or faster than, 1/250sec if possible in order to ensure you freeze the action.
In this case that would have meant an exposure of about 1/250sec at f5.6 rather than 1/60sec at f10
Lovely picture.
Photo D – Gordon
Joint 4th place
Camera: Nikon D50
Shutter Speed:1/500
Aperture Value: f1.8
There is a particularly pleasing atmosphere to this portrait. Mostly this is created by the warm, soft sidelight – but the childs’ unassuming smile also play a major part.
I suspect the lad is holding his foot out of shot – or perhaps his hands are down on the floor. I think the composition could have been greatly improved if his arms had been wrapped around that knee – which at first sight creates a confusing black area.
Photo B – Lynne
Third place
Camera: Samsung GX20
Shutter Speed: 1/10sec
Aperture Value: f9.0
Exposure Compensation -0.7
ISO 400
I have to say that this is my personal top favourite from the entries for the October Challenge. I think with a little more care in cropping and a bit of gentle burning-in of background it would have had even more impact – basically, it’s a pity about the background.
Lyne is leaving herself wide open to some terrible camera shake by using an aperture of f9 in Aperture Priority Mode. This has forced a shutter speed of 1/10sec. Even with the best camera Anti Vibration system in the world that’s asking an awful lot. So do open the aperture to enable a faster shutter speed when the light is as low as this.
Photo E – Phil North
Joint 4th place
Camera: Nikon D2X
Shutter Speed: 1/160
Aperture Value: f5.6
ISO 100
He looks such a jolly good sort – a nice chap, friendly and full of fun.
That’s one of the pleasures of looking at this type of portraiture, even if you don’t know the subject personally, you can make up your own ideas of their personality.
The profile angle for a portrait can be very effective and it has worked very well here. The toppy backlight has helped pick out the profile from the darker background, and the bright yellow colours of the man’s hat and shirt really do help lift the image and compel you to look at it.
PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THESE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHS
The November Photo Challenge ‘SPEED’ is now open for entries on the PhotoActive Forum
The overall winner for 2009 will win a FREE day of one-to-one photography tuition with Philip Dunn
Hi Philip
Many thanks for your comments on my entry. I agree entirely about the pose, but this was just a “spur of the moment” grab shot. My young grandson was playing on the lounge floor with his toys and I noticed the good quality sidelight coming through the patio doors to his right, reached for my camera and called his name. As he looked up and smiled, I pressed the button. It was only later that I realised it might be a suitable entry for the “smile” competition, and I was delighted when you selected it as one of your favourites. I am the first to admit however that, pleased as I was with the image, it is not as good as the worthy winner.