Hello...I am having a hard time figuring out which of the photo's I took look better to have slides made for an up coming CP show. While normally I wouldn't care, this particular show is judged before the pictures are even sent out and you have to be accepted by the judge. This is also a first time for me so I kind of want the quality to look good. Or if neither of them look good feel free to let me know and I can always take more pictures. The thing is, Is I have to have final pictures taken by Monday and have them ready to be sent through an online site to have slides made, and the slides sent out before the 8th of February. So that isn't much time!! Thanks All for looking and for comments, its greatly appreciated!!!

I think the bluer one looks the best. The colors are brighter and the picture stands out. Also when it is made into a slide the colors will really come out. The darker pic might just be to dark for a good slide. Hope that helps.

Which is closer to the real life image Venus? That is the one you should go with.

I personally prefer the lighter one, the darker one doesn't show the colours as well in my opinion.

I like the lighter one myself it shows of more of the contrast of your colours especially on the branches and berries. good picture btw

I personally like the darker one because to me the colours are more harmonious. But I know nothing about slides at all

Ok, without the original it is hard to say which is beter. We all like the lighter one because the color stands out, but is it the correct color. The photos here and the photos that are judged will be different since I would assume you will send much higher resoluition to the judges. You have probably notice when a photo is small it can sometimes look better than if it is large, just like standing across the room vrs 2 feet way when looking at a painting or drawing.

If you are not a photographer or somewhat into photography it can be a real pain to get a good pictures of artwork. I have a faily decent, but older camera that refuses to pick up certain colors in certain conditions. To me judging someones artwork from a photo kind of a rip off in my mind. I guess they are just trying to filter out things with bad compostion and obvious flaws that you can see with a photo.

If anyone is interested I have a list of photo taking tips, PM me and I will try and find them and post them in their own thread. I am not a photographer and don't play one on TV, but I have leaned a few thing over the years.

Good luck with the contest!
Doug

I like the lighter one too. Which one is closer to the real drawing? Could you take a picture of it, maybe, so we could judge for ourselves?

Ernest see thats the problem, they are both pictures I took with my digital. One is with the flash and the other is without and I would say the original picture itself is inbetween the two more of a duller light blue/gray. I will try to get a couple more pics in and see if I can find one more like the original in better light.

I like the darker one because it shows more of the tree. And it just seems to have more emotional appeal than the lighter one, though you can see detail better in the lighter one.

Good luck with the show!

Marilyn

Can you use any software to enhance either of the photos to find a mid-range balance?

Venus, if you can righ up a couple outdoor type spotlight shining them on your picutre from a 45 degree angle about 10 feet away, then take the photo with no flash, and the camera set on neutral color (if you have that option) it make help. Adding full spectrum or natual noon time sunlight along with the spot light will also help color rendering

Perhaps two light sources or outdoors might give you better results Venus.

Personally I like the darker version. I think it looks like something you would find on a Victorian screen. It appeals to me. But would definitley like to see a pic you feel is closest to the real colour.

Good luck with the show - hope you make it to the final judging.

Thanks you all for the wonderful advice. I will try opening the blinds of my huge picture window with the main livingroom lights on and see what that does. I made a couple of suggested changes by one of my friends from my local CP Chapter and cp teacher...hehehe (friends with benefits) and took some more pictures. I left it bigger to show details and used the flash so there is a little glare at the moment in this particular picture, but it is pretty much exactly like the original. I will get some some more with the natural light effects in a bit. So feel free to C&C...

I like the feel of the lighter one Venus....even the bird seems more cheerful....beautiful drawing...

Have you all ever seen this page? It's got a lot of good advice.

Thanks Ernest!! I found it really informative, now if I wasn't doing anything for the next two day I would be putting all that information to use! Hopefully, we are done tomorrow..LOL. kids are being really rambunkious (sp) and not looking forward to taking them anywhere, but then again my sinus headache isn't helping either...LOL. Hopefully, I can do and find something right. I am sure (positively thinking here) I will do alright and my picture will get in, its just too cute not too...hehehe.

I think the bluer one is the best. Its more bright in color, and seems more clear.

I would go for the bluer one too.

I may be too late to say but I too like the lighter one

Thanks Everyone...I really value all of your opinions. I have been getting some help from one of my friends through my CP Chapter and have come to the conclusion that I am not done as of yet..so I am still working on the background as I felt it was to bland. So as soon as I get it finished tomorrow, I will post another picture and that way I will have it done to send pictures in for the slides Monday. Good thing I can meet with the president of the CPSA Chapter and turn the slides into her instead of mailing them or I would really be worried.