Post on 03-Apr-2018
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Twelve Elements of a Merit PrintTwelve Elements of a Merit PrintTwelve Elements of a Merit PrintProgram byProgram by
Dave Huntsman,Dave Huntsman, M.PhotogM.Photog., Cr., F., Cr., F--KPPA, KDEKPPA, KDE
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Twelve Elements of a Merit PrintTwelve Elements of a Merit PrintTwelve Elements of a Merit Print
Impact Technical Excellence
Creativity Style
Composition Presentation
ImpactImpact Technical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
CreativityCreativity StyleStyle
CompositionComposition PresentationPresentation
Color Balance Center of Interest
Lighting Subject Matter
Technique Story Telling
Color BalanceColor Balance Center of InterestCenter of Interest
LightingLighting Subject MatterSubject Matter
TechniqueTechnique Story TellingStory Telling
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ImpactImpactImpact
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical ExcellencePrint Quality
Under exposed image, poor color.Under exposed image, poor color.
Properly exposed, color corrected.Properly exposed, color corrected.
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
Problems & Concerns
Cloning Tracking
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
Problems & Concerns
Cloning Tracking
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
Problems & Concerns
Cloning Tracking
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
Problems & Concerns
Lighting, over saturation, over sharpened.
OversharpeningOversharpening
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
Problems & Concerns
Lighting, over saturation, over sharpened.
Over sharpeningOver sharpening
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Technical ExcellenceTechnical ExcellenceTechnical Excellence
Over sharpening, usually obvious by a contrasting line followingOver sharpening, usually obvious by a contrasting line following the edges ofthe edges of
the image elements.the image elements.
Poor quality retouching, not blending facial retouching or retouPoor quality retouching, not blending facial retouching or retouching someching some
areas while ignoring others.areas while ignoring others.
Cloning tracks, where the item being cloned has not been blendedCloning tracks, where the item being cloned has not been blended to maketo make
the cloned area unnoticeable.the cloned area unnoticeable.
These are a few of the more obvious concerns when looking for teThese are a few of the more obvious concerns when looking for technicalchnical
excellence. If you'll keep these elements in mind when working oexcellence. If you'll keep these elements in mind when working on yourn your
images you'll find the quality in your everyday work improving dimages you'll find the quality in your everyday work improving dramatically.ramatically.
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CreativityCreativityCreativity
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CreativityCreativityCreativity
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CompositionCompositionComposition
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CompositionComposition
The eye travels through the image in a curve. It is best that weThe eye travels through the image in a curve. It is best that we don'tdon't
put anything in the image to stop the eye until it has moved thrput anything in the image to stop the eye until it has moved throughough
the entire image. The examples below show how roadblocks orthe entire image. The examples below show how roadblocks or
stoppers (elements that visually stop your eye movement) can effstoppers (elements that visually stop your eye movement) can effectectan image.an image.
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CompositionCompositionComposition
Great use of anGreat use of anSSCurve and the use of color to create interest.Curve and the use of color to create interest.
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
This Mat is distracting.This Mat is distracting.
This mat is too heavy/darkThis mat is too heavy/dark
for the subject.for the subject.
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
This presentation doesnThis presentation doesnt add anything to thet add anything to the
portrait or the story and is confusing.portrait or the story and is confusing.
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
The original image presented to the judges. There is a strong phThe original image presented to the judges. There is a strong photographotograph
within this presentation, it just needs a little help.within this presentation, it just needs a little help.
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
Since the eye travels from left to right we hit a stopper at theSince the eye travels from left to right we hit a stopper at the back of theback of the
manmans head. If we do start to look through the image again we are pus head. If we do start to look through the image again we are pulledlledout of the far side by the contrasting torn paper.out of the far side by the contrasting torn paper.
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
Flipping the image horizontally helps us come into the mans faceFlipping the image horizontally helps us come into the mans face..
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
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Print PresentationPrint Presentation
Problems & Concerns
Removing the torn edge and representing the image makes it muchRemoving the torn edge and representing the image makes it much
stronger than the original that was presented.stronger than the original that was presented.
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Print PresentationPrint PresentationPrint Presentation
Which presentation do you like best?Which presentation do you like best?
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Print PresentationPrint PresentationPrint Presentation
A well presented image, using colors from theA well presented image, using colors from the
image in the mat andimage in the mat and keylineskeylines, without pulling, without pulling
your out of the image.your out of the image.
A very nice image but theA very nice image but the
repeating background drawsrepeating background draws
your eye out of the image.your eye out of the image.
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Print PresentationPrint PresentationFinishing Your Prints
The jurors sitting in the endThe jurors sitting in the endseats will be viewing the edge ofseats will be viewing the edge of
your images. The white paperyour images. The white paper
base is very distracting visually.base is very distracting visually.
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Print PresentationPrint PresentationFinding the image within the image
Using a marker toUsing a marker to
blacken the whiteblacken the white
edge on low key / darkedge on low key / darkprints, reduces theprints, reduces the
visual distractionvisual distraction
created by the papercreated by the paper
base.base.
If the print is mountedIf the print is mounted
on white core board Ion white core board I
would also darken thewould also darken the
edges of the board onedges of the board onlow key / dark prints.low key / dark prints.
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Color Balance / HarmonyColor Balance / HarmonyColor Balance / Harmony
Both of these images show a greatBoth of these images show a greatsense of color harmony.sense of color harmony.
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Color Balance / HarmonyColor Balance / HarmonyColor Balance / Harmony
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Center of InterestCenter of InterestCenter of Interest
Strong Subject matter and goodStrong Subject matter and good
composition to pull you into thecomposition to pull you into theimage.image.
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Center of InterestCenter of InterestCenter of Interest
Center of interest canCenter of interest can
be very subtle orbe very subtle or
very strong. Both ofvery strong. Both of
these images containthese images contain
a strong center ofa strong center of
interest but are veryinterest but are very
different visually.different visually.
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LightingLightingLightingThe strength of these subjects is well portrayedThe strength of these subjects is well portrayed
because of the strong lighting used in each.because of the strong lighting used in each.
The essence of the man is shown through his wellThe essence of the man is shown through his welldefined features that are lit so wonderfully.defined features that are lit so wonderfully.
The maker choose the perfect time of day for thisThe maker choose the perfect time of day for this
scene. Utilizing the setting sun to create a sense ofscene. Utilizing the setting sun to create a sense of
drama.drama.
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LightingLightingLighting
Beautiful short light, defines theBeautiful short light, defines the
shape of each of these lovely faces.shape of each of these lovely faces.
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Subject MatterSubject MatterSubject Matter
These two images are at opposite ends of theThese two images are at opposite ends of the
spectrum when it comes to subject matter,spectrum when it comes to subject matter,yet each tells a great story.yet each tells a great story.