I didn't think you'd be able to find any of my pictures because there are so many there. Maybe it won't be so hard for me to find them...or maybe it will.

I don't imagine I had any wins this year because the judges are lame. I've heard from someone that they're really just a bunch of relatives of people in the photography department, as well as a few people who actually know how to judge, so your odds on winning are not particularly good unless the judges happen to know you. That's why I got ribbons on all the wrong photos last year and nothing for the good ones. Er...that made me so mad.

I have one particular photo in the animals category this year that I know is a pretty rare shot. It was sweet and adorable, and I shot it the day before the deadline for the entries this year.

I got your message last night, but I didn't have the time respond because I was up all night doing homework. Literally. I had that take a test in Taft today, so my homework had to be finished. I didn't really get any sleep until a few hours ago, and now I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

By the way, nice picture. Love it. I have a pier picture from San Simeon this year, but it's nothing like yours because it was a bit smoky and there was not cloudy weather like yours. Lucky!

Step it up then Robin... don't blame the refs. If you have a sweet, rare shot, maybe it's how you presented it. Just throwin it out there...

big fish in a little pond

No big deal, Pete. I really don't care that much, so I guess I shouldn't have complained. I just think it's kind of dumb that not all of their judges are professionals in the photography field. I do think that my cute calf picture was presented pretty well, though. It's mounted on a gray board. There's not too much more you can do with it than that. I'm not sure, then, what you mean by the way I presented it.

What I really care about right now is getting my photos compiled into a portfolio so I can show it to people. That way when I get closer to applying for internships (I am nowhere near that right now), I will have that portfolio ready to go. My fair pictures will not do me any good in the internship world, as far as I'm concerned.

Ah, but anyway, back to the fair. By the way, Geni, I had four pictures, so I wonder which one you missed.

I have entered many photos in the past.  Hawaiian sunsets and beautiful, candid shots of my daughter have won me first place and some honorable mentions.  Will probably do more when my youngest gets a little older.

Grandson and wife entered pictures again this year.  One of them should be an infant in his fathers hands.  That's all that's in the picture.    They each entered the max, whatever that is, and will be going tonight to see the results.

My son and grandson have been entering pictures for years and there's no rhyme or reason for the judging.  They've had some not as good as others and beat them out and also had the 1st place not be as good as a lot of others.  Judging at fairs is subjective.  Last years winner in the childrens photos wasn't as good as grandsons but another time son won a blue ribbon for action sports and felt his wasn't nearly as good as second place.

Eye of the beholder.

Because of a trip with my dementia dad to MN late August, I missed the deadline this year.  I won 3 ribbons outta 5 photos  entered last year.  The closest to the top was 2nd place.  I'll be shooting for next year (haha punny).

[edit] by the way, I love the lines in/on your pier shot. 

I would love to know what the judges look for when judging. I've won second place and down, but generally get more than one ribbon. Maybe I'm losing my touch!

I was fascinated by some of the abstract photos. They were pretty cool this year. I'll have to break down and open my newly purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements classroom book I just purchased and learn how to use my Photoshop to its fullest extent.

Robin, I don't think I saw the one mounted on a gray board. Hope it was a winner. Any other ribbons you may or may not have received I won't comment on, don't want to let the cat of the bag!

Bakonative

I'm not sure how the photo contest goes but here's my experience with needle arts.

I've won 15 first , 2 second and one third place ribbons in addition to The Committee's Choice Award and the  2 Best of Show awards.   All of these were awarded for my crochet work.

I haven't entered anything in at least ten years.  To the best of my memory, they used to give me the judging sheets which showed how my work was graded.

I got the third place ribbon for a doll which had a speck of coffee on her dress.     Not clean!

Mostly they judged on the difficulty of the project and the neatness with which it was completed.

Every time the fair rolls around, I'm sorry I didn't get anything together to show.  I always say "next year".

Next year for sure!  ; -)

Wow, you have done great in the past Audrey! You need to back into the fair contests and share your work!

I've added one more photo to be above, the rainbow did not place.

I have a huge bell collection and put in the fair many years ago.  I set it on midnight blue velvet with piers underneath to showcase and accent certain bells.  I labeled each section of material (brass, porcelain, bisque, wood, etc) and put a lot of time in presentation.  I got a blue ribbon and was so tickled.  The next year I put it in again changing the bells and presentation.  Another blue ribbon.  I was doubly pleased until I started looking at other bell collections and found three blue ribbons in the same class, same number.  I never entered again.

Mark (motopoet) won Chairman's Choice for a glass etching of Challenger and Grand Champion for a diorama of a military jet crash.    Both son and grandson and wife have won numerous ribbons for photography.

You can also see my house from there........lol

It took so long for the tides to take all the seaweed back out after the winter storms.  All that seaweed was up to the seawall.  Too bad Bakonative you didn't get pictures of when the waves were coming ONTO the pier.  Wild stuff!!

Teachercate, would have loved to see those waves! I also took a picture of a poor elephant seal on the beach. I think he was sick.

There were a number of Elephant Seals who beached themselves this year.  Wierd weather.  Was that one of the ones south of Hearst Castle?

If you took that Pier picture on a particular wedding weekend - you missed those waves by a day.  The pier was shaking it was WILD. 

So what camera do you use? Hubby just bought be a Canon 40D SLR digital.......need to take a class to figure it all out....lol

Ahhhh Cat, you and I know each other. Like cat and mouse I got ya. Of course it was a wedding day. But who else would know that?  BTW, when WAS the last time you taught school???

w

Come on Native I had to drop that big ol' hint in your lap about a wedding.

Last time I taught - try Friday...........lol......doh!

So did you leave the mortgage business 'just in time'?

teachercate65, I thought you said you were retired. 

Retired?  Nah - made reference to where to where I used to teach - you must have misunderstood..... i am still thriving amongst the 'public servant' class of our society.

teacher, you're funny! I forgot you did go back to teaching, so I guess you can you use teachercate as your blog name - ha - you have my permission!

Thanks...........LOL!!!

Hey when are you guys making spaetzle?  Isn't it about that time of year??

Yup, it's that time of the year. Now that you have planted spaetzle in my head, I'll probably have to do it next weekend! BTW, I use a Sony DSC-H1. I am a big Sony fan, but I did get a small pocket sized Canon just for my purse. Your new camera still has a point and shoot feature by using auto, but its designed for someone who can use it's manual adjustments to the fullest. Hope your hubby has had photography classes.

LOL sorry about planting the spaetzle seed in your head.....especially since I can't mooch any from you.

I have found all the 'easy' stuff on the camera - but there are sooo many features that require a 'hands on' learning approach for me.  Camera is for me - he is indulging my wishes.  I just HAVE to make the time to take the classes in SLO.

Congrats to you for going back to school.