Be a Winner on Photos-of-the-Year.com

by

  Robert Och

Photos-of-the-Year.com in my opinion has a wonderful and interesting approach to Photography. Winning photos are based on what most people find appealing. Pulling from a world wide base of members, there is no better way to see what appeals to the masses, than on this site. Not only do members look for the basics of photography skills for instance light, rules of thirds, composition, perspective, DOF, and all the other aspects of good photography, but also the eye appeal and interest of the subject. Since judging is done by so many, as opposed to just a few judges, the results are real and dependable, what wins here directly relates to what is sell-able world wide. To be a winner on Photos-of-the-Year.com, I would suggest you enter your own works and read the comments that others from around the world leave for you. Keep in mind they took their time to review your work, that already says a lot, your photo spoke to them in some way, there are many photos on this site, yet yours was one they looked at and commented on. Read the critiques look for patterns in the critiques (if several people say you need to use a fill flash for instance) take that new information and try it, see if your work improves (more than likely it will and people will say so). Take the time to review others work, for in critiquing you will see things in a more open way then looking at your own work. Then take that same critical eye and review you own work again (just as if it was someone Else's work and not your own) you may see some things you missed before. Read critiques that have been given to other's work, see if you agree or not, there is a lot to learn reviewing other people's critiques, apply these critiques to your own work. I would also suggest to be a winner of Photos-of-the-Year.com, study the winning photos from the previous contests and galleries, see what they share in common, see which ones move you and ask yourself why they move you in the way they do. Compare the prior winning shots to your own work, look for the things that work in your photos and what things do not work in your own pieces. But most importantly remember this, the only real winner on Photos-of-the-Year.com is the person that improves the most in their art (you only compete against yourself) and enjoy the journey. I will leave you with this thought. "Your best photo should be your next photo".