Photo U

It can often seem like a mystery as to why an image came out blurry. The most common cause for blurry images is camera shake which basically means that the camera moved during your shot. This movement can be very small and still create blurry images. Let’s explore the four main causes of camera shake.

Holding the Camera Incorrectly
Camera shake can be reduced by holding your camera correctly. Whether you use a point and shoot or SLR this hold is essentially the same.
• Hold the camera close to your body
• Tuck your elbows in against the side of your body
• Keep a firm but relaxed grip on the camera
• Stand with your legs approximately a shoulder-width apart
The goal of this is to stabilize your body and the camera so that the camera is as still as possible when shooting.

Common Technique Errors
There are some common mistakes during shooting that can increase camera shake. Avoid these common errors and your images will be much clearer.
• Stabbing the button instead of pressing it
• Moving the camera from you eye quickly after a shot instead of holding it at your eye a moment after the shutter is complete

Slow Shutter Speed
While slow shutter speed is generally necessary in night photography, it is a huge cause of blurry images. Slow shutter speed is generally considered the greater of 1/60 of a second or anything under the focal length of the lens. For example, if you are using a 300mm lens, a shutter speed of 1/300 of a second may still be too slow for a clear image. However, if you are using a 28mm lens, 1/60 of a second is considered slow. Slow shutter speeds are a problem because the human hand is not steady. Large lenses such as 300mm increase the weight on the hand and create shake. Using a high shutter speed decreases the amount of time of the exposure and the amount of shake that can be transferred to the film.

Unstable Support
Setting the camera on an unstable support for long exposure times is a very common cause of camera shake. While using a remote release is a great way to reduce shake from support issues, there are some supports that will never be stable.
• Overextended Tripods
• Vehicles That are Running
• Boats and Floating Docks
• A Friend’s Back

Find a stable support, such as a soft backpack set on a flat rock, and use a remote release to overcome camera shake from unstable support.

Your time on the screen will be very short, perhaps only a few seconds. Make the most of that brief time to communicate the quality of your work.

Backgrounds

• Keep backgrounds simple. Don’t use busy textures or outdoor scenes behind your items. The object itself should stand out clearly.
• Shoot Against Unobtrusive Backgrounds
• Your artwork is best shot against a plain background that will not distract from the piece.
• Use the same background for all of your slides.
• Keep white space to a minimum – it can be distracting. Too much white space can draw a juror’s eye away from your work.

Perspective

• Images must be sharp and well composed.
• Use Proper Angles
• When photographing your work, use angles that present the piece in a straightforward manner. Avoid shooting at wide or slanted angles, as this will distort the perspective of your artwork and cause it to appear wider in areas where it is not.
• Choose an angle that adds a degree of dynamism to the item, but don’t go overboard.
• Come in close. Fill the frame, but don’t crop the item.
• Work that fits the format of the slide or image has an advantage over work that does not. For example, a very long thin item will look small in a large rectangular space, while an object that naturally fits the space will appear larger and show more detail.
• The eye will be drawn to the brightest and sharpest parts of the image. Use that to your advantage. Be sure that there is a satisfying amount of detail in those areas.
• Fill Up the Slide
• Use the full space of the slide to present your work so that as much detail can be observed as possible.

Exposure

• Images should have a full tonal range. Watch for overexposed (washed out) or underexposed (dark or muddy) areas.
• Don’t let shadows obscure the details. Use them as a means of producing depth or showing texture.
• Be Mindful of Lighting Conditions
• Natural light (overhead sunlight) usually works best to capture all the details of your work. If none is available, photograph your work using photo bulbs (ask your local camera shop for details), which preserve color detail.
• Avoid using florescent or common household incandescent bulbs, which can distort the actual color properties of your work.
• Use the correct film or digital camera setting for your lighting. Incorrect settings will result in images with false color.

Selecting the Group

• Choose consistency over variety. Avoid confusing the juror with too great a range of styles or techniques.
• Choose slides that complement each other, and have a flow, or relationship with each other.
• Look at the interaction between your images. If possible have your first slide introduce the group and the last slide summarize the group. This may help the juror stay focused on your group of images.

Models

• Models can have a strong influence a juror’s initial reaction to your work. Work with a professional, if possible.
• An artful crop can draw attention to your work and away from the model, but it also can be distracting. Use caution.
• Use models when photographing wearable art only.

Detail views

• Detail slides can be useful if a close-up view will give the juror a greater appreciation and understanding of the quality of the workmanship
• Detail views do count as part of your slide total, so use them only if you feel it is absolutely necessary.

General

• Never leave tags or identifying labels on your items.
• Don’t include a ruler or other item for scale unless specifically instructed to do so.
• One item per slide is standard. If you have a very good reason to group items, keep the number to four or less. Don’t submit more than two group slides.

The Digital eJury System
Benefit from Understanding the Process

For many years, juries relied on slide projectors to view the work of potential exhibitors. Sets of images would be projected in a dark room while descriptions were read over the background hum of projector cooling fans. This process had many inherent problems. Some images might be more in focus than others. Color temperature and brightness of bulbs in the projectors could vary widely. The pace of viewing and judging was necessarily brisk, with each set of images being shown for a very limited period of time. The ability to review and reflect on the work by individual jurors was hampered by the inflexibility of the multi projector system. As an artist, your only opportunity to make an impression was within the few seconds your work was on screen.

Now, a fully digitized system, pioneered by Juried Art Services, provides many advantages, both for jurors and show applicants. For applicants, understanding how the system works and how your images will be displayed will help you make the most of the time a juror spends reviewing your work.

Understanding the Digital eJury System
Images are presented to the juror on a single screen along with a brief description of the artwork . With the click of a mouse, a larger view of each image is displayed, along with your detailed description of the individual piece. Each juror can carefully examine the details and read the descriptions.

Quality Images Make all the Difference
In spite of the shift to digital imaging, the basic elements of a successful submission have not changed. Excellent images have always been a key part of being accepted to any competitive event. Unless you have exceptional photographic skills, you should hire a professional photographer who has experience in shooting slides of work like yours. Lighting techniques, composition, and choice of background and are just three of the variables that need to be controlled to maximize the power of your slides. It makes little difference if the images are created on film or with a digital camera; the same rules apply in both cases.

Preparing Your Images
Most juried art competitions allow you to send your slides by mail. They may also offer scanning at an additional fee. However, artists who are more familiar with computer technology may choose to optimize their digital images themselves. This allows you to maintain control over the quality of your images. For example, you can take the opportunity to eliminate problems like dust and dirt. You might work with the Healing Brush and Cloning Tool in Photoshop, or a similar image-editing program.

Precise control of color and tone can be more difficult. It requires an understanding of the relationship between the input device (scanner or digital camera) and output device (the monitor on the juror’s desk). Color-managed workflow is a fairly complex topic, but we have listed some key elements you can use to optimize your images for the Juried Art Services system. To take advantage of these tips, you should be technically oriented and somewhat skilled with computer use.

• Always begin with the highest quality original available. Don’t scan slide dupes; they have excessive contrast and diminished tonal range.
• Evaluate the scans on a calibrated monitor and optimize the image to the size and format required by the competition. Just because a photographer owns a digital camera, don’t assume that s/he is expert in use of Photoshop. If you want to have your images optimized in Photoshop, consult a Photoshop expert. If you have your work digitally photographed, create your images at the highest possible resolution for the camera. Request a copy of all images in an uncompressed format, like TIF or RAW, which can then be used in your image editing software program.
• Save your final files in JPEG format. No matter what format or method you use to prepare your digital images, the eJury System accepts only JPEG files.


The Importance of Written Descriptions
The eJury application includes space for you to describe aspects of your process that might not be evident from a quick look at your images. Even the best photograph might fail to reveal subtle detail in a large piece. To help you direct the juror’s attention, a 1000-character description is displayed with your body of work. A few well-chosen words can draw the juror’s eyes to unique elements that might otherwise be overlooked. You also include a description of up to 300 characters with each individual image, displayed when a juror examines the enlarged version of your work.


eJury System Technical Details
Jurors view your work on monitors in 24-bit color at 1024×768 resolution. The system gamma is set to Windows 2.2. The viewing template (See screen shot) displays all images at an initial size of 300 pixels wide. When a juror wishes to see more detail, they can click on an image and will be presented with an enlarged view. Enlarged images are sized at 700 pixels wide and share the screen with the detailed description, which can be up to 300 characters.

Conclusion
To be successful in juried art competitions, submit excellent images of your work along with clear, effective descriptions. Understanding the digital elements of the process will aid in your communication with the jurors and help your work receive the recognition it deserves.