Thursday, July 18, 2013

dp+ 2nd year anniversary

photo by Gina Villanueva-Uyan


17 July 2013 celebrates dp+' second year anniversary! Originally a Friendster group in 2007, it still continues to function as a group that facilitates sharing and learning and being passionate about photography Here are our first year milestones:

1. dp+ group site members - 1,431 members
Now with members as many as the initial dp+ group on Friendster. With most additional members came from voluntary membership

2. Number of Likes on dp+ official Facebook site - 959 Likes
To all dp+ members - please support our official facebook page through likes found on this link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digital-Photography-PLUS/242285489128553

3. dp+ site members - 203 members - check out this link: http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/05/it-was-dp-9th-month-in-existence-as.html

4. Still with dp+ administrators: Ginavi, Juanito Vinluan, Benjax Rivera, Omar Jordan de Guzman, Matthgew Matchinsky, Hieronymus Rosales, Gilbert de Vera, Edmund Chan, Ivanig Dpp, Lennox Tpc and Fidel Fernandez. dp+ is truly grateful for their continuous support.

The group appreciates photo sharing and insights, appreciation of other members' works and for the simple act of lending strength to the group when and where needed.

 Happy shooting to all - happy 2nd anniversary!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

photo challenge 12 - Levitation winner by Popular Votes Pick

First Prize Winner by Popular Votes Pick
photo challenge 12 for the month of November 2012
theme: Levitation
photographer: Jaime Tan Ventura Jr.
title: "I Believe I Can Fly"
camera: Nikon D3000
total no. of votes: 43

Sunday, November 11, 2012

dp+ pick winner - photo challenge 10 with theme "ethnic dance"

dp+ Winning Entry - photo challenge 10 - dp+ Pick
theme: Ethnic Dance
photographer: Raphy M. Arcaina
title: "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance"
camera: Nikon D5100
summary of picks: total of 5 judges picks
(1 - 1st Pick and 4 - 2nd Picks)
total judges score: 441/500
 Here are the remarks of the judges who included this entry to their top 3 picks: 

Judge 1 - 2nd Pick
Beautifully captured! Shot timed just as the girl smiled. Should have been my 1st pick if not for the added points due to technical difficulty of the "Moriones" entry.

Judge 2 - 1st Pick
 The photographer has the best seat in the house. If there was eye connection, the emotion would have been really great. One thing I personally think was off is the tilt – If it was the other way around, the arms’ orientation would have been the ones diagonal – not the street – and hence would have been more natural and dynamic. Also, in design, an upward tilt is considered positive while downwards is negative. Technically the bokeh was great, lighting was good and the tones were even.

Judge 3 - 2nd Pick
This photo is all about lines in good measures. The tilted shot, again showed relationship of what festivities is all about - life in between, grounded, the horizontal and the vertical, the spirit. Colors also are in good measure. Finally, the one dancer in the middle represents the totality.

Judge 4 - 2nd Pick
The color is very nice, the contrasts with yellow/red versus the black/white, although the photo does seem a bit washed out. The expression of the dancer is it's strongest feature. The extreme angle of the shot does impart a certain sense of the motion of the dance and I feel a less extreme angle would have served that purpose better.

Judge 5 - 2nd Pick
 I like the pleasant ethnic feel to it. Though some might be tempted to boost its color, I like the way it was pleasantly temperated. Showing nice sychronized movement reinforced by the tilt, the bokeh and the captured expression to create an altogether beautiful piece.


This entry also placed 1st  with 44 votes in the Popular Votes Pick where dp+ members voted entries through likes.

This entry got picked by all 5 judges in the dp+ Pick.1 judge voted for it as 1st Pick and 4 judges as 2nd Pick. Total score is 441/500 compared with 2nd Place entry by Victor Gamosa Ursabia with a score of 398/500 picked by only 3 judges and Bobby Eric with a score of 247/500, also got picked by 3 judges. The rest of the entries that made it to the dp+ Pick only got picked by 1 judge each. dp+ Pick winner is based on the entry getting the highest score. This entry being selected by all judges got the highest score making it the winning entry.



dp+ Special Award - (Most number of 1st Picks)
photographer: Victor Gamosa Ursabia
title: "Moriones"
camera: Canon 50D
summary of picks: total of 3 judges picks
(3 - 1st Picks)
total judges score: 398/500
dp+ administration deemed this entry by Victor Gamosa Ursabia to be given the dp+ Special Award. It is the first time that an entry that didn't get the top score, gets the most number of 1st Picks. For that, it deserves to be acknowledged and given recognition also. To view comments to this entry, please check out this link: http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/10/judges-top-3-choices-for-photo.html.


photographer: Bobby Eric
title: "Arakbuyan"
camera: Sony A77
summary of picks: total of 3 judges picks
(3 - 3rd Picks)
total judges score: 247/500

This entry by Bobby Eric got picked 3 times also like the entry of Victor Gamosa Ursabia but all 3 judges chose it as their 3rd Pick. Remarks to this entry can be viewed also through this link: http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/10/judges-top-3-choices-for-photo.html.

Congratulations to Victor Gamosa Ursabia for winning our first ever dp+ Special Award for the most number of judges' 1st Pick

Cheers and Congratulations to Raphy M. Arcaina, our biggest winner for winning both Popular Votes Pick and the dp+ Pick in the "Ethnic Dance" theme, photo challenge 10. A generally liked entry from the Popular Votes Pick to the dp+ Pick, all in good measure, a really ethnic and festive dance piece, kudos to you!






Saturday, October 27, 2012

judges' top 3 choices for photo challenge 10 dp+ Pick

Judge 1


3rd pick - Entry 4 - Bobby Eric - "Arakbuyan" - Sony A77
Quality - 28/30
Creativity and Originality - 28/30
Theme Adaptation - 18/20
Overall Impression - 18/20
Total - 92/100
Remarks: Very pleasant to the eye, colorful!



2nd pick - Entry 11 - Raphy M Arcaina - "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance" - Nikon D5100
Quality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 18/20
Overall Impression - 18/20
Total - 96/100
Remarks: Beautifully captured! Shot timed just as the girl smiled. Should have been my 1st pick if not for the added points due to technical difficulty of the "Moriones" entry.



1st pick - Entry 3 - Victor Gamosa Ursabia - "Moriones" - Canon 50D
Quality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 18/20
Total - 98/100
Remarks:
Superb execution! This is the best for me. It is hard to shoot something like this without a flash. The timing is impeccable!! The photographer is so attuned to the dance as if knowing the exact moment to shoot.


Judge 2


3rd pick - Entry 7 - John Leo Dela Rosa - "Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City" - LX5
Quality - 25/30
Creativity and Originality – 20/30
Theme Adaptation – 20/20
Overall Impression – 15/20
TOTAL – 80/100
Remark: Big number, colorful costumes – key elements for a great production. If this was taken at eye level in front and the frame filled, the intensity and emotion of the colorful dancers would have been great. Technically sound, the big issue was the lack of activity on the lower left, while the formation and shadows suggests there are more activity that was cropped on the right.



2nd pick - Entry 16 - Gilbert D’Vera - "Hula Kahiko"- Canon 50D
Quality – 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 25/30
Theme Adaptation - 15/20
Overall Impression – 15/20
TOTAL – 85/100
Remark: Dance suggest emotions, and this dance certainly was full of it. If this was taken in front, where there would be better chances of eye connection with the photographer, the intensity would have been brought out. Technically, the color temp, shadows/highlights and motion blur all contributed in establishing the ambiance and emotion. Good job.



1st pick - Entry 11 - Raphy M Arcaina - "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance" - Nikon D5100
Quality – 30/30
Creativity and Originality – 25/30
Theme Adaptation – 20/20
Overall Impression – 15/20
TOTAL – 90/100
Remark: The photographer has the best seat in the house. If there was eye connection, the emotion would have been really great. One thing I personally think was off is the tilt – If it was the other way around, the arms’ orientation would have been the ones diagonal – not the street – and hence would have been more natural and dynamic. Also, in design, an upward tilt is considered positive while downwards is negative. Technically the bokeh was great, lighting was good and the tones were even.



Judge 3


3rd Pick - Entry 4 - Bobby Eric - "Arakbuyan" - Sony A77
Quality or Technicality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 15/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impact - 10/20
Total - 75/100
Remark: This is a cliche shot but is still always effective.



2nd Pick - Entry 11 - Raphy M. Arcaina - "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance" - Nikon D5100
Quality or Technicality - 20/30
Creativity and Originality - 20/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impact - 20/20
Total - 80/100
Remark: This photo is all about lines in good measures. The tilted shot, again showed relationship of what festivities is all about - life in between, grounded, the horizontal and the vertical, the spirit. Colors also are in good measure. Finally, the one dancer in the middle represents the totality.



1st Pick - Entry 3 - Victor Gamosa Ursabia - "Moriones" - Canon 50D
Quality or Technicality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impact - 20/20
Total - 100/100
Remark:
This pix is to me is the best of the lot. the high contrast, the minimality of lines, good line definition, the capture of floatation high enough by showing the ground level. the theme of dance, ethnic/festival in homage to a deity or santos, like all fiestas/festivals are all about, here captured them, dancers, floating between heaven and earth. right spot where festivities is all about.


A general note from Judge 3:
Entry 15 - Fidel Fernandez - "Korean Fandance" -  Nikon D40
I have a bit of problem when I first saw the photos. They are dance but i want to see MOVEMENTS and GRACE. Most are static. With regards to quality and technicality, most haven't made use of technique, just camera per se. Also, I need to see more originality. The rest of the photos besides the 3 I picked, were mostly cluttered. The one from Korea has the potential but its background gives way to distraction. Cheers!


 Judge 4


3rd pick - Entry 23., Omar Jordan de Guzman - "Traditional Arabic Dance in a Desert Safari"- Nikon D700
Quality - 25/30
Creativity and Originality - 26/30
Theme Adaptation - 16/20
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 82/100
Remark:
The color is really appealing. I very much like the sharpness of the dancer's face and the canopy he's twirling. If the empty stage to the right had been cropped off it would have brought the subject more to the fore, and cut out the bright lights in the background which are distracting.



2nd pick - Entry 11 - Raphy M Arcaina - "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance" - Nikon D5100
Quality - 25/30
Creativity and Originality - 26/30
Theme Adaptation - 17/20
Overall Impression - 17/20
TOTAL - 85/100
Remark:
The color is very nice, the contrasts with yellow/red versus the black/white, although the photo does seem a bit washed out. The expression of the dancer is it's strongest feature. The extreme angle of the shot does impart a certain sense of the motion of the dance and I feel a less extreme angle would have served that purpose better.


1st pick - Entry 8 - Lindsay Roberts - "Celebrating Buddha's Birthday" - Canon 5D MKII
Quality - 28/30
Creativity and Originality - 25/30
Theme Adaptation - 18/20
Overall Impression - 19/20
TOTAL - 90/100
Remark:
The color and lighting were very good in what was probably less than ideal conditions. The audience in the background was kept dark, which helped the dancer stand out more. I liked the way the image is composed. At first glance it may seem the balance is off, but with the movement of the dancer the umbrella behind her gives a good sense of her motion. The gesture of her left hand is one of those little details I like, what does the gesture mean?


Judge 5


3rd Pick - Entry 4 - Bobby Eric - "Arakbuyan" - Sony A77
Quality or Technicality - 25/30
Creativity and Originality - 20/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impact - 15/20
Total - 80/100
Remark: An ethnic dance, lively colors, costume and all. Nice graphic presentation.



2nd Pick - Entry 11 - Raphy M. Arcaina - "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance" - Nikon D5100
Quality or Technicality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 25/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impact - 15/20
Total - 90/100
Remark: I like the pleasant ethnic feel to it. Though some might be tempted to boost its color, I like the way it was pleasantly temperated. Showing nice sychronized movement reinforced by the tilt, the bokeh and the captured expression to create an altogether beautiful piece.



1st Pick - Entry 3 - Victor Gamosa Ursabia - "Moriones" - Canon 50D
Quality or Technicality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impact - 20/20
Total - 100/100
Remark:
The theme is ethnic dance. This is definitely ethnic and an honest to goodness dance very well captured technically and aesthetically - movement, color and all. Kudos to such a superb piece!


A lean but mean selection of entries, thanks all for joining and being such a good sport and congratulations to all those who made it to photo challenge 10 dp+ Pick!




Thursday, October 25, 2012

photo challenge 12 theme for the month of November

an entry to photo challenge 5 with theme photo illusion by Viotor Gamosa Ursabia  entitled "Defying Gravity"



Will it be possible to levitate
Lifting from one's heavy weight
To be free from hold 
physical base...

- from Levitation opposing literature not gravity - Fun scientific poetry


All Soul's Day is celebrated in the month of November. So for dp+ 12th photo challenge, November 2012 theme would have to be "Levitation" since this is how souls or spirits are perceived.

Dictionary.com defines levitation as:
the raising or rising of a body in air by supernatural means.

The challenge is to make a body appear to levitate or float by means of photography. We are looking for the most well executed capture of levitating like bodies with careful attention to technicality, aesthetics, color, detail and composition. In short, it has to be a photo of a body that appears to be suspended in air and believably levitating and it has to be beautifully and creatively captured.

As customary in all dp+ photo challenges, it should not have any major photo manipulation. To know up to what extent acceptable photo manipulation covers, here is the link to our rules and regulations: http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/03/dp-photo-challenge-general-rules-and.html

Criteria are as follows: 
Quality or Technicality - 30%;
Creativity and Originality - 30%;
Theme Adaptation - 20%
Overall Impact - 20%
For details on the criteria definition, please follow this link: http://dpplus.blogspot.com/2012/02/dp-photo-challenge-dp-pick.html

deadlines:

posting of entries:
from November 1 - November 15, 2012
12 midnight - Philippine time

voting or liking of entries:
from November 1 - November 16, 2012
12 midnight - Philippine time

start of dp+ Pick judging: November 17, 2012

Good luck to all!

Monday, October 22, 2012

top 10 ranking for Popular Votes Pick - photo challenge 11

After the final casting of votes on October 16, 2012 for the theme "Delectable Food" for the month of October photo challenge 11, here is the ranking of entries from Top 10 to Top 1 majority votes pick. They are:

Top 10  - Entry 27 - Raynard Rivera - "With shells wide open" - Pentax KR - 18 votes

Top 9 - Entry 1 - Rockit Potograpiya - "Galbi Jjim" - Kodak Z740 - 19 votes

Top 8 - Entry 16 - Edison Alba - "Spicy Shrimp" - Nikon D5100 - 20 votes

Top 8 - Entry 15 - Dhina Ocariza Fontanilla - "Tofu with chili sauce" - Nikon D5100 - 20 votes

Top 8 - Entry 11 - Monching Corpuz - "Australian Open-Faced Salmon Sandwich" - Nikon D90 - 20 votes

Top 8 - Entry 9 - Edgar Valido - "Isang Hapunan" (One Meal) - Kodak AF - 20 votes

Top 8 - Entry 2 - Caesar Preposi - "Salmoni al forno" - Nikon Coolpix L120 - 20 votes

Top 7 - Entry 28 - Allan Valenzona - "I cook I shoot" - Canon 1000D -  24 votes

Top 6 - Entry 8 - Ciao Rhoda Corpuz - "Marang" - Nikon D90 - 25 votes

Top 5 - Entry 5 - Lily Vinluan - "Sweet Tooth" - Tough 3000 Olympus P & S - 27 votes

Top 4 - Entry 7 - ElMer VdjOops Enriquez - "Honey choco with sweet strawberry on top"  - Sony A100 Minolta -  31 votes

Top 4 - Entry 3 - Ric Tan - "Filipino all-time favorite food (Roasted Pig)" - Nikon D7000 -  31 votes

Top 3 - Entry 4 - Romel Biscara - "Stressed desserts" - Canon 50D - 33 votes

Top 2 - Entry 14 - Hubert Santos Baluyot -  "Spaghetting Pataas" Nikon D5100 - 37 votes

Top 1 - Entry 10 - Raphy Arcaina - "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." - Nikon 5100 - 44 votes

To all entrants who made it to the top 10 - Congratulations! a wonderful display of food fit for the gods - well done!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

photo challenge 11 - delectable food winner by Popular Votes

First Prize Winner by Popular Votes Pick
photo challenge 11 for the month of  October 2012
theme: delectable food photo
photographer: Raphy M. Arcaina
title: "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first."
camera: Nikon D5100
total number of votes: 44

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Top 10 Popular Votes Pick for the Ethnic Dance photo challenge

After the final casting of votes on September 16, 2012 for the theme "Ethnic Dance" for the month of September photo challenge 10, here is the ranking of entries from Top 10 to Top 1 majority votes pick. They are:


Top 10 - Entry 9 - Francine Fran - "Souplese et Couleurs" - Samsung ST 65 -  15 votes

Top 9  - Entry 5 - Tymothy Stoll - "Folk Flight"  - Nikon D50 - 17 votes

Top 8 - Entry 14 - Ciao Rhoda Corpuz - "Fire Dance" - Nikon D90 -  18 votes

Top 7 - Entry 8 - Lindsay Roberts - "Celebrating Buddha's Birthday" - Canon 5D MK11 - 19 votes

Top 6 - Entry 1 - Manuel Yambao Jr. - "Wave" (a Chinese New Year dance) - Nikon D7K -  20 votes

Top 5 - Entry 16 - Gilbert de Vera - "Hula Kahiko" - Canon 50D - 24 votes

Top 5 - Entry 3 - Victor Gamosa Ursabio - "Moriones" - Canon 50D - 24 votes

Top 4 - Entry 15 - Fidel Fernandez - "Korean Fan Dance" - Nikon D40 - 26 votes

Top 4 - Entry 12 - Hubert Baluyot - "Bird Festival" -  Nikon D5100 - 26 votes

Top 4 - Entry 13 - Dick Manongdo - "Ati Atihan Festival" -  Nikon D90 - 26 votes

Top 3 - Entry 4 - Bobby Eric - "Arakbuyan" - Sony A77 - 33 votes

Top 2 - Entry 7 - Leo John de la Rosa - "Dinagyang Destival of Iloilo" -  Sony A77 - 39 votes

Top 1 - Entry 11 - Raphy Arcaina - "Kagay-an Cultural Street Dance" - Canon Power Shot A530 - 43 votes 

To all entrants who made to the top 10 by Popular Votes - never been such a colorful and festive set of entries -  Congratulations!