Detroit - Government: My entries

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The subject was "Government" in the competition last night in Detroit.  My
three entries were as follows:

1. Picture of the flag in my house.  I figured the best way to photograph
the American flag with a blue cloudless saturated sky in the background
(polarizers will help) and a fill flash to make the reds and whites come
out and contrast the blue underexposed sky.  A little breeze to open and
extend the flag towards the camera helps.  Mounting so the tip of the flag
touches the window, helps too.  That's what I did and I liked what I got. 
But the judges were not impressed as shown by the below average score this
entry received.

2. Vietnam Memorial Statue of soldiers in Washington DC, photographed at
night with a flash and then reverse-copied so the dark background turns
white (light background works better in projection than dark background)
and the statues of the soldiers (with guns and everything) taken a weird
blue/green color.  It was a very original picture which I am sure puzzled
the judges.  It was awarded enough points to get an Honorable Mention.

3. My highlight of inspiration came the night before the meeting (2:00 am -
past midnight!).  I did not want to submit just another common shot of
statues, buildings, etc.  I had a mild hyperstereo of the Statue of Liberty
which I had photoaphed with a 135 mm lens and a single camera from the boat
in the way to the Statue.  I had originally mounted the picture with the
statue dead-center in an uninspiring composition.  Very average work.  

I decided to spice it up, as follows:  I remounted the slide to shift the
statue a bit to the left (off center) and took an overexposed pair of the
moon (non-stereo) take with a 400 mm lens in my back yard a few weeks ago
and SANDWICHED the two (Larry, still OK with the article?).  The moon was
placed in the 1/3 upper right position ("rule of thirds", let's not
forget!).  

The increased sky saturation from the overlap of the skies and the pleasing
composition with the statue off center and the moon acting as an extra
point of interest in the golden third spot, created a winner for me.  The
entry was titled "WELCOME TO AMERICA!" a reminder of the millions of
immigrants that got to see this statue first thing when they entered the
"Land of the Free".  Perfect fit for government, IMO

I thought I had a sure winner, but what did the judges think?   They liked
it, but not as much as I had hoped for.  Got 3rd place.  

I did my best and my best was not enough that night.  Why wasn't enough? 
Because Dennis Hanser obviously is doing the performance of his life this
year (see comments to follow)....

George Themelis


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