Opinion and advice on picture for photo contest???

Question

Okay, so I want to enter the National Geographic International Photography Contest 2008 For Kids. But, I need a lot of help because I AM STRESSING OUT!!! -_-

There are 3 categories: Animals, People, and Scenery. I'm planning on entering all three, but this question is for Animals. The contest started on August 1st and will end on November 3rd, so I have a lot of time. The rules and other stuff that you may want to know about is on their website: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Photos

Anyways, what I want is for everybody who answers this question to give me their advice and opinion on my pictures. Also, it would be awesome if you could tell me which picture is your favorite and if I should use that picture. This is the link to my Animal category pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27319866@N05/sets/72157606582303365/

The first picture is my personal favorite, and I was planning on using that one, but I would like for others to tell me what picture(s) they like.

Any advice that would help me is veryyyyy welcome!!!

Thanks in advance to everyone!!

Answer 1

I also love the first photo.  The blue wall in the background provides excellent contrast to the white of the dog.  Beautiful!

Answer 2

use ur fav 1  

Answer 3

The first one is definitely the best.  Use that one!

Answer 4

I told you. =P

Answer 5

I agree, the first one is probably the best.  I also like the turtles, but I don't think it's winning material, you weren't quite close enough, and the light and exposure isn't as good as the first dog.  If you want to use your dog as the model, I would keep trying.  After all, you have several more weeks.  I'd rather see the dog's ears included in the composition.  I think if you keep at it, you may get one that's even better than the images you have posted.  Good luck!

Answer 6

I like all of your pictures and was impressed with the quality of all of them.  There are a few things you might want to consider in the future though.

1.) Lighting, you have the same camera I have (based on what it said in flickr) and there are a lot options you have to make adjustments for lighting prior to taking the picture.  Your best bet would be to go to: http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.j...  It's Kodak's site and it's helped me out a lot.

2.) Remember the rule of thirds.  Basically try to have your main subject a little off center to add interest to the photo.  The nice thing about the EasyShare C813 is there's a button you can push that will display a grid on the view screen to help accomplish this.  (It's the button right below the delete button and you have to press it couple times before the display appears)

3.) This kind of goes with the rule of thirds but try to focus a little more on your subject.  You were able to do that with the close-ups of your dog but not as much on the other photos.  The photo that would benefit the most would be the one with the turtles.  If you can try to zoom in a little more to really capture your subject which in the case would be the two in front that are facing you.

But based on the rules for the contest and judging criteria I would have to say I'd go with the  photo of the hand in the water holding the sea urchin.  This one has a good compostion and the quality is great, and if you want my honest opinion it's the most creative picture you have.  Don't forget, 50% of the judging is based on creativity.  You've got the quality down pretty good so I'd work on that now.  Good luck.