SOME COMMENTS FROM AGWPJA JUDGE SETH RESNICK

"Having judged several [AG]WPJA contests has really been a benefit for me. I feel I am now better acquainted with the quality of work produced and the associated pros and cons of any contest. There are several things that strike me and I feel that it is important for the photographers who entered the contest to understand some of these feelings. If picking the top twenty images in each category was the only criteria, my job would be much easier but unfortunately that is not the case and in many cases I was torn. The other conditions I must take into account is to determine if the image is in the right category and I must also judge the image based on the PS work done on the image. It is the last criteria that really throws me for a loop. Why? As someone who has worked with Adobe in development since the very early days of Photoshop, I have a broad understanding of how the product works. Today, since most images are shot digitally, virtually all images are adjusted in Photoshop, Lightroom or a similar product. So technically Photoshop automatically plays a part in the process. That said, the concept of "Photoshoping an image" means different things to different folks. This isn't simply a matter of technical merit but also a personal perspective on Photoshop. Understanding my feelings on this may better help you understand why I chose one image over another. This is not simply a matter of right or wrong but there is a lot of subjectivity involved as well. I personally dislike images that use Photoshop to change tone and color as a means of distracting you from the image being out of focus for example. As a photojournalist myself, working for both newspapers and magazines I always felt the image simply had to be sharp. I also personally dislike images that look like Photoshop simply because the contest or assignment requires Photoshop. In my mind Photoshop should enhance an already dramatic image, or in the case of compositing it should help create drama with existing components. I dislike images that look cheesy with an overuse of Photoshop. I also expect basic Photoshop skills like cropping out or cloning out distractions, dust removal, and proper use of curves and adjustments. Ultimately for me, the image must be a striking one and Photoshop should be deployed to make the already great even better.

One additional note. I make Photoshop comments in the majority of images. I am doing this not to be critical but to hopefully be helpful and point out small things that would enhance the images. I chose to do this because Photoshop use is one of the criteria of the contest. Lastly, although it took an incredible amount of time to do, I did make my recommended Photoshop corrections to the images (for myself on my own computer) so I could compare the before and after. The one thing that really stood out in terms of Photoshop work was the lack of detail in many dresses. Understandably, the contrast of a black tux and a white dress produces a wide range of tone but with just a little bit of work most of the dresses could be dramatically improved."

THE TOP TWENTY PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM THE Q1 '09 CONTEST

Photo by Jayme Morrison, Canada Fourth Place - Getting Ready Getting Ready Entries which spontaneously capture the prepping, grooming, arranging, outfitting, and anticipation before the ceremony. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Matthias Richter, Germany 06. Marc Pagani, Louisiana 02. Marc Pagani, Louisiana 07. Kori Hudson, Arkansas 03. Dean Dampney, Australia 08. Adam Trzcionka, Poland 04. Jayme Morrison, Canada 09. Ryan Jones, California 05. Joelle Susan, South Carolina 10. Alex Tan, Singapore

Photo by John Schnack, California Thirteenth Place - Ceremony Ceremony Images that capture guests and participants throughout pre-ceremony, vow-exchange, and receiving line activity. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Derrick Ong, Singapore 06. Aziz Khan, England 02. Ricky Salim, Indonesia 07. Julie Ambos, Florida 03. Stephen Loh, Singapore 08. John Schnack, California 04. Dean Dampney, Australia 09. Bryan Kit F., Singapore 05. Julie Ambos, Florida 10. Allister Freeman, England

Photo by Dino Lara, Philippines Ninth Place - Reception Reception Photographs that document festivities from the cocktail hour through the last dance and departure. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Dino Lara, Philippines 06. Ryan Browne, England 02. Marc Pagani, Louisiana 07. Kori Hudson, Arkansas 03. Ron Storer, Washington 08. Dino Lara, Philippines 04. Bryan Kit F., Singapore 09. Dino Lara, Philippines 05. Joseph Kohn, California 10. Katherine Birkbeck, Georgia

Photo by Marcus Mokros, Switzerland Tenth Place - Wedding Day / Engagement Portrait Wedding Day or Engagement Portrait Photographs that demonstrate the photographer's ability to create an artistic environmental portrait of the bride and groom taken either on the wedding day itself or from an engagement portrait session. Top Ten Winners From This Category: 01. Elaine Soong, Canada 06. Stephen Loh, Singapore 02. Sol Tamargo, Mexico 07. Fer Juaristi, Mexico 03. Marcin Labedzki, Poland 08. Marzena Wasilewska, Aus 04. Stephen Loh, Singapore 09. Derrick Ong, Singapore 05. Raymond Phang, Singapore 10. Marcus Mokros, Switzerland

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