And the winner of the snc is...
Hey everybody,
Thanks for all your submissions to the Saturday Night Contest using Instagram. There were so many to choose from! I use Instagram, got curious about the contest and started looking at submissions. Before you know it, Jonathan asked me to judge!
Not only will I announce the winner, I would like to mention a few of my favorites as well as my thoughts on the contest.
THE WINNER IS:
http://instagram.com/p/PXxbOTt6s9/
Great use of background texture, color and theme to compliment the product. Normally, a bright glare in the product is not good, but in the Instagram world, the bright flare gives drama and excitement. The environment really showcases the product without detracting from it. It is a memorable photo.
There were so many great photos, in my opinion. Here are some of my favorites:
http://instagram.com/p/PWk0uzxApH/
http://instagram.com/p/PXfaKavNvx/
http://instagram.com/p/POyuxwGZ17/
http://instagram.com/p/PVmmQIwUV_/
http://instagram.com/p/PCx4vnkyFW/
http://instagram.com/p/PXjiL7zMO6/?...aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=282366635119873
http://instagram.com/p/PXS0CUJ6Jf/
Some thoughts whenever entering any kind of photo contest. 1st of all, play by the rules. There were obviously some photos submitted that may have been tweaked in a photo editor like Photoshop before bringing into Instagram. Great photo, but disqualified because of cheating. Putting a macro lens on the iPhone to shoot extreme closeup is within the rules. Next, be creative! There were too many submissions that were simply, "throw the deck onto the table and take a picture, apply filter." What's the background? Does it help or hurt your product? Does the lighting show your subject in it's best light? Basic guidelines of photography apply even with Instagram - composition, lighting, content, story, creativity, etc. You can find these out by simply looking on the web. I really admire the ones who attempted interesting reflections or crazy concepts.
Knowing your camera helps too. For example, an iPhone can only focus so close before the subject is out of focus. There were a few great pics that were ruined by being out of focus. Also, shooting in dim light makes photos blurry and grainy.
Finally, make sure your web link works. It's easy enough to post a link and have a friend test it on a computer. I can't judge your photo if I can't see the entry. All things to consider when submitting photos to a contest! I know a lot of you might be new to Instagram or photography, for that matter, so hopefully some of these tips will help in your next contest!
So, thanks everybody! It was a fun contest to judge and I was inspired by all the submissions! The winner can contact
theory11 support to claim their prize.
Homer