| Underwater Photo Contest Entry |  by: Richard WylieWeedy seadragon with eggs. ISO 100, 1/200 sec, Tokina 17m... votes: 44 vote |
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 Stunning shot!
I've only ever seen one of these critters, and never with eggs. Wish I had had a chance to do more diving in AUS!
Cheers,
Steve
| Stephen Holinski
4279 point member
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Thanks very much Stephen!! Glad you liked it - this is definitely my best photo of these guys so far! 
They're a great animal to dive with and there are many males with eggs at this time of the year - though the weather has been pretty ordinary lately so its hard to get in the water as much as I would like!
Next time you're out this way we'll have to find some for you!!
Cheers,
Richard
| Richard Wylie
2022 point member
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Photo Critique by Raoul
Dear Richard,
You have requested a review of your photo. It’s again my pleasure to write you a review.
Remember that critical comments are meant to help you improve your work with an analytic review. The objective is to see you here on UWP as a winner one day !
As you already know the foreword, I will directly start my review :
Photo Critique :
First impression :
1) It’s great to see such animals with eggs 2) What an improvement !
Technical ( score from 1-6, best is 6 ) :
Exposure : 4, Colours: 4, Sharpness: 4, DOF ( depth of field ) : 4, Contrast : 5
Suggested Solution :
You fixed well the sun light and you kept well the details and colours of the animal.
Technically, your picture is not so easy to take and you managed it well.
Ok, light is maybe missing a little bit on some parts of the animal, but it’s better like this than having white light spot on the body (which ca
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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can come fast as you know).
Composition :
Interesting composition that works
Suggested Solution :
Again, I see that you really work on the composition. Good job !
Personally, I would have preferred not to see the shadow of the outside structure. Without it, you could have a complete nice corona sun.
The animal could also not be centred on the width. It could be more on the right to let it more place in front (to swim).
The subject looks like leaving you a bit, it’s usually not perfect to give a good impact, but in that case it works because we can see better its eggs
As I see, you seem to be able to meet this weedy seadragon when you want (lucky you), and what is even better, you seems to be able to quickly improve yourself following also the photo critics suggestions. It’s really a pleasure to write some words for people like you.
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Last time, I suggested you for example to try to have the animal facing more in the photographer’s direction, using the tail for the perspective in a kind of diagonal. Now, you can also work with only the silhouette (which is really specific and recognisable).
Subject
Phyllopterix taeniolatus is always a dreamer subject for the photographers … and what to say when we can see it with its eggs ! Thank you to share this picture with us.
Suggested Solution :
Nothing really to add that I haven’t already written since my last critic to you.
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Epilogue
As you know, I like to say that pictures must tell something, they should pass on a message or transmit an emotion; I see that you’ve understood that already.
You show us a very nice animal with its eggs and the sun ! I like it ! As you can see, I’m not the only one :-). Congratulations for your shortlisted picture.
When technical aspects are mastered, the way to do the difference between a very nice pic and a unique amazing one that might win a contest is to work on composition … and to have luck too :-). Keep on the good work.
I’m looking forward to see your next pictures.
All the best and happy bubbles.
Raoul (UWP Photo Critic)
--------Photo Critique completed--------
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Dear Raoul,
Thanks once again for your critique and for the encouragement! Its been excellent having feedback for my photos and I very much appreciate the time you have given me and the incredibly valuable pointers to improve my photography!
I have been indeed very lucky to be able to dive with these beautiful animals and I do feel that I'm starting to get the hang of taking decent photos of them...with the help of yourself and the other underwaterphotography judges of course!
Many thanks and I'll look forward to speaking to you again sometime!
Kindest Regards,
Richard
| Richard Wylie
2022 point member
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Hi richard,
Man you improve a lot in a short time. I will have to plan a trip to Australia to go with you and see this great animal. I agree with raoul about giving it a bit more space on the left. However the sun is realy working in this photo with it's rays. Great shot, and as you can see from the votes and the shortlisting it pays of. Well done. Looking forward to the next batch of the "specialist" of the Seadragon.
Happy Bubbles, Dray 
| Doc Dray
8067 point member
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Thanks heaps Dray! Would love to go for a dive with you and show you some of the local seadragon life over here - they are genuinely interesting animals to observe and it would be a lot of fun to take you to their hangout spots.. 
The weather is finally starting to warm up a little over here and the conditions are improving so I'm hoping to get in the water a bit more and hopefully get the shots that you guys have been helping me with - I've been incredibly impressed with this website and the amazing generosity of the moderators - so valuable!!
Big thanks to all of you who do this regularly for newbies such as myself and many others on this site - very cool!!
Thanks again for the feedback!!
Cheers,
Richard
| Richard Wylie
2022 point member
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Dear Richard,
It's really a pleasure to write you some words :
- the improvement is really fast
- your feedback is really appreciated
Safe and nice dives with your weedy seadragons' friends
Best regards
Raoul
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Thanks again Raoul!! Maybe we can get you out here for a dive sometime too??
Cheers,
Richard
| Richard Wylie
2022 point member
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It's really fun to read critiques like this one and to see how appreciated the efford of my "critic" collegues is. Even if unpaid....but like this it is fun to help new members....I mean it !
I agree to the others, Richard : You are on your way !!! Thanks for beeing such a nice & friendly member of our community & contest...good to have you here
BTW: ...prepare for a bunch of UWP jugdes coming to your place and requesting the " sea dragon spots" :-))
all the best,
Rico
Head of UWP Photo Critics
website
| Rico Besserdich
19673 point member
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Dear Richard,
I went to Australia last summer, so I'll come back only in a few years :-), but for sure, I will ask you to show me this great animal.
All the best
Raoul
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Hey Rico,
Thanks very much and its worth saying again that I think this site and the critiques are invaluable to someone like myself and I'm sure many others - incredibly generous particularly as everyone is so busy these days!!
I would love to have a bunch of UW photographers and judges come visit sometime and will definitely take you all out to the where the weedy seadragons hang out - would be a lot of fun!!
Thanks again to all the judges who've taken time to help out and I'll certainly look forward to chatting to you all soon - and seeing everyone photos of course!!
Cheers,
Richard
PS Sorry I wasn't a part of this website community last year Raoul but next time you're out we'll get that dive with the seadragons!!
| Richard Wylie
2022 point member
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Très beau contre jour ou la silhouette de ce petit dragon des mers est mise en valeur par l'arrière plan diffus .
Géraldine G.
| Géraldine Gogly
953 point member
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