Gerald Emmerich Jr, HonFPSA, GMPSA/P
October 2025 - Two Bikers One Bike
About the Image(s)
Title: Two Bikers One Bike
This photo was taken at Magic Island (beach park) in Honolulu in June 2025. I was looking for walkers or skateboarders or bicycle riders on the heavily-used paved paths. I was using a slow shutter speed to show motion. I liked the image, so I entered it in four PSA-recognized PJ international exhibitions, but it was not accepted at any of them. Should I keep trying, or should I give up? What do you think?
Camera and Lens: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 24-105mm lens at 105mm
Settings: f14 ISO 200 1/30sec
5 comments posted
Gerald, indeed a peculiar bike. Interesting modification to make the kid get involved and enjoy the ride. Of course, the father saw you making the picture. Image is sharp, and the colors are very tropical. There is motion.
I have entered images in multiple judging salons. At one time an image got a gold medal in one, and not accepted in another one. Oh well... Some judges just do not get it. Posted: 10/04/2025 15:53:07
I have entered images in multiple judging salons. At one time an image got a gold medal in one, and not accepted in another one. Oh well... Some judges just do not get it. Posted: 10/04/2025 15:53:07
yeah, I feel the same way - the judging in some of those salons can be really unpredictable. Sometimes I look at the winners and can't believe those were the ones chosen. I find the judging in more open photo contests to be a bit more consistent. Plus, those open contests usually have much better SEO on Google, so if you win, your name tends to show up higher in search results. Posted: 10/07/2025 16:03:32
Hi Gerald. This photo has a feel good aspect, father and young son on a bike together. Without knowing the competition you entered the photo in, difficult to determine if you should persist. For a Peoples comp it has its best chance IMO. For a movement comp the photo has not been taken with significant background blur, you almost need a background smudge affect. This can be achieved in Photoshop or any other program that gives background blur Photoroom an online option no software to download.
A problem with the male bike rider is that he lacks expression on his face, IMO a bland look too deadpan for a competition.
I have heard talks by judges on how they filter out photos that have been entered into competitions. They are given say 200 photos to judge, round 1 will be discarding at least 100 photos after only a 15 seconds glance per photo, photos that lack impact are discarded. The remaining 100 are given more time but not a lot more then the process comes down to the last 5 and as you could imagine little difference will exist between these 5. If you win 1st place you are lucky, as you may enter same photo in another competition, say in another country and it will not get to the first 100. An English judge said to me don't bother entering medieval castles into an English photographic competition, seen plenty of those. A kangaroo/crocodile photo is another matter but don't bother in Australia, seen plenty of kangaroos and crocodiles.
In Honolulu plenty of suntanned men ride bikes. Posted: 10/15/2025 00:48:25
A problem with the male bike rider is that he lacks expression on his face, IMO a bland look too deadpan for a competition.
I have heard talks by judges on how they filter out photos that have been entered into competitions. They are given say 200 photos to judge, round 1 will be discarding at least 100 photos after only a 15 seconds glance per photo, photos that lack impact are discarded. The remaining 100 are given more time but not a lot more then the process comes down to the last 5 and as you could imagine little difference will exist between these 5. If you win 1st place you are lucky, as you may enter same photo in another competition, say in another country and it will not get to the first 100. An English judge said to me don't bother entering medieval castles into an English photographic competition, seen plenty of those. A kangaroo/crocodile photo is another matter but don't bother in Australia, seen plenty of kangaroos and crocodiles.
In Honolulu plenty of suntanned men ride bikes. Posted: 10/15/2025 00:48:25
Or surf !! Posted: 10/15/2025 18:47:59
Gerald, nice image of man and boy on the bike, but may not be seen as a sports of PJ image as the reason for not being accepted. Bruce Posted: 10/23/2025 03:49:25