VCE Season of Excellence
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General Information
Applicants submitting works for Top Screen, Top Designs and Top Arts should seek copyright clearance on all non-original material used, as works cannot be shown that do not have evidence of clearances.
A successful application relies on you presenting the best possible image of your work. Initial selection is made from your photograph. A poor quality photograph limits your chance of selection. Please note the following recommendations for taking photographs.
- If one work is comprised of multiple pieces it is recommended that you photograph works individually as well as showing the work as a whole. Only one application form is required for this work.
- Place the work of art against a clean, one colour background, preferably a light coloured wall.
- Use the best camera available to you. Use a good quality 100 ISO colour print film. Black and white film is acceptable for black and white images only.
- Make sure the image is sharply focused and fills as much of the frame as possible.
- Don't take the photograph on an angle that distorts the image. Stand squarely in front of it.
- If a flash is used, beware of strong reflections caused by glass and other reflective surfaces. Photograph before framing if you can.
- If the work is generally very dark or very light, it is difficult for a camera to automatically calculate the required exposure. If you can, take a number of photographs using different exposures. Try to bracket the exposure by trying one stop more and one stop less as well as the exposure setting indicated by the camera.
A successful application relies on you presenting the best possible image of your work. Initial selection is made from your photograph. A poor quality photograph limits your chance of selection. Please note the following recommendations for taking photographs.
- Shoot on white plates if possible
- Get as close as possible, fill the screen with the subject
- Make sure there is enough light on the food, natural light is best
- Try for a good balance of colours in the food
- Take lots of pictures from ever angle to see what looks best
- Shoot it quickly, before it wilts
- Hold still – use a tripod to help you achieve a sharp image – just a slight movement will cause blurring
- Make the food the hero – not the props
- Set digital cameras to an indoor setting to achieve natural colour in the food
- Use a camera with a macro lens
- Frame the photo in the view finder for a successful composition.
There is also some useful information in the text book – Food Solutions.
The following website is also useful. It is commercial, but has some good tips. http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog/food_photography/food_photgraphy.html
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