Description:
Like most NVPS members, Stan, Judy, and Bill have entered countless photo competitions and have had numerous favorite images shot down by judges. It is important to pay attention to detail when taking a photo and processing it. But it is also important to remember the reason why you took the photo, what was it that caught your eye, did you convey that vision to the viewer.
The NVPS Anonymous Critique is a great opportunity to get feedback on your images. The process is anonymous, so you have nothing to lose. Examples of the kinds of images you might want to submit for critique include:
- Images you think are keepers but may need a little help;
- Experiments with new processing techniques; and
- Images you are considering for competition.
The sole purpose of the anonymous critique is to help you grow as a photographer. You will not be identified unless you identify yourself by making comments or asking questions about your images during the Zoom session.
The firm deadline for image submission is 6 p.m. on Monday, November 24, 2025, (this is a change to the earlier announced date), to allow time for David Crooks to anonymize the images and for Stan, Judy, and Bill to review them before the December 9 meeting.
Submitting Images
The firm deadline for image submission is 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 to allow time for reviewing the images before the December 9 meeting.
You may submit up to three images to this NVPS Dropbox folder: https://www.dropbox.com/request/AqHnGlwnD97MnW8LUFDr
Resize Your Image(s)
Size images the same way as for our monthly competitions, that is, not to exceed 1400 pixels horizontally or 1050 pixels vertically. Image resolution should be set to 127 pixels per inch (PPI). Image format is jpg. Color space is sRGB.
Rename your image filename(s)
File naming is important. Include the image title preceded with 1-, 2-, or 3-. Examples: 1-Fishing Boat.jpg, 2-Old Dock.jpg, 3-Hawaiian Sunset.jpg. Files starting with 1- will be highest priority, 2- medium priority, and 3- low priority. Depending on the number of images submitted, we might not get through them all, so number your most important image with a 1-. Spaces are OK, but do not use any special characters in the filename.
Note: Because those critiquing will see the filenames, do not include your name there, just the number prefix and image title.
Questions?
Contact the Education & Training Coordinator Nick Bauer; email information can be found at Board Contacts.
Biographies:
Stan Bysshe
Stan’s photographic journey started in the 1960s with a hand-me-down Nikkormat. But because of his love for scuba diving and marine tropical reef ecology, his equipment and images became dedicated to underwater nature. By 2010 it was time to hang up the scuba gear, and when he joined NVPS, Stan was exposed to a whole new world of land-based photography. Still, nature remained a driving force behind his images.
Since joining the club, Stan has “volunteered” for Field Trips (twice), Competitions, and Mentoring, and is a past President. This will be his fourth Anonymous Critique.
For the past several years Stan has helped lead photo tours in Washington State, Alaska, Yellowstone National Park, New Mexico, and Florida.
Judy Guenther
Judy enjoys capturing scenes from her world travels in a variety of styles from storytelling to discovering small details in ordinary scenes. Capturing the beauty and art in nature and the people of the world is a special joy for her. Judy also enjoys photographing details in architecture and looking for abstracts. She has won several awards, including the grand prize in the Washington Post’s 2022 Travel Photography Contest. She is a member of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society and The Art League Gallery of Alexandria, Va. Her web site is Judy Guenther Photography.
Bill Millhouser
Bill became interested in Photography in the mid 1970s, but his deep dive into all things photography skyrocketed when he joined NVPS in 2010. Bill is an avid bird, wildlife, and travel photographer, and his trips overseas have often combined birdwatching and photography. Over the years he has visited Costa Rica (multiple times), Ecuador, Patagonia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, the Falkland Islands, and Iceland. Bill has served as NVPS coordinator for Field Trips, Competitions, and Mentoring, and is a past President.