- Beardie name(s)
- Cailyth, Pinky, & Brain
Yes, it's that time again!!!
2014 Bearded Dragon Calendar image submissions!
The deadline for the 2014 Calendar submissions is 11:59pm on Sunday, September 22, 2013. (That's 5 and a half weeks from this post).
PLEASE READ THE WHOLE MESSAGE CAREFULLY. I know that it is pretty long, but in order to make my life a little easier while doing this and not risk having your pictures missed by me, please follow the info about the email and submissions PRECISELY. I want the subject message EXACTLY as I specify below. I want the text information formatted EXACTLY as I specify below. Please don't reword the information. Please don't get creative with the subject. I have email filters to help manage this, and will have to go through more than 200 messages. Cut and paste the email text details, and then edit to substitute your specific info would be ideal. Do not send more than two images per beardie!
Also, please be sure to also read the tips at the end!!! In past years, I have noticed that many people have really great ideas, but the picture doesn't get taken properly. Either the resolution is too low, or the camera focused on the background, leaving a blurry beardie. The tips below will also help you improve your pictures (I am an advanced amateur photographer, so I feel comfortable giving some basic tips).
If you are sending pictures of more than one bearded dragon, it is actually easier for me if you send one email per bearded dragon!. I will accept it if you put more than one in an email, but it really does help me keep organized.
Again, the deadline for the 2014 Calendar submissions is 11:59pm on Sunday, September 22, 2013
...
Yes, of course we're doing another Calendar. And yes, I will do as I have the last 9 years, and do my best to include one image of every beardie sent to me. I will leave it to my own discretion as to which images are used, which will get a "larger" position, and which will get smaller images.
Want to see your beardie inside the 2014 Bearded Dragon calendar? Well, get those images sent in!!!
Please submit images EARLY if you have them
What you need to do
1. Find or take the best pictures of your beardie(s) you can. When deciding which ones are the best, please look for the following qualities:
- Sharpness: Make sure the bearded dragon is in focus and sharp
- Composure: Look for an image or shot that has a nice overall aesthetic look, a nice background, good lighting quality, not too "messy", etc.
- Size/Resolution: Set your cameras for the absolute highest resolution and quality that they will take. Only the higher quality images (at least 5 megapixels) will be considered for full page use. Lower resolution images will still be used if possible, but only in smaller form (see samples below for what the smaller ones are like on a page).
When sending in your pictures, please send in a copy of the ORIGINAL as an ATTACHMENT (JPG only please). If you shoot in RAW, please convert to JPG. If you don't know what RAW is, don't worry about... your camera does JPG
I want the maximum resolution possible. If you email from your photo program, please make sure it isn't resizing it "for email". Additionally, images should NOT have been digitally modified (including resizing to make "larger"). If an image needs improvement, please let me worry about doing that. No designs, text, etc. are to be added to the images prior to sending them to me.
2. Email the picture(s) (as attachments only) to me at [email protected] with the following block of text in the body of the message (substituting your info in):
Name: YOUR NAME
Username: YOUR USERNAME ON BD.ORG
Beardie Name: NAME OF EACH BEARDIE (Please indicate which is which [i.e. left, right, above, below, etc.])
The Subject should be: 2014 Calendar image submission
Copy and paste that. Typos risk having my email filters miss the message and not having it seen.
DO NOT FORGET THIS INFORMATION IN THE ABOVE FORMAT
LIMIT TWO PICTURES PER BEARDED DRAGON. This means, if you have 2 beardies please send no more than 4 pictures for consideration.
DO NOT send me links to photo-hosting websites (such as Flickr or Photobucket)... please email me the actual image as an attachment. Photo-hosting sites rarely provide the ORIGINAL quality image through the download links, and I want the original quality image.
COPYRIGHT
Please note that all images that are submitted must be free of any copyright restrictions or at MINIMUM, by submitting an image, you authorize it to be used royalty-free for the Bearded Dragon Calendar to be reproduced, distributed, and sold on the Beardie Stuff Store (hosted by CafePress). Profits from Beardie Stuff products contribute to keeping this site up and running for all. You assume any and all responsibility for any legal repercussions related to the material that you submit, that you did not own, or did not have the right to submit.
Please note that all images that are submitted must be free of any copyright restrictions or at MINIMUM, by submitting an image, you authorize it to be used royalty-free for the Bearded Dragon Calendar to be reproduced, distributed, and sold on the Beardie Stuff Store (hosted by CafePress). Profits from Beardie Stuff products contribute to keeping this site up and running for all. You assume any and all responsibility for any legal repercussions related to the material that you submit, that you did not own, or did not have the right to submit.
Notes / Tips
- In order to even be considered for a full page layout, the image must be at least 5 Megapixels. Set your camera on the maximum quality and size that it can take.
- If you have them, include images that are at least 8 Megapixels ... this is the minimum resolution to be considered for the main cover.
- Shoot in landscape format (wider image, not taller). Portrait (vertically framed) images cannot qualify for a full page spread, as the calendar is landscape format. For images that have been submitted in this format, if I think an image could have potential for full page, I will contact you to ask if you could retake a similar shot. Otherwise, I will work with what was submitted for one of the many other spots in the calendar.
Photography Tips
- Allow some extra room around the frame of the picture. While I do like images that are up close, don't get TOO close. I will need to be able to crop the image to fit into the calendar (whether a smaller square or a full page image). If there is no room around the image, I won't be able to crop it.
- It can be nice to have beardies with beautiful background scenery, BUT if you choose to do this, be careful not to leave them looking tiny in the image. Try to find a good balance of scenery and beardie.
- Make sure your subject is sharp! The problem many people have when taking pictures of smaller things, is that they get too close! While cameras are getting better at handling this, they cannot focus closer than a certain distance. So, stay at least 12-18 inches back.
- Use the "pre-focus" option!! Pretty much EVERY digital camera has this these days. Just before taking the picture, press the shutter-button (the one to take the picture) about half way down. Usually you'll hear a beep or see on your screen where the camera is choosing to focus. If the camera's autofocus didn't pick a focus point close to your beardie's eye, let go, and press it half way again until it does. Then press it all the way to snap that picture.
- If your camera has it, put it into Macro mode. That's usually an icon image of a flower, of food, or something you would have to be close to. If you don't have one, try portrait mode (a icon image of a person usually). This tells the camera that the priority is to focus on things that are closer.
- I could write a whole chapter on ways to improve focus. The best thing I can suggest... practice!! Seriously! Put your beardie (or even a model, like a stuffed animal) someplace, and take some practice pictures. Don't expect to use these (although, if you get a good one, keep it). But then load them on your computer and look closely at the eyes of your beardie. You want to see them sharp and in-focus. The rest can be slightly blurry... but if the eye is sharp, the picture will look good.
Sharpness is always the biggest problem which is why I am emphasizing it so much. So, I'll stop my tips here... the rest is practice and artistic preferences. You can see what I tend to like by looking at previous year previews (listed below).
Again, if you have questions, please feel free to reply here. I will be watching the thread for replies.
Below are some screen shots a previous Calendars just to give you an idea of what I did with the pictures that were submitted:
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-00.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-01.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-02.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-03.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-04.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-05.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-06.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-07.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-08.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-09.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-10.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-11.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-12.jpg
And here are some of the previews from last year's calendars. We actually had three, because we had so many bearded dragons submitted (and I kept my promise to try to include one of every beardie submitted).
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=179888
After submission, this is how things will go and how you get your calendar!
- I go to work
I will process through all the images and create preview images, and the draft copies of the calendars.
- I will post previews (Estimated to be 2nd or 3rd week of October)
This is so people can check for correctness. I will make a global post, like this one to bring attention to it, and will reply here for anyone "watching" or subscribed to this topic (see bottom left of the page if you want to subscribe and see replies). I will probably leave 1 week for people to see the post for "corrections" being requested. Of course, if a last minute correction is needed, I will try to do so before you order yours. Other people may have the wrong name for your beardie, but at least YOU will have one with the right names. Following the instructions above closely will help.
- I will finalize the calendars on the Beardie Stuff Store (Estimated to be near the end of October)
They will be available for purchase on the Beardie Stuff Store. Pricing works out to be about $20. I need to verify if CafePress has changed their base prices this year or not, but expect pricing to be about that. I will also make a global post to let everyone know, and will post about it on the main home page of the site!
I will also send updates for each of these steps to those added to the "Beardie Stuff Store notifications" group. You can add yourself by going to the User Control Panel and added yourself to it. Or use the following link as a short cut.
ucp.php?i=167
Cheers! I look forward to seeing all the beardies!!!
2014 Bearded Dragon Calendar image submissions!
The deadline for the 2014 Calendar submissions is 11:59pm on Sunday, September 22, 2013. (That's 5 and a half weeks from this post).
PLEASE READ THE WHOLE MESSAGE CAREFULLY. I know that it is pretty long, but in order to make my life a little easier while doing this and not risk having your pictures missed by me, please follow the info about the email and submissions PRECISELY. I want the subject message EXACTLY as I specify below. I want the text information formatted EXACTLY as I specify below. Please don't reword the information. Please don't get creative with the subject. I have email filters to help manage this, and will have to go through more than 200 messages. Cut and paste the email text details, and then edit to substitute your specific info would be ideal. Do not send more than two images per beardie!
Also, please be sure to also read the tips at the end!!! In past years, I have noticed that many people have really great ideas, but the picture doesn't get taken properly. Either the resolution is too low, or the camera focused on the background, leaving a blurry beardie. The tips below will also help you improve your pictures (I am an advanced amateur photographer, so I feel comfortable giving some basic tips).
If you are sending pictures of more than one bearded dragon, it is actually easier for me if you send one email per bearded dragon!. I will accept it if you put more than one in an email, but it really does help me keep organized.
Again, the deadline for the 2014 Calendar submissions is 11:59pm on Sunday, September 22, 2013
...
Yes, of course we're doing another Calendar. And yes, I will do as I have the last 9 years, and do my best to include one image of every beardie sent to me. I will leave it to my own discretion as to which images are used, which will get a "larger" position, and which will get smaller images.
Want to see your beardie inside the 2014 Bearded Dragon calendar? Well, get those images sent in!!!
Please submit images EARLY if you have them
What you need to do
1. Find or take the best pictures of your beardie(s) you can. When deciding which ones are the best, please look for the following qualities:
- Sharpness: Make sure the bearded dragon is in focus and sharp
- Composure: Look for an image or shot that has a nice overall aesthetic look, a nice background, good lighting quality, not too "messy", etc.
- Size/Resolution: Set your cameras for the absolute highest resolution and quality that they will take. Only the higher quality images (at least 5 megapixels) will be considered for full page use. Lower resolution images will still be used if possible, but only in smaller form (see samples below for what the smaller ones are like on a page).
When sending in your pictures, please send in a copy of the ORIGINAL as an ATTACHMENT (JPG only please). If you shoot in RAW, please convert to JPG. If you don't know what RAW is, don't worry about... your camera does JPG
I want the maximum resolution possible. If you email from your photo program, please make sure it isn't resizing it "for email". Additionally, images should NOT have been digitally modified (including resizing to make "larger"). If an image needs improvement, please let me worry about doing that. No designs, text, etc. are to be added to the images prior to sending them to me.2. Email the picture(s) (as attachments only) to me at [email protected] with the following block of text in the body of the message (substituting your info in):
Name: YOUR NAME
Username: YOUR USERNAME ON BD.ORG
Beardie Name: NAME OF EACH BEARDIE (Please indicate which is which [i.e. left, right, above, below, etc.])
The Subject should be: 2014 Calendar image submission
Copy and paste that. Typos risk having my email filters miss the message and not having it seen.
DO NOT FORGET THIS INFORMATION IN THE ABOVE FORMAT
LIMIT TWO PICTURES PER BEARDED DRAGON. This means, if you have 2 beardies please send no more than 4 pictures for consideration.
DO NOT send me links to photo-hosting websites (such as Flickr or Photobucket)... please email me the actual image as an attachment. Photo-hosting sites rarely provide the ORIGINAL quality image through the download links, and I want the original quality image.
COPYRIGHT
Please note that all images that are submitted must be free of any copyright restrictions or at MINIMUM, by submitting an image, you authorize it to be used royalty-free for the Bearded Dragon Calendar to be reproduced, distributed, and sold on the Beardie Stuff Store (hosted by CafePress). Profits from Beardie Stuff products contribute to keeping this site up and running for all. You assume any and all responsibility for any legal repercussions related to the material that you submit, that you did not own, or did not have the right to submit.
Please note that all images that are submitted must be free of any copyright restrictions or at MINIMUM, by submitting an image, you authorize it to be used royalty-free for the Bearded Dragon Calendar to be reproduced, distributed, and sold on the Beardie Stuff Store (hosted by CafePress). Profits from Beardie Stuff products contribute to keeping this site up and running for all. You assume any and all responsibility for any legal repercussions related to the material that you submit, that you did not own, or did not have the right to submit.
Notes / Tips
- In order to even be considered for a full page layout, the image must be at least 5 Megapixels. Set your camera on the maximum quality and size that it can take.
- If you have them, include images that are at least 8 Megapixels ... this is the minimum resolution to be considered for the main cover.
- Shoot in landscape format (wider image, not taller). Portrait (vertically framed) images cannot qualify for a full page spread, as the calendar is landscape format. For images that have been submitted in this format, if I think an image could have potential for full page, I will contact you to ask if you could retake a similar shot. Otherwise, I will work with what was submitted for one of the many other spots in the calendar.
Photography Tips
- Allow some extra room around the frame of the picture. While I do like images that are up close, don't get TOO close. I will need to be able to crop the image to fit into the calendar (whether a smaller square or a full page image). If there is no room around the image, I won't be able to crop it.
- It can be nice to have beardies with beautiful background scenery, BUT if you choose to do this, be careful not to leave them looking tiny in the image. Try to find a good balance of scenery and beardie.
- Make sure your subject is sharp! The problem many people have when taking pictures of smaller things, is that they get too close! While cameras are getting better at handling this, they cannot focus closer than a certain distance. So, stay at least 12-18 inches back.
- Use the "pre-focus" option!! Pretty much EVERY digital camera has this these days. Just before taking the picture, press the shutter-button (the one to take the picture) about half way down. Usually you'll hear a beep or see on your screen where the camera is choosing to focus. If the camera's autofocus didn't pick a focus point close to your beardie's eye, let go, and press it half way again until it does. Then press it all the way to snap that picture.
- If your camera has it, put it into Macro mode. That's usually an icon image of a flower, of food, or something you would have to be close to. If you don't have one, try portrait mode (a icon image of a person usually). This tells the camera that the priority is to focus on things that are closer.
- I could write a whole chapter on ways to improve focus. The best thing I can suggest... practice!! Seriously! Put your beardie (or even a model, like a stuffed animal) someplace, and take some practice pictures. Don't expect to use these (although, if you get a good one, keep it). But then load them on your computer and look closely at the eyes of your beardie. You want to see them sharp and in-focus. The rest can be slightly blurry... but if the eye is sharp, the picture will look good.
Sharpness is always the biggest problem which is why I am emphasizing it so much. So, I'll stop my tips here... the rest is practice and artistic preferences. You can see what I tend to like by looking at previous year previews (listed below).
Again, if you have questions, please feel free to reply here. I will be watching the thread for replies.
Below are some screen shots a previous Calendars just to give you an idea of what I did with the pictures that were submitted:
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-00.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-01.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-02.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-03.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-04.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-05.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-06.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-07.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-08.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-09.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-10.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-11.jpg
https://www.beardeddragon.org/images/site_images/2007-Calendar-12.jpg
And here are some of the previews from last year's calendars. We actually had three, because we had so many bearded dragons submitted (and I kept my promise to try to include one of every beardie submitted).
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=179888
After submission, this is how things will go and how you get your calendar!
- I go to work
I will process through all the images and create preview images, and the draft copies of the calendars.
- I will post previews (Estimated to be 2nd or 3rd week of October)
This is so people can check for correctness. I will make a global post, like this one to bring attention to it, and will reply here for anyone "watching" or subscribed to this topic (see bottom left of the page if you want to subscribe and see replies). I will probably leave 1 week for people to see the post for "corrections" being requested. Of course, if a last minute correction is needed, I will try to do so before you order yours. Other people may have the wrong name for your beardie, but at least YOU will have one with the right names.
Following the instructions above closely will help.- I will finalize the calendars on the Beardie Stuff Store (Estimated to be near the end of October)
They will be available for purchase on the Beardie Stuff Store. Pricing works out to be about $20. I need to verify if CafePress has changed their base prices this year or not, but expect pricing to be about that. I will also make a global post to let everyone know, and will post about it on the main home page of the site!
I will also send updates for each of these steps to those added to the "Beardie Stuff Store notifications" group. You can add yourself by going to the User Control Panel and added yourself to it. Or use the following link as a short cut.
ucp.php?i=167
Cheers! I look forward to seeing all the beardies!!!
