Not in Launchings

[Paul]

Ok, maybe this is vain but I can't help it. I sent several nice shots of my Haven 121/2,
Gina B, to WoodenBoat in hopes of having her in the launchings section. That was in October of 2001, just after she was launched. There have been shome nice boats shown in the launching since that time, and I think Gina B should have been among them. Maybe the sails were not furled properly.

[Matt Middleton]

Post them here- I'd love to see them, and I suspect everyone else here would also. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Matt

[Chadd Hamilton]

I Agree. Paul, post em here!

[Ed Harrow]

You bet! Get some attention over here.

[Mr. Know It All]

Paul......Pictures would be great. A sneak peek I'm sure, while WB trys to catch up with their mail I'm sure.
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I think they get pretty swamped with photos for Launchings, and that may be why we now have the 'My Wooden Boat!' page. Maybe Scott can fill us in on the criteria for making 'Launchings'.

Rich

[Wild Dingo]

I concur with above... post here! Then we dont have to wait any longer!!

The information I got regarding submitting for launching was there would always be a bit of a wait due to several factors... but from what I recall without getting up and crossing the room to find the information 8-9 months seems exessive... another thought would be to contact them and see if the gear you sent has arrived? they will respond pretty quick to any conserns you have... Id almost bet theres a mad search going on in the woodenboat office right about now trying to track them down... then again maybe its the postal system thats lost it?...

Take it easy
Shane

[Bruce Hooke]

I think it is worth remembering that while we would all like our boat to show up in Launchings I'm sure they get MANY more pictures than they can use, in which case the best they can do is just show a selection. If yours was not selected it may have nothing to do with the sail or anything else you did, it might just be that they had too many 12 1/2s and the other pictures were a bit better photos, or some similar editorial decision...

But don't dispair, as others have said post it here and we will, I'm sure, drool all over our keyboards [img]smile.gif[/img]

[NormMessinger]

If you want sympathy we gotta see for ourselves how worthy the pictures are.

--Norm

P.S. The nice thing about posting a picture of your boat here is there will be no end to the praise you'll get. Try us.

[ 06-27-2002, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: NormMessinger ]

[Paul]

You may remember these from last year.

[Matt J.]

Oh, boy, that's a nice looking boat [img]smile.gif[/img] . I'd guess they didn't pu you in cause the best pics are uut of the water... the pic in the water, as you suggested, has a messy sail.

You should be proud regardless of publication.

[Scott Rosen]

Beautiful boat! I suspect the reason they didn't publish has everything to do with the setup of the photo and nothing to do with the boat. Why don't you take some more pics and resubmit them?

[Mr. Know It All]

Paul.....The boat is beautiful. Take more pictures no matter what. Make sure to get one of you in the boat.
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

[Chadd Hamilton]

Beautiful work, Paul. I recall seeing the picture of her out of the water somewhere before... Have you had her out lately?

[Tar Devil]

I think I agree with Matt, Paul. Get some in-water photos with better lighting that accentuates the hull colors, which pleasantly compliment the brightwork.

Nice boat! Thanks for posting the photos.

Later,

Phil

[ 06-28-2002, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: Phillip ]

[Bruce Hooke]

Nice work on the boat! The photo of the boat on the trailer (the one where the mast is down), with the topsides and the brightwork glistening in the sun, really makes the hull look pretty.

I'm going to violate the old rule about not giving advice unless your asked for it and give you some advice on how to get pictures that will be published. If you don't want advice feel free to ignore what I am saying...

Remember that for something to be published it needs to be 'publication quality'. You're looking for that glow you got in the second photo but with everything else right too, so:

1. First off, take a look at the advice in the Launchings section of WoodenBoat. They have some excellent suggetions there.
2. As it says there, use 35 mm slide film. For reasons that I won't go into this is still the best film for publication shots unless you have a high end digital camera.
3. Take your pictures just after sunrise or just before sunset. The light is much softer at those times so things are less likely to get hidden in shadow or overexposed. Also the warmer color in the light makes things look nicer.
4. Make sure there is nothing extranious in the background. Get any trucks, unnecessary people, phone lines, etc. out of the picture.
5. On a boat like this, in water shots are probably the best bet. Trailers are not real pretty.
6. Make sure that the sails are setting nicely or furled just right and that any lines are neatly stowed.
7. Get in close. Most people leave too much space around the subject.
8. Pay attention to how the light is hitting the boat. Is the light showing off the details or is the light at the wrong angle so the hull is in shadow? One of the good things about the second shot is that the light shows of the beautiful curves in this boat.

Finally, expect to take some time to get a good shot. I've done a very small amount of commercial and publication photography and it is not at all unusual for me to scout out a location for an outdoor photo in advance and then come back when the light is right, and it's also not at all unusual for me to spend 30 minutes or more setting up for one photo.

Remember, they can't publish all the photos they get so your boat AND your photo have to be better than the 'competition'. Of course there still is a certain amount of luck involved since unrelated issues like the mix of boats they want to publish any given month may knock you out of the running.

Finally, don't get too discouraged. Even if she doesn't make it into WoodenBoat your boat will turn heads everywhere she goes...

[Jim H]

Paul, posting your pictures on the forum is better than the magazine, afterall would you want a bunch of strangers drooling over pitures of your girl?

[imported_Ola Sylwan]

Nice boat, not very good pictures.
Do the pictures the Bruce way and remember to keep the horizon level.

[Wild Dingo]

Paul I am not going to comment regarding the photos... but I am going to comment regarding the boat!... Flamin brilliant!!

Youve done well mate! and justly proud of her and now Id suggest that youve probably got more people drooling over her than the magazine would garner for you!... And you can be fairly confident that Scott and crew are doing their damnest to find your shots and putting them in there for next month... if they are able.

Chin up mate! Youve done well Im sure you didnt just build her so you can have your pic in woodenboat magazine! that would be a shockingly egotistical thing wouldnt it and I mean we fellas dont care two cats whiskers about showin off and getting a bit of notoriety now do we???... mmmmmmmm?... So Im guessing that you built her for the pleasure of doing so and the thrill of building something like her yourself... that is among other things... so now enjoy the exctacy of sailing her!!... and mate... dont sweat the little things okay?

Take it easy
Shane

[htom]

Great boat, Paul. Get her into the water and in the sun like the second shot.

[Wild Wassa]

Paul, I'm happy to comment on the photos. As a contributing photographer [img]smile.gif[/img] to the forum.

The photos are too complex. Composition benefits from simplification, and simplification implies good taste. Cars in the photo? Also make sure your work is professionally finished. One of the first things an editor will reject are prints without finish. Eg, tidy up the frame edges, remove the date, correct all spotting and dust marks.

Your picture angles need to be considered more. The 'old' there are '500 ways to shoot a boat', Find the best angles. Even a touch of wind in the sails, folded sails don't look good in photos. Wet down the boat. Sun is only sun, but 5 minutes before sunrise, have you wondered about the beautiful landscapes and architecturals and how they are lit, there is more of a 'soft box' effect then. Tripod required. 5 minutes before sunrise. Beautiful colour balance then. Not the warm glow of sunrise or 10 minutes after. Go and look at high quality car magazines. Also look at the work of some of the world's greatest boat photographers. If I was shooting your boat, I would shoot your boat as a product to show the product off.

Finally, isolate your boat from the background. Unless the background is stunning. Just a few thoughts mate.

Warren.

ps,

[ 07-07-2002, 05:17 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[norske2]

Oh yes!..a super vain boat indeed!...SEND MORE PICS...I love vain boats.