Help me pick!

[rubah]

My uni's alumni association is holding a photography contest to celebrate study abroad. I've short listed my France pictures down to six, and I need help choosing.

http://www.snowy-day.net/pictures/events/besancon/pug.jpg
http://www.snowy-day.net/pictures/events/besancon/paris/gallerylafayette.jpg
http://www.snowy-day.net/pictures/events/besancon/paris/parismoon.jpg
http://www.snowy-day.net/pictures/events/besancon/strasbourg/cathedrale-morning.jpg
http://www.snowy-day.net/pictures/events/besancon/paris/eiffeltowergirls.jpg
http://www.snowy-day.net/pictures/events/besancon/doubs-night.jpg

There are three categories, People, arts, and architecture, but I guess I have to pick one.

[Rantz]

Galleri Lafayette is probably the most eyecatching, but I voted for the Eiffel tower girls because it emphasises the social aspect (girls talking) in foreign environment (made obvious by the Eiffel tower) which is always effective in these situations. It also has a nice composition and is very symbolic of the whole study abroad concept.

Does the contest disallow photo editing? If not I would spruce up the contrast and maybe brightness and saturation as as well to make it more effective. Try using Auto Levels if you have Photoshop.

[rubah]

Yes, it allows color/brightness enhancements, just not removing and adding things kind of alterations.

(the only reason I haven't done that for that picture is because I've never posted it to the web before ;))

[Psychotic]

I voted doubs because it sounds like boobs.

(also because it looks kind of cool but whatev's)

[Quindiana Jones]

Although I prefer the Doubs as a picture, I think the Eiffel Tower is your best bet if, as Rantz said, you could tweak the contrast and brightness a bit. As he said, as a photo representing studying abroad, it seems ideal. Though I would have preferred it if the tree wasn't blocking the Tower and if that guys forehead wasn't right in the way.

[I Took the Red Pill]

I like "Cathedrale morning" the best.

[Zeldy]

I love 'Eiffel Tower girls', it's subtle but also clever, it looks to me like documentary/street photography, which is my favourite. :)

[Breine]

I like the Gallery Layafette one. Very interesting to look at, but maybe also a bit boring (as in, done before)?

The Eiffel picture is nice. I like that there are two parallel vertical lines - i.e. the two girls in the centre making the eye go directly up into the eiffel tower and the street lamp, respectively. Makes it interesting to look at. The guy's forehead has to go, though, and it needs to be brighter.

Overall, I'd say the Eiffel one.

[Zeldy]

The eiffel one could look nice black and white. :)

[rubah]

I actually don't mind the forehead too much. I had a print made of that picture and I never noticed it until this thread xD It just seems to add to the intimacy of the scene, I guess

[Raistlin]

I like the Gallery and the Doubs pictures. I voted for the Gallery.

[Rantz]

I didn't notice the forehead until Quin pointed it out, but now I find it kind of imposing. xD

[Rye]

I think the second photo has the best lighting and composition - it'd need pretty much zero change on Photoshop. I like it the best.

The last one, if you fix the lighting on photoshop, would probably be the best choice though. It seems more Paris to me. I think the second photo is the most beautiful one, but this is the one that'd appeal the most.

[>_<]

I voted for "Pug Girl". It's more personal and allows for the viewer to create his/her own story. I think it's difficult with architecture shots to achieve something beyond the generic "holiday snaps" kind of feeling, but the last photo is interesting. Maybe if you cropped the sky more so the horizon is in the upper third and the dark water and reflections can become the dominating focal point? Just an idea, but that would certainly sell the mood for me more and I would have chosen this picture if that were the case.

Hope this helps. Sorry if I sound like an arse. Not my intention. :)

[Freya]

I voted pug girl. The shopping place seemed too cluttered.

[Imperfectionist]

I voted for the second as it's definately the most eyecatching here, but like Rye said, some photoshopping could change all that. I was considering the Cathedral but it seemed a bit too much like an it's-already-been-done subject for photography, although it is a great photo.

I'm so jealous, I want to go to Paris :(

[Aerith's Knight]

I really like the third and the last one, because I like a quiet scenery. I would love to live by the ocean later in my life.