Submission guidelines for Samurai Eye:

So you want to show your stuff on Samurai Eye. Here are some guidelines:

Scope: Samurai Eye exists as a place to display examples of period Japanese clothing made by and for SCA participants. You do not have to be a member of the SCA. However, clothing should be for the historical period encompassed by the SCA, 1600 CE and earlier. It should also be made, not bought.  The emphasis here is on clothing, not armor and weapons.

Goal: The best compliment I ever received was "You look like you walked out of a painting."  Samurai Eye seeks to show off your work in the best light possible. More on this below.

1. Be sure to include your full SCA name (if you have one), full legal name and where you're from (SCA location and modern city, state and/or country). If you are using a photo that someone else took of you, please include the modern name of the photographer and get their permission as well. If the photograph is of a minor child, I must have written permission from the child's parent or legal guardian or I will not post it. Some parents don't want their children's photos and names published on the internet and that is their right.

2. Please include a description of what you are wearing. Commentary about where it was shot, highlights of how you made it, what you might do differently, etc. are all useful in helping our readers understand what you did and why.

3. Please include a photograph that aims for the "You look like you walked out of a painting" effect. Yes, really. I want you to look your best.  Some suggestions and reminders:

• If you're posing for a portrait, take the time to arrange your hair, make sure your collar is lying flat, take off your glasses if you can manage without them. (I personally kick myself every time I see pictures where my collar is rumpled or my sleeves are three sheets to the wind....) This doesn't mean I won't accept a candid photo, but it depends on the photo.
• If you are proficient with a self timer, you can shoot yourself. If not, get a helper who knows how to frame you properly.
• Uncluttered backgrounds will show you and your clothing off to better advantage.
• Natural light is generally better than flash.

I WILL reject photos for:

• badly wrinkled clothing.
• poor lighting. If we can't see what it is, there's no point, and that goes as much for too bright sunlight as for dim and murky.
• red-eye.
• unflattering angles (e.g., photo of short person taken by much taller person who did not know how to correct for it).
• Distracting objects in the background. We want to admire you and your outfit, not know the entire contents of your basement. You don't have to have a Zen garden in your hometown, a blank wall at least assures the focus will be on you.

Saionji doesn't do Photoshop. I might crop your photo for formatting purposes. If you want to play around with photo editing software, that's your business.

You went to the trouble to make stylish clothes, I want you to look your best. Go and look, really look at the photos accepted thus far.  Think about which ones make you go "Wow!" and which ones make you go "Meh."

Email your submissions to wodeford@yahoo.com.

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