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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
This was a fairly difficult mandate, in view of the "We don't want no clichés"
restriction we were asked to obey. Given that, this is a surprisingly good set of pictures. Herewithal my usual uncensored comments, unencumbered by politeness or other civilities. Bob ? (road) Whose is this? It's too good a picture to be submitted anonymously. I'm not sure whether we're looking at the feature's "wash" or "road" implementation, but on close inspection I think I'm seeing rocks and not bubbles, Excellent composition; the stratified formation in top dead center is what really makes it work. Tony Cooper - End of the Road Here's a dreary cemetery shot, dangerously near to the deprecated cliché - until you blow it up to full size! That tombstone, so understated one might have to look for it, is brilliant. You get the prize for originality this month, Tony, hands down. Tony Cooper - Road Closed Not as good as Tony's other shot. I see the point, but it's a little too obvious. At best I suppose the overkill signage makes a statement about the pompous absurdity underlying much of our national "defense". Alan Browne 3 I have to confess I don't altogether understand what's going on here. Are they sewing up this poor wretch after somebody let him have it with a hand axe? Well, it's technically correct, and the colors are nice. Bob & Martha Coe I'll leave it to others to comment on our work (reserving the right to try to defend my artistic judgement, such as it is, if necessary). Savageduck 01, 02, 03 These are intended to be viewed as a set, and all are nice enough. But clearly the one in the middle stands above the others. Even dumbed down to the Shoot-In size limit of 300KB, its composition, colors, lighting, and overall technical quality are first-rate. Alan Browne 1 I wouldn't have expected this one to work as well as it does. The composition is goofy in the extreme. How did a map of New Mexico (or is it Alabama?) insinuate its way into the scene? The car looks like an advertisement for a build-it-yourself model, which I suppose it may in fact be. But the colors, from a limited palette, work extremely well together, and the image skillfully exploits that photographic nemesis, the black Pbase background. I don't know how others will feel, but I see this as an interesting departure from Alan's usual work, displaying a versatility I didn't know he had. Alan 1 Out of gas in a mud hole somewhere north of Enumclaw, under a still overcast sky? Been there; done that. (Well, almost.) I'm not as drawn to this as I am to some of the others, but it's certainly an OK shot. Alan 2 A much more artistic effort than Alan's other picture. I place this one on the edge of the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. The scene is, of course, stolen by that poor stick, arm outstretched, trying to somehow make it to the next water hole. A quirky, interesting picture. ? (Crosses) Technically and compositionally, there's nothing at all wrong with this shot. But we've seen its equivalent many times before. If it adds anything to the existing canon, I'm hard-pressed to say what it is. Tim Conway Like the student facing down the tank in Beijing, the turtle relies on the photographer to save his skin - er, shell. The picture doesn't quite speak to me, and I'm not entirely sure why. There's a sterility about it that seems to call for more action. Maybe it needs a driver with his/her head out the window looking to see what's going on. Bowser An attractive shot that isn't helped by the ugly telephone pole. But I suppose Bowser would have ended up in the clink if he had chopped it down. The tie to the mandate is a bit strained, but he did as well with it as most of us did. |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
Robert Coe wrote:
This was a fairly difficult mandate, in view of the "We don't want no clichés" restriction we were asked to obey. Given that, this is a surprisingly good set of pictures. Herewithal my usual uncensored comments, unencumbered by politeness or other civilities. Bob ? (road) Whose is this? It's too good a picture to be submitted anonymously. I'm not sure whether we're looking at the feature's "wash" or "road" implementation, but on close inspection I think I'm seeing rocks and not bubbles, Excellent composition; the stratified formation in top dead center is what really makes it work. It's mine, and the original "rep" shot. I just forgot to take it down. It's a wash in southern Utah leading into an area of stacks and hoodoos. Bowser An attractive shot that isn't helped by the ugly telephone pole. But I suppose Bowser would have ended up in the clink if he had chopped it down. The tie to the mandate is a bit strained, but he did as well with it as most of us did. I had asked one of the priests to post, and had plans to include a close-up of his collar with the church in the background and it was supposed to represent the lack of men interested in the priesthood. But he backed out, so I used this as a stretch. And quite a stretch, too. |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:19:26 -0400, Bowser wrote:
: Robert Coe wrote: : Bowser : An attractive shot that isn't helped by the ugly telephone pole. But : I suppose Bowser would have ended up in the clink if he had chopped : it down. The tie to the mandate is a bit strained, but he did as well : with it as most of us did. : : I had asked one of the priests to [pose], and had plans to include a : close-up of his collar with the church in the background and it was : supposed to represent the lack of men interested in the priesthood. But : he backed out, so I used this as a stretch. And quite a stretch, too. If you really wanted to make a point, you could show a dejected woman outside a seminary's walls while the few remaining male seminarians go about their business, ignoring her. You might even have found a woman willing to pose. You might even have found a *nun* willing to pose. Bob |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:38:59 -0400, Robert Coe wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:19:26 -0400, Bowser wrote: : Robert Coe wrote: : Bowser : An attractive shot that isn't helped by the ugly telephone pole. But : I suppose Bowser would have ended up in the clink if he had chopped : it down. The tie to the mandate is a bit strained, but he did as well : with it as most of us did. : : I had asked one of the priests to [pose], and had plans to include a : close-up of his collar with the church in the background and it was : supposed to represent the lack of men interested in the priesthood. But : he backed out, so I used this as a stretch. And quite a stretch, too. If you really wanted to make a point, you could show a dejected woman outside a seminary's walls while the few remaining male seminarians go about their business, ignoring her. You might even have found a woman willing to pose. You might even have found a *nun* willing to pose. That would be "The Road Not Traveled", not "The Road Less Traveled". -- Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
Disappointingly, the discussions about the Shoot-In didn't bring in
more than the Usual Suspects, and they didn't all show up. Unknown Artist (Utah wash)- Not really a "road" picture, but a damn good photograph. Tony Cooper (graveyard) A really bright day, a shot taken at noon, and a very washed-out image to start with. A B&W Gradient Layer Mask at reduced opacity over the Background Layer did wonders for it. Tony Cooper (fence) A very unimaginative shot. Closest second choice I could think of for the mandate without submitting another dirt road. I looked at this scene six ways from the middle and couldn't figure any way to add any interest to it. Alan Brown-3 (no title) - I have no idea how this ties in with the mandate. Nice _National Geographic_ type of image, but not even a sign of a visual pun. Bob Coe_1_old (no title) Not so great until you read the explanatory text. Then it makes a bit of sense for the mandate. Not a great image, but it is a great story. Martha Coe_1_old (no title) I understand she pulled an image from the file, and didn't shoot to mandate, but the dam isn't necessary for the image. More car - recognizable parts, anyway - is. Again, though, a good story. Road-Savageduck-01w - Good shot. Good colors. The other two are OK, but lack punch. The hiker makes 01w. Alan Browne 1 (no title) Again, I have no idea what's going on here. I kinda like the image, but I don't understand it. How does the glare get on the window and shades but not on the "car"? Alan2 (no title) Really good shot, but those footprints bother me. Perfectly legal to set-up the scene and arrange the components, but sweep away the footprints after. Road_Tim Conway_old It wants a face in the driver's side. rlt_Bowser Crop! Crop! Crop! Down through the pole and across the top of the shadow. You lose nothing except distractions. RLT_Paul-Furman_0031400 Finally! An image that anyone can do. If (names withheld in a rare moment of restraint) knew they could submit really out-of-focus stuff, they would have entered the Shoot-In. (It's not my screen, is it?) -- Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
Robert Coe wrote:
Alan Browne 3 I have to confess I don't altogether understand what's going on here. Are they sewing up this poor wretch after somebody let him have it with a hand axe? Well, it's technically correct, and the colors are nice. A spiritual centre in the Laurentians was hosting a Hindu festival which included a very colorful parade. It was a very 'random' happening in a cluttered environment and did not suit my usual plodding pace. Some of the celebrants are pierced with hooks as shown and restrained by a partner. They enter some sort of trance from the pain, the dancing and the rituals. Not a road I'd like to travel... Alan Browne 1 I wouldn't have expected this one to work as well as it does. The composition is goofy in the extreme. How did a map of New Mexico (or is it Alabama?) insinuate its way into the scene? The car looks like an advertisement for a build-it-yourself model, which I suppose it may in fact be. But the colors, from a limited palette, work extremely well together, and the image skillfully exploits that photographic nemesis, the black Pbase background. I don't know how others will feel, but I see this as an interesting departure from Alan's usual work, displaying a versatility I didn't know he had. The SI shows 0.01% of my photography. I'm not good at shooting to mandates as I've got other things to do. The photo shown is on a Montreal street. It is simply a window on a garage. I positioned myself off axis (to avoid a reflection) with a fairly long lens and aligned a keyhole of sky (coming between a couple building behind me) and threw that well OOF. Colours worked well. Just cropped a tad for the SI. Alan 1 Out of gas in a mud hole somewhere north of Enumclaw, under a still overcast sky? Been there; done that. (Well, almost.) I'm not as drawn to this as I am to some of the others, but it's certainly an OK shot. Somewhere between Creede and Silverton CO. Not out of gas, happily, but Microsoft Streets and Trips is to blame for us being there. What was indicated as a "County Road" turned out to be a narrow, rough, boulder strewn, crossing streams, steep climbs and so on. (The photo shows the "superhighway" portion). We were defeated by a muddy hill a little after this shot was taken and had to go back. (Going down the hill I was not sure we would ever get out if later forced to turn back, 4WD but ordinary SUV tires. So in an abundance of caution backed out and turned around). Took over an hour to go about 20 miles or so - and the same to get out. If ever back there, I will attempt it again - hopefully in dryer weather. Alan 2 A much more artistic effort than Alan's other picture. I place this one on the edge of the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. The scene is, of course, stolen by that poor stick, arm outstretched, trying to somehow make it to the next water hole. A quirky, interesting picture. Just an ordinary landscape of the formula: "anchor object in front and layer up the scene". |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Traveled)
Robert Coe wrote:
This was a fairly difficult mandate, in view of the "We don't want no clichés" Indeed, I was unable to comply with the cliche restriction g. http://www.pbase.com/shootin/road_less_traveled [bowser] (road) ...It's too good a picture to be submitted anonymously. I'm not sure whether we're looking at the feature's "wash" or "road" implementation, Some 'rivers' are considered navigable roads for legal purposes out there. Years ago I hiked the Pariah River from Bryce to Arizona for 2 weeks and didn't see a single person except when crossing a highway in the middle. Beautiful country and a nice capture. but on close inspection I think I'm seeing rocks and not bubbles, Excellent composition; the stratified formation in top dead center is what really makes it work. Tony Cooper - End of the Road Here's a dreary cemetery shot, dangerously near to the deprecated cliché - until you blow it up to full size! That tombstone, so understated one might have to look for it, is brilliant. You get the prize for originality this month, Tony, hands down. Ha! :-) Is this partly desaturated or the lighting was actually like that? Tony Cooper - Road Closed Not as good as Tony's other shot. I see the point, but it's a little too obvious. At best I suppose the overkill signage makes a statement about the pompous absurdity underlying much of our national "defense". Sort of blatantly obvious and a bit boring but a good composition and well executed. Alan Browne 3 I have to confess I don't altogether understand what's going on here. Are they sewing up this poor wretch after somebody let him have it with a hand axe? Well, it's technically correct, and the colors are nice. Looks like some kind of ritual flogging. Shocking content and fine for illustrating the event but not a great photo in itself. Interesting though for sure. Bob & Martha Coe I'll leave it to others to comment on our work (reserving the right to try to defend my artistic judgement, such as it is, if necessary). Someone else commented on the triangular composition in the first which I agree works well. Interesting story too. The next two don't hold any interest for me, the old stone dam is fascinating, not a bad shot... worth re-visiting. The iron gate shot would be good for accompanying an article about the subject. Savageduck 01, 02, 03 These are intended to be viewed as a set, and all are nice enough. But clearly the one in the middle stands above the others. Even dumbed down to the Shoot-In size limit of 300KB, its composition, colors, lighting, and overall technical quality are first-rate. Ha, I like the third best by far, maybe just because I'm fond of that kind of landscape. The second has an interesting layered composition but nothing really interesting as a subject. Alan Browne 1 I wouldn't have expected this one to work as well as it does. The composition is goofy in the extreme. How did a map of New Mexico (or is it Alabama?) insinuate its way into the scene? The car looks like an advertisement for a build-it-yourself model, which I suppose it may in fact be. But the colors, from a limited palette, work extremely well together, and the image skillfully exploits that photographic nemesis, the black Pbase background. I don't know how others will feel, but I see this as an interesting departure from Alan's usual work, displaying a versatility I didn't know he had. I enjoy details like this. The composition could have been more dynamic. Alan 1 Out of gas in a mud hole somewhere north of Enumclaw, under a still overcast sky? Been there; done that. (Well, almost.) I'm not as drawn to this as I am to some of the others, but it's certainly an OK shot. I took a similar trip soon after Alan's - over much of the same terrain, soon after his trip - here's my comparable shot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgehil...7617631415944/ Alan 2 A much more artistic effort than Alan's other picture. I place this one on the edge of the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. The scene is, of course, stolen by that poor stick, arm outstretched, trying to somehow make it to the next water hole. A quirky, interesting picture. I could swear I shot the same bleached log at the San Dunes too g that's crossing a flat wash where floods drag trees out into the open. ? (Crosses) Technically and compositionally, there's nothing at all wrong with this shot. But we've seen its equivalent many times before. If it adds anything to the existing canon, I'm hard-pressed to say what it is. Ah well, I still like it. Maybe the forced composition with too little sky & too much foreground bothers me a little. I guess that's the result of keeping the verticals upright from the low crouching position. Tinkering around with my new 24mm PC-E tilt/shift lens makes me think this could be a good situation for a perspective correcting lens. One could zoom out & crop for the same effect. Tim Conway Like the student facing down the tank in Beijing, the turtle relies on the photographer to save his skin - er, shell. The picture doesn't quite speak to me, and I'm not entirely sure why. There's a sterility about it that seems to call for more action. Maybe it needs a driver with his/her head out the window looking to see what's going on. Some interesting aspects to this shot, though it does have a snapshot feel and I agree with someone's comment about the distracting reflections but still interesting to see under the car from such an odd angle and while sort of plain, it is a good composition... just doesn't have a dramatic exotic look. Bowser An attractive shot that isn't helped by the ugly telephone pole. But I suppose Bowser would have ended up in the clink if he had chopped it down. The tie to the mandate is a bit strained, but he did as well with it as most of us did. I think it's a clever (third?) attempt at the concept for the mandate and a very well done photo. The power line didn't bother me, it's aim is to show reality. My two submissions... Blurry Rail Tracks OK, OK, suppress your groans, either you like it or it's crap, I know. You will notice in the far bottom edge at the left, a couple twigs which are almost in focus g. The focus point is actually in the frame about 5 feet away - was supposed to be on the sharpest flowers in the lower left. I like how the foreground flowers actually bent the light making the train tracks warp. This is a section of city light rail line that cuts through back yards circumventing a hill in San Francisco. I'm violating warnings to walk along the tracks but it's a useful shortcut for me. I rarely use the 85/1.4 lens so went out intentionally with it in broad daylight with the ISO forced to 100 and got some neat shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgehil...7621488426682/ Forested Road The lath house is part of the growing grounds for my online nursery business, not open to the public. The road is one of those hidden treasures in SF, people who have been here for decades usually have never heard of it. It's almost like a jeep trail in this segment and drops off to the left very steeply. Definitely a little traveled road. This was done with a 24mm f/3.5 PC-E Nikkor with shift for perspective correction to keep the verticals straight. In fact, it's possible I didn't need to shift for this shot but others in the set use it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgehil...7620795250639/ -- Paul Furman www.edgehill.net www.baynatives.com all google groups messages filtered due to spam |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
tony cooper wrote:
RLT_Paul-Furman_0031400 Finally! An image that anyone can do. If (names withheld in a rare moment of restraint) knew they could submit really out-of-focus stuff, they would have entered the Shoot-In. (It's not my screen, is it?) The point wasn't sharp focus grin. Thanks for the comments... -- Paul Furman www.edgehill.net www.baynatives.com all google groups messages filtered due to spam |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
"Robert Coe" wrote in message ... On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:19:26 -0400, Bowser wrote: : Robert Coe wrote: : Bowser : An attractive shot that isn't helped by the ugly telephone pole. But : I suppose Bowser would have ended up in the clink if he had chopped : it down. The tie to the mandate is a bit strained, but he did as well : with it as most of us did. : : I had asked one of the priests to [pose], and had plans to include a : close-up of his collar with the church in the background and it was : supposed to represent the lack of men interested in the priesthood. But : he backed out, so I used this as a stretch. And quite a stretch, too. If you really wanted to make a point, you could show a dejected woman outside a seminary's walls while the few remaining male seminarians go about their business, ignoring her. You might even have found a woman willing to pose. You might even have found a *nun* willing to pose. Yeah, sure, now you tell me. |
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[SI] Shoot-In comments (Road Less Travelled)
Alan Browne wrote:
Robert Coe wrote: Alan 1 Out of gas in a mud hole somewhere north of Enumclaw, under a still overcast sky? Been there; done that. (Well, almost.) I'm not as drawn to this as I am to some of the others, but it's certainly an OK shot. Somewhere between Creede and Silverton CO. Not out of gas, happily, but Microsoft Streets and Trips is to blame for us being there. What was indicated as a "County Road" turned out to be a narrow, rough, boulder strewn, crossing streams, steep climbs and so on. (The photo shows the "superhighway" portion). We were defeated by a muddy hill a little after this shot was taken and had to go back. The comparable shot I posted in reply was where I turned back... only had a crappy little paper map and was really hoping to get through that pass! (Going down the hill I was not sure we would ever get out if later forced to turn back, 4WD but ordinary SUV tires. So in an abundance of caution backed out and turned around). Took over an hour to go about 20 miles or so - and the same to get out. If ever back there, I will attempt it again - hopefully in dryer weather. -- Paul Furman www.edgehill.net www.baynatives.com all google groups messages filtered due to spam |
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