Weekly Photo Contest 19th - 26th March: Abstract Architecture

[anotherscotsman]

I'm looking for an abstract take on architecture. Doesn't have to be a building taken from a 'Dutch' angle (like below) but can be some detail of a building that strikes you as eye-catching. Looking for abstraction of some sort.

The rules are as usual:

· The photographs must be your own work.

· Be creative and have fun.

· You may only submit one photo per contest.

· Please do not comment on photos until after the judging has taken place.

· The contest runs for a week and starts now!

· At the end of the week, The Judge (last week's Winner) will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible.

· If the Judge is unable to complete the selection within 48 hours of the deadline for close, then a vote will be carried out to select a winner. This will be based on the number of "likes" each image has. In the event of a draw, the second place winner from the previous week will choose the tiebreaker.

· The 1st place Winner will start a new thread with the topic/theme of their choice, and act as the Judge for that contest. (Winner has 48 hours to create new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).

· Please update the Weekly Contest Master List when you post a new contest

Good luck everyone and looking forward to seeing what you can do with the theme.



Architecture 5 by another scotsman, on Flickr

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Have a few to choose from in this regards, but this is probably the strongest architectural abstraction I have produced so far. Well, in my eyes, anyway.

Great theme, I'm really looking forward to the diversity of interpretation offered by those participating!

Canon 6D, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Multi-segment Metering, Aperture Priority
ISO 100, 50mm, f/8, 1/250

 

[macuser453787]

 

[Janichsan]

 

[mollyc]

This is really out of my wheel house, but here's something.

 

[someoldguy]

M6 , Velvia 50 , Tri-Elmar 28-50 @28

 

[inkmich]

NMAAHC by Lance Randall, on Flickr

 

[MacRy]

 

[deep diver]

.

 

[0970373]

 

[anotherscotsman]

Great entries so far - keep them coming!

 

[Bigtree]

I'm looking for an abstract take on architecture. Doesn't have to be a building taken from a 'Dutch' angle (like below) but can be some detail of a building that strikes you as eye-catching. Looking for abstraction of some sort.

The rules are as usual:

· The photographs must be your own work.

· Be creative and have fun.

· You may only submit one photo per contest.

· Please do not comment on photos until after the judging has taken place.

· The contest runs for a week and starts now!

· At the end of the week, The Judge (last week's Winner) will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible.

· If the Judge is unable to complete the selection within 48 hours of the deadline for close, then a vote will be carried out to select a winner. This will be based on the number of "likes" each image has. In the event of a draw, the second place winner from the previous week will choose the tiebreaker.

· The 1st place Winner will start a new thread with the topic/theme of their choice, and act as the Judge for that contest. (Winner has 48 hours to create new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).

· Please update the Weekly Contest Master List when you post a new contest

Good luck everyone and looking forward to seeing what you can do with the theme.



Architecture 5 by another scotsman, on Flickr

 

[rx7dude]

Need a lift

 

[anotherscotsman]

12 hours to go...

 

[kenoh]

Don't think it is abstract enough...

L1005420.jpg by Ken OHagan, on Flickr

 

[anotherscotsman]

Right ladies and gentlemen, one hour to go so act quickly!

 

[anotherscotsman]

Right, closed now.

Watching entries as they come in, I've already had some thoughts. Remember, these are simply the thoughts of a rank amateur so take with the requisite pinch of salt! With such strong entries, I may have to resort to nit-picking to help me decide. Be warned

@Alexander.Of.Oz :Great opener for the contest. I really like the way the image tones from light to dark from left to right. makes me wonder which way is up! I'd guess up is on the left but who knows? Nice mono treatment and not too-harsh contrast. Could do with being shifted a touch up to be truly symmetrical.

@macuser453787 : Really good use of a low angle. I like your use of depth of field to enhance the apparent length of the column. Nice symmetry and tones.

@Janichsan : A nice graphic subject with good detail in the stonework. I wonder what it would look like in B&W? Unfortunately with a subject like this one, getting the angles right is something that catches my eye - could do with a little perspective correction as accentuated on the right of the frame.

@mollyc : Nice take on what looks like the Washington Monument - great that you can't see the pointy bit at the top! I like the contrast between the stonework and the sky as well as the enhanced perspective effect. An attractive graphic composition.

@someoldguy : A punch-in-the-face picture with tons of contrast that's enhanced by the reflected sunstar. Reflected clouds really give depth to these unusual buildings. A nice mono photo with blue and white as the basis.

@inkmich : Another DC-location? If it's the museum in the Mall that I think it is, I was there for opening day. Great subject but I think it might have been even more abstract by cropping to exclude the lower dark area - this would accentuate the window opening in the metal exterior. Like the blue/gold contrast.

macRy : Great observation - a window into a more modern interior feature. Love the textures in the brick, stone and wooden frame contrasting with the relatively clean lines of the modern staircase. Smashing photo.

@deep diver : Abstract or what? I've no idea what it is or the scale of the object. I like the fine texture of the metal surfaces - works very well in mono.

@E3BK : I really like the perspective you have here. A nicely toned and sharp B&W image that works very well for the subject. I honestly can't decide whether the lack of symmetry in the building itself is a good thing or a bad thing - I've changed my mind several times!

Bigtree : What an eye-catching image! Shapes and colours are certainly distinctive with the added mystery of nothing to give it scale. A pity about some of the reflections or bright patches that disrupt the bottom-centre of the image but they don't detract too-much.

rx7dude : Coming from the Clyde, I recognise good riveting when I see it. Nice piece of architectural Gothic-revival steel/iron-work. Nicely exposed with good perspective but that jaundiced colour cries out for B&W treatment.

@kenoh : Plenty abstract - perhaps a slight crop off the right side so that the frame ends with the curve of the building would give more punch. Love the gritty subject and tones with the views into the inside of the building. Nice urban decay shot.

Without any more ado:

1st place goes to Bigtree

2nd place goes to macuser453787

3rd place goes to mollyc

Very Honourable mention to MacRy for my favourite photo of the week but perhaps not quite on theme enough (for what I had in mind) to win.

Thanks everyone who entered and good luck setting the next competition.

 

[deep diver]

@deep diver : Abstract or what? I've no idea what it is or the scale of the object. I like the fine texture of the metal surfaces - works very well in mono.

Very worthy winners.

You did ask for abstract. I did stretch the theme a little. This is an abstract sculpture that is about 6' tall. (2 meters for those that speak the Queen's English). It is in a meditation garden, and was designed by the architect to compliment the space and the building.

 

[inkmich]

Right, closed now.

Watching entries as they come in, I've already had some thoughts. Remember, these are simply the thoughts of a rank amateur so take with the requisite pinch of salt! With such strong entries, I may have to resort to nit-picking to help me decide. Be warned

@Alexander.Of.Oz :Great opener for the contest. I really like the way the image tones from light to dark from left to right. makes me wonder which way is up! I'd guess up is on the left but who knows? Nice mono treatment and not too-harsh contrast. Could do with being shifted a touch up to be truly symmetrical.

@macuser453787 : Really good use of a low angle. I like your use of depth of field to enhance the apparent length of the column. Nice symmetry and tones.

@Janichsan : A nice graphic subject with good detail in the stonework. I wonder what it would look like in B&W? Unfortunately with a subject like this one, getting the angles right is something that catches my eye - could do with a little perspective correction as accentuated on the right of the frame.

@mollyc : Nice take on what looks like the Washington Monument - great that you can't see the pointy bit at the top! I like the contrast between the stonework and the sky as well as the enhanced perspective effect. An attractive graphic composition.

@someoldguy : A punch-in-the-face picture with tons of contrast that's enhanced by the reflected sunstar. Reflected clouds really give depth to these unusual buildings. A nice mono photo with blue and white as the basis.

@inkmich : Another DC-location? If it's the museum in the Mall that I think it is, I was there for opening day. Great subject but I think it might have been even more abstract by cropping to exclude the lower dark area - this would accentuate the window opening in the metal exterior. Like the blue/gold contrast.

macRy : Great observation - a window into a more modern interior feature. Love the textures in the brick, stone and wooden frame contrasting with the relatively clean lines of the modern staircase. Smashing photo.

@deep diver : Abstract or what? I've no idea what it is or the scale of the object. I like the fine texture of the metal surfaces - works very well in mono.

@E3BK : I really like the perspective you have here. A nicely toned and sharp B&W image that works very well for the subject. I honestly can't decide whether the lack of symmetry in the building itself is a good thing or a bad thing - I've changed my mind several times!

Bigtree : What an eye-catching image! Shapes and colours are certainly distinctive with the added mystery of nothing to give it scale. A pity about some of the reflections or bright patches that disrupt the bottom-centre of the image but they don't detract too-much.

rx7dude : Coming from the Clyde, I recognise good riveting when I see it. Nice piece of architectural Gothic-revival steel/iron-work. Nicely exposed with good perspective but that jaundiced colour cries out for B&W treatment.

@kenoh : Plenty abstract - perhaps a slight crop off the right side so that the frame ends with the curve of the building would give more punch. Love the gritty subject and tones with the views into the inside of the building. Nice urban decay shot.

Without any more ado:

1st place goes to Bigtree

2nd place goes to macuser453787

3rd place goes to mollyc

Very Honourable mention to MacRy for my favourite photo of the week but perhaps not quite on theme enough (for what I had in mind) to win.

Thanks everyone who entered and good luck setting the next competition.

Thank you very much for the feedback @anotherscotsman and congratulations to the winners. And yes it is the new museum on the Mall and it is an great place to visit (hopefully you had a chance to go inside). I will have to try different croppings with your suggestions in mind.

Now that the contest is over I got to say I really really like @deep diver's entry.

 

[kenoh]

Very worthy winners.

You did ask for abstract. I did stretch the theme a little. This is an abstract sculpture that is about 6' tall. (2 meters for those that speak the Queen's English). It is in a meditation garden, and was designed by the architect to compliment the space and the building.

Ah! But Queens English would be metres not meters and it would be imperial not metric so 6 foot is fine...

Great comp as usual. Superb entries and worthy winners! Well done everyone

 

[0970373]

@E3BK : I really like the perspective you have here. A nicely toned and sharp B&W image that works very well for the subject. I honestly can't decide whether the lack of symmetry in the building itself is a good thing or a bad thing - I've changed my mind several times!

Without any more ado:

1st place goes to Bigtree

2nd place goes to macuser453787

3rd place goes to mollyc

Very Honourable mention to MacRy for my favourite photo of the week but perhaps not quite on theme enough (for what I had in mind) to win.

Thanks everyone who entered and good luck setting the next competition.

That's the abstract part! This is one of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, BTW. I liked the jagged edges of the building that you don't see very often. They felt like saw teeth.

Congrats to @mollyc & @macuser453787 on the podium placement! Looking forward to your contest @Bigtree!

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

@Alexander.Of.Oz :Great opener for the contest. I really like the way the image tones from light to dark from left to right. makes me wonder which way is up! I'd guess up is on the left but who knows? Nice mono treatment and not too-harsh contrast. Could do with being shifted a touch up to be truly symmetrical.

Thanks @anotherscotsman for the commentary and judging. Another tough crowd this week.

You got the up direction correct, and this building has some extra balcony bits on the left/lower side that make the image appear ever so slightly off of symmetry. I have in the past been very tempted to make this perfectly symmetrical by removing them or simply mirroring the top/right side to make it perfect... I have no idea why the architects did that to such an otherwise strong and uniform building.

Congrat's to @Bigtree for the win. Looking forward to what theme you come up with for the next round.

My fave's this week were from @deep diver , it had the same effect on me, where I had no idea what it was or its scale, but loved what it was when I read his response about it and @MacRy , which could possibly have been made even more abstract with a slightly lower POV, so that you only saw the diagonal lines of the staircase without the end rails and ever so slightly less brick. I'm a sucker for a glimpse through type of image though.

 

[someoldguy]

Thanks @anotherscotsman for providing the excellent commentary , and congrats to the winners . My image was a scan from a slide taken with my M6 and Fuji Velvia 50 . Scanned with a Nikon Cool Scan V that I'd picked up in 2005 or so with the intent of scanning my slides into digital format . Life , and the ease of digital , got in the way and I'm still scanning . Just around 1000 or so more , I'll be done in no time . Colors haven't been bumped up , the only adjustments were to dispose of some unwanted specks . Keep forgetting how intense colors are in Velvia .

 

[deep diver]

Ah! But Queens English would be metres not meters and it would be imperial not metric so 6 foot is fine...

I feel properly schooled. Thank you.

 

[mollyc]

Great entries! Thanks for the mention!