Weekly Photo Contest 25 July to 31 July - Keep it Cool

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Nevertheless, I was intrigued that no-one offered, say, a metaphorical interpretation of this theme, something along the lines of a mature and accomplished jazz quartet in a cellar bar, in a hazy blue light, as an interpretation of the theme 'Keep It Cool'.

A little over a decade ago, I was privileged to see the legendary Brazilian trio, Azymuth, play live, in a pub. This was a group (they had helped pioneer Brazilian fusion funk jazz) who had made it very big in the 1960s, and the guys I saw were actually in their sixties as they played. But they were the epitome of cool…….

A very interesting thought @Scepticalscribe and one that could be as diverse as the individual is capable of being! My image actually contains a mild political commentary about people feeling the need to go and do the trendy or cool thing, where you go have your photo taken in front of the local landmark, wherever you find yourself, but very few actually see that within it. It took a photographic tutor a couple of years ago to see it first! Very few of my images have people in them.

Personally, I always think of the movie "Get Shorty" when it comes to cool, but definitely not the second in the series, which was notably uncool.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Apple fanboy - I’ve spent a good bit of time north of London and it’s certainly nothing like the southeastern U.S. I’m thinking that your are still digging your D750 since it looks like you shot this at f/14 and ISO 100 on a cloudy day. That camera gives you so much extra latitude in low light. I like where you were going with blurring the water. If this is lit up at night I’d go give it a whirl then as well. England always makes me feel cool so this works as well.


3rd Place - boch82

2nd Place - Alexander Of Oz

1st Place - Hughmac

Congrats to the winners. Lots of great photos as always.

Good critique to @JDDavis.

Sadly access to this fountain is going to prevent any night time shots. Given they only turn it on every hour for a few minutes and only when the place is open.
As for settings, I was using my ND filter, so it was mostly trying to get the slowest speed I could, hence ISO 100 and f 14.

And yes still enjoying the D750 and will be for many years to come (promise Mrs AFB!).

I was going to do something with ice cubes but the freezer was full and I sort of ran out of time.

On to the next one!

 

[Dekema2]

Nice judging and I'm glad to have participated in this for the first time! The picture I took was at the Letchworth State Park lower falls. I can't wait to do another contest at some point in the near future.

 

[Hughmac]

Well, when I've thought of a theme there'll be another contest up soon.

Suggestions on a postcard please

Cheers

Hugh

 

[MacRy]

Congrats to the winners. I didn't get a chance to do anything for this week's contest unfortunately as I didn't have the time. A shame as I would have liked to have set something up as it was a good theme.

 

[Hughmac]

New contest is here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/weeky-photo-contest-1st-8th-august-2015-employment.1904847/

Good luck everybody

Cheers

Hugh

 

[JDDavis]

Congrats to the worthy winners.

I must say that I really liked @Hughmac's excellent shot - great subject matter and lovely composition - and also thought that of @boch82 excellent.

Personally, I was also very taken with @AlexH's shot; this was an interesting shot, which demanded concentration and asked you to think about what was going on.

However, I was rather struck by the fact that everyone interpreted the brief, or theme, as one whereby a 'water' shot best represented this theme. 'Keep It Cool' seemed to call up images of water, and the physical need to stay cool at what is probably (elsewhere, but not in the British Isles, where it is actually quite cool enough!) the height of a sticky summer, with humid heat hammering down.

Nevertheless, I was intrigued that no-one offered, say, a metaphorical interpretation of this theme, something along the lines of a mature and accomplished jazz quartet in a cellar bar, in a hazy blue light, as an interpretation of the theme 'Keep It Cool'.

A little over a decade ago, I was privileged to see the legendary Brazilian trio, Azymuth, play live, in a pub. This was a group (they had helped pioneer Brazilian fusion funk jazz) who had made it very big in the 1960s, and the guys I saw were actually in their sixties as they played. But they were the epitome of cool…….

I think the water based images are a natural but I was hoping for a few "cool" images as you described. I know a few regulars who might have gone that route but they didn't enter this time.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think the water based images are a natural but I was hoping for a few "cool" images as you described. I know a few regulars who might have gone that route but they didn't enter this time.

Well, while I'm not particularly surprised at the water based images - yes, granted, it is a bit of a cliché, and it is the height of summer, and it is what one would naturally think - I am somewhat surprised that nobody thought to enter anything else, or offer any other definition of what might be considered 'cool'.

Now, at that level, arguing for what is 'cool' can be very subjective, but I very much doubt that anyone could argue that say, Miles Davis, was not cool.

And these thoughts came to mind because, a number of years ago, I had the privilege of seeing Marcus Miller (a protégé of Miles Davis's) play live, and, as with Azymuth that I mentioned earlier, these musicians were - to my mind, at least - seriously cool.

 

[Hughmac]

Yesterday, as I was on my way out to take my competition photo, I spied a cat laying quite comfortably and happily on a car roof, in a very cool and aloof manner, but as it was in full sunshine I kept the photo back as reserve in case my planned submission didn't work out.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yesterday, as I was on my way out to take my competition photo, I spied a cat laying quite comfortably and happily on a car roof, in a very cool and aloof manner, but as it was in full sunshine I kept the photo back as reserve in case my planned submission didn't work out.

Cheers

Hugh

Yes, cats somehow manage to effect an air which suggests that they are effortlessly cool. Not always terribly nice, but almost invariably cool.

 

[tomnavratil]

Congratulations to the winners and well done @JDDavis on the critique! My one was actually little bit of an illusion as it's a geothermal lagoon where the water is about 40 degrees C so over 100 degrees F however I did like the blue colour for the contest.

Good point by @Scepticalscribe about "cool" in a different meaning, I was originally planning to do that however changed my mind after I've seen the first two shots .

I've seen the new contest is already up - nice and wider theme @Hughmac, looking forward to all the entries, thanks!

 

[RCAFBrat]

Just thought I'd share a photo my son posted on Instagram two weeks ago since it seems to fit the theme in my opinion but of course wasn't mine to enter into the contest - notable that it was taken with an iPod Touch.

I have to wait until he gets home to see the better photos from his trip (he also has a GoPro and T2i with him but hasn't been able to upload from the SD cards).

Cheers

Taken on the black sand beach!

 

[boch82]

Congratulations @Hughmac It's interesting that I had the same questions as @JDDavis about the frozen and other attributes to your image!

@boch82 I too hope that was a GoPro!

@JDDavis Thanks for the nod of the head and the effort to everyones feedback. It was indeed a dramatic drop in temperature and the kids (early teens) absolutely loved risking life and limb body surfing through the broken piers.

This was shot with an Olympus Stylus Tough. Great little camera for shooting in the water.

 

[Joewilliamsca]

Congrats to Hughmac, and thanks for the critique JDDavis. It was wonderful looking at everyone's submissions this week. Great job everyone!

 

[Alanna Arenstein]

Lake Irwin, Colorado

Wow, amazing photo. I wanna visit this place someday. There's just something about cloudy/foggy places that really attracts my attention.