The usual disclaimer. I am not a professional. I am just one part of this group.
This contest is really hard to judge. Every one of these images could take first place. They are all artistically and technically terrific. Judging in this contest is entirely about what resonates most for me. I respect any and all alternative views.
malofx: I can easily see this as a remnant of the Dust Bowl (an extreme draught in the Plains States through most of the 1930s. It was also the setting for some of the most iconic images. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Owens_Thompson). A lot of people overdo HDR. I think you nailed it in this case. The fact that this was a water truck adds a sense of irony. I struggled with the power lines. On the one hand, they a good leading line that brings the eye to the truck. On the other hand, they feel like a modern intrusion. I would like to see what it looks like without them.
Alexander.Of.Oz: Your wife is differently generous, and she made a great choice if this is the kind of image you are producing. I love it when someone finds a way to double dip the theme. Old school equipment to shoot an old school. Nice. I love the feel of this. The tonality, framing, and vignetting create the feel that this was shot when the school was new. In this image, the lines on the parking lot are an intrusion, and I would have preferred they not be there.
kenoh: I am not a car guy and generally do not appreciate car portraits, so it is a little hard for me to respond to this. The bokeh is perfect. It keeps some context without the background being a distraction. The shine on the car makes this old car look showroom new, and I like that tension. The fact that the framing brings attention to the hood is fitting given the story behind the car. I think the vintage wash might be a little too much, but I am not sure.
On another note, I do appreciate that you translated the Queen’s English into Proper English.
Foogoofish: Full disclosure: While I prefer Mac to Windows computers, I do prefer Android mobile. I did my best not to make this personal. Having said that, I love this image, and you hit the theme in several ways. It is old school equipment that you fixed in an old school/jury rigged way. The noir-ish feel is what makes the image, and the light flair from a bad light seal (which is common for this camera) adds a nice touch. The line through the shoulders creates a line that goes straight to the poor, misunderstood, and bullied Android guy. Nicely done.
USAntigoon: I grew up in Philadelphia, so Lancaster County is almost my back yard. I like the gentile feel of a time when the pace of life was so much slower. The leading lines of the train give a sense of going back into the past. I would have added some vignetting to highlight the passengers.
rx7dude: Playlist? What do kids know. Right? The very tight DOF is what makes this image for me. I have to force my eye back and forth to see the entire tone arm. That felt a lot like the various movements in the tone arm as it moves through the record’s grooves. This image also illustrates how something new can still be old school.
tcphoto1: Repurposing rather than disposing is an old school attitude. This is a great illustration of how something can be repurposed as it ages – from vehicle to produce stand to trellis. I am sure the truck brings back memories for we Baby Boomers. I would like to see this with slightly more saturated colors.
Apple fanboy: Most photos of old cameras make them look like nothing more than photos of old cameras. This camera is sitting on its back on a table as though it is going to be picked up and used. I like that theme a lot. The dark camera on the dark background gives a bit of a flat feel to the image. I would like to see this with a more grey toned background to create some contrast.
VIPmediastar: I am still not a car guy, so……… I love seeing these old Fords running down the road. Old school things should be used. The HDR and tonal adjustments in this image are too much for my taste.
Laird Knox: Love it. It has a strong noir-ish feel that makes it look like the plane is emerging from a dense mist. This almost looks like a frame from an old newsreel. I would not change a thing.
Indydenny: I think I get what you are going for here. While it is a well-executed image, it does not work for me. There is a lot going on here, but my eye is stuck on the lift rather than moving through the image. I wonder if this would have worked better in color.
Hughmac: This image has a strong feel of being isolated on a farm in the central USA plains states. There is a flatness that is common in many photos of that era. The barn being horizontally centered helps with that sense of isolation. Using the trees as the vignette is very effective. I wonder how many stories are tied to that barn.
georgeinnj: It’s all good. I already closed the contest, but I had not post the results. Everything about this image is nostalgically familiar. The Pinto is one of those iconic first cars. Mine was a Datsun 210. I really miss that car. And that parka – We all had one of those. I am glad someone posted an old image. I imagine this was taken the day your brother drove it off to his freshman year of college. Thanks for the memories.
1st goes to Laird Knox. Extra points for making your own camera.
2nd is Foogoofish because of the drama in this image.
3rd is a tie between malofx and Alexander.Of.Oz
Laird Knox – It is up to you.
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