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Weekly Photo Contest: November 26 to December 3 - In The Shadows

MacRy said:
I think I may have misinterpreted the brief this week as I thought it was about revealing what was in the shadows and not showing shots with shadows, which is the way everyone else seems to have gone.

I think that Anonymous freak went the same way as me.
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Looking at the entries submitted, I had a feeling that perspectives on how to interpret the brief could differ, drastically.

Personally, I love ancient urban centres, both day and above all, at night, in the shadows; however, I am fascinated by how this brief has been interpreted by everyone who has taken the time and trouble to post an entry.

Apple fanboy said:
Only Archie knows! And he has obviously been on the sauce all weekend :D

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Why not submit an entry?
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Well, it is perfectly understandable that week-ends are sometimes reserved for a serious bout of sauce intake………

Re entering, I'd love to, but, as it happens, I still use film, and hugely enjoy using it. I have yet to 'graduate' to digital.

In fact, I have never actually used a digital camera, and know absolutely nothing about them. Nor, for that matter, do I know anything about the whole field of digital photography, and the software that is used subsequently, when processing on a computer.

Indeed, for that matter, I don't have a camera phone - (I have a rather aged Nokia) and so have no idea of how to 1) take a picture with one, 2) transfer it to a computer file and 3) upload it online.

Since I discovered this section of the forum, I have dropped in to take a look at what is happening, and most weeks, I follow the weekly contest with great interest. Some outstanding photographs have been taken, and I am fascinated by the ideas, and thought processes, behind individual entries as well as by how images are composed and why certain images are preferred to others (although I realise that this is a very personal and of necessity, subjective, viewpoint).

Anyway, there is much there for me to learn, not least about photography, let alone digital photography, - which is one of the reasons that I started taking a look at this section of the forum on a semi-regular basis - and the conversations on this thread are always conducted in a very congenial, and mutually helpful and respectful, yet fun, atmosphere.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Looking at the entries submitted, I had a feeling that perspectives on how to interpret the brief could differ, drastically.

Personally, I love ancient urban centres, both day and above all, at night, in the shadows; however, I am fascinated by how this brief has been interpreted by everyone who has taken the time and trouble to post an entry.



Well, it is perfectly understandable that week-ends are sometimes reserved for a serious bout of sauce intake………

Re entering, I'd love to, but, as it happens, I still use film, and hugely enjoy using it. I have yet to 'graduate' to digital.

In fact, I have never actually used a digital camera, and know absolutely nothing about them. Nor, for that matter, do I know anything about the whole field of digital photography, and the software that is used subsequently, when processing on a computer.

Indeed, for that matter, I don't have a camera phone - (I have a rather aged Nokia) and so have no idea of how to 1) take a picture with one, 2) transfer it to a computer file and 3) upload it online.

Since I discovered this section of the forum, I have dropped in to take a look at what is happening, and most weeks, I follow the weekly contest with great interest. Some outstanding photographs have been taken, and I am fascinated by the ideas, and thought processes, behind individual entries as well as by how images are composed and why certain images are preferred to others (although I realise that this is a very personal and of necessity, subjective, viewpoint).

Anyway, there is much there for me to learn, not least about photography, let alone digital photography, - which is one of the reasons that I started taking a look at this section of the forum on a semi-regular basis - and the conversations on this thread are always conducted in a very congenial, and mutually helpful and respectful, yet fun, atmosphere.
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Well Archie who is running this weeks contest (and obviously the winner of last weeks) shots film as well. All you will need is a scanner to upload your picture.
However I'm sure others could advise you better than I. I'm just a digital newbie to photography.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Well Archie who is running this weeks contest (and obviously the winner of last weeks) shots film as well. All you will need is a scanner to upload your picture.
However I'm sure others could advise you better than I. I'm just a digital newbie to photography.
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Thank you very much for your kind response; as it happens, I don't actually have a scanner, either, but I will most certainly pay close heed to whatever advice is tendered, here or elsewhere.

As I love the Flemish art which came from the Low Countries (where light and shadow were enabling tools of three dimensional and mood setting composition) during the late Renaissance period, and am fascinated by the treatment of light (and shadow) in art and photography, I am interested in how the pictures submitted this week will be received.
 
Seeing that we're a good bit past 3 Dec it may be time for the runner up to step up and judge. I think it was Miltz from the previous contest. Ace must be super busy or have been abducted by aliens because he usually gives a great report.
 
JDDavis said:
Seeing that we're a good bit past 3 Dec it may be time for the runner up to step up and judge. I think it was Miltz from the previous contest. Ace must be super busy or have been abducted by aliens because he usually gives a great report.
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Yeah I agree. Archie is a crazy busy dude it seems but we should get these back on track as it's nearly a week past the closing date. I think we should specify that the judging is done within two days as well as getting a new contest up and running.
 
I agree. I think we need to give Archie a pass. He did say he was real busy. I like the idea of position 2 from the previous week stepping up to judge OR... every one go in and up-vote their fav entry and we do it by commitee over the next 24 hours? thoughts? Then winner gets us up and running.

Ken.
 
I would also suggest that the judge shouldn't feel it's necessary to do a detailed critique of all shots. It's a great thing to do but it can be very time consuming.

IMO, people should keep it simple if they don't have the time.

~ Peter
 
MacRy said:
Yeah I agree. Archie is a crazy busy dude it seems but we should get these back on track as it's nearly a week past the closing date. I think we should specify that the judging is done within two days as well as getting a new contest up and running.
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Life get's busy that's for sure. Hope everything is well with Ace. I'm not sure if it was written exactly in the old rules but in the past we've had to have the previous runner up step in and judge. I know once someone who did not participate stepped in to keep it going. I'll try to PM Miltz. I vote for 24 hours more and if Ace or Miltz can't get to it then someone who did not submit just jump right in there and judge.
 
JDDavis said:
Life get's busy that's for sure. Hope everything is well with Ace. I'm not sure if it was written exactly in the old rules but in the past we've had to have the previous runner up step in and judge. I know once someone who did not participate stepped in to keep it going. I'll try to PM Miltz. I vote for 24 hours more and if Ace or Miltz can't get to it then someone who did not submit just jump right in there and judge.
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I did not submit this week. If Miltz does not respond, I will be happy to jump in. I will do it tomorrow night (US Eastern Standard Time) if I do not see anything posted by then.
 
Okay. It is hard to be a fill-in judge, but here we go. I think everyone that enters deserves some comments. Because of my schedule tonight, some will be brief. I saw two groups of images here, and I evaluated them differently. The ones that look more abstract were evaluated as studies in form, color, texture, and lighting. The other images are the ones of people or places, and I was looking for a story in each of those. As always, I am just another part of this group and not an expert in anything. I am offering the kind of critique I appreciate when others look at my images.

Anonymous Freak: I love this. I’ve often had the experience of wanting to hide from the sun on a too hot day. The dog looks comfortable, but still has a forlorn look on its face. It must be hard to be so sad in such a comfortable place.

MacRy: I think this works because you blew the highlights. There are so many lines here that keep my eye moving all around the image. The hard irregular lines in the foreground are nicely tempered by the soft round shapes of the bokeh, giving a pleasant feel to what could otherwise be a harsh image.

thebro20: Apache looks like a good friend. I’ve never seen coloring like that. Clearly, he is looking for something, and the light and shadow help highlight that gaze.

Ardmanz: There is an intensity in the model’s eyes that gives great depth to this image. The shadowing on the left enhances that intensity. I wish there were more expression in his mouth to give even more emotion to the image.

MCH-1138: I think I understand what you were going for, but black-on-black does not work very well for me. There is not enough here to take my eye anywhere. Perhaps some halo lighting behind, or doing something with the red and blue light under the mask.

charpi: This is an outstanding image. The composition carries my eye through the entire scene while making it stop at every step. Where am I coming from and where am I going? I want to know what is behind each door and window, and around the corner. Who is the man? Is he there to welcome or challenge me? I do not know, but I want to find out.

pukifloyd: There are a lot of interesting lines and shapes, and I do like all of the contrasts. I tried to follow them, but could not get anywhere. I looked at it rotated 90 degrees to the right and was able to get a sense of moving down through the image.

needfx: This image really resonates with me. For 16 years, I did some work in a maximum security prison (on the good side of the bars ☺). The light and shadow on the face look like they were made by the bars on a cell. The look on his face is real. I’ve seen it hundreds of times when offenders start wondering about what might be out there for them, or they feel regret, or they are feeling guarded anticipation, or what life might have been like if only………..

JDDavis: Jeff, I have seen many dozens of you images, and this one is absolutely my favorite. It is hard to get a sense of how big something is while you are standing on it, and this could have been an otherwise typical mountain trek panorama. You shot this at the right time of day. The shadow just swallows up Northern California, and that says it all. The peak of the shadow appears to spread into the sky, further emphasizing the feeling of how massive Mt. Shasta is.

Apple fanboy: I am not sure what you want me to see here. There is a bit too much negative space in the sky to really keep my eye on the pillars. I would like to see more contrast to bring out some of the texture in the pillars.

imac wannabe: What a peaceful place! The composition is as good as it gets, with the light, steps, and trees all taking me to the same place. The shadows are soft and enhance the sense of serenity this place offers. I’ve had a tough couple of days. I want to be relaxing on the other side of those trees.

Schtumple: I like the film noire feel of this. The composition and lighting pull my eye quickly through the image, and right into the house. I am not sure what role the man plays in this story, but he does feel a little sinister to me.

truetray: This image is a strong commentary on a sad reality that technology can keep us hidden in the shadows from one another. They are sitting together in a quiet (romantic???) corner, and do not even see one another. Good use of composition and light.

NeGRit0: It has been a long time since I’ve seen your Amazon guy. There is such a variety of shadows and shapes that I find something new and interesting each time I look at this.

britincan: I think there is too much in this image that does not tell a story. The left side is dark and static, and creates a lot of negative space. The right hand side is great. The vendor’s pride in their product is unmistakable. Street fairs are very chaotic, and I get a strong sense here of the calm that comes at the end of the day. I do not eat red meat, but I think I’d like to be there if I did.

This was hard, but:
3rd: imac wannabe & JDDavis
2nd: needfx
1st: charpi


charpi – it is up to you to get the new contest posted (in 48 hours).


.
 
Thanks for jumping in and judging, Deep Diver, and thanks for the comments. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with brighter lights on his chest panel. I wanted to keep the black background and use just hints of highlights and specular reflections, but I agree that there isn't a good place for your eye to start.

The other idea I had was to have a properly exposed figure in front of him, as if he were looming in the shadows. Something like this (very rough, but you get the idea). But I ran out of time to try to set it up so I could do it in one shot rather than photoshopping two photos together.

Congrats to the winners, and big thanks again to Deep Diver.
 

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deep diver said:
JDDavis: Jeff, I have seen many dozens of you images, and this one is absolutely my favorite. It is hard to get a sense of how big something is while you are standing on it, and this could have been an otherwise typical mountain trek panorama. You shot this at the right time of day. The shadow just swallows up Northern California, and that says it all. The peak of the shadow appears to spread into the sky, further emphasizing the feeling of how massive Mt. Shasta is.
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Thanks Deep for picking up the judging and for the comments. Again, hope everything is alright on Acearchie's end. He's usually pretty regular on the forum.

Mt Shasta is an enourmous hunk of volcano. It's not connected to any other mountain and it rises nearly 10k feet above the next nearest high point. That and it's shape is what helps make it and it's shadow so impressive. It's hard to describe (or show in an image) how a shadow can be so impressive but it really is one of those "wonders" that's worth seeing in person.
 
Thanks DD from me too for jumping in and giving feedback on all the images!

In my mind, this guy is somewhere hidden, lurking and praying on someone from within the shadows. He looks like a sinister serial killer

Thanks again!

Acearchie, where are you?
 
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deep diver said:

truetray: This image is a strong commentary on a sad reality that technology can keep us hidden in the shadows from one another. They are sitting together in a quiet (romantic???) corner, and do not even see one another. Good use of composition and light.
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Haha my wife would have probably said the same thing about me ignoring her to sneak a photograph of strangers on our honeymoon! ;) great judging!
 
Great job on the feedback and for stepping in to judge deep diver. Not easy when you haven't set the brief but you did it beautifully.

Congrats to the winners.

I hope that everything is ok with Archie and that he's just in the midst of a busy period. Hopefully he'll appear again in the thread at some point to give some feedback on his favourite shots too.
 
Hi guys,

Nothing but apologies from me at this point! I've dipped into the startup world (working all hours of the day for no pay!) and finding even an hour to sit down and critique has proven an issue!

Big thanks to DeepDiver for stepping up to the plate. I haven't read his comments as I endeavour to provide my own comments (but not winners) at some point this weekend.
 
acearchie said:
Hi guys,

Nothing but apologies from me at this point! I've dipped into the startup world (working all hours of the day for no pay!) and finding even an hour to sit down and critique has proven an issue!

Big thanks to DeepDiver for stepping up to the plate. I haven't read his comments as I endeavour to provide my own comments (but not winners) at some point this weekend.
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Glad all is okay. Good to be be busy. Hope it pays off soon.
 
acearchie said:
Hi guys,



Nothing but apologies from me at this point! I've dipped into the startup world (working all hours of the day for no pay!) and finding even an hour to sit down and critique has proven an issue!



Big thanks to DeepDiver for stepping up to the plate. I haven't read his comments as I endeavour to provide my own comments (but not winners) at some point this weekend.
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I hope your new endeavour pays off fella and I'm glad you haven't succumbed to Ebola or fallen down a well. You had us worried for a minute there.
 
MacRy said:
I hope your new endeavour pays off fella and I'm glad you haven't succumbed to Ebola or fallen down a well. You had us worried for a minute there.
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What's that Lassie? Ace didn't fall down a well? Well that's a relief! :)

Glad you checked back in Ace and good luck with the startup. Tell us about it sometime.
 
Thanks for taking the time to comment deep diver :) Acearchie, good luck with your endeavours!
 
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