Results of this Week's Contest
I love the concept of this contest. Just because one person liked my photo a bit more than they did everyone elses, qualifies me as the judge of the next weeks contest! How much fun is that? Thank you all for your many wonderful photos. Every morning I would look at the previous days postings and write critiques on those photos. That way I could spend more time reviewing each image.
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pmxperience I love that you interpret US History with photo of Corvettes! The Corvette itself is an iconic image of American manufacturing and one of the longest running US car models. The subject is easily evident and I like the way it is placed in the frame. My eye is drawn by the endless line diagonal line of vehicles. I do like your position directly on the road. I dont feel like a spectator on the curb but rather feel like I stand a better chance of being run over. The focus is nicely done so that background distractions are kept to a minimum. My eye is draw a bit to the bright green street signs. There is probably little you might have done about that unless you could reposition yourself somewhere else along the route. This photo would make a nice banner for a website by cropping it right above the car tops.
AlexH Nothing is probably taken for granted more in the US as the right to vote. I like the Vote Here sign because it is bit tattered, possibly a symbol of a battered but still standing political system. The subject is unmistakable and even more prominent due to its bright red color. You took time to get the camera angle so that you were on the same level as the sign. Focus is nicely done so the blurred political signs in the background provide a bit of interest. If there is any improvement to be made, you might have considered slightly elevating the camera so that the people in the background would become slightly more visible or even dropped even lower and had the people and political signage below the Vote Here sign.
sidefx Thank you for sharing your stirring photograph. Also, thank-you for providing an photo excellent lesson! Upon arriving at a point of interest, I have stood in a line of people taking photos until I arrive at the front of the crowd where quickly snap a half-dozen pictures which all look alike and probably look like those that everyone before me took. You took the time to carefully examine your surroundings and think about how you could tell a story. Your photo was most likely taken mid-day however the texture on the rusted ruins are excellent and the flag has a nice out-focus level. If there is a weakness in the image it is that without a title, it would be difficult to know exactly what we are looking at. Still, it is an excellent and well executed photo and would make a nice cover for a photo book.
Doylem And now, for something completely different.. With so many Brits on this blog it would be difficult to not stumble upon someone with a sense of humor. Whilst you came away with nil on originality the composition is brilliant! Your photo seems a bit over processed to the point that the people appear almost cartoonish, however I must say The Price of Wales has never looked better. As a follow-up, I might suggest the authors other offering, The Big Book of Underweight Americans. Its a quick read. Cheers!
twitch31 Large structures are difficult to photograph and the Lincoln Memorial is no exception. Oftentimes you are so close you can only capture a portion or you move back far enough to capture the entire memorial that it almost disappears in the landscape. I believe you have done an excellent job with your image. Most people simply stop at the bottom steps of the memorial and snap a photo. You walked around it, used a wide angle lens so you could get close enough to capture the entire massive structure. You need to be careful here that the wide angle lens and the low viewing angle does not distort the structure to the point you get a keystone effect. This is noticeable in the left side of the building in your photo and is a bit distracting. This distortion can be corrected with Photoshop or probably with other editing software. The subject is placed against a high contrast sky. I believe big things look good against a big sky because they dont get lost and this image demonstrates that. The sky adds so much drama that this would be a so-so photo without it. Im not sure if this is an HDR image or not but regardless it is very effective. Nicely done twitch31!
sim667 Now thats a photo that oozes with history complimented by fantastic natural lighting, warm colors and textures. Im impressed that you found an intimate area to photograph in the cavernous York Minster and didnt get caught up taking only photos of the expansive public areas. Im drawn to the light coming from the partially open doorway. You nailed the difficult exposure as it would have been easy to overexpose the room behind the door or underexpose the outer hallway. I love reflections from the worn stone floor and the brass on the wall, although it looks like your reflection appears in the engraved brass plate. Its difficult to say if you could have moved enough to not appear while still maintaining the same approximate camera angle. Regardless, thats a pretty small detail in very nice image.
Evil Spoonman Yes. It would be hard to argue Yosemites place in US history. Its also easy to see a deep geographic history in the weathered rocks in your photo. Your photo appears to be taken mid-day. The deep textures of natural features including rock faces are greatly accentuated by the warm horizontal light of early morning and late day. Sometimes as we travel we are not afforded the luxury of being at these fantastic locations at the ideal photographic time. Also, when I look at your photo, it is difficult for me to grasp the size of the rocky slope. You might have considered including a climber or hiker to provide a scale of the slope and a bit of drama. I did enjoy your image and am jealous as I have not had the opportunity to visit Yosemite. Also, you get first place for the best MacRumors username.
MacRy - Often times in this weekly photo contest as I scan the many entries there is one that jumps off the screen. Two weeks back it was Parkin Pigs Times Square photo. A couple weeks before that it was Schtumples composite Man on the Hill image. Your Underground image this week was the one that caught my eye. The drama of the overhead lighting, the pattern of the windows, and the highly contrasted platform with the deep window wells. There are many rules of composition but quite simply, does the culmination of elements in the photograph add to the overall effectiveness or do they detract. In this image they all come together. However what makes this photo most enjoyable to me is not just its mood but the people. They are such a small part of the photograph but such a large part of the story. If I were to find a flaw in the image, I think the security cameras are a bit of a distraction. Thank-you MacRy for sharing your photo.
Keleko The French and British influence on US history is undeniably important. Of course this photo qualifies! Your photograph is composed quite nicely and the release of the shutter timed perfectly to capture both the chamber and muzzle smoke discharge. Although not unpleasing, I find the background a bit distracting. You might have considered shooting with a wide-open lens. This would give the photo a less flat and more 3-dimensional appearance. Personally, I might have zoomed very tight so this would be a head & shoulders shot. Good photo though.
truettray We may not like to admit it but yes, theres a little Billy Ray in all of us. Probably not the brightest moment in American grooming history but no the less important. Actually your photo is nicely framed. The background is out of focus but not so much that you cannot tell it is a graduation ceremony. Possibly beautician school? Regardless, thank you for sharing!
LuckyDuck69 Thank-you for sharing a bit of the rich history of Louisville (or Luhvullogg if you are a local). The Thomas Edison home is small but also a duplex! The Gault House has a rich Civil War history. I have driven through Louisville on many occasions but until today was unaware of these sites. I enjoy your photos LuckyDuck.
Ambulater Your photo is a bit of a mystery. There is a portion of what appears to be a memorial or some other imposing structure that you are standing below and trees in the background. Possibly a public park? The camera angle accentuates the size of the structure and the autumn trees break-up the vast expanse of sky. As far as any improvements on the photo, it appears to be taken during the mid-day sun. This makes for a beautiful blue sky however the trees are a bit overexposed. Their colors would be even more dramatic in the early morning or late day. Thank you for sharing your photo Ambulater. If possible, please share the name or a little history about the structure.
astroboy907 This is a very nice photo, well exposed and composed. I cannot suggest any improvements to camera position or angle. The sprinklers in the background are a bit of a distraction however there is probably little you could have done to eliminate this. I like the photo and would do little or nothing to change it but I would like to play around with other shots of this area. Maybe a tight close-up of one cross with a lens opening that would blur the background crosses with an angle that would eliminate all of the background trees. Regardless, this is a well done photograph.
Cheese&Apple I enjoy photos that have a mood and your image is a good example. The dreary sky, the rocky landscape and the stone tower all contribute to a cold atmosphere in the photo. The black & white treatment also works well with the contrast of the dark tower against the overcast sky. Even in my favorite photos, I always think of things I might change. In this case, during processing, I might darken the upper left corner of the sky a bit so that it isnt such a flat gray and to balance the image a bit. It wouldnt greatly improve the photo but I always like to tweak things a bit. Wonderful photo Cheese, or Apple, whoever took the photo!
themumu It would difficult to argue that Greece does not command a prominent spot in history. I like the contrast between modern day Athens and ancient Greece in your photo. The photo includes some additional ruins in the foreground and is nicely balanced. The temple contrasts well against the bright blue Greek sky (I have yet to see a photo from Greece that the sky isnt abnormally blue). There is a steel post in the lower left of your photo which makes it appear that you were rather restricted with your composition. It disappoints me when you are not allowed to poke around for atypical camera positions and are relegated to the tour path. Nice photo. Makes me wish I could someday visit this beautiful country.
someoldguy We would miss a key element of US history if we didnt recognize the rich heritage of our native Americans and the Pueblo people. Ive seen many photos of Mesa Verde but they are typically in color, showing off the rich yellow sandstone and bright blue Colorado sky. You provide a black & white image which provides an undistracted interpretation of the amazing architectural detail. This was a tricky exposure with many deep shadow areas transitioning to the bright sun-lit space. However you pulled it off quite well as details are not lost in the shadows nor blow-out in the sunny area. The progressive layers of shadows to sunlight provide depth to the photograph. A good photo for someoldguy!
fireman32 This is a nice photo of what appears to be a working grist mill. A quite stream, wonderful textures on the wood mill and rocky outcropping set on a backdrop of beautiful fall colors. It almost feels like that today where I live. There is good detail in the photo and everything appears very natural with the exception of the sky. As in many of my HDR photos, the sky has turned a bit muddy and the outline of the tree tops a bit unnatural (especially the tree directly above the mill). HDR often takes more patience and experience that I have. Regardless of the details, I like your grist mill photo and would love to see a series of images from this angle, each taken at different seasons of the year.
Die RoZ Safety Harbor is a quaint area nestled in Tampa and while tourists flock to the beach, these areas provide great spots for photography. Thank-you for posting your clock photo. I like that you filled the frame with the subject. It isnt a too difficult to figure out that you took your photo at 11:10am on a bright Florida day. This photo might have been better suited for the warm light of early morning or better yet during the dramatic blue hour just after sunset.
filmbufs Yours is a beautiful photo of St. Peters Basilica. Not just because it showcases the amazing style and huge scale of the structure but it radiates this history of this architectural masterpiece. The layers of light and shadows give the photo depth. I really like the angle at which this photo was taken. Although the cross is one of the smaller details in the room, it looks like you took time to carefully position the light behind it so that my eye is immediately drawn to the subject. Sometimes I get tired of sepia tone photographs but I do like the treatment in this photo. To me, if there is a distraction, it is the large serpentine column on the left side of the photo. In a way it is good that it is there to block the second light from overtaking the photo. Well executed photo.
JDDavis Your Jefferson Memorial photo is feast of colors. Like many of the better photos entered this week I can tell you worked hard for this photo. Probably up before sunrise lugging your camera and tripod around the DC mall can be fun but its still a lot of work. However its also good to see when your effort pays-off. Personally, as with many photographs of water, it troubles me when the waterline isnt perfectly horizontal. I see many images where the artist has intentionally placed the horizon at an angle and it does not bother me (only with water). Nice photograph JD!
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As I do not have the credentials to accurately judge the quality of each and every photo I will use the purely subjective method of picking this weeks winner based solely on what I like.
My third favorite photo(s): sidefx, Twitch31, Cheese&Apple, someoldguy I know, this might appear as though I am evading a decision but I like all of the photos. The thought and effort that was put into each one is evident.
My second favorite photo: filmbufs A well planned and nicely executed photo.
My favorite photo of the week: MacRy I love it when a photographer sees something inspiring in everyday life. A train station, bus stop, restaurant or street corner.
