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Rumination
Rumination
Abra


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Fine Arts: Exhibit II (Advanced Editing VII*)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM
Location: Bonnie Vale, Australia
Date: Apr 1, 2011
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/4000 sec
Galleries: Black and White, Children
Date Uploaded: Apr 1, 2011

 My understanding of 'Fine Arts' is artwork created for aesthetic expression and not for advertising or for explaining a story. That doesn’t mean it can’t tell a story but not something that was meant for photojournalism or a family snapshot. I was going to do a still life with my grandmother’s old vase and some plants but then I read the details of the challenge and felt that this would not be contemporary photographic art. I decided to wipe my mind of existing famous artist’s style and thought of what I might paint or draw (if I had those skills) that I would like to see hanging on a wall. I decided to shoot something that had the following photographic elements – bokeh, contre-jour, shallow DoF and B&W. My first thought was to take a picture of one of the many Golden Orb spiders in my backyard but it didn’t fit well in my mind of contemporary fine art. But that became my backup plan as I had my final inspiration which this is the result.

This was one of the rare occasions I specifically went to a location with the shot in mind before taking in the surroundings. I was disappointed when the clouds rolled in and I couldn’t get the reflections of the sun on the water. Just as we were about to leave the sun broke through for about 30 seconds so I took several shots and got just what I was after.

I am very happy with the results. I’m realistic to know that this may not be very popular and that there will probably be many (I hope) fantastic images by the many true artists on this site and that this may score quite low. I personally feel this should be in the sixes but I’m expecting a low 5 score in reality. If this ends up in the 4’s I will be disappointed unless it receives some good comments. I didn’t enter the last Fine Arts challenge as I didn’t feel worthy. However, this time I’m confident enough to express myself and my interpretation of contemporary fine art.

Statistics
Place: 89 out of 167
Avg (all users): 5.3210
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 5.4568
Avg (non-participants): 5.1852
Views since voting: 717
Views during voting: 288
Votes: 162
Comments: 4
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 04/17/2011 01:00:09 PM
Greetings from the Critique Club:

This is a highly accomplished image; no doubt about that. I was very pleased to read your notes and find out how planned this shot was - created if you will.

The result has many compelling features; for me though, the star is not the well made silhouette but that wonderful froth of round bokeh and how it merges as we move left to produce the perfect juxtaposition and background for your subject.

I'm with you, I certainly think story-telling had a place in this challenge - more than a little too and yours works - we begin to wonder what your subject is thinking about and how her life has played out on this, the day we meet her.

Overall, this is nice work. I think it deserved a higher finish - I'm pretty sure it would've scored higher in a straight Free Study and that's not so bad is it?

Well made.

Paul
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
04/14/2011 09:56:01 PM
Very thoughtful. Nice to see such an honest image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/08/2011 11:13:49 PM
Very creative, magical, beautiful. I only wish for the slightest hint of eyelash.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/08/2011 12:56:08 PM
sillhouette and bokeh - what a lovely chance for rumination.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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