The Overpass
by Bear_Music

Comment:
You described this in a forum thread as "oddly compelling". And it is. Compelling is precisely the right word. When a photograph so clearly cries WTF? about all the conventions of photography, it compels you (well, certainly compels me) to admit thoughts that would otherwise by suppressed. So it's Liberating. Loose. Accommodating. As opposed to Prescriptive, Tight-Assed and Intellectually Stingy.

There's still time to enter it in the December Free Study, Robert.

Rank
by zeuszen

Comment:
One of my DPC delights is to look at some of your portfolio photographs while reflecting on the very poor comment-to-views ratio that they attract. It's not as if they are unworthy or easily dismissed ... in your portfolio are some of the most ambitious and vexing photographs to be found anywhere here.

I think you frighten the bejesus out of most people, or at least your photographs do. Look at this one: 47 views & zero comments. It's just a garden wall with luxuriant vegetation, and beyond it a fragment of a taller wall or building, with doors equally overgrown. And it's called 'Rank', which it might be assumed refers to the profuse nature of the vegetative growth.

But what if it doesn't? What if I comment on that basis (rank = profuse), when what you had in mind was something else, for example a hierarchy of plants (rank = position, station)? Or an array of plants (rank = row, line)? What if there was some foul smell present in the garden (rank = offensive, rancid)?

You see the problem? Too many traps for the unwary. Too many ways for the commentator to crash and burn. If you could just manage a few water droplets, waterfalls and insects, everyone would feel a lot more comfortable. And you'd get so many more comments, too. The same comments on every photograph of course, but your stats would be greatly enhanced nonetheless.

As for this image, I'm afraid that I think it's about the treachery of meaning. But I really have no choice now, do I?

Elli
by zeuszen

Comment:
There's a certain kind of easy style that can't be assumed, no matter how hard one (one who lacks it) tries. She has it.

Mannequin mimic
by Iraklis

Comment:
Unwitting visual parody ... it just keeps on giving on the Street, doesn't it?.
This is a good one. I'm disappointed that the title was necessary, but I suppose that you are as well.

Two Gentlemen of York
by e301

Comment:
Two headless gentlemen is reasonable; there's a lot of headlessness about leading up to Christmas. But to see one with hands clasped for'ard and the other aft like this ... that's quite unusual. Even for York.

Rice Cooker
by pawdrix

Comment:
This will be trampled by teapots and sushi and tacky tableware. Pity; it's the most interesting photograph in the challenge.

Phantom
by Germaine

Comment:
I never saw a photograph that wasn't all the better for a decent scoopful of grain.
I never saw the Phantom riding a bicycle (I loved the Phantom as a kid ... had the skull ring and all).
I like how you show me things I never saw.

Japonais de Osaka
by heavyj

Comment:
Best in challenge. At least it has something authentic to say about being Japanese.

Eastern Strands
by WeJay

Comment:
Nice. Any good cook will recognize the presence of these spices; sarson and zaafraan and lal mirchi.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
by Bear_Music

Comment:
Crikey bear, you've lost some weight! Or maybe you're further away than I first thought. Or maybe I just read it all wrong and you have a very tiny assistant now.
From a LB point of view, it's interesting how the focus is neither 'here' nor 'there', but right in between. That seems just right for the shot.
Doesn't make it 'pop' but makes it 'crackle' instead, which also seems right of course.