The Band
by NikonJeb

Comment by mariuca:
During voting I wanted to say something but could not formulate it. I gave a 6.
At first glance when voting I am not hung up by the topic but by the image in front of me.
I stopped at this one because it had an even light and detail on its right that the eyes do not perceive it as such. The eyes see it differently than the photoshop processing, right?

And then it's the second though: what would I do with this picture? This is my major concern looking at a photograph.
Used in a context of a story (a photo essay for instance) it might make sense. But as a free standing picture it does not inform me much.
And then there is the left side of the image, all sharpened, inky, uninteresting for the story. When cropped one third from the left it looks better.

Am I too harsh? Hope not. I just dissect an image the way I do it mentally when I vote.
Meeting the challenge too literally makes me cringe - in a banana challenge I do not want to see a banana only even if it's perfectly photographed for a stock imagery.
Straying from the topic is not right either.
I want more of a novel approach to the subject in question.

The Band
by NikonJeb

Comment by Dennisheckman:
I also had a very hard time finding any distraction at all. My eye went right to all four band members who are just doing what they are supposed to be doing. I suppose if you looked hard, you could pick out several small things but they don't seem to affect the overall message of the image, to me. But I scored it a 6 for all the interesting things in it. Thank you for your nice comment on my distraction entry, BTW!

The Band
by NikonJeb

Comment by pixelpig:
Hi Jeb! This is one of the most confusing challenges ever, to vote on at least. I couldn't find the distracting element in most of the entries. I don't see the Distracting Element in this composition. My best guess is the whatever-it-is on the right edge of the frame, but since it didn't distract my attention from the band it didn't feel like a distracting element. The composition is full of elements competing for my attention, but none of them feel like distracting elements. Maybe it was the light on the floor--to me a strong but not distracting element.

So...what was the distracting element?

BTW I like what you did in PP. Very clear light. Nice detail. Your work is getting a painterly feel to it that is quite nice & doesn't compromise the photographic nature of the shot.

Message edited by author 2016-11-03 09:12:49.

St. Paul's
by NikonJeb

Comment by nam:
Excellent detail and rich tones. The night shot and close-up both work for me.

St. Paul's
by NikonJeb

Comment by Pangurban:
Beautifully crisp!

The Band
by NikonJeb

Comment by tnun:
we surely do like us some music. as does the bard.

St. Paul's
by NikonJeb

Comment by EstimatedEyes:
Like the processing here, structure and tone are great

St. Paul's
by NikonJeb

Comment by gipper11:
This is very nice, I really like the focus on the top of the chapel and the exposure and focus are well done.

St. Paul's
by NikonJeb

Comment by Lydia:
My favorite church in the world (so far! ha!)

So nicely shot!

St. Paul's
by NikonJeb

Comment by docjonny:
Wow.. what a great capture... this both looks and feels old and majestic and gives a famous landmark that been shot umpteen times a new look and feel. Love the lighting and details..be interested to know the shooting details. Top three fro sure if not the winner... excellent..