On the wrong side of the tracks
by Neat

Comment:
Very clever, deliciously confounding, beautiful monochrome textures and tones: a dazzling concept confidently executed. Hard to argue with that recipe. Maybe something here is a wee bit too much, but I can't decide what it is, so maybe it isn't. It's interesting, and that always trumps everything. 8. Thank you

Holocene
by odriew

Comment:
This is my clear top pick, from a Free Study that had a lot of very good photographs.

The Holocene titular reference is pretty well self-evident, given the environment and the symbology of the antlers, so let's consider the photograph as an object, rather than as a mere picture of something ...

It's beautiful, it's confounding, and it's an immensely confident photograph.

Symmetrical in every sense, and reversible as well. Turn it around, look at it in a mirror, fold it, rotate it, turn it inside-out: it survives every contortion, both intellectual and physical.

For the viewer who requires a wee clue to get started, the implied Mud Man mask on the back of the rain jacket's hood hints heavily at the multi-dimensional graphic palindrome that hides in plain view in this picture.

Those who wonder if a photograph can truly be serious, durable art would do well to spend 15 minutes looking at this one.

10. Thank you. And you oblige me to bring the Order of the Thumb out of retirement.

Waiting for Mr. Right.
by QuickClickMick

Comment:
Interesting + wildly irresistible (I know just how you felt). 8. Thank you.

consumed
by NiallOTuama

Comment:
Interesting + negligently mystical = 7. Thank you,

A beautiful day
by JLOH

Comment:
Interesting + beautiful + comforting = 7. Thank you.

Noodle Man on the Boat
by SH_00N

Comment:
Interesting + perfect monochrome = 7. Thank you.

new trend
by mariuca

Comment:
Interesting + delightfully weird; always a winning combination. 7. Thank you.

Hustle
by RKT

Comment:
Interesting + dynamic. You have given it a soundtrack. 7. Thank you.

dead end
by tanguera

Comment:
Interesting + clever because you turned it into an upside-down American Gothic. = 8. Thank you.

Laager
by ubique

Comment:

Originally posted by snaffles: looks too good be true...museum diorama?

Originally posted by snaffles: So this is an eerily perfect shot of an eerily motionless herd of one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Please share how you avoided being turned into strawberry jam by them while managing to get great lighting, perfect comp and no sign of any dust/mud/birds/clouds of bugs.

It was early morning, very still, beautiful streaming sunlight from behind the buffalo. This is small part of a larger herd, about 100+ animals, that had spent the night in thick bush in this location beside a small dirt road called the Gomondwane Loop (S130 if you wish to examine a map of Kruger). There was no dust because neither the buffalo nor I were moving. There was no mud because it was dry. There were birds, but out of frame; mainly Red-billed oxpeckers that would, once the buffalo start moving, spend the day riding upon the buffalo, pecking ticks from their hides. There were many bugs attending the buffalo, but too small to register in this picture. The 'perfect' comp that you admired was just the buffalo kidding around. I was not made into strawberry jam because I was in my 4x4 about 10 metres from the nearest bull. They aren't bothered by vehicles. Step outside though and they will indeed probably kill you.

Here's a view of the diorama from a different angle (taken from the coffee shop):


And alas, I expect the picture will be disqualified. I had unintentionally used the original to crop. Silly boy.

Message edited by author 2017-06-02 09:25:18.