Personification post-challenge feedback sought ...

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens

02/12/2007 12:04:38 PM · #1

This was my original idea and I was quite happy it turned out as envisiaged -- i.e., the milk carton really looks buckled over and holding it's stomach (at least IMHO). It finished 38th out of 211, which is okay I suppose ... but I don't think a lot of voters got it. For example, one comment included: "1 for idea + 5 for photo = 6." Okay. And, based on some of the comments, others who liked the execution were put off by the subject.

I'd love to get additional feedback on this one.

Also, I did a few like this with "reverse discrimination in the workplace" as the overriding theme and a general underlying goal of emoting "outcast" or "isolated." It wasn't meant to elicit thoughts of racism or be racially based at all. Rather, it's set in the fridge -- a milk's "workplace" if you will, and is supposed to be a playful take on that oft provocative topic (reverse discrimination). After my wife pointed out that it might be too controversial, even recognizing sometimes art is meant to stimulate differing opinion as much as it is to please, I relegated it to an outtake.

DPC's thoughts?

KarenNfld

02/12/2007 12:10:43 PM · #2

I thought it was funny and I got the part about the milk carton puking. I didn't realize you shot it in a fridge, though. I wasn't that fond of the background.

skewsme

Canon EOS-6D

02/12/2007 12:20:16 PM · #3

Left you a comment.

02/12/2007 12:25:41 PM · #4

Originally posted by skewsme:

Left you a comment.

Thanks skewsme.

As for the "being intolerant of its own contents" feedback, note that this was quite intentional: The irony of a milk carton being lactose intolerant. ;-)

02/12/2007 12:27:16 PM · #5

Originally posted by KarenNfld:

I thought it was funny and I got the part about the milk carton puking. I didn't realize you shot it in a fridge, though. I wasn't that fond of the background.

Thanks Karen. I had wider shots showing it clearly set on a fridge shelf, as the environment was a key element IMO. That said, I prefered the closer crop and thought it (fridge interior) would still convey.

Artifacts

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/12/2007 12:52:07 PM · #6

Like this one, many of the submissions to the challenge tried to hard to create a 'personification' effect.

When looking at an image I visualize it outside the very limited confines of the challenge topic to decide if it is a good picture or not. In your case there were three issues: 1-The very distracting baseboard or whatever it is behind the carton, 1-The slightly overexposed and out-of-place looking 'vomit' and, 3-Digitalization visible in the text on the carton.

I seriously doubt this picture has any value beyond this particular challenge but felt its general overal quality and lighting counterbalanced its deficiencies to reluctantly give it an average score. (For me that is a 7)

Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens

02/12/2007 01:17:49 PM · #7

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Fair enough ... thanks for the feedback.

In response to #1, it sounds like based on other comments I should have perhaps made it more clear this was set in the fridge (its "natural" environment). FWIW, this was shot on the same shelf as seen in the "outcast" photo here. And I did compose so that back shelf edge was placed as unobtrusively, as a horizontal plane, as possible. But I see how it could be distracting.

With regard to #3, I'm not sure I understand "digitalization visible." I did post process the image for effect, through a series of adjustment layers intended to make the image feel more "sickly". But none of those layers were destructive and I only mildly sharpen *any* image -- generally Smart Sharpen at 125-150% and less than 1.0 for amount, with further fine tuning when allowed). Moreover, this was shot tripod mounted with MLU active and remote triggered ... so there shouldn't be any ghosting.

Anyway, appreciate the additional commentary.

BTW, did you get my email?

skewsme

Canon EOS-6D

02/12/2007 02:00:03 PM · #8

Originally posted by Rob O:

As for the "being intolerant of its own contents" feedback, note that this was quite intentional: The irony of a milk carton being lactose intolerant. ;-)

Ok, but for gratuitous nitpicking sake ;-) I think the conceptual contradiction makes it more oxymoron than irony. In the oxymoron challenge, this shot would have been top of my heap. Of course, this is all beside the point and probably didn't matter to your personification voters. The intended joke was clear enough. It was a good entry but the gag reflex didn't propel it to ribbon territory.

Geez, where's Team Milk Spewage when you need to squeeze 'em for an expert opinion...

alexjack

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

02/12/2007 02:56:56 PM · #9

I liked the photo, gave it a seven, and I felt I got the joke. Actually lactose intolerance usually results in bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea (I'm a physician so I'm nitpicking on this point). Technically I thought the picture was fine and got a kick out of it.

Jack

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/12/2007 03:22:58 PM · #10

Originally posted by skewsme:

Originally posted by Rob O:
As for the "being intolerant of its own contents" feedback, note that this was quite intentional: The irony of a milk carton being lactose intolerant. ;-)

Ok, but for gratuitous nitpicking sake ;-) I think the conceptual contradiction makes it more oxymoron than irony. In the oxymoron challenge, this shot would have been top of my heap.

There are several definitions of "irony", particularly when you discuss it as a literary term ("irony" is an often-used literary device) vs its general usage. In the context of this image, the definition of "irony" that would be apropos is "incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs". By this definition, the image is ironic; delightfully so, in fact. A milk carton that is lactose-intolerant? That is definitely ironic.

An "oxymoron" is something completely different: it is always a "literary device", and it denotes "A figure of speech containing an apparent contradiction." Examples of oxymorons include "jumbo shrimp", "military intelligence", "deafening silence", "a living death".

I don't see how the basis of this image can be considered oxymoronic, if we are in nit-picking country :-)

R.

Message edited by author 2007-02-12 15:23:28.

02/12/2007 03:23:24 PM · #11

Originally posted by skewsme:

Geez, where's Team Milk Spewage when you need to squeeze 'em for an expert opinion...

LOL

Message edited by author 2007-02-12 15:26:22.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

02/12/2007 03:25:22 PM · #12

Originally posted by alexjack:

Yeah, I had to look up symptoms to ensure vomit was even one of them. Noting it was, though not one of the more common effects, I contemplated having the "milk" look like it was coming out from the rear of the box ... but don't think it would have worked as well conceptually. This was more to represent getting sick than an literal representation of lactose intolerance.

Rebecca

Nikon D80

02/12/2007 03:35:37 PM · #13

Originally posted by alexjack:

Can attest to this personally. :P