Opinions on this abstract? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/05/2005 01:27:49 PM · #1

I have been using my time not entering challenges to go back and work on some of the many images I've done over the past year that I've neglected. So my apologies in advance for what will be a bunch of "what do you think about this" queries over the coming months, but that, I think, will be my thrust for participation on the site (unless some challenge theme really inspires me--I'm tempted to enter pink since it could be done as an abstract!).

Anyway, I'd like to know what you think about this movement based abstract. This is a crop from a almost full circular spin around a plant in my garden this fall. I think the colors work well as an abstract, and I am interested to know whether this type of simple color based abstract holds interest for others.

Thanks in advance, Neil

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

02/05/2005 01:39:41 PM · #2

exquisite colors. i'd like to know how you are effecting the spin-- unless that's a patented trade secret ;-)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/05/2005 01:51:07 PM · #3

Originally posted by skiprow:

exquisite colors. i'd like to know how you are effecting the spin-- unless that's a patented trade secret ;-)

Drink lots of beer?

No, seriously, here's the trick I use: use the self timer, and start the spin a second or so before the warning timer period ends. That way you are already spinning when the shutter opens. The rest depends on whether you are spinning pointing the camera upward, like I was for Van Gogh Sky, or straight down, like Pirrouetting Dandelions -- which actually is more of a rocking motion -- or straight ahead, as I believe was this case. Looking up, use your whole body and spin, otherwise, use your hands and the camera.

Patent pending ;)

Thanks for your comments!

Message edited by author 2005-02-05 13:55:32.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

02/05/2005 01:51:56 PM · #4

I love this type of photo, and I think a focal point would make it even better. Do the same shot, but keep the camera focused on a single flower and spin the rest of the garden. :)

02/05/2005 01:55:07 PM · #5

Originally posted by micknewton:

I love this type of photo, and I think a focal point would make it even better. Do the same shot, but keep the camera focused on a single flower and spin the rest of the garden. :)

Thanks--yes, that was my general idea. In fact, this one does have a "center" in the whole frame, which is the flower. But I like the colors and motion best--the flower makes it less abstract. But for discussion, I'll find the best of those (it may in fact be this one) and post it later.

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

02/05/2005 01:55:20 PM · #6

Neil - this one is spectacular. I left you a comment. The title is exactly what I felt the moment I saw it.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

02/05/2005 01:57:54 PM · #7

Originally posted by Kylie:

Neil - this one is spectacular. I left you a comment. The title is exactly what I felt the moment I saw it.

Thanks Kyle, much appreciated and it helps to know I picked the right title!

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/05/2005 01:58:07 PM · #8

I think the green/purple/ black combination is really strong - I like this quite a bit, just from the colour perspective.

puma

Canon EOS-10D

02/05/2005 02:36:03 PM · #9

Interesting, the flow of colors and light is very appealing and the bold border works well. Good job.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/05/2005 03:01:50 PM · #10

just to play devils advocate here...

if this was in a challenge called 'purple', what would you score it? (and neil, since this is hypothetical, you can answer, too!)

me? i'd give it a 9 or 10. how 'bout the rest of ya?

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

02/05/2005 03:28:29 PM · #11

Originally posted by skiprow:

just to play devils advocate here...

if this was in a challenge called 'purple', what would you score it? (and neil, since this is hypothetical, you can answer, too!)

me? i'd give it a 9 or 10. how 'bout the rest of ya?

Are we thinking Pink????? lol

aznym

Fujifilm X-T3

Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR

02/05/2005 03:58:31 PM · #12

I like it a lot. Nothing else to say.

Sigma 100-300mm f/4.0 EX IF HSM for Nikon

02/05/2005 04:00:15 PM · #13

I don't know skip--I'm sure I'd give it a 9 or 10 if it was someone else's shot in a challenge. But I'm strange. I'm sure it would get at least one 1, 2, or 3 for every 10, 9, or 8 respectively. Just look at my Van Gogh Sky for a living example.

For Mick and others that are interested, here's a different shot from that day, which shows the overall effect I was working on. Just finally got around to processing it (not entering challenges has its advantages).

What do you think of this one? I didn't see a natural title for it. Any ideas?

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/05/2005 04:16:10 PM · #14

These are great, Neil! I love your style. I loved

but love these even more. The colors are more soothing to me. Great stuff. Love 'em.

MrYu

Nikon D70

02/05/2005 04:20:30 PM · #15

Originally posted by nshapiro:

What do you think of this one? I didn't see a natural title for it. Any ideas?

I would leave it as something in between the first version and the second one. Crop this one, but not as much as the first one, where something has been lost, imo. Definitely leave the center of rotation where it is on the second one. I think that's what's missing on the forst one, nothing there forms any kind of a shape or a rythm.

And the frame of the first one is too bright. I think the frame should not be brighter or more contrasty than the image itself, so as to not confuse and distract either of the image processing systems of the eye.

All my very subjective opinions, of course.

Jinjit

02/05/2005 05:42:34 PM · #16

I just loved "Passion". I think it was the best!
As I suspected, the full round did not give me the same feeling of excitement "Passion" did.

As for a title for the Untitled, what comes to my head when I look at it is... Laundry day.
It has a sense of depth. As if the viewer is being sucked into the laundry machine or somthing...

Plexxoid

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/05/2005 05:46:07 PM · #17

Very nice abstract. I suppose if you got exactly what you wanted in the picture, then there's no way to improve, eh?

Excellent colors!

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/05/2005 05:46:49 PM · #18

I agree with yurasocolov. I like them both, but I think that a somewhat tighter crop on the second one would work better. Really great work Neil!

02/05/2005 05:56:18 PM · #19

Originally posted by yurasocolov:

Originally posted by nshapiro:

What do you think of this one? I didn't see a natural title for it. Any ideas?

I would leave it as something in between the first version and the second one. Crop this one, but not as much as the first one, where something has been lost, imo. Definitely leave the center of rotation where it is on the second one. I think that's what's missing on the forst one, nothing there forms any kind of a shape or a rythm.

And the frame of the first one is too bright.

I think the frame should not be brighter or more contrasty than the image itself, so as to not confuse and distract either of the image processing systems of the eye.

All my very subjective opinions, of course.

Thanks. Yes, I agree that it's not as nice to see the entire circle of turn. In fact, I played with some other crops while prepping it today, but in the end, I decided to go with the almost full frame for the discussion here. I'll play with it some more and post it when I'm done.

I also agree about the brightness of the frame, in fact, that's why I decreased it on the second one. I'll have to do that to Passion as well.

Thanks again.

02/05/2005 05:57:20 PM · #20

Originally posted by Plexxoid:

Very nice abstract. I suppose if you got exactly what you wanted in the picture, then there's no way to improve, eh?

Excellent colors!

I didn't mean to imply I wasn't taking suggestions! I'd love to hear any and all. Thanks!