Re-mixer's Tools? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/03/2005 01:48:24 AM · #1

"The Re-mixer's Tools"

Hey all, well, I was rather bummed with the results of this entry. More so the near complete lack of comments - 3. And none of those really addressed the photograph (okay except perhaps the one word comment of "hokey").

I thought it a great concept and I believe it to have been well orchestrated. So have several DJ's who have expressed an interest in using the picture. And I thought it went beyond the simple "hey look i photographed a nice tool on a background" and endeavored to bring in the role of the DJ and re-mixing, looping, etc. that is done in a performance.

It was a challenge shot, working in extremely low-light conditions, a lot of movement, manual focus in the dark, and a filter which only makes things even more challenging. I'd have liked it to be a little sharper but gee...you can see the record grain as it is.

Irregardless, it flopped. It didn't even garner much comment. So I was left clueless as to why it flopped. So I am inquiring as to what your impression was when you saw it? and for the first few dozen voters who scored it quite low - did you think it was an "invalid" entry? if so, why didn't you request a DQ?

- The Saj

Message edited by author 2005-08-03 02:39:34.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

08/03/2005 02:00:24 AM · #2

Saj - I voted mid-range on this. The image just did not grab me for one. Along the top, the glare off the metal needed some toning down in my mind too. I think if the label had been in a slightly different spot - as the turning of the LP, it would have added to the image.
Not much of a re-mixers tools are shown here - just the LP. Maybe you could have had a little more of the turntables showing?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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

08/03/2005 02:15:33 AM · #3

Saj,

Conceptually it's an interesting idea, but the execution of it just isn't especially good. The lighting is harsh, the whole image is out of focus in an unappealing way, and the composition is amazingly static considering that you'd managed to get that triangle of repetition legally...

Here's a cropping and rotation of your image to illustrate my point. Obviously there are voids filled with solid dark color here, where if you'd framed it diagonally there wouldn't be, but see how this possible composition uses what are bright, horizontal lines in your original as much stronger, diagonal elements?

It's just a quick doodle, so to speak, but there's a lot of ways you could have approached this much more dynamically IMO. Why not have another go at shooting it? It would be worth it...

Robt.

Message edited by author 2005-08-03 02:16:02.

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

08/03/2005 02:37:24 AM · #4

Thanks bear,...I think I can see the benefit of your cropping off the top and bottom. And I understand your diagonal concept but isn't such a DPC rules violation?

In truth, I wish there was something more to focus with on modern digital cameras. AF is nice...but it fails, especially in low-light conditions. I wish there was some modern version of the old fashion "manual" focus bar. Or much bigger viewers. *lol*

Message edited by author 2005-08-03 02:39:27.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

08/03/2005 02:43:38 AM · #5

Originally posted by theSaj:

Thanks bear,...I think I can see the benefit of your cropping off the top and bottom. And I understand your diagonal concept but isn't such a DPC rules violation?

I wasn't intending this as an example of "how you should have entered it" but more an example of how you might reframe it if you shot it again, to make a more vivid composition. The dark empty spaces, of course, look downright weird but I was WAY too lazy tonight to clone out into the empty spaces :-)

However, now that you mention it, an asymmetrical border is in fact legal:

You'd want to be sure there was no attempt to "hide" the border by making it look like an extension of the image, and you'd get hammered by the voters as well, but it's legal. For your shot I created a 400-pixel border all around, roated the image with free transform, and cropped as seen here. As far as I know it's completely legal.

Robt.

Message edited by author 2005-08-03 02:45:25.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/03/2005 03:04:03 AM · #6

Originally posted by bear_music:

However, now that you mention it, an asymmetrical border is in fact legal ....
You'd want to be sure there was no attempt to "hide" the border by making it look like an extension of the image, and you'd get hammered by the voters as well, but it's legal. For your shot I created a 400-pixel border all around, roated the image with free transform, and cropped as seen here. As far as I know it's completely legal.

Robt.

You need to be very careful about the techniques you use, but by planning the background of the original shot, and using a combination of rotations and crops, I was recently able to achieve a legal trangular "border" for a challenge, not that anyone liked it : )

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

08/03/2005 10:35:56 AM · #7

So was there anything that you did like about the shot?

*lol*

What aspects should I endeavor to carry over when I re-take this shot?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

08/03/2005 11:00:02 AM · #8

Originally posted by theSaj:

So was there anything that you did like about the shot?

*lol*

What aspects should I endeavor to carry over when I re-take this shot?

The use of the replicating filter is perfect for the subject. You just need to experiemnt with it. When using a filter like that composition is everything, so think in terms of dyamic angles. Pay particular attention to setting your light so you can get a nice glow without harsh-blown highlights and you should be off to the races.

Conceptually it's a fine concept, dude; but if we'd have been doing this in the studio back in the day, it would have taken us several days at least to get it right. It's a very complex idea. Just focus on it and work the variations :-)

Robt.

Message edited by author 2005-08-03 11:00:41.