| Author | Thread |
|
|
11/19/2008 06:50:24 AM · #1 |
This is a thread that is part of the Discussion Composition, Technicals, asthetics Etc thread. These threads were created for for the furthering of understanding of photography. This week the entries were chosen from the Red III Challenge. This thread was created to discuss:
At 157th Place: Fruits of the Forest
 By:  ssocrates
For more information, please see origional thread here:
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=842215&page=1#5071696
Message edited by author 2008-11-19 06:51:44.
|
|
|
|
11/19/2008 07:48:26 AM · #2 |
To me an good photograph must convey either a beautiful image or a message, and a great photograph has both. For me I can see neither of those in this photograph. There is no purpose to the photograph other than to capture "red" which is achieved, but not in a visually interesting way. Viewing this in person as the photograph was taken it may have been beautiful, but the light wasn't captured in the image. It looks as if a frontal flash was used in a dark setting and the result is a very flat, low contrast, low depth of field image.
To make this image "work" would have required a much closer view of the pyracantha to focus just on the berries, much better lighting and perhaps a juxtaposition to bring something else into the background or finding an arrangement of berries that carried another message. This is just a tough subject in this setting to make interesting. |
|
|
|
11/19/2008 09:48:37 AM · #3 |
| I have to agree with rlewis on this photo. The frontal flash really took away from this photo. I think capturing this in better lighting would have really helped this photo out. I would have also taken the approach of getting a much tighter composition, filling the screen up with a particular bunch or a particular berry. That would also eliminate the extra berries coming from outside the frame in mid air. |
|
|
|
11/19/2008 07:48:48 PM · #4 |
A wide shot like this is a terribly difficult thing to pull off effectively. I believe Capa was quoted during the war with saying that "If your photograph isn't good enough, you aren't close enough" and I believe this stands true in a lot of situations. I'm not sure how close that little finepix can get, but I'm sure it has a macro button of sorts. Perhaps by getting in and framing one or two of those little berries in focus, and turning off that little flash, this image would be greatly improved. There is tremendous potential in a subject like this if you explore it.
Message edited by author 2008-11-19 19:49:19. |
|
|
|
11/19/2008 10:33:50 PM · #5 |
This sort of subject is always difficult, both technically and artistically.
Technically, I am guessing this was hand held, and probably in poor light "a gray day", necessitating the use of the on-camera flash. The result is fairly harsh in terms of contrast and color. The reds are oversaturated and both the red and green look decidedly unnatural. This may have been intentional in post processing, but it has sort of an Andy Warhol/Cartoony sort of feel which actually makes me want to look away almost immediately upon seeing it--which I did in voting. The technicals of this image pushed me away rather than drawing me in.
A note on "gray" days: often these provide a beautiful sky-sized softbox which can help in producing extraordinary images. The on-board flash, with subjects like this, will more often than not produce flat, harsh lighting. Warming of the blue/gray light from an overcast day can be done via post processing, or with a warming filter.
Artistically, this sort of image is even more challenging. One has to seek some order in the chaos, a perspective that delights/intrigues. Using a tripod, more natural lighting, some careful composition and selection of depth of field (all taking a fair amount time, probably, so not possible if you must be in 'snapshot mode') to order the subject in the frame would help, and would create a completely different image.
Message edited by author 2008-11-19 22:35:28. |
|
|
|
11/19/2008 10:44:26 PM · #6 |
This is an "abstract" or "purely visual" image. Okay, not really. We know it's berries and leaves. I personally believe that pure abstraction is impossible. The mind pulls meaning from what it sees. We can't stop it. But some images are more abstract than others. This one is very abstract. The subject matter is easily forgotten, and instead the eye cruises around the red shapes and gets lost in the intricate patterns. This complexity contrasts nicely with a simple pallette of reds, blues and greens.
It's what I call a "good composition." What I mean by "composition" is a sort of music or expression that the picture has, that exists outside of its subject matter. It's sometimes called "movement," i.e., people talk about how their eye moves around the picture, or is "drawn" to certain areas. Your composition is good, but not great. It's still the best composition from the three options I was shown today. It is dynamic and has energy. To be great, though, it needs more "richness," by which I mean a sort of complexity that is not chaotic, but which instead seems to offer more options, more reasons to return to the picture and view it again. This is the sort of complexity you need when the subject matter contributes nothing to the picture. Another way for greatness is to have the subject matter interact with the composition. This is, after all, what makes art art: the interaction of form and content.
Boots win for content. You win for composition. |
|
|
|
11/19/2008 10:48:29 PM · #7 |
I was glad to see the photographers comments as this appears to be a last minute, hurried attempt at an entry.
It would have benefitted greatly from just a very little time spent editing.
I kind of prefer to remain general on this image.
|
|
|
|
11/19/2008 11:03:27 PM · #8 |
The composition of the berries leads the eye out of the frame at the top. The subject of the photograph, according to your eye, is actually the lone leaf surrounded by the red berries. The red in the berries is oversaturated either from the digital sensor (reds are really hard on a digital sensor) or from pushing it in photoshop. I agree the flash did not help.
Frankly, although one wants to shoot a subject like this for red because they are, indeed, red, the photo lacks anything more for the eye to do once we note the color.
Improvement tips: Make sure to work on color balance. There is actually a blue cast to the photo which leaves out any true blacks. One does not need to overwhelm the viewer in these color challenges. Instead, the eye finds the colors more attractive when there are true whites or blacks present to compare to. |
|
|
|
11/20/2008 02:01:13 AM · #9 |
I dont use the on camera flash at all just because inevitable the results have a harshness to them. That harshness seems to have happen here.
When first seeing the berries I was pushed back. that on camera flash really makes them harsh. Im not sure but it doesnt seem like the brightness was pulled down at all in post. Compositions like this are tricky at best. I am intrigued by the blues I see in there. I might have liked to have seen a crop to center in on the barrys a bit more.
These thoughts have been expressed previously as well.
I think some post work might have lent itself nicely to this image. Maybe deepen the reds, selective color to take the blues and greens down, then a nice tight crop. |
|
|
|
11/20/2008 02:05:29 AM · #10 |
Well I want to thank you for the accurate comments.
Yes, It was a cloudy day, I used a flash, its oversaturated, plus I am almost color blind! ;) |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/23/2024 09:18:21 AM EDT.
