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Exploring Black Mesa
Exploring Black Mesa
wyverndragon


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2010-07 (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Date: Jul 23, 2010
Aperture: f5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/13
Date Uploaded: Jul 26, 2010

 Black Mesa is the fictional government research center where all the action takes place in the classic video game "Half Life". Me n' some buddies had wandered into an empty building in the industrial part of Seattle. For some reason, the setting reminded me a ton of the last part of Half Life.

Anyway, my friends liked the photos. That's what counts. :)

Honestly, I think I have a better shot than this one that would score higher. But I want to submit this one, because I have absolutely no idea if this counts as a good photo or not. I tell myself I'm emotionally prepared for it to score a 4-point-something. :)

Statistics
Place: 328 out of 362
Avg (all users): 4.9771
Avg (commenters): 5.2000
Avg (participants): 4.9118
Avg (non-participants): 5.2069
Views since voting: 671
Views during voting: 213
Votes: 131
Comments: 6
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 08/08/2010 12:17:16 AM
It's the poses that make the shot. Really like this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Fujifilm X-Pro3
Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR
 08/07/2010 05:51:05 PM
tried it as a grayscale?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Leica SL
Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black
 08/07/2010 04:29:33 AM
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: The POV and leading lines are excellent compositional elements. I like the colours too.

Critical stuff: The guy in the background looks like he's singing a camp musical number - that kind of clashes with the rest of the image. I just can't take it seriously - sorry.

Overall: I think I see what you were going for, but given the reference in your title, you miss the required mood by a mile. I am sorry to be harsh though. I promise that I tried to like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4
 08/04/2010 06:25:56 AM
good photograph... urban style... i like it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sigma DP1x
08/03/2010 06:06:26 PM
This is too cool for words.
Canon EOS-7D
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
 08/01/2010 11:06:21 PM
The best description of my response to this is 'almost evocative'.

There's an element of context missing that just makes this pic lose any specifi meaning. There are tons of things to see in the pic, but much like a drawer filled with random odds and ends, nothing seems to relate or tell a story.

That's not blood on his shirt, it's just a design. The ditch is tall enough that this could even be a rooftop image. But that doesn't make any difference.
The dramatic pose by the guy in red doesn't seem to make any sense. The graffiti... The boys are too neatly attired to give any sense of danger or drama.

Lots of potential, but no direction.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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