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Tsunami
Tsunami
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Fine Arts: Exhibit II (Advanced Editing VII*)
Camera: Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
Location: Austin, TX
Date: Mar 29, 2011
Galleries: Emotive, Digital Art
Date Uploaded: Mar 29, 2011

 Self-portrait. I donned a black wig and shot through a piece of ice block glass. I don't have any idea how this will do but it's very personal to me. I wanted to create something in remembrance of the recent tragedy in Japan.

Post challenge: I was surprised by all the low votes on the non-participating voters. I agree that because the tsunami happened so recently, this might have struck a raw nerve with some. This photograph was a way for me to express my horror of the event in a healthy way.

Fine Arts II Juried Results:
Honorable Mention



TSUNAMI
(Judge's comments below)
Of course I am influenced by the turn of events, but it just gut-wrenching.

It impacts me greatly, presentation is metaphorical and understated. The only problem is the title, but I refuse to judge the photo by the title.

I certainly understand the issues brought up in regards to the manipulative title, and I felt the same way, but for me the image stands on its own without the title, I think given the turn of events, I would’ve thought of the tsunami regardless of the title. I think the processing is very appropriate, and the photographic way of expression the helplessness of a person against flow of nature is great. I don’t care how it is done, reflection in a car or whatever, I am simply looking at the result.

This caught my eye at first because my last FS had the tsunami in mind. I've never personally lived through a tragedy of this sort, thus the importance of this image for me. It brought empathy to the forefront. As I delved in to the image more faces of despair appeared, another tug at the heart for the human condition. I don't know where the distortion is coming from, but it clearly represents water, a simple choice for the photographer; however, it is extremely effective. The choice of tone works very well. A timely piece.

If I had a class and shouted "you have 5 minutes to do a tsunami tribute... GO!!!" and a kid ran back to me with this photo, I'd be blown away.

Well executed and compelling in its own right but as a contemporary piece it resonates so strongly. I challenged myself to consider whether it was cynically constructed but I could not find that in it; instead the distortion/reflection is itself reflective of the essence of the wave and the tragedy so caused.

I absolutely hear (and share) others concerns about its manipulative nature. We don't know the personal context of the photographer and all could be personal or all could be cynically constructed. Does the image work as a contemporary contribution? Yes it does. I actually think the manipulation can work for it too; we all had our perception of that event mediated via TV and newspapers; advertising space was still sold, tragedy became primetime - it's the world we live in. We could say media is manipulation. I think Tsunami image is reflective, I think it is manipulative.

Statistics
Place: 33 out of 167
Avg (all users): 5.8750
Avg (commenters): 7.8462
Avg (participants): 6.2857
Avg (non-participants): 5.4211
Views since voting: 1645
Views during voting: 396
Votes: 160
Comments: 21
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
OM System 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO M.Zuiko Digital ED
 04/16/2011 09:11:26 PM
WOW .. this is powerful .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/15/2011 05:50:29 AM
Love this. Got an 8 fom me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-1D Mark II
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
 04/15/2011 04:36:14 AM
I think the scores were a bit lower than they might have been if the pain wasn't still so fresh. Its a beautiful image, but for me it elicits a galvanic reaction of pulling away.

Interesting to see that participants were much kinder int heir scoring than non.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 04/15/2011 03:19:57 AM
Excellent job, Roseann. Poignant.
...It also gives me a great business idea!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X30
Custom Made Pinhole
 04/15/2011 12:54:21 AM
Excruciatingly sad.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital
 04/14/2011 10:57:47 PM
i'm not sure if this fits in with fine art or not, but I do like your symbolic interpretation of an event like this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X30
Custom Made Pinhole
 04/14/2011 07:12:48 PM
So sad. Beautiful creation.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 04/14/2011 05:09:45 PM
Haunting distortion. In my top picks. High on the contemporary art meter.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS
 04/13/2011 10:25:11 PM
Just WOW! I hope this finishes well. Fantastic.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
 04/13/2011 05:50:39 AM
Wonderful vision, sad, haunting and beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 04/11/2011 11:24:43 PM
This feels more like a reportage image than fine art to me. Even though there is a side that tries to speak fine art, it loudly speaks reportage to me. It brings on serious emotion of fear and terror. I am not altogether sure it fits in this challenge. But maybe I am the only one thinking that.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon
04/11/2011 05:47:19 PM
Strong image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED
 04/10/2011 09:30:20 PM
Heartbreaking
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 04/10/2011 12:50:08 PM
LOVE the unctuousness of this shot!!!! Great tones too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7200
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G
 04/09/2011 04:08:31 PM
I think the title fits this well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 04/09/2011 05:21:38 AM
I like this. The look is haunting, not just for the distortion. I like the title, but I think that recent events have added a subtext to the word (which will of course vanish in time) that distracts the viewer from the image, which is brooding and haunting of its own accord, separate from events.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sigma DP1x
04/08/2011 11:07:26 PM
Maybe premature. I don't know. Stunning for sure.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
 04/08/2011 11:21:35 AM
Wow. Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
OM System OM-5
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko
04/08/2011 09:00:13 AM
emotive. hauntingly beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-D60
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 04/08/2011 08:07:27 AM
So very powerful. Such a moving tribute to a great tragedy. The expression of fear in the eyes, the distortion of the face as her world ends makes this terrifying to see. But we are compelled to look to tragedy, and be thankful it wasn't happening to us. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
OM System OM-1
Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO
 04/08/2011 02:22:33 AM
this is gut-wrenching good
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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